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HogRider
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As being the best I would say this kit is probably not the best overall, but probably the best for the money.
I have used the same kit to start, but it didn't take me long to upgrade the powder measure and I switched to a turret press. I guess if you are mainly looking into re-loading hand gun ammo it's not a bad kit, but if you want to do rifle ammo and stay single stage, look into something like the Lyman Crusher or the RCBS Rock Chucker kit.
The hand held priming tool works quite well - I still use it, and the aniversary kit should also come with a book, which is quite helpful and has a lot of load data. ( Modern Reloading, Richard Lee 2nd Ed).
I have used the same kit to start, but it didn't take me long to upgrade the powder measure and I switched to a turret press. I guess if you are mainly looking into re-loading hand gun ammo it's not a bad kit, but if you want to do rifle ammo and stay single stage, look into something like the Lyman Crusher or the RCBS Rock Chucker kit.
The hand held priming tool works quite well - I still use it, and the aniversary kit should also come with a book, which is quite helpful and has a lot of load data. ( Modern Reloading, Richard Lee 2nd Ed).
WhoKnowsWho
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I was going to get the same kit, but I figured I would want a bit more volume output, even though I wasn't sure if I was going to enjoy doing it yet, so I spent a little more to get the Lee Turrey Press kit with the scale and other accesories. I am glad I did! I wouldn't want to fiddle with putting dies in and out all the time, but it is easy to keep track of what you are doing that way.
CJ
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I've been pondering the same question, and bit the bullet (ouch) and got a kit on eBay. Even if (when) I end up upgrading pretty quickly, I figure it won't hurt to have a single stage press around 
Black Snowman
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I had been sharing reloading equipment with a friend and when he moved out I bought this to cover all the bases I was now missing.
The only thing I've upgraded is the scale, bought Cabela's digital scale for $90. Other than that the kit has been more than sufficant for all my loading needs including the .340 Weatherby Magnum, which isn't exactly an easy cartridge to resize.
The kit replaced my friends RCBS Special 5 press, 5-0-5 scale, and other assorted goodies and left me with just my Lee LoadMaster. I do most of my pistol loading on the LoadMaster and all my rifle loading on the Challenger. I started out loading on single stages and don't like the design of most turret presses. My only complaint about the Challenger is it's kinda messy to clean out the primers from it's "catch tray".
If I did get a turret press I'd definately go with the Lee. You sacrifice a little finger room for greater strength and consistancy over most other turret designs.
YMMV but I think the Lee kit is a great way to start. If you decide to upgrade you'll still like having all the goodies the kit came with.
The only thing I've upgraded is the scale, bought Cabela's digital scale for $90. Other than that the kit has been more than sufficant for all my loading needs including the .340 Weatherby Magnum, which isn't exactly an easy cartridge to resize.
The kit replaced my friends RCBS Special 5 press, 5-0-5 scale, and other assorted goodies and left me with just my Lee LoadMaster. I do most of my pistol loading on the LoadMaster and all my rifle loading on the Challenger. I started out loading on single stages and don't like the design of most turret presses. My only complaint about the Challenger is it's kinda messy to clean out the primers from it's "catch tray".
If I did get a turret press I'd definately go with the Lee. You sacrifice a little finger room for greater strength and consistancy over most other turret designs.
YMMV but I think the Lee kit is a great way to start. If you decide to upgrade you'll still like having all the goodies the kit came with.
Stealthfixr
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The BEST place to start would be with a Dillon press. The cheapest way would be Lee. I struggled with this decision just over a year ago and found a used Dillon SDB that I could afford. Dillon refurbished it for free--no questions asked (!), and it has loaded thousands of trouble free rounds for me ever since.
HogRider
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Black Snowman
Member
I'll have to disagree that the best way to start would be on a progressive. Even after I had been reloading for a while going to a progressive was very intimidating and it can be discouraging trying to get every process just right. You can still use most progressives as a single stage press but I'm a big fan of the KISS principle. The fewer things possible to go wrong while learning anything the better.
The Lee is a minimal investment for a lot of time saving tools that I wouldn't have spent the money on otherwise but now I can't imagine living without. Like the hand priming tool and the powder thrower.
If you KNOW you're going to love it, and you KNOW you're going to reload in volume spending the money on a Dillion may very well be the best route for you but you're going to have a steeper learning curve and a lot more capital outlay. Only you can decide what will be best for your needs.
If I were loading a lot more than the one or two thousand rounds a year I'd probably invest in a Dillon, but for just speeding up my batches of pistol rounds and loading for the occasional rifle trip the Lee route was way more bang for the buck.
The Lee is a minimal investment for a lot of time saving tools that I wouldn't have spent the money on otherwise but now I can't imagine living without. Like the hand priming tool and the powder thrower.
If you KNOW you're going to love it, and you KNOW you're going to reload in volume spending the money on a Dillion may very well be the best route for you but you're going to have a steeper learning curve and a lot more capital outlay. Only you can decide what will be best for your needs.
If I were loading a lot more than the one or two thousand rounds a year I'd probably invest in a Dillon, but for just speeding up my batches of pistol rounds and loading for the occasional rifle trip the Lee route was way more bang for the buck.
JA
Member
I have recomened the Lee Ann kit to dozens of friends,family,and co-workers. All have been very satified with it especialy the minimum investment it required to have all the tools needed to start reloading. Several of them have moved up to progressive and turret presses. But all that stuck with reloading still use the Lee press for rifle case resizing prior to trimming,cartridges they load a low volume of,and running off a few rounds to test a new bullet or new powder.
Yes you could rebuild a V-8 engine without every having touched a engine in your life before but..... you would need a lot of help. If you rebuilt a couple of lawnmower engines first it would make it a lot easier and you wouldn't need as much help. Same thing with starting out with a progressive press instead of a single stage press like in the Lee kit.
Yes you could rebuild a V-8 engine without every having touched a engine in your life before but..... you would need a lot of help. If you rebuilt a couple of lawnmower engines first it would make it a lot easier and you wouldn't need as much help. Same thing with starting out with a progressive press instead of a single stage press like in the Lee kit.
i bought this kit from cabelas recently, i wasent sure if id like reloading or if i could even find the time. just loaded 50 .45 colt cases, took 2 nights to do. with setting up the dies, running test cases to get the hang of it and the like. i will say its a slow process, im not looking for speed i only want to load 45 colt and maybe a few odd rifle rounds.
overall the hand prime tool is awesome, the press itself seems fine and worked out well, i dont know what to think about the powder measure it seemed finicky with the titegroup powder, the scale seems really hard to get a reading on, i think ill get a digital scale if i continue.
i dont see how you could go wrong i mean for around 100 bucks with dies i was able to see how it worked. it was slow changing out the 3 dies for only 50 rounds but i wanted to see if it worked. the kit is definitly lacking in instructions, i used several different manuals and book for info, hornaday, abc's of reloading and the lee manual. im pleased with it and dont regret the purchase at all. i wasent about to blow upwards of 500 bucks on a progressive set up to begin with. oh the best part is i bolted everything on a 2x12 board 14 inches long and clamped it to the table. you dont need a whole lot of room for this kit.
overall the hand prime tool is awesome, the press itself seems fine and worked out well, i dont know what to think about the powder measure it seemed finicky with the titegroup powder, the scale seems really hard to get a reading on, i think ill get a digital scale if i continue.
i dont see how you could go wrong i mean for around 100 bucks with dies i was able to see how it worked. it was slow changing out the 3 dies for only 50 rounds but i wanted to see if it worked. the kit is definitly lacking in instructions, i used several different manuals and book for info, hornaday, abc's of reloading and the lee manual. im pleased with it and dont regret the purchase at all. i wasent about to blow upwards of 500 bucks on a progressive set up to begin with. oh the best part is i bolted everything on a 2x12 board 14 inches long and clamped it to the table. you dont need a whole lot of room for this kit.
tbeb
Member
I started with a Lee turrent press, and a Lee powder dispenser which screws in top of expanding die. I use a Lee auto prime tool like you have pictured. I bought a used Lyman powder scale. I bought a used rock tumbler (like one uses to polish rocks) to clean brass. I use a Lee 3-die set (one with carbide sizing die). I also use a separate crimp die, one for .380 ACP, and another for .38 special & .357 magnum. Only other caliber I reload is .45 ACP. This setup has served me for 18 years.
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