Lee Classic Cast, Breech Lock or not?

[HankC]

Lee offers 2 versions of Classic Cast, Breech Lock or no Breech Lock at the same price. Which version do you prefer? Is Breech Lock less precise? It is definitely an attractive feature, but not sure how much time it actually save in real world. The quick unlock will mean less thread engagement and less load bearing, does it affect life? Lee only has 2 year warranty, don't want the press break shortly after 2 yrs!
New to reloading and consider Single Stage O-frame such as RCBS Partner, Lee Challenger or Lee Classic Cast as my first press. Would really like to start from a used one, but don't see any listed in For Sale! Mostly for reloading necked rifle rounds such as 308, may do pistol rounds such as 9mm Luger and .45 ACP later.

 

[Magnum Shooter]

RCBS Partner, and Lee Challenger are to light weight for rifle rounds, they are good presses and I own them, but as an only press I would advise against them. The Lee Classic Cast is heavy duty and a great buy.

 

[Rule3]

The LEE classic breech lock is a heavy duty press and the bushings work just fine. It's all a matter of if you want to screw and unscrew dies each time you change? No it's no big deal if only doing few rifle rounds but sure is convenient to have the quick change when doing a volume.

If you do not mind screwing in each die heck get a RCBS Rock Chucker

I have the breech lock and the Classic Turret, Why not get the turret??

It is faster, just as solid and you can use it as single stage also. I load 223 and 308 on it.

So many choices

I forgot, Get a Dillion

 

[splattergun]

I strongly disagree that the Challenger Breechlock press is too light for loading rifle. I have loaded over a thousand 30-06, 6.5 Swede, and .243 on mine. Including resizing .270 brass up to 30-06 and 7mm-08 brass down to .243. without any issues whatsoever. The Classic and the Challenger use the same steel linkage!
That said, The cast iron Classic Cast frame will certainly be even stronger than the aluminum alloy of the Challenger.

I like the breechlock bushing feature. One option I recommend is the Lock ring eliminator https://fsreloading.com/lee-precision-lock-ring-eliminator-90063.html
This bushing-lock ring combo uses a set screw that holds your die settings perfectly.

The Breechlock is not a necessary feature, but if you load several different calibers and change out dies frequently, it sure simplifies and speeds up the process.

 

[kostner]

Get yourself a Lee Classic turret press. You can set it up as a single stage and reload all the rifle ammo you want and keep the dies in a turret to store eliminating the need to re adjust.
You won't be sorry.

 

[peels]

My very terse test going from Lee breach lock challenger to none breach lock Lee classic cast indicate no change in accuracy. I have not used either long enough to answer durability questions. That said, the engineer in me tells me that with the additional thread engagement come with additional tolerance stackup. In theory, there is the possibility of affects on accuracy with the breachlock system.

I chose the none breachlock primarily for the spent primer handling. My experience with the challenger breachlock was that the side primer eject gets the ram and press area dirty. The classic cast without breachlock ejects the primer thru the ram. Leaving the ram surface and the press much cleaner for depriming operations.

 

[Gadawg88]

If you want a SS, get the Classic Cast. It's a tank and will outlive you. By the way, you can use the Hornady Lock n Load bushings with the Lee Classic Cast if you decide you want quick change. That's what I do.

 

[RealGun]

The breechlock feature, or converted with an insert to accept Hornady LnL inserts, allows preserving your settings on each die. That has to be a significant time and patience saver, when loading with only one hole.

 

[DaveInFloweryBranchGA]

The Classic Cast single stage with the Hornady LnL bushing conversion is the way to go long term. It's the better of the two presses, especially when you consider primer disposal.

The breech lock press isn't a bad press, but just isn't up to the high standard set by the extremely well designed Classic Cast single stage.

 

[RandyP]

If I went back in time 6 years to when I first started reloading, I would tell myself to just buy the Lee Classic 4-hole turret that I ended up buying within a few months of starting this great hobby.

The quality, ease of use and 175+ round per hour output are hard to match at the great economical price. For ME it worked out to a perfect fit. Caliber changes are also swift at a lower cost than any other make of turret or progressive.

Thru-the-ram spent primer disposal IS a great feature. No complaints about the method used by my Lee Anniversary single stage with breech lock bushings.

 

[greyling22]

for rifle I really like the lee classic cast single stage. It is true that you can load rifle on the lee classic turret, but I prefer a single stage for rifle. I get the (probably false) feeling that is is more precise. I was on the fence about breech lock for a while, but opted to pass on it. I don't know that what I got is better, but I don't regret not having the breech lock feature.

for handgun, unless you need vast quantities, I really like the classic turret press. It is a lot faster than a single stage, and even though I have some progressives, it is my favorite.

 

[HankC]

Seems to me if I go with breech Lock Classic Cast, I'm stuck with Lee Breech Lock bushing which is more expensive than Hornady LNL. I know I can always leave the bushing in there and use the press by unscrewing the dies. With the Non-Breech Lock Classic Cast, it accepts LNL conversion with the 1-1/4 die hole and I will have better flexibility. Do I get it right?

 

[Arkansas Paul]

RCBS Partner, and Lee Challenger are to light weight for rifle rounds

I cannot speak for the RCBS Partner as I have never used it, but as for the Lee Challenger, nothing could be further from the truth.

I have one, as well as 2 RCBS Reloader Special presses. I love them all. Most of the time, I actually size and deprime on the Lee because the primer catch system works better. We bought the press used at a gun show for $35 and have been full length sizing for about 5 years with it. We load everything from .223 up to 7mm Rem Mag and several calibers in between. Never one single issue.

I'm not knocking any brand and I don't doubt for a second that cast iron RCBS equipment will last longer than aluminum presses, but to say the press isn't up to the job is just not true.

If you can afford the cast iron press, by all means get it. You'll never wear it out. But for someone just starting out on a tight budget they will do the job just fine.

As for the original question, I've used both the breech lock system and the regular Lee without it and personally I think the breech lock is overrated.

 

[Gadawg88]

Seems to me if I go with breech Lock Classic Cast, I'm stuck with Lee Breech Lock bushing which is more expensive than Hornady LNL. I know I can always leave the bushing in there and use the press by unscrewing the dies. With the Non-Breech Lock Classic Cast, it accepts LNL conversion with the 1-1/4 die hole and I will have better flexibility. Do I get it right?

You got it!

 

[BADUNAME71]

my 2 cents

I have the Lee Challenger breech lock press and it's a good press for the money. I use the Lee bushings which I buy off Amazon for 7.99 for a 2 pack. That is very close to what the LNL bushings cost. I am fairly new to reloading but I use this press to resize 30-30 brass to 32-40 cartridges. It handles this tough task well. Undoubtably the higher priced Dillon or RCBS Rock Chucker will do the same job. I got my press in a kit for 126.00 off Amazon.
My only problem with this setup is as someone else said. The spent primer disposal seems to get a lot of dirt/spent powder on the plunger area.
If you can afford the turret press, get it, it may be needed later down the road.

 

[splattergun]

Seems to me if I go with breech Lock Classic Cast, I'm stuck with Lee Breech Lock bushing which is more expensive than Hornady LNL. I know I can always leave the bushing in there and use the press by unscrewing the dies. With the Non-Breech Lock Classic Cast, it accepts LNL conversion with the 1-1/4 die hole and I will have better flexibility. Do I get it right?

I don't know where you've been shopping, but Lee bushings are always less than Hornady.
$8 per 2pak; https://fsreloading.com/lee-precision-breech-lock-bushings-90600.html
plus, (I don't know why you would) you can turn the dies out of the bushings, if you want.

Why would you pay for a Hornady conversion and more for their bushings? $23 for 3pak.
http://www.amazon.com/Hornady-Lock-...id=1425866902&sr=8-1&keywords=hornady+bushing

If you want a Lee press, and a press with quick-change bushings, just get the Lee Breechlock (Classic Cast iron or Challenger cast aluminum alloy.) and be done with it. Simple enough?

 

[StrutStopper]

I started out with the breech lock challenger press. Served me well for 2 years. I decided to upgrade to something a bit quicker, but don't have the need to crank out thousands of rounds in short order so I picked up the Lee Classic Turret press. I still have the single stage and plan to keep it, but since switching my dies from breech lock bushing to the turret, I've got plenty of bushings available to support whatever rifle reloading I decide to get into. I just scored a bunch of .35 Rem brass today, I'll eventually get the dies for that caliber.

 

[GLOOB]

It is nice to be able to take the die out for cleaning or inspection partway thru a batch. I would take the breechblock version. I don't see any need for 1 1/4" dies. What does that limit you from doing besides 50 BMG?

 

[Toprudder]

I chose the non breachlock primarily for the spent primer handling. My experience with the challenger breachlock was that the side primer eject gets the ram and press area dirty. The classic cast without breachlock ejects the primer thru the ram. Leaving the ram surface and the press much cleaner for depriming operations.

^^^^^ +1 ^^^^^^ Absolutely correct!!!

I have the breech-lock Challenger, and I quit depriming on the press because of that. After a few hundred, you have to take it apart and clean it.

Now, there are two versions of the Classic cast press, and they are completely different. If I had it to do over again, I would go with the Classic Cast instead of the Challenger, and I would get the non-breechlock version, mainly because of the primer handling.

I also have an RCBS Summit press, and I converted that to the Hornady bushing kit. One kit comes with the adapter and three bushings. You can then buy just the additional die bushings, and in quantity of 10 they only cost about $4.50 each. This LnL system will work with the Classic Cast non-breechlock press.

Hornady LnL Die Bushing Adapter kit

Additional die bushings

Or you could just leave the thread adapter in the press and use conventional die locking rings.

Die locking rings

 

[A Pause for the Coz]

Its kind of subjective, Do you need to have a press that is as stiff as it can be?
Surly not, I have full length sized with a hand held die and a mallet.

I have had issues with the LEE breech lock system. Nothing that could not be worked around. But when you have play in the system you have to factor out the play in order to get repeatable results.
Different pieces of brass have different compression characteristics and some are annealed softer than others.
This changes the amount of force applied to the bearing surfaces of the breech block. Some compress the block more and some compress the brass more. This changes the set back of your shoulder ever so slightly.
Given a standard chamber,Not much of an issue unless you fall into tolerance stacking. Or if your working with a tight chamber and your window is narrower. Can get irritating.

Personally I chose not to have to deal with that. I want my press to be as wiggle/ flex/ end lash free as possible.
So I chose the Classic Cast with out the breech block. Have it in a solid mount. No wiggle, no wobble, no flex.
Happy... Works for me.



I also use a progressive press and a turret. Talk about end lash... lots. But the right tool for the job at hand.

 

[ironworkerwill]

The Lee Challenger breech lock is a fairly sturdy press. It don't like resizing wssm, wsm, or Rums. It can and has sized the fat cases but I can tell it flexes more.

 

[9mmepiphany]

When I got a single stage press to supplement my Hornady LNL AP, a huge factor was primer handling. Many folks recommend the RCBS Rockchucker, but when it came down to the wire, Lee Classic Cast beat out the Co-Ax based mostly on my budget.

The RC didn't cost much more than the CC, but it couldn't keep up in the spent primer handling department.

I went with the non-Breech Lock, because I prefer the Hornady Bushing system...for about the same price http://www.amazon.com/Hornady-Lock-Load-Bushing-Pack/dp/B00162OLTW

 

[bogon48]

I use a Lee Classic Cast with 4 hole turrets. I bought some extra turrets for about $10.00 each and set up each one in the calibers I load frequently. With a simple twist, the turret comes out, and I pop the next one in. Keeps from having to continually screw the dies all the way in or out.

I've adjusted the lever stroke so that I can also use it as a single stage without having the turret rotate. That way, if I just want to spend an hour popping primers, it goes pretty quickly.

 

[GLOOB]

So to set the record straight:
1. Regular classic cast can take 1 1/4" dies, Breechlock cannot; it can also take the Hornady bushing adapter for cost of only $28.00 or so.
2. Regular classic cast has less press flex/slop
3. Regular classic cast has primers going through the ram, which is cleaner; but does this also means the collection tube moves up and down with the press??? FWIW, I have a breechlock challenger, and I only have to clean out the primer dust once in a very long while. Aside from occasionally cleaning the primer arms, I have only cleaned out the inside of the ram maybe once in 4 years and 10 thousand rounds. Maybe the classic cast version is a little different? Also, the collection tube is static, if you want to hang a bottle off the end, for instance. (I find it easy enough to just dump it when it's full).

4. A classic cast, you can set up the primer arms either on the left side or the right side. Is the breechlock version right-side only, like the challenger?

 

[HankC]

So to set the record straight:
1. Regular classic cast can take 1 1/4" dies, Breechlock cannot; it can also take the Hornady bushing adapter for cost of only $28.00 or so.
2. Regular classic cast has less press flex/slop
3. Regular classic cast has primers going through the ram, which is cleaner; but does this also means the collection tube moves up and down with the press??? FWIW, I have a breechlock challenger, and I only have to clean out the primer dust once in a very long while. Aside from occasionally cleaning the primer arms, I have only cleaned out the inside of the ram maybe once in 4 years and 10 thousand rounds. Maybe the classic cast version is a little different? Also, the collection tube is static, if you want to hang a bottle off the end, for instance. (I find it easy enough to just dump it when it's full).

4. A classic cast, you can set up the primer arms either on the left side or the right side. Is the breechlock version right-side only, like the challenger?

I wasn't aware of that the breech lock version classic cast use a different ram from the standard classic cast. I always thought the only difference is the die hole area, just checked Lee's website and they do show different parts for the rams! I definitely prefer the standard classic cast that the spent primers drop thru the ram down to trash can! Just for my curiosity, in case of corrosive primers, any concern on rust and corrosion inside the ram and need to clean it up? I won't deal with corrosive ammo for sure.