why does LEE get such a bad rap?

aw, gee - i think this room needs a big hug!

The Lee Factory Crimp Die is one of the best out there. I have one in most every caliber that I reload for. They are economical, work well, and you will never buckle a case with them. The pistol calibers even have a Carbide sizer ring to assure the finished round will chamber in any gun. Worth every cent I paid for them.  Bill T.

I started out will Lee many years ago - here's why they get a bad rep:

1) When the lever on their hand priming tool broke & I asked for a replacement, offering to buy other stuff at the same time, they said no.  For the sake of a $2.00 part they blew me off.  Having the lever made of other than pot metal would have prevented the breakage and keeping the lid on by friction, instead of a detent, is another indication of too much economy

2) After only a few thousand loaded rounds, the linkage on their press cracked - no replacement offered by factory.

3) I like their powder measure, but it only works with longer grained powders such as 4064, 4198.  The ball types bind or leak.  Lee acknowledges this is their manual but states leaking powder is not important.  Really?

4) Their reloading manual, while covering ALOT of cartridges & loadings, is generally not bullet specific.  A 180 grn 30 cal bullet can be Speer, Sierra, Hdy - round nose, bthp, hp - and I don't think that's a best way of listing loads. 

So by no means am I saying they are a company without merit, I like the way their seating dies can be adjusted, but there are too many marginal items and company performance solving problems.  I moved on to Redding, RCBS & Lyman and am pleased.