lee shotshell press

[bobfm10350]

Im thinking about getting into shotshell reloading. Is the "Lee Load All Press" any good. It looks really cheap. I was wondering if i needed anything else besides that to start loading.

[Pavomesa]

I had one and it worked OK. You can't save near as much loading your own shotshells IMHO. I wouldn't advise anyone to jump in very seriously until they are sure they really want to go that way. Start cheap.

[harter66]

DITTO !!!!!!!!!!!!! It only pays off in shotgunning if you have a picky gun or plan on hunting alot in the very cold and in nontoxicareas or or alot of ducks and geese .

[The Rifleman]

The only difference between a Lee Load All and a Mec 600 jr. is the price.

I bought my Lee some 16 or more years ago for a grand total of $40!

At that time, the Mec was around $175 + the cost of the powder jugs and the bushings.

I only ever did two things to my Lee

1 - I drilled a hole and moved the plastic part that aligns the wad - up the colum - for shells bigger than 2 3/4

2 - I had my dad make me a longer resizing bushing for the longer shells.

I have successfully reloaded 3 1/2 inch magnum shells with mine with little or no problems.

The Mec will load faster than the Lee, but I like knowing that my reloaded will consistently throw an accurate amount of powder and shot - everytime I pull the lever.

[Dan in Alaska]

ORIGINAL: The Rifleman
....with little or no problems.

You are the first person I have heard speak highly of the Lee Load-All. I've never used one, but everyone I talked to steered me away from them, including previous Load-All owners. I am glad to hear you're happy with one.


The current price of shot makes loading shotshells much more expensive than in recent years. I don't think I can save a whole lot of money reloading 1-1/8 oz. 12ga target loads anymore, but I'd probably still make out pretty well loading sub-gauge ammo (20, 28, and .410). My dad switched to loading 7/8-oz loads in the 12ga to save money.

[Pavomesa]

Quite frankly I realized what very little I could save loading shotshells wasn't worth my trouble...especially if I simply waited for the shells I wanted to come on sale at some point in the year...which they always did...and then I'd buy a year's supply.

I ended up giving all my shot shell loading supplies and equipment away and never looked back. The huge volume of rifle and pistol ammo I was loading used all my time anyway. I had no time, reason or desire to continue and still view it as a waste of time.

[bigpappa]

I have had the Load All for around 10 years, I have all three calibers 12,16 &20 and have never had a problem, it is made of plastic and it is cheap but it WORKS. I saw this post and hadn't used it in a while so I loaded a box of heavy load #6 in about 10 minutes.. Unless your planning on loading thousands of lead shells or like to spend money, I feel safe recomending the Lee, P.S I have never loaded steel shot so I don't know how well it would work for that

[Tom W.]

I bought one some many moons back when they first came out, and they worked well, I used it for years, then traded it to a buddy of mine. He still has it, as far as I know...