Worthwhile buying a lee 50th anniversary and later buying upgrades?

[mikeystew]

Once I became more familiar with reloading I was thinking of casting my own bullets too, and would likely use a scale to verify grain weight of bullets, but to start nope I wouldn't be going over 100.. I've been thinking it over and think I will go with the Lee breech lock challenger kit, since it has everything the 50th anniversary one has + the autoprimer and shellholders. Still open to any other warnings or advice on things from either kit that are not needed/ will want to be replaced right away..

O.K., the challenger kit uses the autoprime which i have heard a few horror stories about, handles being cheap and breaking easily and frequently. and i can say the safety prime system of priming on the press works really quckly, just not as portable. the challenger kit does not have a safety prime system. that is basically the only difference.
either way you go i think you will be happy with your decision. for $40-$60 you can buy a digital scale for weighing over 100 or even to cross check your lee scale, but first you will need a vernier caliper, loading tray, case length guage for the trimmer, and manual. try www.loadbooks.com if you are only loading for a few calibers, they give you all the pertainant info and load data from all the different companies on the particular caliber. they dont have any of the reloading process info you'll find in a proper manual however on safety issues like pressure signs etc.. so i'd get one of those also, you can see how it adds up.

 

[rtracer13]

O.K., the challenger kit uses the autoprime which i have heard a few horror stories about, handles being cheap and breaking easily and frequently. and i can say the safety prime system of priming on the press works really quckly, just not as portable. the challenger kit does not have a safety prime system. that is basically the only difference.
either way you go i think you will be happy with your decision. for $40-$60 you can buy a digital scale for weighing over 100 or even to cross check your lee scale, but first you will need a vernier caliper, loading tray, case length guage for the trimmer, and manual. try www.loadbooks.com if you are only loading for a few calibers, they give you all the pertainant info and load data from all the different companies on the particular caliber. they dont have any of the reloading process info you'll find in a proper manual however on safety issues like pressure signs etc.. so i'd get one of those also, you can see how it adds up.

Thanks for the heads up

 

[schick]

Wow. loadbooks wants $11 for a book on just ONE cartridge! I would ecommend a complete book from Sierra, Hornady, etc. A little more cash up front, but then a new reloader can enjoy future cartridges as the gun buying crase takes over.

 

[ATOM]

Wow. loadbooks wants $11 for a book on just ONE cartridge! I would ecommend a complete book from Sierra, Hornady, etc. A little more cash up front, but then a new reloader can enjoy future cartridges as the gun buying crase takes over.

True, but most people reload just a few cartridges. I have the complete manuals, but have also bought a couple of Loadbooks for the ones I load most. Their advantage is that they offer a far more complete set of loads, from multiple manufacturers. You'd have to spend hundreds of dollars to get the same amount of info buying complete books from all makers.

 

[Tex Critter]

The nice thing with Lee kit is for the most part, when it breaks they'll send you replacement parts free. Been using Lee for over 25 years now.

 

[dixda]

It isn't at all unusual for experienced reloaders to wind up owning several presses. At this point you may see "upgrading" as out with the old and in with the new. It may very well not turn out that way, just so you know .

Hear, hear, all those in agreement raise their hands!(typing this with hand raised)KD

P.S. Lee has a pretty good reloading book too, and you can never have too many of those.