Deciding on Kits

[dschild]

I'm absolutely new to reloading, and have a very limited budget.
Two budget friendly kits I'm looking at are:

Lee Breech Lock Challenger Kit 90030
&
LEE 50Th Anniversary Breech Lock Reloading Kit 90050

I know I'll still need to purchase a tumbler for brass cleaning, and die set (as well as all the brass, etc etc..

But for a start kit for the price would you recommend either one of these, and if so, which would you prefer? I'm leaning towards the 90030..

[Doodlebugger45]

Not sure what each kit has, but the basic Challenger press is good and very adequate to load on. Yeah, you'll need dies but you don't need a tumbler. It's kind of a luxury thing. As long as you have the press and dies, you'll need some kind of a scale. The kit will have a balance scale that will get the job done. You might need a trickler if you are loading rifle cartridges. Some way of loading primers is necessary, a hand primer loader is perfect. A powder dispenser is nice if you're loading lots of handgun ammo. If you're loading rifles at some point you will need a case trimmer.

No doubt the Lee kits will have all the hardware you need to get rolling though. Add dies, brass, primers, powder, and bullets and you're all set. A big thing though, if you don't already have at least one manual, then be sure to get one and read before you monkey around with the equipment. ABCs of Reloading is a good one. Speer, Hornady, Lyman are others. You should get one of those as well.

[engineermike]

Looks good for the price. I have a Hornady press with the quick change die bushing and I think you'll like the quick change bushing that comes with the lee set. It makes owning a single stage press tree times as good. Looks like you will need some dies, calipers, trimmer (Depending on the if you are loading for rifles)(Not sure how their lock stud and cutter work) and as you mentioned a tumbler. Oh yea, some bullets, powder, primers and some kind of bench and work space to put it all. I've never owned a lee but I have never heard anyone say anything bad about them. As someone once said, "Buy it and get started". For the price you can see if you like reloading and if you find you don't then you have a lot less invested than most of us. If you decide you love reloading then you may also love the equipment you have and just have to add to it as time goes on.

JUST GET STARTED

Mike

[dschild]

Additional Info:

I'll be reloading my Mosin 7.62x54
&
my Savage 110 30-06 Springfield (which I just bought and haven't even fired yet.. Why can't the range stay open past 6. Sheesh)

[rtpzwms]

think of buying used off ebay some of the local gun shops have used equipment from time to time. not sure how much you are going to reload in volume, but if you think short range you may come up short. maybe if you have to have new (it is nice) waiting and getting something better for the future might be better. I see nothing wrong with either presses you've selected. 25+ years ago I got a lee 3 hole turret. it is now a 4 hole auto indexing press through the lee updates over the years and I still use it weekly. I am about to load this weeks rounds 200+ 40sw , 200+ 9mm, 100+ 45acp and some others and I'll be ready to go on Saturday. if your going to do that on a press like you've selected it will take you longer and changing from cal to cal will take you longer. this is all food for thought its your choice and you are the one that has to be happy. Good luck on your choice. Welcome to reloading..... its a blast!

[engineermike]

Come on Doodlebugger, we all bough a tumbler so he needs one too. "He says tounge in cheek)

[PA-Joe]

In addition to the press you need a very good power measure and power scale to weigh the charges. If you compare the low end measures and scales to the higher end ones you will quickly realize the difference.

[engineermike]

I'm always forgeting about those pesky manuals. Pick up a couple of those to while you're getting your tumbler.

[engineermike]

I'm looking at these kits and I believe they have just about everything, take a look.

http://www.leeprecision.com/html/catalog/rlpress2.html

[CrustyFN]

You will also need a case trimmer chamfer/debur tool and case lube.

[engineermike]

Sorry, I only have loaded for pistol, but you may want to consider buying carbide or titanium dies if you are loading rifle and don't forget the lube. They say you don't need lube for carbide or titanium but if you ever get a case stuck you'll wished you had used lube.

[Mr Kris]

"very good powder measure" is relative.... I have the $18 Lee Perfect Measure and a $100 RCBS Measure. The Lee measure meters extruded powders far better than the RCBS. For other powders, yes, the RCBS measure is slightly more consistent. But certainly, the Lee measure is consistent enough to make safe, accurate loads superior to factory ammo.

Is the $100 RCBS measure worth it? Yup. But the Lee measure works just fine, too.

I don't know if it's mentioned in the manual, but it's very helpful to adjust the screw holding the parts of the rotor together for ideal tension. From the factory, mine leaked. Tightened up the screw, no more leaking. It also helps to disassemble it, and lube the rotor with powdered graphite. You get the same effect by "breaking it in" with powder, but the graphite makes it nice and smooth from the get go.

The 90030 kit looks pretty complete. According to the note on Lee's website, the difference between the two kits you mention-

This kit replaces the popular 35th Anniversary Kit features the same components as the 50th kit but we have replaced the Safety Prime with the Auto-Prime and a set of Auto-Prime shell holders. This kit is for those who prefer to prime off of the press.

I like and use the Auto-Prime myself, so I would lean toward the 90030 kit. The Auto-Prime is a handheld priming tool, whereas the Safety Prime is a press-mounted device. I like the feel you get with handheld priming tools.

[engineermike]

dschild, I was looking on the Graf and Sons web site and I found the kits you mentioned. You might check out the price and look at the shipping, most shipping is around $4.00 or $5.00. Check a few sites and compare price, I found mine (Harnady Classic Kit) the cheapest at Cabela's.

Anyway as information;

Mike

[engineermike]

Sorry,
Here is the link;

http://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/...categoryId/600

Mike

[PA-Joe]

I think Cabelas may have cheaper prices. Plus with a Hornady kit you get 500 free bullets (I think) which is a 100.00 savings. I started with a Lee Aniversary Kit and quickly got a new measure and scale. I still use the Lee press to do the seating and crimping. You also need a powder trickler.

[CrustyFN]

They say you don't need lube for carbide or titanium but if you ever get a case stuck you'll wished you had used lube.

That is true only with straight walled pistol case. Any bottle neck case will have to be lubed including pistol.

[engineermike]

Yep, it was the free bullets that sucked me in. I didn't have budget limit but I was leaning more toward the Redding Turret press when I saw the free bullets and the Lock N Load bushings I took the deal. (It was my first time too) The Lock N Load make it s snap to change out dies (Once you get them set) I believe the Lee will last just as long as my Hornady press and at more than half the price.
Oh yea, get yourself a powder trickler while you're picking up those manuals and a tumbler.

Mike

[Jumping Frog]

The difference between the two kits you mentioned is in the priming equipment included in the kit. It is the same press.

If you want to prime on the press using Lee's Safety Prime system, use the LEE 50th ANNIVERSARY KIT, part # 90050.

If you want to hand-prime off the press using Lee's Auto-Prime hand priming system, then get the LEE BREECH LOCK CHALLENGER PRESS KIT, part # 90030.

From Lee's website describing the second kit:

This kit replaces the popular 35th Anniversary Kit features the same components as the 50th kit but we have replaced the Safety Prime with the Auto-Prime and a set of Auto-Prime shell holders. This kit is for those who prefer to prime off of the press.

[noylj]

First of all, you don't NEED a tumbler. You need brass that is free of dirt/sand/grit. This can be accomplished just fine with a clean rag and wiping the outside of each case.
Next, lubrication...you can use a pad (nice and convenient and you avoid applying too much lube, but I like the new water/alcohol based spray-on lubes. In many case, I don't even have to worry about wiping off the lube.
I do tumble. When I come back from the range, I sort and deprime each case (using a Lee universal depriming die). Each caliber individually goes in the tumbler along with 20/40 corn cob media. After 1/2 to 1 hour, I turn off the tumbler, separate the brass, and place it in the brass bin. I don't worry about the occasional pit of media stuck in the flash hole as it will fall out on its own or be pushed out when I resize the case. My brass will never meet the "as shiny as new," but it is as clean as it needs to be.
I consider these kits to be excellent value. The biggest complaints are about the powder measure and the scale. The Perfect Powder Measure does work fine for me, but I must follow the Lee instructions. It uses conical sections and needs to be properly adjusted for tension so it doesn't bind or leak. The scale, to me, is not better or worse than most other balance beam scales. I would consider getting the Hornady L-N-L powder measure and a digital scale as upgrades as you can afford them and feel a desire to buy them.
For rifle loads, prime by hand. Get the Lee die sets. If there is ever a die that gives you problems, consider the purchase of a Hornady or Redding die (assuming you didn't damage the die, in which case send it back to Lee).
Get the Lee, Lyman 49, and either the Speer or Sierra loading manuals and read them. The Lee book has a hugh number of loads gleaned from other sources and all are from the minimum loads from all sources (i.e., one source says max load is 7.2gn of XXX powder and another manual says max is 6.7gn of XXX—Lee only shows the 6.7gn so the loads are "always" as safe as any other source). Just remember, you are responsible to work up to the max in your gun and NEVER assume any max load is safe in your gun.

[Incognito]

I'm absolutely new to reloading, and have a very limited budget.
Two budget friendly kits I'm looking at are:
Lee Breech Lock Challenger Kit 90030
&
LEE 50Th Anniversary Breech Lock Reloading Kit 90050

I'd say go with the 90030, but that's just because I like the Auto-Prime. I bought the Anniversary Kit (before breech-lock) in 2007 and I'm still using it with good results for .223 Rem. & .308 Win. I'd like to replace the aluminum toggle with the new metal one, although I haven't had any problems with it thus far.
Good kit, imo. But as with most kits, you will find yourself replacing/up-grading stuff and swaping certain things around until you're comfortable with your set-up.