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Posted: 11/12/2012 5:16:25 PM EDT
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I did not see this discussed in the archives, but my search-fu is weak.
Does anyone have experience with the Lee .50 reloading kit? Cast press, resizing and bullet seating dies, and shell holder? Not sure I want to drop $1k+ on a Dillon setup. |
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Quoted:
I did not see this discussed in the archives, but my search-fu is weak. Does anyone have experience with the Lee .50 reloading kit? Cast press, resizing and bullet seating dies, and shell holder? Not sure I want to drop $1k+ on a Dillon setup. I have a couple of the Lee kits, got them when they first came out for about $175.00 each. Work great, love the primer seater compared to the RCBS kit I also have. I get less bullet run out with the Lee die than with the RCBS die. I have won a lot of 1000 yard Matches using the Lee Kit, and know others that have done the same. For the money you can't beat it. |
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Quoted:
Quoted:
I did not see this discussed in the archives, but my search-fu is weak. Does anyone have experience with the Lee .50 reloading kit? Cast press, resizing and bullet seating dies, and shell holder? Not sure I want to drop $1k+ on a Dillon setup. I have a couple of the Lee kits, got them when they first came out for about $175.00 each. Work great, love the primer seater compared to the RCBS kit I also have. I get less bullet run out with the Lee die than with the RCBS die. I have won a lot of 1000 yard Matches using the Lee Kit, and know others that have done the same. For the money you can't beat it. +1. I did the same thing bought two. I would love to have a Dillon to complete my set but can't go wrong for the cost of the lee. |
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I have 2 LEE 50 BMG sets.
I took one FL resizing die and had a machinist cut the top off and I honed out the neck and turned it into a body die. I then took the expander from this die and ground it down so it doesn't expand the neck and still decaps the primer. I can then use my "normal" expander decapper or just my ground decapper. I also have 2 seater dies. One for designated seating. One for designated expand iron use. So I can just size neck a little with normal FL die or full length size with it. I can size the body when needed with modified FL die that is now a body die. I can expand iron with one seater die. I can seat with one seater die. I have 2 primer seaters. One I can grind down for dome to start primers. One I put collar on to finish seat primers. |
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Quoted:
I have 2 LEE 50 BMG sets. I took one FL resizing die and had a machinist cut the top off and I honed out the neck and turned it into a body die. I then took the expander from this die and ground it down so it doesn't expand the neck and still decaps the primer. I can then use my "normal" expander decapper or just my ground decapper. I also have 2 seater dies. One for designated seating. One for designated expand iron use. So I can just size neck a little with normal FL die or full length size with it. I can size the body when needed with modified FL die that is now a body die. I can expand iron with one seater die. I can seat with one seater die. I have 2 primer seaters. One I can grind down for dome to start primers. One I put collar on to finish seat primers. Can you post up some pictures of it? |
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These are a fantastic deal. They work just fine & produce accurate ammo. As an example, last outing, my buddy nailed a spray paint can at 800 yards on the 1st shot (once we had the gun sighted in for that day). Upper was the Ferret 36" w/ supermatch chamber. The Lee presses were cheaper when they were 1st introduced, but are still far less expensive than anything else out there.
If you are reloading for a semi, there is no point on buying a more expensive press; you won't gain any accuracy over the Lee. |
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Here is the LEE setup. In back is seater die and expand iron die (2nd seater die with K&M expandiron). In front is the body die (modified FL die), FL die, ground decapper, regular expanding decapper. I suppose you could do the same thing just buying one complete press set and another set of dies. You wouldn't get the 2nd primer seater but you could buy that seperate. Buy 2 stop collars. |
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I dropped $500 to buy the RCBS "ammomaster .50 BMG pack". The main reason I went with RCBS was to be able to use more tools that are standardized to the .50 BMG. While there is no actual "standard" that I'm aware of - I didn't like that the Lee press wasn't big enough for tools from other companies. That said, I'm certain that there are plenty of satisfied users of the Lee setup.
One thing I do like that Lee makes best, is their "factory crimp die". I just bought an FCD and am going to use the adapter bushing that CH4D sells. Also, I mounted all my tools on a small stand so I can take it to the range and work up loads on-site. Here's my loading rig 
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| I too have the Lee kit for the .50. I've reloaded about 150-200 rounds through it thus far; all competition loads. My best group to date in competition (1000 yards) is 12 7/16". This is nowhere near where I'd like to be and I'll blame myself, not the reloads. You'll be pleased with the Lee set-up. I'm considering purchasing a second press so that I can keep my seating die kinda permanently mounted and use the other press for sizing and priming. |
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