Anyone got opinions on the Lee Challenger press, or more accurately the Lee Anniversary Reloading Kit? I'm looking to start reloading and the price is right on that kit. Any limitation on what shells I can load? (outside of 50 BMG of course) How do the other parts of the kit rate? Most interested in how the powder measure and scale rate.
Lee Challenger press?
- Thread starter FAL_Freak
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oldfart
Member
The Challenger press is a perfectly adequate single-stage press and will turn out ammo just as accurate as an RCBS, Redding or Dillon-- if you take the time to be careful. The Perfect Powder Measure is_very good, probably one of the best available. At first though, it'll drive you crazy. It has to be 'seasoned' by being used for awhile. Usually, running about a pound of powder through it will do the job. If you intend to load both pistol and rifle ammo you'll soon get tired of adjusting the measure. The scale is quite accurate, but it only measures up to about 100 grains. That's plenty for powder but if you want to weigh a bullet it's probably too small.
I started with an Anniversary kit and gradually acquired other stuff to make the process easier and faster. I now use a 3-hole Lee turret press, two Perfect powder measures (one for rifle and the other for handgun) and an RCBS 505 powder scale. I wouldn't even try to guess how many rounds I've loaded since I first started and the Lee line has always gotten the job done for me. YMMV.
I started with an Anniversary kit and gradually acquired other stuff to make the process easier and faster. I now use a 3-hole Lee turret press, two Perfect powder measures (one for rifle and the other for handgun) and an RCBS 505 powder scale. I wouldn't even try to guess how many rounds I've loaded since I first started and the Lee line has always gotten the job done for me. YMMV.
Neal Bloom
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Everything in the anniversary kit worked fine for me. Didn't seem to be able to throw consistent charges for awhile. Thought it was the powder measure at first but I suspected the scale. I finally replaced the scale with an RCBS 505 and am quite happy with my setup. The powder measure works great but as oldfart states it does need some powder run through it.
The press works great for my pistol and rifle loading. I have two presses now after a friend gave me his when he bought a progressive. To tell you the truth I think he misses single stage loading. You can setup and change calibers and loads a lot faster than with a progressive, you just can't crank out the volume. For the volume of reloading I do the lee press, dies, and accessories work to my satisfaction.
The press works great for my pistol and rifle loading. I have two presses now after a friend gave me his when he bought a progressive. To tell you the truth I think he misses single stage loading. You can setup and change calibers and loads a lot faster than with a progressive, you just can't crank out the volume. For the volume of reloading I do the lee press, dies, and accessories work to my satisfaction.
Go with the Lee Turret Press
Purchase a Lee Turret Press with auto-indexing. When you start out do not use the indexing rod and you'll have a sinle stage press. After becoming comfortable with the process you can use the indexing rod and increase your output using the same press. I have loaded thousands of 9mm and 38 Spl with mine and love it. I do however hand prime my cases, as I fined the priming tool on the press slow and not easy to use. Best of luck to you.
Purchase a Lee Turret Press with auto-indexing. When you start out do not use the indexing rod and you'll have a sinle stage press. After becoming comfortable with the process you can use the indexing rod and increase your output using the same press. I have loaded thousands of 9mm and 38 Spl with mine and love it. I do however hand prime my cases, as I fined the priming tool on the press slow and not easy to use. Best of luck to you.
I thank you guys for the input. I think i'll get an Anniversary kit for now. I was going to get a Hornady lock n' load AP but the Hornady dealer didn't have any at the last gunshow. In fact he said Hornady isn't able to crank them out fast enough to keep up with demand. Oh well, I can always use a single stage. Loading small amounts of rifle ammo would be a pain on the LnL, but I can wait to be able to load 45 acp faster than I can shoot it. 
A. Partisan
Member
Check www.midwayusa.com for their price on the Anniversary Kit.
They have them on sale often.
They have them on sale often.
MoNsTeR
Member
I started with the Anniversary Kit also. The scale is... passable, definitely worth upgrading. The "Perfect Powder Measure" sucks for pistol loading. The Challenger press is just fine apart from it's lame spent primer catch bin.
Considering the whole kit costs less than most presses, it'd be silly to buy anything else. Even if you end up pitching everything in the kit in a year, you'll have gotten a lot of education for your $70.
Considering the whole kit costs less than most presses, it'd be silly to buy anything else. Even if you end up pitching everything in the kit in a year, you'll have gotten a lot of education for your $70.
Selfdfenz
Member
I got a Challenger press kit years ago but it did not have the scale or powder measure. Got a Lyman PM and a Hornaday scale.
Had the priming setup, funnel, set of dies etc.
It's been a great press and has paid for itself 100 times over. Likely more.
It and I have loaded some awesomely accurate ammo over the years.
I have a progressive for the volume jobs but for running 100 to 150 "whatevers" the single stage is without par because its up and running in nothing flat and the no big deal putting the stuff away.
They sell the press by itself and I have often thought it would be cool to have 3-4 of em for other stuff.
One with a universal depriming die 24-7-365.
One to size/lube bullets.
Etc.
They are cheap enough just to buy an extra and set it up for a single, all-the-time operation.
S-
Had the priming setup, funnel, set of dies etc.
It's been a great press and has paid for itself 100 times over. Likely more.
It and I have loaded some awesomely accurate ammo over the years.
I have a progressive for the volume jobs but for running 100 to 150 "whatevers" the single stage is without par because its up and running in nothing flat and the no big deal putting the stuff away.
They sell the press by itself and I have often thought it would be cool to have 3-4 of em for other stuff.
One with a universal depriming die 24-7-365.
One to size/lube bullets.
Etc.
They are cheap enough just to buy an extra and set it up for a single, all-the-time operation.
S-
Selfdfenz
Member
Congrats,
Another soon-to-be Lee fan.
You know....in an emergency....you can C- clamp the press to the corner of a table just to try it out.
My computer table looked kind of goofy with that progressive bolted on there for 6 months.
S-
Another soon-to-be Lee fan.
You know....in an emergency....you can C- clamp the press to the corner of a table just to try it out.
My computer table looked kind of goofy with that progressive bolted on there for 6 months.
S-
P95Carry
Moderator Emeritus
FAL_freak ... I doubt you will be disappointed. I use my Challenger press for rifle rounds .... and a coupla turret presses for handgun stuff. Also have one of the very light single stations . forget name ..... use that for de-priming, priming, sizing etc ......
Always have found over some 20 plus years that my lee stuff has been terrific value for money. In more recent times have added things like factroy crim,p dies etc . all in all .... been most pleased.
Always have found over some 20 plus years that my lee stuff has been terrific value for money. In more recent times have added things like factroy crim,p dies etc . all in all .... been most pleased.
Selfdfenz
Member
FAL,
That will get it done. And you are oh so right about the wife unit.
They do tend to look down their nose at loading at the k.table.
either way be careful and clean and try not to get lead dust everywhere.
If your brass is clean (not necessarily shiney but clean) you can reload as is.
But you will eventually love to have a tumbler.
Take care and start "pumping iron".(well at least a very good aluminum casting)
S-
That will get it done. And you are oh so right about the wife unit.
They do tend to look down their nose at loading at the k.table.
either way be careful and clean and try not to get lead dust everywhere.
If your brass is clean (not necessarily shiney but clean) you can reload as is.
But you will eventually love to have a tumbler.
Take care and start "pumping iron".(well at least a very good aluminum casting)
S-
Alex
Member
What's the first round your going to load on your new press Fal? I just bought a nifty new Corbin swage for my 40 yesterday, don't suppose the Challenger would handle that one though.
I too started out with the Anniversary kit. Bought some different scales after a while. The Lee scales were accurate enough, just didn't care for them.
Within a year I bought a Lee turrent and have been very happy with it. I still use the Challeger when loading rifle ammo. The turrent would load them, just prefer the other one.
Within a year I bought a Lee turrent and have been very happy with it. I still use the Challeger when loading rifle ammo. The turrent would load them, just prefer the other one.
Well, I got 20 Test rounds of 45 ACP pushed out last night and at least 150 cases all sized / expanded and primed. Initial impressions on reloading and the press are, reloading takes a while with a single stage ( that was expected). It wasn't too bad though, I was loading while the Colorado Avalanche were playing hockey and other than the A's losing everything went good. The press while certainly not the quality of RCBS or the like, is a decent press and for the price and can't be beat. (well it could be beat, but that would prolly chip the paint) All operations that had to be performed to the 45 ACP brass worked flawlessly. Full length sizing some large rifle caliber might make it sweat a little. If everything goes according to plans I will be loading .338 Lapua on this press before year end. Then I'll know for sure.
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