RCB vrs LEE dies

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dan158

New member
I have bought and used RCB dies for a few years now and hornady die for the 17 hornet. I have read that the LEE dies are more precise in tolerance than RCB and higher dollar dies.
Why do some people hate on LEE dies? They are half the price and seem like they would be easier to adjust the seating die with the spindle. Why the hate?
 
I have both and they both work well. The finish on the ribs dies is better and they lock into position better. Lee dies work fine and I have several sets.
 
The Lee dies I have produce ammo with very little runout. My only problem with them is the lock rings, which I either replace or drill/tap for a set screw and I throw away the rubber o-ring.
 
Originally Posted By: 204 ARThe Lee dies I have produce ammo with very little runout. My only problem with them is the lock rings, which I either replace or drill/tap for a set screw and I throw away the rubber o-ring.
This is a good idea. I prefer the locking ring. Never considered drilling and tapping. Thanks
 
I have been using Lee dies for about 15 years now. Have no problems with them at all. They produce some great reloads. Only have one set of the RCBS but they were given to me. See no reason to switch. Good stuff for the money.
 
I have to admit that I like the Lee dies just fine too. I like that they all come with a shell holder and that nifty little powder scoop that does work surprisingly well.

And many years ago I was having an issue with some Lee bullet molds and called them up with questions. I was transferred over to Richard Lee himself and he walked me through what the fix was. I guess that rather impressed me.

I love their priming tools too. Good stuff in my book.
 
While I prefer Redding sizing dies, and forester seating dies, I do use the the lee dies almost as much. I've been really impressed with their collet dies, and while the forester seating die does do better IMHO as far as runout goes the lee seating die does well to.
Rcbs dies are great working dies and you can't go wrong with them. But if money is tight I would go with the lee brand. Just a heads up I have not had good luck with hornady dies. I bought one set a few years ago that broke and I can't suggest that anyone use them.
 
Every die set has its features and its detractions. I like Lee bottleneck rifle dies pretty well. I like their pistol powder thru expander die also, which design, as I understand it, Dillon is using, and paying royalties to Lee for the right.

The one thing I really like about RCBS and Lyman straight wall pistol dies is the expander plug which, when properly used, allows the seating of cast bullets without shaving or compressing the alloy, which to my mind at least, renders a more uniform cartridge. I do not care for the screw and lock nut type of seating depth setting on the RCBS dies, as it is much more difficult to fine tune seating depth with this arrangement than it is with Lee seating dies, which use the thumbscrew to accomplish this. The screw and locknut work fine on pistol ammunition, once you have arrived at a proper seating depth. It is a "set it and forget it" sort of thing.

Even better, in my opinion, are the Whidden dies for rifles, but you pay a whole lot more for them than you do either of the RCBS or Lee dies.
 
I like Lee.I think the main reason some pass on them is due to the old "you get what you pay for" line.Well what I got is excellent accuracy in the three cals I load with them but I agree that the lock rings could be better so I'll try that drill/tap fix 204 AR mentioned.
 
I mainly use Lee Dies but I dislike the Aluminum Lock Ring and rubber O-ring so I try to change them out when I can. Other than that they are a good bargin.
 
More than half my dies are lee, when I start a new caliber they're the first brand I look for. The rest I've acquired hit and miss, sometimes in bulk deals from auctions etc. I like them. But x-whatever on not being a huge fan of their lock rings.

I'm a hunter, no a benchrest/competition shooter. They may have differing opinions.
 
Another vote for the Lee Dies. I have 7 sets of them. 3 bottle neck rifle, and 4 carbide straight walled pistol. Good dies with excellent customer service. I am a hunter as well.
 
the only set of bad dies I ever had were Lee. My first set of rifle dies in 30-06.

By the time I figured out the problem was the dies & not the loads, I'd spent so much on bullets, powder & primers that I could have bough the most expensive dies on the planet 3 times over.

I tossed them in the trash & never even considered buying Lee dies again.
 
I went from RCBS and Hornady to all Lee dies. They are cheaper and you get shell holder. They work real well and I like the locking ring.
 
When Lee started making presses and dies, some of the other manufacturers made fun of Lee. Now many of the critics have adopted Lee features. I especially like the way the Lee decapping rod is also a stuck case remover and how it is automatically centered when it is tightened.
 
I will try them out then. Some of the 3 die sets with factory crimp included is cheaper than RCBs I believe. Thats for 3 piece set again.
 
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