Lee 50th Anniversary vs. Breech Lock kit?

[FlyingHigh]

i'm planning on getting myself set up for reloading within the next couple months. i'll be doing it on a budget for now, so i'm looking at picking up either the Lee 50th Anniversary kit, or the Lee Breech Lock Challenger kit. i'm wondering if there's much of a difference between the two.

or would it be better/cheaper to buy the components separately? i have a Hornady scale already that i got for a smokin' deal, and know that it's better quality than the one i'd find in the Lee kit.

also, what kind of extras do i need to add to a starter kit?

i'll be reloading for 7mm Rem Mag and .303 British to start with. will probably get into 9mm and/or.45ACP eventually.

 

[Freyr_255]

The difference is one has a hand primer included(the more expensive kit...think the Challenger). This is for priming off the press.

Get a case trimmer gauge for each caliber, a set of dies per caliber, and a caliper that measures to the thousandth. That should get you started on your way.

For the record you'll be constantly upgrading and adding bits and pieces as you find you need/want them. Reloading is never a one time deal.

And yes it's probably better to get components separately so you can omit things like the scale. However the Lee starting kit is pretty good minus the scale and not a lot of money.

 

[C77]

I started off with the 50th kit.

The scale was ok accurate, but a PITA read and to set up and a it was a little fragile, so I swapped it for a 5-0-2.

The press broke twice, same place with not that many rounds loaded. To be fair, Lee replaced the toggle twice for free with just an email and a picture.

I also like to prime on the Lee press, and it is nice to have the quick change, but now I load pistol on a turret and don't need it so much.

Can't have broken presses, so I'm using a Rock Chucker now. In my opinion, the rock chucker is waaaaaay better and worth the extra money up front.

The RCBS RC is solid and has a very positive stop - much more consistent for me.

I bought a trimmer for the rifle brass, but I still use the lee trimmer for pistol.

I learned on the Lee, and if I did it again I would buy an RCBS and then search the EE and vendors and get everything a la carte.

 

[Fusilier]

I have and use a breach lock Classic Cast Press that I use for everything except my 9mm and my .40 (and even some of my steps for 9mm and .40). I really like the breach lock system. I can set and forget each die and very very quickly swap one to the next.
I use a Dillon Square Deal B for my volume pistol ammo but I load .357, .308 and .223 on the Lee press.

 

[FlyingHigh]

thanks for the info so far guys. i've heard nothing but good about the RCBS Rockchucker press. it looks like buying stuff separately will be my best bet.

are there better powder measures/dispensers?

case trimmers, i'm guessing they'll all do the job well enough. hand priming vs priming on the press i'm undecided on. i've heard differing opinions. guess it's something i'll have to try myself.

 

[MasterMC]

Nothing wrong with Lee die sets and Lee Breech Lock Challenger Press. I've loaded .223 and .308 several hundred rounds out of their dies and press. I'm now setting up my new Lee Pro 1000 for reloading 9mm ammo. Most of my reloading stuff are RED except grain scales are GREEN (5-0-5 and 5-0-10).

 

[C77]

thanks for the info so far guys. i've heard nothing but good about the RCBS Rockchucker press. it looks like buying stuff separately will be my best bet.

are there better powder measures/dispensers?

case trimmers, i'm guessing they'll all do the job well enough. hand priming vs priming on the press i'm undecided on. i've heard differing opinions. guess it's something i'll have to try myself.

Last year I loaded about 2 k rifle and used the lee powder dispenser for light charges, then a redding trickler into my 5-0-5. I got good results, but it is time consuming.

This year I will triple or more the amount I am loading (got an AR and shooting service rifle) so I invested in a auto charge dispenser. I calibrate it and then check the load in my 5-0-5 and have awesome results and it's fast. Again totally worth the investment depending on how much you load and how accurate you want to be.