info on lee 50th anniversary kit

Myself and many others here on CGN started with the Lee 50th kit and reloaded alot of rounds with it... but if you can spare the coin i personally would buy the RCBS rockchucker kit... better quality here and there makes a big diffrence.
 
Although I have a Rockchucker and other presses I have purposely been loading a lot of rifle and pistol loads with my Lee Breech Lock Challenger press. It's the one from the Anniversary kit and I've used it for the last 2 years or so to test it. I have been very satisfied and have no complaints or problems with it.

I would recommend you get the Lee case length gauge for your calibre. It works with the trimmer in the kit.

I prefer to use a different scale (RCBS/Ohaus 5-0-5 is my favorite for balance beam type). The Lee scale does work but is not the most friendly. I'd checl the EE for a used one on this site.

Overall for a $82 kit I think it is well worth the money and even if you buy other equipment in the future you will still be using parts of this kit for years to come.
 
Don't listen to Ben, he's got a tooth against Lee Precision. Not saying he's wrong but he ain't right :D
I've loaded thousands of rounds on mine. In 3 calibers.
 
I've had mine for a couple of years now. It's inexpensive to learn on so that is a big plus.

I've upgraded a couple of items since I bought it, such as the scale to an RCBS which was used and I got it cheap at a gun show. It is much nicer to use than the lee scale, but no more accurate.

I have the lee dies in 22-250 and have loaded 2-300 rounds and they seem to work without incident. I think I'll get a set of RCBS in .223 and try them out next just to see if i find a difference.

I think I got good value for my money and I'm reloading as I upgrade my equipment. It's kind of fun just watching and picking around for a deal on the better equipment.
 
People seem to either love Lee or hate their stuff, with little in between. I've personally never done much with their presses myself (my first RCBS set is still going fine), but it's worth noting that Lee is still selling lots of them every year. If they were the tin-plated cr*p some would have you believe, that wouldn't be happening.
 
People seem to either love Lee or hate their stuff, with little in between. I've personally never done much with their presses myself (my first RCBS set is still going fine), but it's worth noting that Lee is still selling lots of them every year. If they were the tin-plated cr*p some would have you believe, that wouldn't be happening
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Lee keeps selling so many of those cheap kits, for the simple reason that they are the cheapest product available.Price is a huge factor for many people, why do you think people buy the Remington 710/770?
 
stubblejumper said:
Lee keeps selling so many of those cheap kits, for the simple reason that they are the cheapest product available.Price is a huge factor for many people, why do you think people buy the Remington 710/770?
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Yes, Lee sells many of these Kits because price is a factor for many people....as well, these Anniversary Kits do work and they can work well for a long time if used as designed. Nothing wrong with that. Works with Walmart, works with Lee. I don't know about the Remington 770 though.

The Anniversary is an entry level kit that is affordable and makes ammo that shoots well (if the person pulling the press handle can read and follow instructions). If this kit brings more people into the sport, then it would have served a very important purpose.

Compare the number of posts from guys who are not happy with their kits as opposed to guys who are, and you will notice that there really are not that many.
Check out these reviews:
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/42...reech-lock-single-stage-press-anniversary-kit
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/149097/lee-challenger-single-stage-press-anniversary-kit

How many here bought a Rolls Royce or a Mercedes for their first car?


I thought so.
 
dont botheer with the 50th anniversary kit just go and buy a good scale dies and a good lee turret press the lee classic cast 4 hole turret press is only 88 bucks and is pretty tough to beat you can load cases up to 3 1/4 inches long with the auto index so 4 pulls of the handle you got a loaded round from sart to finish its my press set up for loading all my 223 and 40 cal pistol ammo total cost was like 160 bucks for my press and dies for one caliber and the pro auto disk powder measure hard to beat the price for a good solid press
 
The press is ok if not a bit gimmicky with the "quick change die inserts". Just leave 1 insert locked in place and treat it as a conventional press. The powder measure is cheap but functional, and appears to hold it's charge weight to about .2grain with most powders. The scale would be the first thing to upgrade, as it is a very cheap piece. I got an electronic mini scale from MTM for about 40bucks new, and it is very accurate. The kit will get you started just fine, and you can upgrade as you go..I mean for 125 beans, it's pretty good.
This kit is like a Korean car...not exactly top quality but has a good warranty and is functional enough until you can afford something else.
 
I started with the 50th anniversary kit and still reload with it today. I have reloaded about 4000 9mm rounds, 200 45ACP rounds and 200 308Norma Mag rounds.

The only change I made was the scale, I bought a cheap electronic scale on e-bay. Other than that, I use everything in the kit.

IMO there is no better way to get started. At this point, my kit has paid for itself about 3 times.
 
jimbo45 said:
dont botheer with the 50th anniversary kit just go and buy a good scale dies and a good lee turret press the lee classic cast 4 hole turret press is only 88 bucks and is pretty tough to beat you can load cases up to 3 1/4 inches long with the auto index so 4 pulls of the handle you got a loaded round from sart to finish its my press set up for loading all my 223 and 40 cal pistol ammo total cost was like 160 bucks for my press and dies for one caliber and the pro auto disk powder measure hard to beat the price for a good solid press
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Where can I pick up a Classic for $88?
 
Hotwheels81 said:
Myself and many others here on CGN started with the Lee 50th kit and reloaded alot of rounds with it... but if you can spare the coin i personally would buy the RCBS rockchucker kit... better quality here and there makes a big diffrence.
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I started with the Anniversary kit, I upgraded my press to the Lee Classic Cast, INHO a better design than the rockchucker and easier to use.
 
Lee 50th was my first press, still use it for some rifle bullets and pulling milsurp.

Its fine for a first press, BUT the scale was pants (IMHO), others love it and im glad it works for them, but i got a Hornady digi powder measure for peace of mind.

Now moved on to progressive press.
 
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