Post by oldstuffer on Mar 8, 2020 21:55:36 GMT -5
Seems that I see a lot more Lee products in need of repairs, or have simply worn out, than other brands; is that correct?.....I know that they generally co$t a lot less, but is it worth it if they are in need of frequent repairs?
Yes the original Lee Challenger had crappy aluminum toggles that fatigue-cracked very quickly and easily.
I however loaded A LOT of .308W using GI 7.62 brass on that press for around 2-1/2 DECADES, and ALL it ever wore out or broke was those toggles.
I had a Pro1000 for close to 15 years, never wore out or broke anything on it except the indexing ratchet (which is plastic, probably lasts around 5-6,000 rounds, and costs $2 for a 3-pack).
That ratchet is a Maintenance Item, nothing more, nothing less.
Similar deal for the new 4-hole progressive, it has a plastic indexing mechanism part which WILL require periodic replacement, but the replacement is easy and cheap.
I have had a Loadmaster for close to 2 decades now, lots of .45 Auto have flown off that press, haven't worn or broken anything out. This press was bought as a Factory Refurb straight from Lee/
I have a second Loadmaster, bought used off Flea-Bay 2 years ago, replaced that Pro1000 I fwd;d to a friend who uses several of them (same guy who now has the Challenger after I upgraded the handle linkage).
I have a Lee Auto Prime II priming system, everything else just sux, it's the slickest thing, wish they'd never obsoleted it. it has 3 decades of hard use on it, something like 30,000 primings.
The Lee powder funnel just keeps funneling along, 3+ decades.
Multiple sets of Lee dies (as well as just about everyone else's), they make excellent ammo.
I must admit, I've NEVER broken a Lee dacapping rod, I've broken MANY Hornady decapping pins after they work loose depriming crimped GI 7.62x51mm brass.
I have at least 3 (and possibly 4) Lee Auto Disk Pro powder measures, they work excellently.
I have at least 2 (and possibly 3) Le Auto DRUM powder measures, again, excellent measure.
I also have a Lyman #55 and an RCBS Uniflow, which also work very well but are unsuited to progressive press use.
IF and of the plastic bits on those Lee measures ever DO wear out, they are easy to get and cheap.
When I retired the Lee Challenger the last time it broke the toggles on me, I replaced it with a Lyman Crusher II.
When I mounted the Crusher, I had to either dismount and send it back, or go to the hardware store for BOTH a great big tap AND a matching die, because NEITHER handle holes (both left and right) in the handle block NOR THE HANDLE were threaded properly.
Their "threading" was a Shallow Suggestion to actual threads.
Now I have a big-*** tap and die I'll never use again. HA!
Otherwise, the Lyman has been flawless, after I finished Lyman's work for them.