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lee reloading dies 380 auto

3K views 23 replies 14 participants last post by  2A-Jay 
#1 ·
looking a buying either a lee 4 die precision carbide die set or a 3 die set. I have a Dillon press and a rcbs press. I have all rcbs and Dillon dies and was asking about quality of the lee dies. I would guess they should be good for as long as they have been around.Thanks for any input
 
#2 ·
Lee dies are "O.K." and will produce shootable ammo. In my humble opinion, you are better off with RCBS or Lyman dies because the tolerances and finish on both are superior to Lee. Lee has been around a long time because their products are less expensive than most of the others. RCBS has always had fantastic customer service. Not so much for Lyman over the last 10 years.

Besides the rough finish of their dies, the one major gripe I have about Lee reloading dies is the very CHEAP locking rings they use. Simply put - they could not be cheaper or be any more useless than what they put on those dies. Of about 20 calibers that I reload, I have 2 sets of Lee dies: one is for the .45-70 Government and the other is a Lee Factory Crimp Die for my 5.56mm/.223 Remington. Lee was the only die that made the taper crimp die for the .45-70 that I use to duplicate the original Government Carbine Cartridge, and I do like the FCD for the .223. If you buy Lee dies plan on buying a complete set of REAL locking rings.

I happen to load a few calibers that are popular for carbide dies - but I've never gotten into those. I could have used them for the .30 Carbine, the .380, 9mm Luger, the .38 Special and the .45 ACP, but I chose to stay with the standard dies. For me there is no reason to use a carbide die set.
 
#3 ·
There is absolutely nothing wrong with using the Lee 4 die set for .380. I use the Lee 4 die set for .380 ACP, 9mm and 45ACP. I load and shoot about 5000 pistol rounds a year with them.
For high power rifle, I prefer higher quality competition dies, but for pistol the Lee work just fine.
 
#4 ·
The only difference in the 3 die set and the 4 die set is that the Factory Crimp Die is added to the 4 die set. I have several Lee dies, and I do have one in .380 and I do have the 4 die set.

My advice is that if you are using a single stage press then get the three die set since that will save your arm from pulling the handle that extra time for each cartridge. I use my .380 dies in a Dillon RL550B and I do have the 4 die set basically because I wanted to fill all four holes in the toolhead.;)
 
#7 ·
If you're planning on using the die set in your single stage press go with the four die set, and do your bullet crimping as a fourth and separate step. You can seat and crimp and get by with the three die set as long as you never change what bullet you're using/crimping. IMHO, I can't recommend LEE dies. By the time you change the abysmal LEE lock rings, you've saved nothing, and those poor excuse for lock rings need to be trashed. Again IMHO, the only LEE dies I use are their FCD, and these all had the lock rings replaced.
 
#9 ·
Lee carbide pistol dies are great! I have a 4 piece carbide set for 9mm, its awesome. It makes some pretty damn good loads, and best of all, I really don't have to lube my casings. I'll lube a small bit of casings and put one in per every 10-15 loads. Also, I've loaded probably 5k rounds in the past year without any issue whatsoever.

I'd absolutely recommend Lee carbide pistol dies, however I would stay clear of Lee rifle steel dies ;)
 
#10 ·
Unless you get into specialty precision, you can do most things you want w/ Lee and shoot pretty good. You will end up mix/match to get the loads you are after. I'd like to have all Redding if I could justify it w/ funds. I would also like to have that 650 Dillon. But I can do all I want w/ Lee and Hornady and some RCBS stuff.
 
#11 ·
I've only owned RCBS dies up till about a month ago, maybe less. I bought a set of carbide 38 S&W dies as I've picked up a few IJ's recently and while I won't shoot them much, I'm just the kinda guy that likes to be able to reload for everything I have. I was pleasantly surprised with what I found. No, I wouldn't say they are as finished and nice as my RCBS but they are good enough to get the job done and without headaches. Sometimes going with cheaper stuff can be more trouble than it's worth, like with the Lee Load All shotgun press......yuck. Seems they set up pretty much the same although one of the dies, I believe the sizing die has a darn hole all the way through :eek:. Joking aside, I believe that's for dropping powder for a different setup than my single stage press. I guess my opinion is that the RCBS is a better die but don't be concerned if you decide to go with Lee. I'm sure they will work just fine.
 
#12 ·
I have all rcbs and Dillon dies and was asking about quality of the lee dies.
I think Lee makes a good product at the price point. I recently purchased .380ACP in Hornady dies and love them, not much more than the Lee and they come with good lock rings.

IMHO, I can't recommend LEE dies. By the time you change the abysmal LEE lock rings, you've saved nothing, and those poor excuse for lock rings need to be trashed.
Isn't this true of almost every brand. I refuse to use any die unless it has a Forrester or Hornady lock ring. I use Hornady lock rings on all my pistol dies and ONLY FORRESTER on rifle - of course I load rifle on a Forrester Co-Ax and I use a Hornady LnL for pistol so that may help explain my selection.
 
#13 ·
I just recently went to 9mm Lee dies because I don't do well with a progressive machine. I got the set, three die set and and the first thing I didn't like was that locking ring. I set my dies for a single cartridge in a single gun. That means adjust the die for that chamber and lock in the setting. Can't lock the Lee lock ring, simple replace it with one you can lock. Ever handgun die I have is three die set so tht's what I got from Lee. Then it appeared the seater die would not set the bullet and crimp! Well I ordered the factory crimp die and then someone on here told me to re-read the instruction's, the seater die can be adjusted to crimp also! DUH! I now have a 9mm crimp die I don't need! Other than those two thing's I can't see one thing wrong with the Lee dies. Finish is, to me, very good. I alsohae a 243 and 6.5x06 collet die from Lee. Bit of a learning curve the first time but end result is fine. But you don't feel any drag when the case goes in all the way and have to be sure to get it all the way in to size the neck. Coming out, you won't feel the neck drag over the expanded, there isn't any. I assume all collet dies feel the same way in use, just something yu need to get used to with them. If you compared reg Lee dies to all the rest of the dies, not a lot of difference other than finish and that is mostly cosmetic! My favorite dies are Redding, hands down. They don't do anything any other set will do but they are really nice to look at! Drawback is cost! Most expensive dies I know of!
 
#14 ·
My favorite dies are Redding, hands down. They don't do anything any other set will do but they are really nice to look at! Drawback is cost! Most expensive dies I know of!
I agree at least for pistol dies. I have one set of Redding, one set of Dillon, 2 set of Hornady, One RCBS and one Lee. Seting aside price and aesthetics, all load equal quality ammo (except my RCBS dies, I think I got a bad set).

When it comes to rifle dies - go Forrester or Redding and IMHO Forrester is the better of the two.
 
#15 ·
Can't lock the Lee lock ring,
If dies with Lee lock rings are handled properly the setting won't change. Once the die is almost touching the press, turn the die in the rest of the way using your fingers and the nut. Snug the die down enough with your fingers so that the rubber O-ring is still able to do its job and you're good to go. Loosen the die with your fingers and the nut until there is no more contact with the press and remove the die however you want from there.
 
#17 ·
Gotta mark this day on the Calendar! I think it's the first time I've disagreed with Slayer!

Those Lee lock rings are useless. "If the lock rings are properly handled"? I could give them a gentle kiss and dust them with Angel Wings and they'd still be prone to moving (after I went thru the process of carefully setting up my dies in the first place). When I adjust my dies I want them to stay adjusted - and be able to be removed and replaced without ANY (zero) loss or change in adjustment when I go back the next reloading session.

The only good I can see in those blasted things is that Lee makes sure other company's employees have job security and are able to sell decent rings to replace the garbage they put on Lee dies. A hollowed out aluminum nut and a chincey O Ring slipped inside of it is a "locking ring"? Not in my very humble opinion. This is my last rant on those awful things. If you like them - bless you for it. If you need some of them let me know.
 
#19 ·
I'm not a Lee hater but I don't care for those lock rings either. Reading this today, it occurred to me that I already have the lock ring's to change them out. Several old set's of dies I don't used anymore! Lyman, Herter and some RCBS, that ring and the threads are the same on all of them!
 
#20 ·
As I mentioned earlier, I do swap out lock rings on some of my Lee dies. A while back, I was over at my LGS (Local Gun Shop) and asked the owner if he had any lock rings for sale and he gave me 15 or 20 of them and Jay sent me 3 the other day so I have about 1/2 a dozen of them right now.
 
#21 ·
I bought the lee 4 die set not real happy with my decision as it has been said lock rings and finish leaves a lot to be desired. threads on two of the dies are very rough. im going to give them a chance and reload some before giving up on them.
 
#24 ·
With the Lee Dies, you just have to consider the Press you are using. If you are using a Lee Single Stage Press (that is one of my presses) you have to use the Lee Quick Change Bushing. You can get the Lee Lock Ring Eliminators for each die, or as I do leave a Quick Change Bushing in the press, and use a Split Lock Ring. The later allows you to leave your dies set with out having to adjust them every time. The only time I have to make adjustments is when I change Bullets (Round nose, Flat Nose, Hollow Point.
 
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