Lee Breech Lock Challenger Reloading Press Kit

[Hunt200]

Anyone have one of these and is it any good for a beginner??

Lee Breech Lock Challenger Reloading Press, Kit and Quick Change Bushings


http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas...=cat20847&id=0053986

 

[David LaPell]

I just got one last weekend, and I loaded up a bunch of .44 Magnums with it today. It is (too me) smoother to work with than my RCBS Jr. For a beginner, no problem.

 

[torrejon224]

I use two Lee four hole turret presses and a challenger to decap and sometimes prime with a Lee Ram Prime. They make great equipment. Personally I prefer the three or four hole turrets as it allows for continuous loading vs having to switch dies for each step but this will be a great way for you to learn and it allows you to be extra careful about each step.

 

[shovelwrench]

I have two of their older single stages (pre-breach lock). They are fantastic single stages, and will serve you well from beginer to pro.

I also have a four hole turret and a loadmaster, Lee makes excellent equipment.

 

[Landric]

I didn't get the kit, but one of my presses is a Breech Lock Challenger and I use the perfect powder measure and safety prime system also. My only complaint about the press is I would rather the safety prime mount of the left side, but I work around it.

The kit would be great for a beginner, or anyone else for that matter.

 

[jdee74]

I have one that I bought to get started in reloading. I ended up going to the auto disk powder measure and a RCBS scale, but other than that I am using everything else. I have loaded several thousand rounds on this press and it still functions and looks like new. Personally, I believe it to be an extemely good value.

 

[Rule3]

Yes, it is a fine press and will load pretty much anything.
Some points that I do not like about the kit.
The scale is very accurate but a real pain to use. It is way to difficult to adjust and read.
So I recomend a RCBS or Dillion beam balance and your weighing will be a much easier and accurate.

To take advantage of the breech lock feature you have to buy extra bushings for each caliber you load. They come two in a box so if you have a 4 die set that is two boxes. The problem is that they are hard to find. Always out of stock.
Once you have the dies set in the bushings it's real simple to pop them in and out without re adjusting or screwing them in.

Other than that, for the price it is a great kit.

 

[Hunt200]

Thanks everyone, I will most likely be taking the plunge.

 

[TN RAT]

I have a Classic Hornady with the similar breech block method of changing out dies. After using it extensively this weekend it is going up on the block for sale.

I will be replacing it with a press that does NOT have the breech block deal since that is way more trouble than it is worth unless you are willing to invest in additional adapters from the start.

That press will be replaced with something that has standard threads that fit the dies we all use. I may use this as an opportunity to step up to a turret press.

BTW, I have a buddy that just replaced an old Lyman Orange Crush with the base line Lee w/o the breech block option and it works great for him. Single stage presses in the $75 to $150 range work great for beginners and pros alike.

Good luck.

 

[Landric]

At least with the Lee system (I'm not familiar with the Hornady system), it is absolutely not necessary to use the breech locks if one doesn't want to. One just leaves a the insert in place and screws the dies in and out of it as one would with a single stage that doesn't use the system.

 

[PoorGuy]

With the hornady system you have to use the inserts. Real bummer using powder measure and 3 die set when you only have 3 inserts.

 

[zercool]

I bought that same set. The scale is a pain in the butt, I'd spend $30-50 and buy an electronic one. Everything else works pretty well.

Make sure you buy carbide dies for your straight-wall cartridges.