[HunterGirl]

I'm looking at presses as a newbie....I haven't seen much commentary on the Lee Anniversary Press. I'm a bit tight for money and I read another article that said this is a decent starter kit.

Anyone have any insight?

HG

Thanks in advance

[Vicious-Peanut]

I was given the Anniversary kit for Christmas and I have been loading .223 on it and it has been great. Not as fast as a turret or progressive but plenty fast for 200 rounds on a Saturday afternoon. The press can load anything from .25 ACP up to the big .375 H&H.

Great kit.

[ants]

Which Lee Anniversary kit, huntergirl? Over the past several years they offered a few different ones. Tell me which specific kit you're looking at.

Although I've been loading almost 40 years and already had my equipment, I bought the Anniversary Kit with the Challenger press a few years ago because it came with so much stuff for such a small price. It was on sale at Midway for only $64. All I really wanted was a single station press to back up my regular equipment, but it was a better deal to buy the whole kit and get the extra stuff. Some of the little trinkets in the kit aren't worth much to me (like the primer pocket cleaner), and the powder measure is one of the more difficult to use (I'll keep it as a backup or maybe I'll give it away to a friend some day), but add a set of dies and you can start loading immediately. Yes, it's literally true with the Challenger anniversary kit that you can screw in the dies and start loading.

[RustyFN]

I think the Lee kit is a fine way to start for somebody on a budget. I started with the Lee classic turret press. Check out http://www.kempfgunshop.com/products/reloading/leeprecision/kits/90030.html they usually have some of the best prices and are good people to deal with.
Rusty

[scrat]

its a very good kit. you will need to purchase a set of dies though. THen just the components powder, primers, bullets

[ozshadow]

Here is that great kit that will last you

http://www.kempfgunshop.com/products/reloading/completerelo/KempfKit.html

[Tim the Enchanter]

I'm in the same boat, now using the breech lock challenger press kit (50th anniversary, I think) to reload 9mm. It works well, although the interrupted-screw bushings are steel, the press itself is aluminum. Quick-change they aren't. Otherwise I'm satisfied.

[ranger335v]

Get the Anniversary kit and a set of Lee dies too, they include a shell holder in all of their die sets except the RGBs.

The Challanger press may be all you ever need. But, if your needs grow and you want another press later (Like the Classic Cast!) the Challanger will still see duty for special tasks so it won't be a waste.

[dagger dog]

The Anniversary kit is a good value, and makes a great starter kit . You can add to it later once you find your way around the ropes.

Thre are more expensive kits on the market , but after you get the hang of the process you can take your ammo you loaded on the Anniversary and put it up against ammo loaded on a kit that costs 5x the price and you wouldn't be able to tell the difference!
The Modern Reloading book, is found on the shelves of reloaders that have been "at it" for years, and it comes with the kit. Lots of data in there, you will use it for years to come.There are chapters on every aspect of reloading, it not only tells you how but why you need to do them.Plus all the actual load data.

Getting into reloading is great fun and a hobby you will come back to time after time!

[HunterGirl]

Thanks everyone for all the info!

[ohman11]

I started with this kit and I think it is great. I have replaced the scales that came with it and now use a rcbs beam. They zero so much faster, none of this teeter tooter like the lee scale.

[FieroCDSP]

Good starter kit. I load progressive for pistol now, but I load rifle on my Challenger. THe other items in the kit I still use.