Lee Breech Lock Challenger kit ... good for starters?

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Snakum

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Anyone familiar with this all-in-one starter kit from Lee?

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/t...ct&cmCat=Related_IPL_216927&id=0053986216575a

I helped a friend load up some 7mm rounds last month and he was explaining what was what and how it was used. He uses a RockChucker Supreme press and various brands of the other equipment. Looking at the Lee Challenger kit it seems to have everything I'll need except case trimmer attachments for my drill, for the calibers I'll be loading for (.270, 7mm rem mag, .308).

Will this work just fine for a beginner? It's in my price range right now and will leave me enough to get a chrono, too.

Advice? Suggestions?
 
For the calibers you mention that kit should be fine.

Caliber specific die sets, calipers, kinetic bullet puller, scale check weights and at least one manual is what else I'd recommend. I like Lymans 49th, but if you plan to use one manufacturer's bullet in particular I would get theirs as well.

Read first, use your buddy as a resource and good luck!
 
I bought the Lee Anniversary Reloading Kit I got it last week and so far I love, I only had enough money to get the dies for my .38sp I took 2 days to set up and calibrate the scale and get every thing set but when it was it only took me 30-40 min to reload 40 shells I was taking my time and cheking things.
Buy extra Quick Change Bushings so you have one on evey die then you do not have to reset them
 
I started with a Lee Precision single stage kit but it is "Pre-Breechlock." I wish Lee had the Breechlock out when i got my kit. How nice is it to swap out bushings set up with each die. As you can see on Cabelas the kit is rated 4.6 out of 5 from 54 actual owners. That should tell you a lot. I then got a second "kit" - Lee (Pre-Classic) Deluxe Four Hole Turret Kit. Once you get going you can then upgrade to the Classic Turret press or just start with the Classic Turret Kit from Cabelas in the first place which I wish I had been able to do. http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/t...parentType=index&indexId=cat601233&hasJS=true
 
Good press,order extra bushings. I have the classic turret but I still use the breechlock to load all my huntin loads.
 
Good press,order extra bushings.
Click to expand...

Good advice. They are $8 for two, and well worth it.

I just picked up the anniversary kit too. The advice I have been given for Single Stage setups is to work in batches.

Good luck and happy loading!
 
I've got nothing but good to say about mine. Make sure you get the quick-lock bushings to go with your dies. They'll save you a lot of time setting up.
 
the Lee Anniversary Reloading Kit is a good kit. I would not have second thoughts in assembling ammo with it. I have the old Challenger press without the breech locks and i use it alot during football season. You'll be happy with it.

LGB
 
My first was the Lee Classic cast Turret. I'm really happy with it even though people said it was a pain for new people. Whatever you do just take it slow and pay attention. I didn't go the Kit route because I wanted to reload rifle. I eventually got a Hornady powder measure with their case activated linkage and it throws reasonably well. I think it'll do fine plinking but, of course, if I wanted the most accuracy I'd weigh each load.
 
I Bought my Lee Breech Lock Challenger kit in the spring 2009.

I'm glad I bought this reloading kit. Made my learning curve less difficult.

After over 6000 rounds loaded I think this is a good way to go.
 
I also started with this kit and really like it. Widener's has the kit or 82 bucks but its out of stock at the time. What ever press you to get just enjoy and be safe.
 
I use the Lee Breech Lock Challenger constantly and it has never failed me (though, there have been a few "operator errors").

For the money, I think that it is an exceptional reloading maching. I do 9mm and 45ACP.

Make sure you get their carbide dies.
 
I bought Lee breech lock kit to start off with this year. I have only resized all of my rifle brass to this point and I like it. I don't need a progressive for the amount I shoot so I will not buy one now. I may get the Lee classic turret though for some handgun ammo I want to stock up on.
 
A close friend of mine after watching and helping me reload, got interested and bought a Lee Kit just recently. My stuff is all RCBS, but I could find nothing wrong with his Lee Kit and the price was clearly better than what he could get from RCBS. However, I am not sure about his scale. I believe I would invest in a better scale than Lee offers. We did some comparison of loads using his scale and my RCBS scale and there were inconsistencies that could be significant in some of the faster pistol powders like Bullseye.
Moosie
 
I have the breech lock kit and it has made 1000's of rounds of ammo in past few years.

That being said, I would love to have the Redding T-7 kit with 3BR dropper, mdl 2 scale, 1400 trimmer, etc. But it is just a whole lot more.

For 100$, it is hard to beat. The scale may seem flimsy, but it works great, and the powder dropper is as consistent as the more expensive ones. .1-.3 grains off, just like the high dollar ones.
 
I got my order all set today with Midway and had friends on the NC Hunting forum helping me ensure I had everything I needed. Then when I went to look for primers I found there were none. LOL. I spent more than 30 minutes on the net trying to find Federal, CCI, or Win primers for large rifle. I could have been sitting here with a couple hundred dollars worth of stuff and unable to make a single round.

So I'm going to go primer hunting this weekend (and powder) and if I can pick up a couple thousand I'll pull the trigger again on the kit. I had no idea how scarce they were.

Of course ... one can write volumes on what I don't know. :p
 
Snakum,

Not sure what part of North Cakalaki you are from but if you are close to Norfolk, Virginia, Bob's gun shop has all sizes of CCI primers in stock.

Good Luck!
Ed
 
Another NC location...

Hi Snakum,

Another place to try is... Mace Sports, Inc., 6921 Industrial Dr., Mebane, NC 27302 (off of I85 between Burlington and Hillsborough, NC)

919-563-4070

I stopped in last Nov. on my way to a TarHeel football game. They had plenty and the website says they still got'em. You might call ahead to be sure, ggod prices too.

BTW I've had my Lee Breech Lock for a year now and love it. I load .308s, 7.62x54R and 44mag. I'm trying to get my brother to buy me some 30/30 and 357 dies so I can reload his stuff too! I'm thinking of doin some 45acps later this year. Good luck!

LH near Charlotte, NC
 
I've loaded everything from pistol rounds between 25 acp all the way to 500 mag. And rifle rounds from 223 to 340 wby. Its always worked for me.;)
 
The scale is the only thing that you will want to change but that is a quick fix. You can find a nice one from midway for a reasonable price. I have had mine for almost a year and around 3000 rounds later not one complaint. You will love it.
 
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