Newbie: Lee challenger kit?

hoegaardenzo

hoegaardenzo

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Hi guys,
I'm wanting to get into reloading and do not know anything about the equipment. The Lee Challenger kit was recommended to me by another member because it is cheap and it works. I was hoping for some feedback on what you think of this press or similar inexpensive presses. Also I'd like to be able to load .38 sp, .308, and .223

This is the kit:

Everything you need to start reloading your favourite caliber. For other calibers, you need only a Lee Die Set. Kit Includes: 2001 Challenger Press. Set of Dies. Powder Measure. Shell Holder. Load Data. Powder Funnel. Ram Prime Tool. Case Lubricant (not included with carbide dies). Complete instructions. Complete Challenger 3-Die Pistol Kits

Oh, and I realize I'll also need a scale, calipers and other tools also.

Thanks for your help, ;)
 
It'll certainly work, but after you work with it for a while, you'll want some additional things (particularly the powder scale). For large-bore rifle, I preferred having 3 single-stage presses set up, one with each of the sizing, seating, and crimping dies, but for .223 and handgun, I really preferred a Dillon, because it was so much faster to work with.
 
I just started reloading in August and I bought the Lee Anniversary kit with the Lee manual.

It works pretty well for rifle ammo (.308) but I wouldn't want to do masses of pistol ammo with it. The only thing I bought to go with it is a powder trickler (RCBS, its nice). It took me 3 hrs to load 60 rds of .308 ( for 2 different guns, so 2 different powders and bullets)

I'm probably going to get the Lee turret press for pistol ammo, looks like it would be faster.

The Lee manual, Modern Reloading, is good, lots of load info plus good general info. Lee's website also has some good video's on basic reloading.

HTH,

Craig
 
I have the Lee Deluxe turret press for pistol, and .223. If you are just starting out, and on a budget,, this is a great way to get into loading. This kit is the same idea, just buy the dies and your off and loading! I load around 100 rounds an hour with it, just to give you an idea of the loading rate on the turret press. Most will load faster than I do, but I am just starting out as well. Go to Lee's web site, and you can watch the videos of the turret press in action, this guy is really moving, but I am sure that rate can be reached.The kit comes with : Lee turret press, safety powder scale, auto index powder measure, primer pocket cleaner, chamfer tool, and a case trimmer. I paid $145.99 plus tax, and dies.
 
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Get the lee anniversary kit.

Its got everything you need. Except a set of dies and they give you a discount if you buy the dies at the same time.

Great reloading manual included free.

I shoot ipsc and lots of folks use progressives but I can make about 100 rds an hour which is decent enough. Also it is very versatile.I got into casting and its just another die to size the bullets.
 
jasonburnsdundee said:
Its got everything you need. Except a set of dies and they give you a discount if you buy the dies at the same time.

Great reloading manual included free.

I shoot ipsc and lots of folks use progressives but I can make about 100 rds an hour which is decent enough. Also it is very versatile.I got into casting and its just another die to size the bullets.
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thats what i bought, and i couldnt be happier. you just need dies and a case length gauge to work with the cutter that comes with the kit.
i load 303british, and can load 100rnds in about an hour and a half or so with the single stage press.
but, before you start churning out ammo, read the manule and then read it again.
and start slow, load a couple bullets first to get a feel for it. it also helps to talk to some one on the phone who loads the same ammo as you. even better if you can get them to show you.

Joe
 
hoegaardenzo said:
Hi guys,
I'm wanting to get into reloading and do not know anything about the equipment. The Lee Challenger kit was recommended to me by another member because it is cheap and it works. I was hoping for some feedback on what you think of this press or similar inexpensive presses. Also I'd like to be able to load .38 sp, .308, and .223

This is the kit:

Everything you need to start reloading your favourite caliber. For other calibers, you need only a Lee Die Set. Kit Includes: 2001 Challenger Press. Set of Dies. Powder Measure. Shell Holder. Load Data. Powder Funnel. Ram Prime Tool. Case Lubricant (not included with carbide dies). Complete instructions. Complete Challenger 3-Die Pistol Kits

Oh, and I realize I'll also need a scale, calipers and other tools also.

Thanks for your help, ;)
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I bought the Lee 35th anniversary kit last year and I use it a lot. I bought a lot of small accessories to make reloading a bit easier and faster but the basic kit has everything you need to start including a scale (I think there is a kit with and without the LEE book).

The challenger press is cheap but tough. I resized 308 Win and 338 Lapua brass with no problem.
 
I got one, it works good! but the scale is kinda iffy, I had a RCBS 10-10 scale so I never used the lee one.
 
well, I was in the local gun store today and made an impulse buy, a lee delux 4 hole turett press kit. I saw the video on Lee's website and was blown away at what it could do. I also bought the Lymans 48th edition. I understand the 4 hole press is mainly for hand gun loads, but it will also work for rifle loads. Now all I need are some dies and I'm set.

Oh, when I was inquiring about lee presses the salesman was trying to get me to stay away from Lee. any reasons you can think of? reverse pshycology maybe :)
 
hoegaardenzo said:
...Oh, when I was inquiring about lee presses the salesman was trying to get me to stay away from Lee. any reasons you can think of? reverse pshycology maybe :)
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He is probably a blue kool-aid drinker.:D Not that there is anything wrong with that, but Dillion owners are quite vocal about the superiority of their presses over Lee.

Lee presses are not in the same catagory as Dillion. It is apples and oranges. Lee stuff is built to a price point. Accept that and you are fine. I doubt they will ever be comparable in quality. That said Lee can be 1/2 or 1/3 of the cost of Dillon stuff. It is really a personal judgement call on how much you want to spend.

Lee is either loved for its value or hated for its design compromises to reach the aforementioned price point. The big difference I found comes down to the ability to tinker too. This is the price you pay for cheap intitial cost. Dillion stuff runs like a watch with very little dinking around. Lee will also run just fine but might need modification or adjustment to work properly. Most of the Lee haters have no time or inclination to do this. Look at the reviews at a place like Midway- people either hate Lee or love them. Most of the negative comments are ' I can't get this thing to work- piece of crap'. The positive ones are 'I had to tweek this and that and now it works fine- and cheap to boot'. When trying to decide between the two how much do you want (or are able) to mess with your stuff as a trade off for reasonable pricing up front. That seems to be the bottom line with Lee.

I bought a Lee Loadmaster from another CGN member. He advised me it had been 'modified' to work correctly/ reliably. He had basically re-engineered all the weak areas of the press. Making many new parts and adjusting the thing must have taken hours and hours. Thanks to him I now have a press that is probably as good in operation as a Dillion. This is the sort of thing that sometimes must be done to get them to work right. Not all the time, but that is the 'risk' associated with Lee stuff and why it has a bad rep with some. Your salesman is probably tired of dealing with Lee returns or complaints, so tries to steer you away from them. After all, its not his money....

I don't think you made a bad choice going Lee. The stuff I refer to is more related to progressives than turrets anyway. If you were like me, you had a budget and had to work within it- for good or bad. Make the best of what you have regardless of the colour of your press...

Good luck and happy reloading.
 
hoegaardenzo said:
sweet, thakns fort that informative post Max Power

btw, where did you get your name, a hair dryer? haha good stuff
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You're welcome.

You ever see the Simpsons where Homer changes his name to Max Power? Just kidding. I fly for a living and the first call in a malfuction drill is.....you guessed it.....Max Power (gear up, flap zero, call 400', what's the problem, etc.). Kind of lame I know but all the good names were taken.:D
 
I started reloading about a year ago with the Lee Anniversary Kit and am very happy with it for what I need it to do. (Basically just 8mm Mauser)
I did upgrade to an RCBS scale though as I found it it is much faster and easier to read and use correctly than the Lee scale.
The powder measure is fine but like most, is a little wonky with extruded powders (IMR 4064).
If you are reloading for bolt guns, I would suggest spending the extra cash and getting the Lee deluxe die sets with the collet die. They neck size only and greatly extend case life. I think I am at least the 8th or 9th reload with most of my cases and no end in sight. Good luck!
 
A little off topic, but I bought a new Lee Progressive right from Lee in .45acp, and did not have to adjust a thing, not even the crimp. I have Progressives for .38. 9mm, .45 acp, as well as a LoadAllII, and a Lee shotgun progressive (I forget the name). My poor old .38 and 9mm have both reloaded a pile of ammo and do require a cleaning every now and then. The little LoadAllII has to be the niftiest reloading tool ever made. I have reloaded some really weird hulls with it, although it works best with good old Winchester AA's. I have various other Lee presses and gizmo's, dies, bullet moulds, lead melting pots. Love the stuff. For a long time I was put off bullet casting because of how one guy described bullet making. Then I read Dean Grennell's article on casting with Lee Tumble Lube moulds. Well, I was hooked and have cast and shot thousands and thousands of Lee cast bullets, Tumble Lube and regular. I don't necessarily size every cast bullet either. Sometimes, under certain circumstances, it is just not necessary. Have fun!!
 
I am glad to see you went with the Lee turret press!! You will like it! Did you get the primer tray for it? If you did you will need the extension that goes on your powder through die, to raise your powder container up, so it does not interfear with your primer tray. Just to give you a heads up!! Cheers!
 
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I haven't ordered anything else along with the kit, for now. I'd like to get the hang of things before I get into full production. I was warned when I bought the kit to be very carefull and cautious. Wholesale sports seems to be a inexpensive place to order from.

The collet dies - are they the ones you dont need to put lube on the casings?

thanks guys, I should have this kit in a week or so. More questions then!
 
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