LEE CLASSIC CAST PRESS need to help a friend!!!
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boomtube
Well-Known Member
The bushing isn't intended to be exchanged with each die swap, it's only to reduce the over-sized hole so standard dies can fit. There is no advantage at all between exchanging dies with or without a threaded bushing. The bushings are common; Lee, RCBS & Hornady have them. Maybe Redding too?
Dies must be exchanged in any single stage press. It can be done by simply unscrewing and installing the next OR using a Lee/Hornady "quick twist" type bushing for each die, they only require a partial turn to remove and swap dies. The quick twist takes maybe 5-6 seconds to do a swap, screwing them requires maybe 30 seconds to swap.
There is no reason to "torque" any die in place, hand/finger tight is all that's needed.
The Lee Classic Cast is an excellant press.
Dies must be exchanged in any single stage press. It can be done by simply unscrewing and installing the next OR using a Lee/Hornady "quick twist" type bushing for each die, they only require a partial turn to remove and swap dies. The quick twist takes maybe 5-6 seconds to do a swap, screwing them requires maybe 30 seconds to swap.
There is no reason to "torque" any die in place, hand/finger tight is all that's needed.
The Lee Classic Cast is an excellant press.
royinidaho
Well-Known Member
I've been communicating with several bench rest bullet makers. Several use the Lee press for bullet swagging as they have found that it is more concentric/centered, ram to die, than RCBS, Redding, etc.
Those that use other than the Lee do some machining for alignment.
Seems strange using a set of $2700.00 dies in a nickle & dime press.
Interesting, huh?
Just thought I'd chime in.
Those that use other than the Lee do some machining for alignment.
Seems strange using a set of $2700.00 dies in a nickle & dime press.
Interesting, huh?
Just thought I'd chime in.
roaddog1m
Well-Known Member
Lee stuff is actually pretty good and very affordable. A beginner would do well to start out with Lee equipment. I've been loading ammo for twenty years and I have plenty of Lee equipment sitting around. Overall though, I pick and choose, as Lee has somethings that aren't exactly the quality that I would want for the job at hand. The Lee Classic Press is however a very good one and still very affordable.
Good luck to your friend. Tell him about LRH
Tom
Good luck to your friend. Tell him about LRH
Tom
boomtube
Well-Known Member
Interesting that you would follow this:
"I've been communicating with several bench rest bullet makers. Several use the Lee press for bullet swagging as they have found that it is more concentric/centered, ram to die, than RCBS, Redding, etc."
with this:
"Seems strange using a set of $2700.00 dies in a nickle & dime press."
Maybe Lee's Classic Cast would gain stature if its price was as high as the much more expensive but inferior presses? I mean, if "you get what you pay for" has any validity...which it often does not.
"I've been communicating with several bench rest bullet makers. Several use the Lee press for bullet swagging as they have found that it is more concentric/centered, ram to die, than RCBS, Redding, etc."
with this:
"Seems strange using a set of $2700.00 dies in a nickle & dime press."
Maybe Lee's Classic Cast would gain stature if its price was as high as the much more expensive but inferior presses? I mean, if "you get what you pay for" has any validity...which it often does not.
royinidaho
Well-Known Member
For bullet making I assume that the center of the die must be at the center of the ram.
The statement was that the Lee was way better at this than the others. And I guess out of the box.
The statement was that the Lee was way better at this than the others. And I guess out of the box.
boomtube
Well-Known Member
"The statement was that the Lee was way better at this than the others. And I guess out of the box. "
I believe that to be true, regardless of price. Equipment snobs tend to have a "knee jerk" reaction to all things Lee, not costly enough to even be considered usable by them. People who actually know what they're talking about are aware that Lee's designs are made to be machined on modern CNC equipment that's quite precise. And the all cast steel Classic Cast press may well be the strongest common press on the market even tho it's the least expensive of its type - of course.
Not said here but the frequent web comparisions of Lee's "pot metal" (alum alloy) presses against other's massive cast iron presses are silly, they are different and are produced for different markets! But, if alum alloy is "pot metal", so are our scope tubes, many shotgun and handgun frames, aircraft and missiles, fishing boats and motors, pistons and crankcases for many auto engines, etc. And some other lines of less costly presses as well , such as RCBS' "Partner", "RS-5", Hornady's "LnL", etc., but the caustic comments are always aimed at Lee, who happily just keeps on chugging along!
I believe that to be true, regardless of price. Equipment snobs tend to have a "knee jerk" reaction to all things Lee, not costly enough to even be considered usable by them. People who actually know what they're talking about are aware that Lee's designs are made to be machined on modern CNC equipment that's quite precise. And the all cast steel Classic Cast press may well be the strongest common press on the market even tho it's the least expensive of its type - of course.
Not said here but the frequent web comparisions of Lee's "pot metal" (alum alloy) presses against other's massive cast iron presses are silly, they are different and are produced for different markets! But, if alum alloy is "pot metal", so are our scope tubes, many shotgun and handgun frames, aircraft and missiles, fishing boats and motors, pistons and crankcases for many auto engines, etc. And some other lines of less costly presses as well , such as RCBS' "Partner", "RS-5", Hornady's "LnL", etc., but the caustic comments are always aimed at Lee, who happily just keeps on chugging along!
boomtube
Well-Known Member
".. use the Hornady Lock and Load Bushings) without a problem."
Bravo, don't misunderstand, I didn't mean the bushings are a problem, as such. They do work quite well.
ALL I meant is they are an unneeded expense for anyone wanting to hold costs down.
Most of us can easily swap dies in maybe 30 seconds. The bushings reduce that to what, maybe 6 seconds? Swapping screw-in dies dies once for loading rifle and twice for handgun cases would be 30 or 90 seconds. What's the bushing cost for saving that 24 or 72 seconds in an evening of reloading? Multipy that cost by the number of die sets many of us own and it can really add up.
Bushings are great for those who want them and are willing to pay the price but there is no real NEED for them, IMHO, and that's my point.
Bravo, don't misunderstand, I didn't mean the bushings are a problem, as such. They do work quite well.
ALL I meant is they are an unneeded expense for anyone wanting to hold costs down.
Most of us can easily swap dies in maybe 30 seconds. The bushings reduce that to what, maybe 6 seconds? Swapping screw-in dies dies once for loading rifle and twice for handgun cases would be 30 or 90 seconds. What's the bushing cost for saving that 24 or 72 seconds in an evening of reloading? Multipy that cost by the number of die sets many of us own and it can really add up.
Bushings are great for those who want them and are willing to pay the price but there is no real NEED for them, IMHO, and that's my point.
Sorry Boom,
What I meant was I have used that Lee press for several years without a problem.
I also use the Lock and Load bushings...those without a hitch as well I guess.
I have no problem with guys saving money and getting the same results, I try to myself. However, sometimes little knick-knacks come along that make life a little easier.
What I meant was I have used that Lee press for several years without a problem.
I also use the Lock and Load bushings...those without a hitch as well I guess.
I have no problem with guys saving money and getting the same results, I try to myself. However, sometimes little knick-knacks come along that make life a little easier.
I understand what you're saying, I do see your point. On the other hand once my resizing die is adjusted to just push the shoulder 0.002 and my bullet sitting die is adjusted to 0.010 into the lands I would love to have them bushings. And forget 30 seconds without the bushings, it will be taking a whole lot longer for sure! Nothing can be done, of course, if one can not afford them.
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