Lee Challenger Press cracked

Lots of you guys are bashing LEE but just let me say this, and remember it is coming from a guy who's press just broke...."without the lower entry cost of LEE products I would have never started re-loading." Now that I have a huge re-loading addiction I might want to upgrade but initially I never would have thrown down the cash for something like a rock chucker. Actually my family bought me the LEE reloading 50th set for christmas last year. Fat chance they would have laid down $450-500 for a RCBS setup. So Lee might not be the best but it does get a fair bit of guys started at least.
 
Welcome to the club. I also had a Lee aluminum press that gave up the ghost by cracking. IMHO if you replace the B/O part all you are doing is waiting for the next failure. My advice is to purchase a cast iron press. Don't get me wrong; I think Lee makes some good stuff (dies and hand-held case trimmers). Other products (Auto-Prime and Safety Scale) are stinkers. I personally prefer my pre-China production Rockchucker but both Lyman and Redding make perfectly fine cast iron presses.
 
spenom said:
Lots of you guys are bashing LEE but just let me say this, and remember it is coming from a guy who's press just broke...."without the lower entry cost of LEE products I would have never started re-loading." Now that I have a huge re-loading addiction I might want to upgrade but initially I never would have thrown down the cash for something like a rock chucker. Actually my family bought me the LEE reloading 50th set for christmas last year. Fat chance they would have laid down $450-500 for a RCBS setup. So Lee might not be the best but it does get a fair bit of guys started at least.
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I almost quit before I got started after endlessly screwing around with that "safety" scale. It's no wonder they advocate charging by volume.
 
looch said:
I almost quit before I got started after endlessly screwing around with that "safety" scale. It's no wonder they advocate charging by volume.
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It take's time to learn anything, and the LEE scale is one of them.
It's not that it's hard to read,it's too damn sensitive!
A 1/2 to 1 gr change WILL send the beam bouncing up and down.
I've been using one for 25 year's and find it settle's down a lot quicker.
 
zuke said:
It take's time to learn anything, and the LEE scale is one of them.
It's not that it's hard to read,it's too damn sensitive!
A 1/2 to 1 gr change WILL send the beam bouncing up and down.
I've been using one for 25 year's and find it settle's down a lot quicker.
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I immediately replaced it (4 years ago) with a used 5-0-2. Worlds better as I weigh every charge.
 
zuke said:
I've been using one for 25 year's and find it settle's down a lot quicker.
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Did it take that long to break-in? :p
Just teasing. I just bought the Lee kit too!
I don't see how I could get started any cheaper, and the money saved goes towards bullets and brass and powder, etc.
 
UPDATE>>>

I sent them a picture last night and got this e-mail today.....Pretty good support in my opinion. Now I will have the one I bought and the replaced one So I am set for if it breaks again! I think I might just use it as a bullet seating press and get one of these classic cast Lee presses for the re-sizing.

Thank you for the picture, I will send out a replacement Toggle at no charge in today's mail.

Thank You,

Laine
Customer Service
 
spenom said:
UPDATE>>>

I sent them a picture last night and got this e-mail today.....Pretty good support in my opinion. Now I will have the one I bought and the replaced one So I am set for if it breaks again! I think I might just use it as a bullet seating press and get one of these classic cast Lee presses for the re-sizing.

Thank you for the picture, I will send out a replacement Toggle at no charge in today's mail.

Thank You,

Laine
Customer Service
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There you go! Not bad for a cheap press, eh?
 
spenom said:
UPDATE>>>

I sent them a picture last night and got this e-mail today.....Pretty good support in my opinion. Now I will have the one I bought and the replaced one So I am set for if it breaks again! I think I might just use it as a bullet seating press and get one of these classic cast Lee presses for the re-sizing.

Thank you for the picture, I will send out a replacement Toggle at no charge in today's mail.

Thank You,

Laine
Customer Service
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All the newer Lee presses use the same type toggle and arm.
New safety feature
 
spenom said:
Not so. The classic cast press uses Part BP2774 Togle. The challenger press uses Part OF2853 toggle.
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Classic cast toggle looks harder to break, the challanger one thins out quite a bit in the star pattern so the spot that broke is really only a couple mm thick. A slight defect in the material and with time: SNAP. But then again the classic cast's toggle is twice the cost to replace; unless you send the pic in and get a free one that is :)
 
madpat said:
Classic cast toggle looks harder to break, the challanger one thins out quite a bit in the star pattern so the spot that broke is really only a couple mm thick. A slight defect in the material and with time: SNAP. But then again the classic cast's toggle is twice the cost to replace; unless you send the pic in and get a free one that is :)
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My Classic Cast has loaded hundreds of rounds of 50 BMG without an issue.
If that can't break it, working with smaller rounds won't hurt it.
I've even used an extension on the handle for more leverage ( a stupid move ) without hurting it.
 
I reloaded about 150 .308 Norma Mag shells on my Classic press (plus countless 9mm, 45acp, 40S&W). Nothing broke so far.

I'm a casual reloader, and for me Lee stuff is more than fine. I've not had an issue with any of the lee stuff I bought (including the scale).
 
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