Lee Load-All shotgun reloading

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brotus2

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Has anybody ever used this. I'm looking to reload. I don't do many and speed is not an issue. I just want something that gets the job done. Thanks. It costs 44.99 from Cabela.
 
It is worth every penny. Just read the reviews. Just like with metallic reloading Lee Precision is best for $$$ but if you go for a progresive and have the $$$ you get Dillion and for shot shell reloading if you have the $$$ you get MEC. I have a Load All.
 
I have a Lee LoadAll and it's OK. I recently bought a MEC 600Jr. used for $50, and it's far and away more reloader for the money.

I would recommend a MEC over the Lee, unless you absolutely cannot find a MEC at all.
 
I got my first Lee Load All back in the 1970s, used it for years, gave it to my nephew and got another one (which was called the Load All II) for myself. Over the years, I've used them to load both birdshot and slug shells...was and still am quite pleased with the results. And as you want, it DOES "get the job done!"

Since I am not a volume reloader, either, the Load All fits my needs well. And you have everything you need in one simple/compact kit (takes up very little space, even on a simple small table if need be). The only thing I added for a bit more speed/convenience was their primer holder/dispenser feeding-tray at the priming station (a cheap but recommended accessory, and it stores your primers in an enclosed container when in use on the machine or not in use, to keep them clean).

The instructions and powder chart included are very clear and simple (shotshell loading is not as component-specific as many would have you believe) and I used that data to produce thousands of rounds (I like Lee's no-hassle uncomplicated loading data).

All you need is shot, powder, wads/shotcups, primers and of course, empty shotgun shells.

-- John D.
 
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Been using mine for about 20 years, it's ugly, has rust spots, and still turns out the same great reloads. I did run into a MEC 20 ga for $20 awhile back so I had to buy it. Eventually I'll get the dies to switch it to 12ga, eventually. I won't argue that the MEC is a better unit, but you're really comparing apples to oranges here.
 
I loaded lots of shotshells on a Lee Load-All. I used to have one to take along on hunting trips to load shells on. My advice would be to save your money. They're OK, but just OK. A MEC 600 JR or a MEC 650 would serve you much better.
 
i use one i bought at a yard sale to load black powder shells for a old stevens double barrel(not damascus) hammer shotgun. as i don,t shoot many its perfect and it was cheap. eastbank.
 
Another nice thing about the Load All, it comes with all the bushings for powder and shot. With the MEC you'll have to buy additional pieces. The Lee does require one to learn a feel for how much force is applied to the hand lever. Expect to have a few bad looking rounds as you start off, or at least I did. MEC has a buch of little adjustments to dial in. The MEC may be a little better, but for my needs the Lee is great.
 
I had one way back when I first started reloading. It did a fair job for a box or two of hunting shells. Even with the bushings, you'll still need to check your powder drops now and again (like you would do with metallic).

If you can find a used MEC Jr. IMO, you'll be very pleased with what it turns out. I use 3 of them for different gauges now. You can increase speed by adding an auto-primer. If you use a Universal charge bar, you can dial in an exact recipe instead of getting close with a bushing.
 
Dollar for dollar, you'll be a lot happier with a used MEC over a new Lee. My first .410 loader was a used 600 Jr. Many years later, I got a .410 Grabber, and sold the 600 Jr for what I'd paid for it. I don't think you can do that with a Lee.
 
There is no point in saying the MEC is "better" than the Lee. The Lee closts a tiny fraction as much as the MEC. For the $$$ there is no comnparison - the Lee at $ 40.00 blows the doors off the MEC for value. Now any post from someone who has used both I will consider but you are paying many times more $$$ for the MEC. Go to Midway USA - Out of 41 actual owner reviews the Lee Precision Load All gets 4.5 out of 5 stars for $ 40.00. The "cheap" MEC which costs 4 times as much gets 4.5 stars out of 5 from 11 actual owners - please note the exact same rating for way more money and the Lee has 4 times as many owner reviews. And the MEC does not have all the features of the Lee and to equal all the features you need to buy additional parts. The 650 costs 7 times as much and gets 4.5 stars from two actual users. Again the exact same rating from 1/20 of the reviews from actual customers. The 8567N "Grabber" costs 10 times as much and get 5 out of 5 stars from 2 actual users. You can pay 20 times as much for the uber MEC but there are no ratings/reviews from actual users. I will eventually get an MEC resizer for $90.00 and keep using my Load All. Sure the MEC is better if you have the $$$. Some of us don't. Even if I did I would stick with the Lee - it is proven, highly rated, a great deal at $40.00 and works. Which is why it is the most popular shotshell reloader.
 
Having owned both and used both, I gave MY opinion based on my experiences. I didn't say the Lee sucked, but that the MEC is better. A used MEC can be gotten for about $50-$60, a difference that IMO, makes it the way to go.

I prefer to use the Universal charge bar so I can get the exact powder drop and shot drop I want, not the approximation that bushing provide. One of my MEC Jr.s has loaded over 60,000 rounds over the years and still works fine with no issues or stoppages
 
I would defer to you one this and , yes, if you could get an MEC in decent condition for less than $100.00 it would seem to be the logical choice. As I indicated above I said if you have the $$$ get the MEC. I was just responding to the idea that "the Lee blows compared to the MEC," and that is not the case as actual owner reviews tell us. For the $$$ the Lee is worth every penny and combined with the MEC resizer you could turn out some fine shotshells.
 
I just bought a used one 2 weeks ago for $70 and it came with the Universal charge bar since I'm getting back into reloading 12 again.

Another advantage is that my original MEC was in 12, but I got a conversion kit and turned it into a 28 gauge loader, something I don't believe the Lee can do.
 
The OP asked about the Lee Load All, he didn't ask us to recommend something "better."

Since 1958 -- and IMO, mainly because of their pricing as well as Richard Lee's design innovations -- Lee Precision has done more to get people into reloading than all the other reloading equipment brands combined, especially people on a very limited budget who otherwise, might not buy anything. Lee makes good products at a fair price (and their fairly recently introduced cast-iron "Classic" turret press gets high ratings, while their pistol/rifle dies have been well-rated for decades). Yes, they ARE the least expensive line of reloading equipment out there, but that doesn't = cheap as some people claim. I say Lee has a "high value per dollar cost" ratio, and the money he saves on the Lee can be put towards reloading componets/supplies.

"Entry level" stuff? Probably, but lots of experienced reloaders with more expensive blue/green equipment ALSO have some red Lee stuff on their reloading benches! I know I do.

In this case, all the the guy wants to do is reload some 12 guage shotgun ammo, not a whole lot of it. The Lee will do it. If he wants to load more, or do it faster -- or "better" -- then he can get a Hornady 336 or a Ponsness Warren 800!

Yes, he might want to look into getting a used MEC setup if he comes across one, but he was asking about the Lee Load All, and although simple as it is, it'll do what he wants, too.

-- John D.
 
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AND Cloudcraft, he also stated that he wanted something that will work

I just want something that gets the job done.
Click to expand...

That allows other brands for comparison.

BTW, if money wasn't an issue for volume loading, the Spolar would be the way to go.:cool:
 
There isn't anything wrong with Lee equipment / but locally I see a lot of good used MEC equipment for $ 50 - $100 ...

A couple of months ago, I picked up another MEC Grabber for $100 .... and I'm reconditioning it to give it to one of my boys that lives 3 hours away ...

I think a used MEC is much better option / even for a new reloader...
 
i also have a mec 650 and use it for loading trap and hunting loads with, but my lee load all is just for loading black powder and i leave it set up for that alone. and it does a bang up job, i may load four boxs at a time and it is well worth the 20.00 bucks i paid, i also got about 20lbs of 6# shot 400 primers and some wads. is the mec 650 better,yes. is the lee bad,no. eastbank.
 
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