2 Lee SS kits - What's the main difference?

[grant22]

Regarding these two Lee kits, is the main difference the hand primer vs. press mounted primer? If so, which is safer? I don't care about convenience here, this will be strictly for small production precision rounds.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/423081/lee-challenger-breech-lock-single-stage-press-anniversary-kit

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/121744/lee-challenger-breech-lock-single-stage-press-kit?cm_vc=S016ID423081

[dstiltner]

I had the original hand prime tool and snapped two levers before buying the press mounted one. The major difference I have found between the two (besides the lever breaking on the hand one, though the new version is supposed to have solved this problem) is that you can easily adjust the primer seating depth with the press mount one. I still use it in a Lee hand press that I had gotten to do decapping before tumbling with the universal decapping die.

[XDRoX]

Don't know if one's really safer than the other, but I have one of those priming on the press system's by Lee and it works great. Plus it's way faster. Size and decap, and then prime without taking the case out.

If you use a hand primer you have another step involved. Safety speaking, I'd probably rather have a primer go off on the press than in my hand, so the press primer is probably a little safer.

Before I got a progressive and use to load strictly on a single stage I hand primed everything. I have an RCBS hand primer though, not that Lee one. I have their press priming system on my Lee Classic Turret. The Lee hand primer feels a little cheaper than the RCBS one. Personally I wouldn't buy the Lee one. The RCBS one is very nicely made.

So I'd just get the cheaper kit with the press priming system.

But Grant, you must have almost everything else you need to reload. That scale and powder measure are junk compared to what you're use to. You may be better off just getting a single stage and the few things that you need separately. That kit is really for someone that has nothing.

[Bill Steele]

Both primer setups work fine. I use only press mounted priming for handgun, pretty much only use hand prime for bottle necked rifle.

Which one you choose to use may depend most on what you are doing with the brass. For instance, if you size and deprime before cleaning or you want to clean/uniform the primer pockets before priming, then a hand primer will likely be faster than doing it on the press. On the other hand, for handgun where size/decap/prime can be done with one pull/push on the press lever, then priming on the press will be faster.

I don't think either one is particularly safer (or unsafe) than the other.

PS - It really doesn't make a great deal of difference which setup you choose as getting the safety prime setup for the press kit that doesn't come with one will only cost about $25, or conversely the Le hand primer about $20 if you chose the kit with the press "safety prime" setup and wanted the hand primer. One side note is if you did go with the press mounted Safety Prime kit, I would probably spend a little extra and get the RCBS hand primer, but that is just my personal preference.

[stand125]

I had the hand primer kit and sent it back for the LEE safety prime kit and it works very well once your die is set to the right depth.

[Dark Mod]

The Lee hand primer is really cheap, i must have broken 3 or 4 of those plastic lids in the last year or so. The good news is that it works really well and the replacement parts are a couple bucks.

The press priming system works much better, it makes the overall primer seating easier because of the increased leverage of the press, plus it never breaks or malfunctions. Its just a little inconvenient, i like to hand prime in my living room watching a movie or in between rounds of Call of Duty.

[grant22]

Thanks all for the input. Part of the reason, too, I'm looking at this is an alternative to the Dillon RF100. If they don't set me up with one at dealer cost, I can't allow myself to buy one. ! could decap, resize, and prime safer on the Lee for under a hundred bucks.

Also, after my primer incident, I received god knows how many responses saying "that's why for 25 years I only use the Lee hand primer." (<<<90 year old man voice).

@XDRox-you're right, I have al the other stuff, just thought it wascheaper to buy this way and give away the stuff I don't need. I'll look into buying everything seperately.

[NotEnufGarage]

I have and use them both. I use the hand primer when I'm prepping 6.8mm, .308 and .30-06 cases, after I've hand reamed and cleaned the primer hole and use the press mounted one for .38/.357, .44special/magnum and .45 Colt. It's mostly because I prep more of the bottleneck rifle cartridges at one time, so this way I can do it will sitting on a warm comfy couch in front of the TV. Just keep the thing pointed away from yourself in case a primer goes off, which has never happened to me. Either way, wear safety glasses when using.

[grant22]

Can you resize a rifle case with this press? A reviewer on Midway's site said no cuz the aluminum frame can't handle it.

If that's the case, I'd maybe step up and buy the Lee press made of iron or a Rockchucker.

[sonnyt650]

From the crappy photos it looks like the $90 anniversary kit has the on-press variety identical to the one on my Classic Turret that seats on the downstroke of the ram which is a feel-oriented seating. There's the other on-press SS type where you have to use another die that acts as the shellholder, and that one you adjust for optimal seating depth because every seating will be to the same depth.

Also regarding the old Lee auto-prime, I've trashed a couple of the handles myself and never felt comfortable having so many primers getting squished so close to my hands. I've done it often enough and nothing bad has happened, but I can't shake the impression it's one of those "yet" situations.

[rsrocket1]

Can you resize a rifle case with this press? A reviewer on Midway's site said no cuz the aluminum frame can't handle it.

If that's the case, I'd maybe step up and buy the Lee press made of iron or a Rockchucker.

Yes you can. At least .308 and .223 are no problem. I would probably get the Classic Cast for 50 BMG, but buy the older one and not the Breech Lock version. That way, you can put in either a Lee Breech Lock or a Hornady LnL conversion bushing into it. Or you can just screw in 7/8 dies with the standard conversion bushing.

If you use the press with rifle cases, make sure you mount it on a sturdy platform. Mine is bolted to a 2x4 which is bolted to the workbench and also bolted to wall studs with a shelf bracket. You can use the front of the O-frame as a handle to steady it, but nothing beats a solidly mounted press.

[Clownpuncher]

Can you resize a rifle case with this press? A reviewer on Midway's site said no cuz the aluminum frame can't handle it.

If that's the case, I'd maybe step up and buy the Lee press made of iron or a Rockchucker.

the o frame press shown in both of the kits you listed should handle rifle well. I have done 7x57 and 223 on mine with ease.

i know Lee makes a C frame press, I have seen that one and it looks cheap although I have not used it.

I have both the safety prime and the hand prime. I use the safety prime for pistol. I prime after decap/sizing on the down stroke. I have used the hand prime for rifle cases since I tumble after resizing/decapping but I have found that I like the safety prime better even for rifle. I simply tumble and then bell the mouth and prime on the down stroke.

[grant22]

Alright, so it sounds like the $89 Anniversary kit should do just fine for some small numbers of .223

Thx boys!

[grant22]

Alright, bear with me guys. I know I'm about as indecisive as a chick, but my good friend has a new in box Hornady Classic SS and said he'll give it to me for $80. He's had it for a year, has been draggin' his feet, and I told him my story/mishap, and said that's it for him. Asked me if I want it.

Unless you guys convince me it's garbage, I think it's gonna be my SS press.

Also, does anyone know of a somewhat 'safe' primer feed OR a good hand primer to use in conjuntion w/ this press?

Thx boys.

[XDRoX]

Alright, bear with me guys. I know I'm about as indecisive as a chick, but my good friend has a new in box Hornady Classic SS and said he'll give it to me for $80. He's had it for a year, has been draggin' his feet, and I told him my story/mishap, and said that's it for him. Asked me if I want it.

Unless you guys convince me it's garbage, I think it's gonna be my SS press.

Also, does anyone know of a somewhat 'safe' primer feed OR a good hand primer to use in conjuntion w/ this press?

Thx boys.

That's a way better press than the Lee. I'd just get that one. My RCBS hand primer works great.