First Reloading Kit

[Loui3]

Good Morning All,
Well I been looking around for the last 2 weeks about reloading. I have seen videos, reading and more videos. I even went to a reloading shot out in OC. Talked to owner for about 1 hr about reloading. He explain to me the ins and out of reloading. The different stuff I would need.

Now my question is I found 2 kits i wanted to get some feedback on. Since I'm a new reload user i was thinking of starting out with a single stage. I heard it's much better if you plan on doing rifle rounds.

My goal for reloading is to learn, and enjoy the hobby but the cost of ammo is getting expensive now that I have my daughters shooting with me.

I found these 2 kits let me know what you guys think for a first timer.


Lee Precision 50th Anniversary Reloading Kit

Lee Precision Breech Lock Challenger Kit (Red)


Let me know your thoughts and concern about these two. If i should be worried about something or not.

Thank you,

[Unretarded]

Either one will work fine........we chose the red one...breech lock......you will want to get the lyman gold hand tool for reaming/deburring as the one with those kits does not work at all....should be able to pick one up for around 25 bucks....night and day difference.

I have done a few hundred .270....600 223...200 .308....150 .40 cal...200 .45 and 300 ....357....100 7.62x54r..........the press works fine for smaller volume like this.

[thegamettt]

they are practically the same. Only difference is the challenger kit comes with a hand priming unit. the 50th anniversary comes with the press mounted safety prime.

hand priming is faster.

I have the anniversary kit, but also bought a separate hand priming unit for better "feel" in fitting the primer. Works great for my rifle rounds, that's all I use it for.

[Lead Waster]

Take a look at the Lee Classic Turret.

The breech lock here makes die changes much faster, that's for sure. In fact I replaced my die holder in my Rockchucker with the Hornady bushing system.

However with a turret, you only handle each piece of brass once. With single stage, you handle each piece of brass once PER stage (by "handle" I mean, pick it up, insert in press, then remove from press.)

[maxit]

get a Dillon progressive press
only cry once.
good luck, Max

[Dave626]

Remember to get the following also

quality caliper
Headspace Gauge Kit (i used Hornady and i love it) *Measure Headspace
Bullet Comparator *Measure bullet Ogive
Wet or Dry Tumbler

[Unretarded]

they are practically the same. Only difference is the challenger kit comes with a hand priming unit. the 50th anniversary comes with the press mounted safety prime.

hand priming is faster.

I have the anniversary kit, but also bought a separate hand priming unit for better "feel" in fitting the primer. Works great for my rifle rounds, that's all I use it for.

Thats why we chose that kit, the hand primer works well and is handy.

[thegamettt]

Thats why we chose that kit, the hand primer works well and is handy.

have you tried the lee ergo prime? IMHO its the best hand primer on the market. the XR hurts my thumb after a while.

[Unretarded]

get a Dillon progressive press
only cry once.
good luck, Max

Good luck shooting 1000 yard benchrest with match loads made on that press.........it all comes down to application.

First time reloader looking for a good cheap press, that lee kit is a winner........I would highly recomend against a progressive as a first loader no matter what your budget.

[Divernhunter]

I have several single stage presses and a Dillon 650 with the extras.
I have been reloading since the 1960's and have loaded for about 35 different cartridges.
Get a single stage press. I like to load pistol rounds on the dillon but all rifle rounds are on a single stage.
Batch process your brass. It takes 30 seconds to change dies so I do not use a turret press. I tried one and will not own one.
"I" am not a fan of the lee presses and most of their stuff for good reason. That being past experience with trying to get war out of them. "I" prefer RCBS/Hornady/Redding/Lyman. I have never had a problem with RCBS/Hornady on war stuff and have not tried the others so cannot pass judgment. That said if you want lee then buy lee. If you buy lee dies be sure to buy Hornady lock rings to replace to so called worthless things they call a lock ring which does not lock. Buy the time you do you will have about the same cost into them as if you bought a better war RCBS or Hornady die set.

My 2 Cents

[Loui3]

Thank you everyone for the feedback. Since I'm just going to start with 9mm first then move on to the 223, 308. I think I will go with the

Lee Precision Breech Lock Challenger Kit (Red) for now. I going to wait other week before purchasing it just to make sure and see if there are any other ones with full kits that are not to expensive to buy. Plus I have to build a working bench too. That's my plan for this weekend.

Thanks everyone once again

[ar15robert]

get a Dillon progressive press
only cry once.
good luck, Max

For someone new at reloading a progressive may not be the way to go one mistake and the problem will multiply quickly.

IMO best to start with a single stage get the hang of it learn the trade then jump up later.Theres always a use for a single stage anyways i reload all my rifle on an rcbs i usually need to trim each piece of brass and clean primer pockets so need to do those in steps.Plus they can inspect at each stage along the way.

[Divernhunter]

OP---Lee= cheap. You will not find cheaper new stuff than lee stuff.
They are cheap to buy and cheaper made than other brands.

They still "work" most of the time.

[Lead Waster]

For someone new at reloading a progressive may not be the way to go one mistake and the problem will multiply quickly.

IMO best to start with a single stage get the hang of it learn the trade then jump up later.Theres always a use for a single stage anyways i reload all my rifle on an rcbs i usually need to trim each piece of brass and clean primer pockets so need to do those in steps.Plus they can inspect at each stage along the way.

I partially disagree because you can run a single case around all 4 or 5 stages WITHOUT feeding in new empty cases until that one round is done. That allows you to check each stage at work.

Though, yes, everyone needs a single stage anyway!

[Cowboy T]

Thank you everyone for the feedback. Since I'm just going to start with 9mm first then move on to the 223, 308. I think I will go with the

Lee Precision Breech Lock Challenger Kit (Red) for now. I going to wait other week before purchasing it just to make sure and see if there are any other ones with full kits that are not to expensive to buy. Plus I have to build a working bench too. That's my plan for this weekend.

Thanks everyone once again

That kit will serve you well. Good work. Now, also be sure to pick up a second reloading book and have a look at the data for your rounds in *both* books. Also, it's a good idea to read the "how-to" articles in those books. Same basic info, somewhat different perspectives, which is a good thing. I started with Lee's Modern Reloading and Lyman's 49th Edition.