Is this a good starter set up?

[Rory]

Evening all, I'm more and more inclined to begin hand loading as I consider what I want from shooting and stalking.
To that end, would this Lee Breech Lock Challenger set be a good starter set up and allow decent handloading?
Lee Precision Breech Lock Challenger Kit (90030) | eBay

 

[takbok]

Yes, a great reloading kit. I've had mine for 4 years now and it's excellent.

CDSG are a good shop to buy from.

See pic of a simple stand that I made from 3x3 fence posts and 6x2 for the top.

 

[enfieldspares]

CDSG are honest folk. OTOH whilst I don't at all like Lee scales, the Lee Powder Dispenser is excellent with stick powders (not so good with ball powders) and Lee dies once you've replaced the awful pattern of lock ring they have with pretty much anybody else's load ammunition near as good as anybody else's standard dies. There's a snobbery about Lee dies but I and others that have shot ammunition loaded in them should be honest enough to admit that there is nothing at all wrong cartridge they produce. But their scales and their lock rings on their dies I'll never like.

 

[paul o']

or I have a Lyman rock chucker and Lock-N-Load Powder Measure for that price lol but the lee comes with scales ect ect . good buy a pal has one. Its not my cup of tea but thats me

 

[snake_2586]

I started out with that kit, but like may others have said replaced the scales, I bought a set of RCBS 505's from the classifieds, there is nothing wrong with the scales, just the setup and zeroing is a lot more fiddly and they take longer to settle.

Just bear in mind like any of these kits there is still other calibre specific items you need to add.

 

[bluesako]

imho, i would buy used good quality reloading gear of the classified adds on here, buy once, it will save you money in the longrun and last a lifetime, lee is sort of ok, but i bet you will get rid in a year or so, but you have to make your own mind up. bs.

 

[Rory]

imho, i would buy used good quality reloading gear of the classified adds on here, buy once, it will save you money in the longrun and last a lifetime, lee is sort of ok, but i bet you will get rid in a year or so, but you have to make your own mind up. bs.

What would your list of components be if you were going to buy 2nd hand? Genuinely intrigued and not in a major hurry, so would be interested to get an opinion. I don't want to spend oodles (not more than £250 tbh)and don't have the space for a factory level of production on a permanent basis.

 

[Home Loader]

Evening all, I'm more and more inclined to begin hand loading as I consider what I want from shooting and stalking.
To that end, would this Lee Breech Lock Challenger set be a good starter set up and allow decent handloading?
Lee Precision Breech Lock Challenger Kit (90030) | eBay

Good kit to start with, I started with mine 10+ years ago and still use it. Their are some bits you will up grade as you become more experienced but it all works and will make accurate ammunition.

 

[enfieldspares]

I'd get an RCBS Rockchucker or Lyman Crusher. Scales any made by Ohaus which will then have been labelled and branded as RCBS, Lyman and Etc. But not Lee scales. Dies? Only and only that, would be standard Redding as they have an aftermarket carbide sizing button. But as I've written earlier Lee dies will make as good ammunition as will any other makers standard dies. I don't like the lock rings Lee use but it is easy enough to source another makers and substitute.

 

[enfieldspares]

What's in my gunroom as of today:

Reloading press - Australian Simplex Master O Frame.
Powder dispensers - 2 x Lyman 55; 1 x Belding & Mull; 1 x Ohaus Duo-O-Measure.
Case trimmer - Forster with standard length base.
Dies - Redding standard FL two die sets .270WCF and .30-06. Lee .270 WCF Factory Crimp.
Scales - Ohaus made, RCBS branded 304 Dial-O-Matic.
Lee "Popeye's Pipes" yellow plastic powder scoops.
Primer seater - Lee Priming Tool.

Others - Lyman 310 Tools with a set of .270 WCF and .30-06 dies. I also often prime using the .310 Tool.

 

[Shadrach2986]

That's pretty much all I use for my rifles and they all shoot under 1" at hundred. Prone of course.

 

[bluesako]

hi rory dont get me wrong im not knocking lee, its just that there is better reloading gear out there, e.g. rcbs lyman etc, i would make a list out of what you want to start out with, e.g. a press scales powder thrower they are the main things, then get all the other little bits of kit you need, you wont regret it, and it will last you a lifetime of reloading, there is always guys on here selling good quality reloading gear, make a list out and put a wanted add on here, good luck bs.

 

[Scotty99]

This kit is a good place to start, especially if you are not sure you will stick with reloading in the longer term. You can always upgrade later and sell on your Lee kit if you really get into it. If you go for the Lee kit then I would recommend that you also get a copy of Modern Reloading by Richard Lee, it's a great all round book on reloading techniques and is written specifically with the Lee equipment in mind.

 

[Cottis]

I will assume you are shooting normal levels of ammunition (ie, hunting rounds with some target work, so less than 100 a month)

Unless that is not the case, buy the Lee kit and spend more of your time understanding reloading properly and learning how to use the kit to make ammo and then shoot it to learn more. You will get better very quickly and the Lee kit will be no barrier initially and potentially not at all depending on your personal preferences once you have learned the ropes.

That is the key. Personal preference. I would imagine most of us use a mish mash of kit made by various manufacturers based upon our experiences to date. It doesn't mean any one brand is better or worse than the next brand. It is just what works for you.

I started with a Lee kit and dies and they made ammo that worked well as you would expect. You then decide what does not suit you and what does, and you add additional stuff as you see fit.

For me, there is no one kit out that there would give me every component that I deem to be the best for my loading needs. With that in mind, get the cheapest out there (which you have identified and it falls in to your budget)

I personally have little time for Lee dies apart from their collet neck dies which are wonderful. They work but they are not as user friendly as most. The FL size dies need tools to take apart for proper maintenance and their dead length seater dies appear to be made of recycled paper clips. I have come across a few of their seater dies where the plugs cannot accommodate long for calibre bullets. You then pay more for custom plugs (or more likely, you go buy a die from a company that makes decent seater plugs). That said, they seat bullets perfectly fine.

On the other hand, I really like the Lee beam scales. They are cheap and nasty but they are the most accurate and sensitive I have seen. I don't just mean repeatable but they actually weigh out the charge to 0.1grain that you ask for. I have used Ohaus variants that are a little off. Doesn't matter if you keep using the same set every time, as you are effectively just looking for repeatability but repeatability, accuracy and sensitivity win the day for me, even if those scales are a bit fiddly and slow compared to others. The Lee powder thrower is also accurate with extruded powders. Not sure how as they are cheap and nasty just like the scales but hey, if they work, that is cool with me. Set them to under weigh by a tenth or so of a grain and then trickle up. Speeds things up nicely and if you have an optimum charge weight found, you do not even need to use the scales once the thrower is set. More so if you are just reloading for deer rounds to shoot in to a couple of inches or so at 200yds.

I suppose my point is that we all add various components in time that compliment how we want to reload.

I like Forster and Redding dies
I like Lee scales, thrower and hand primer (hate priming on the press)
I like Lyman/RCBS case prep stuff
Most presses will work well but I prefer them with a basic screw in bit for the dies. The breech lock concept is a nice idea but I personally feel they allow potential for a slight bit of play and therefore tiny inaccuracies in seating depth.

Anyhow, my tuppence worth is buy the Lee kit, learn the ropes, enjoy shooting your own cheaper and more accurate ammo and add to it if you so wish. Additional kit will almost certainly not significantly improve your loaded ammo but it will make your life easier as you identify what works for you and what doesn't.

 

[Rory]

So, are other FL dies compatible with the Lee kit, or am I completely off tangent? I suspect I should really try and get to see someone doing a full reloading cycle to fully understand the process (I have read the pinned reloading thrwad on here and seen a few YouTube videos, but I know nothing beats a 1-on-1 explanation).

 

[enfieldspares]

So, are other FL dies compatible with the Lee kit, or am I completely off tangent?

They are different. All dies are compatible with every body else's presses as there is an American standard 7/8" x 14tpi commonality. But how each maker's dies are constructed is different. You couldn't take the expander decapper rod from a Lee and fit it in an RCBS. Nor could you fit the expander decapper rod from an RCBS in a Redding. And none would fit a Lyman. They will all decap. They will all expand. But its just the same with the seating stems on the seater die.

 

[Alantoo]

So, are other FL dies compatible with the Lee kit, or am I completely off tangent? I suspect I should really try and get to see someone doing a full reloading cycle to fully understand the process (I have read the pinned reloading thrwad on here and seen a few YouTube videos, but I know nothing beats a 1-on-1 explanation).

Having a chance to observe an experienced reloader would be a great advantage for you.

I bought the Lee Breech Lock Anniversary Kit and have been using the Lee dies, press, press-mounted primer feed, Lee trimmer and the powder thrower for the last few years.

As far as I know the dies, threads and presses are interchangeable from different manufacturers. I haven't had to change the Lee dies but have added a Lee de-capping, a Lee Flaring and a Hornady cam lock bullet puller and invested in a few of the locking breech lock collars.

I have acquired bits from other manufacturers as others have stated above...just my niggles are quite different to Cottis'.

I think the Lee dies are fine and have worked well. I have no idea what sort of group improvement would be made by side-grading to RCBS or Forster.

With my shooting from a standard weight stalking barrel, the Lee ones have produced ammunition which has averaged 0.846" over 37no. 5-shot groups of 130grain TTSX and averaged 0.609" over 9no. 5-shot groups with 110grain TTSX both in .308. I am sure my shooting skills have a much more deleterious effect on group size than the die manufacturer.

The Lee scales I didn't get on with at all...I found it really difficult to hook the powder pan on and off without disturbing the balance arm and consequently had to keep repositioning it...I ended up using a lovely set of air-damped Oertling Laboratory scales which you can buy on eBay for £40 or £50 and have the pleasure of a Mahogany and glass cabinet housing a beautiful brass scientific instrument to look at while being far more precise than any dedicated reloading scale. Each division on my Oertling scale equals 0.2mg which equals 0.003grain so it will respond and easily show whether you are adding a large, medium or small powder kernel!

The Lee Chamfer tool I didn't get on with so bought a Case Prep Multi-Tool and a Flash Hole Uniforming Tool, both by Lyman

A Redding powder trickler and a Frankford Arsenal kinetic hammer were added along with an Ultra Sonic cleaner.

Alan

 

[enfieldspares]

I think the Lee dies are fine and have worked well. I have no idea what sort of group improvement would be made by side-grading to RCBS or Forster.

There are some features that I do like with Lee standard two or three die sets. There are some features that I don't like with them. Or features otherwise don't need. As what I don't like or don't need outweigh what I do like that's why I don't buy Lee dies. So my judgement is based on what features offer me, Enfieldspares, a benefit and what features offer me either no benefit or, indeed, a dis-benefit.

What I do like:
The decapping set up.
With anybody other maker's set up if you accidentally try to de-cap a Berdan primed case, or a Hirtenberg case you'll bend the decapping rod. With Lee's dies the decapping rod is simply pushed upwards.

What I do not like:
The lock rings on the outside of the dies that lock it in place on the press.

The method of adjust the seating depth of the bullet. For me I find that I can more quickly get a more precise adjustment of the bullet seating depth with RCBS dies than with Lee dies. It takes me more time to do so with Lee dies. Of course once you have set it that feature becomes irrelevant. So for me the best for precise gradual adjustment of the bullet seating depth are RCBS as the seating stem is slotted at the top so you have the easiest of visual reference. This is because at that time I loaded a variety of bullets of different nose shapes in each calibre so needed to adjust the seating plug when changing bullets.

What I do not need:
The ability to charge using a Lee Autodisk powder measure via the expander die on three die sets used for straight wall cartridges.

So in my past days I chose RCBS in preference to Lee, to Lyman, to Redding as for me the feature that gave me the most benefit was being able to adjust the seating depth of the bullet. But now that Redding offers a carbide sizing button option and as I by that time then only loaded four calibres I replaced all my RCBS dies with Redding dies. That and I am near to Rugby so can service spare parts for them from Norman Clarke.

 

[enfieldspares]

Following from the above here's a tip with RCBS dies. As the seating screw is very thin diameter you can use a the depth measuring end of a set of vernier gauges to record how far that seating screw needs to be turned in, or out, relative to the shoulder at the top of the die body for each bullet profile. That can't as easily be done, if at all, with Lee dies. Nor Lyman nor Redding as they don't have the thin diameter seating screw as do the RCBS dies. You then just note that measurement for each different bullet on a sticky label in the die box.

 

[Alantoo]

snip...
What I do not like:
The lock rings on the outside of the dies that lock it in place on the press.

The method of adjust the seating depth of the bullet. For me I find that I can more quickly get a more precise adjustment of the bullet seating depth with RCBS dies than with Lee dies. It takes me more time to do so with Lee dies. Of course once you have set it that feature becomes irrelevant. So for Enfieldspares the best for precise gradual adjustment of the bullet seating depth are RCBS as the seating stem is slotted at the top so you have the easiest of visual reference.
Snip...

What is it you don't like about the lock rings? I used the nuts with their O ring inserts for a while but then bought some of the breech lock clamp collars/sleeves which means that every die is just a 30˚ twist into register. Very quick and repeatable I found.

I don't quite follow what the problem is you find with the Lee bullet seating die. I have made up dummy rounds with each of the bullets I am loading for, and having backed off the seating adjuster, put the round into the die and wind the seater down on to the bullet...it normally needs just a smidge of adjustment to tweak the last two or three thou. But that only takes a few seconds at the start of the batch.

Alan