Anyone got any thoughts on the Lee Challenger reloading kit? Seems to be a good starter package, not bad for 90 bucks. I'm only interested in reloading 2 calibers, 270 win and 22-250. Not a huge volume shooter either, a couple hundred rounds a year would probably suffice. Also might be interested in reloading for my 357 mag.

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=423081

I should also add that this would be my first experience reloading, although I've got some friends who've done it and can show me the ropes...

Used correctly, the tools in the Anniversary Kit will do a very good job, for a very long time. Follow the instructions, keep that big bolt on the press linkage tight, lube your cases properly and you will do well.

Many of us load thousands of rounds a year and those guys always say go with something more massive and expensive. (Drum roll..."You get what you pay for!") That's good - for them - but it's silly for a low volume shooter of just a few cartridges to spend the big bucks on something they will never see any advantage in.

Having hands on advice is a GREAT advantage to any newbie!

Yeah I agree, I've got a few buddies I work with that are avid reloaders and shooters, so I'm not worried about good guidance once I acquire my own gear... now If i can just get that .22-250 I've wanted...

Does anybody know the difference between the Lee Deluxe 3-die sets and the "regular" Lee Pacesetter 3-die sets? If they have a sizer and a bullet seater die then what's the big deal?

You will be happy with the Lee Kit. Best deal out there. I bought a kit but it is older and does not have the Breech Lock unfortunately. I wish I had the Breech Lock. If you are going to load .357 you would probably be happier with the Four Hole Turret Press kit. I got two kits over the course of two years - the first a Single Stage Kit and the second a Four Hole Turret Press Kit because they are such a good deal. As they say "one is none and two is one." I also have two Lee Auto Primes as I like to prime by hand. One is set up for Large Pistol Primers and the other is set up for Small Pistol Primers. You could have one for pistol primers and one for rifle primers. I would recommend Modern Reloading by Richard Lee if you are going to use his equipment.

Does anybody know the difference between the Lee Deluxe 3-die sets and the "regular" Lee Pacesetter 3-die sets? If they have a sizer and a bullet seater die then what's the big deal?

The deluxe die set has a full length sizer and a collet neck sizer and comes with the dead length bullet seater. The pacesetter set has the full length sizer, standard floating stem bullet seater and factory crimp die.

Despite being a fairly high volume loader myself (when work doesn't interfere) I almost always default to the Lee Anniversary kit as a recommended starting setup. I think everyone should learn reloading one-round-at-a-time first, anyway. Then they know what to look for in fancier gear and how to tell if it goes wrong? The only deviations I've made from that are for folks who are already accomplished match shooters, in which case I think they will be happier investing in the Forster Co-ax press. At the other extreme are persons who only load maybe a couple of boxes a year for rifle and only shoot them one-at-a-time, in which case the simple Lee loader may suffice.

I also like the Lee hand tool for beginners. It is a bit more exercise and less convenience than the Breech-lock Challenger, but is a handy thing to carry to remote load work-up sessions.

I rather "like" to reload with simple tools myself. Attention to detail with simple tools makes it easyer to catch mistakes. Can correct as needed before a whole batch is spoiled.
One at a time can make some really good ammunition!

Cheezywan

Another +1 for the starter kit. I started with the pre-breech lock version and used it for several years before updating to the four hole turret. It will serve you well as you learn the to load and once you have a feel for it you will have a better idea of what you might want to upgrade to from there.

I usually recommend the Lee Aniversary kit to those that want to start loading. It comes with everything you need except the dies and consumables and all of the equipment in it is just fine for all but the most extreme types of loading. It is the best value proposition for a place to start.

The exception to that is what I gave my boss last year for christmas. He has exceptionally limited space so I gave him a Lee Hand Press and a few other parts to go with it. Don't let anyone tell you that Lee equipment is in any way bad. Lee cuts some corners in places that don't generally matter, and has some very innovative products. That said, the "you get what you pay for" statement does apply to a certain extent.

I just got started with the anniversary kit and am very pleased with the results so far. I've loaded about 200 rds of 22-250 and 60 of 204 and 70 of 243 without a hiccup. Accuracy is mucho better than factory and saves $$ too. I find myself shooting more just to check out my loads.

I load on Dillon progressive presses, and STILL have a Lee single-stage on the same bench for batches of 100 or less. The Anniversary Kit is a great deal, and the Lee manual is very informative.

I received a Lee Breechlock Challenger Kit the end of last December and have reloaded about 900 rounds with it. It has worked flawlessly, even though the ram has a little wiggle-slop. For me, I liked this Kit because it came with the Auto Prime (hand-held) as opposed to an on-the-press primer. I like the feel and speed of the auto prime. When I prime (one-at-a-time) on the press, it doesn't feel "sensitive" enough for me to tell when the primer is seated and when to stop pressing it in. The best thing about the Breechlock press is the die adapters. You can pop out your full-length sizer and pop in a bullet seater in about 3 seconds. Very nice.

Around March, I bought a Lee Reloader C-frame press. I think it was about $25 and I use it with a dedicated Lee universal decapping die just for decapping before cleaning cases. It really feels a little too light for anything else, though I suppose it would probably handle the full range of reloading duties. For how long might be the question.

In June, I ordered a Lee Classic Cast press. This press is a monster.... a beast.... there is no slop in the ram or in any other part of its operation. Since I can;t use the quick-release die adapters with it, I've dedicated its operation to reloading 30-06. However, just this week I was neck-sizing some 25-06 with the Breechlock press (using the quick release adapters) and I really felt like taking off all the adapters from my 25-06 dies and using the Classic Cast for all operations. It's a very smooth, powerful press!

After receiving and using the $85 Classic Cast, I am now convinced that the other presses are over-priced. I know... the warranty is better than Lee's 2-year warranty.....but I cannot envision breaking or otherwise harming this press (or the Breechlock, for that matter). Also, I've read several testimonials on Lee replacing parts without fuss or cost, long after the 2-year warranty has expired.

I think your Lee Challenger or Anniversary kit will work just fine for you for as long as you own it.... however long that is.

Used correctly, the tools in the Anniversary Kit will do a very good job, for a very long time. Follow the instructions, keep that big bolt on the press linkage tight, lube your cases properly and you will do well.

Many of us load thousands of rounds a year and those guys always say go with something more massive and expensive. (Drum roll..."You get what you pay for!") That's good - for them - but it's silly for a low volume shooter of just a few cartridges to spend the big bucks on something they will never see any advantage in.

Having hands on advice is a GREAT advantage to any newbie!

Im with Ranger

"...even though the ram has a little wiggle-slop. "

Stretch, forget it, it's actually better that way. Not only is it not necessary for a ram to be tightly fitted, it can easily be a detriment to good ammunition.

We cannot, nor need we try to force a case into a die straight. It will go there all by itself UNLESS it's forced off axis by a tight but improper fit. A tight fit requires that the shell holder and it's slot, plus the ram and it's hole all be perfectly in line with the die hole, and its threads be cut dead straight, and the externals of the die itself be precise. All that perfect alignment is difficult to attain and it can easily result in "bent" ammo. But, a slightly loose ram - with some wiggle-slop - allows cases to self center themselves into the dies straight. So, some ram slop is a GOOD THING!

Load good ammo and be happy! :)