Reloader question

[Dixie Dude]

What do you guys think of the Lee Breech Lock Challenger loader, in comparison to the RCBS Pardner, and the RCBS Rock Chucker?  Want to get into reloading.  Want a decent kit set up.  Don't want to go overboard.  Thanks

[PA-Joe]

Which ever one you can afford. It is more important to have a good scale and micrometer.

[Dixie Dude]

I know I need several things.  The "kits" are $100 for the Lee, $159 for the RCBS Pardner, and about $295 for the RCBS Rock Chucker.  I heard the Rock Chucker took less effort, but with the Lee or Pardner, I could buy more dies and a caliper that doesn't come with the kits.  I want to reload for a minimum of 6 different calibers, then add about 4 more later.  I heard that some take more physical effort, and you tire with time.  Just wondering.  Would like to know from experienced reloaders.  Thanks

[Old Syko]

Kind of depends on which calibers you will be loading for.  For handgun and the smaller rifle calibers anything you've mentioned will work but if you intend to load for any of the larger rifle calibers or anything that requires heavier pressures such as forming some wildcats, the Rockchucker is the ONLY way to go.  Besides, if you buy a cheap press now, you'll use it for a time then push it to the side and spend the extra money later.  Just as well start out with quality up front.

[Dave in WV]

If I bought a Lee press it would be their cast iron one. I had a Challenger press for several years and part of the linkage broke. I bought a Lyman Chrusher II press and it's a better press by far. The Lee cast iron press wan't available when I bought my Lyman press.

[Catfish]

If it`s for reloading and it saws Lee on it I won`t buy it. I started loading my own in 1965 an have had some of about every thing on the market. The only brand that let me down every time I tried it was Lee. There is a very good reason that their junk is the cheapest on the market, but even then it is the most over priced.

[Dixie Dude]

Here's what I plan on reloading:  30-06, 308, 35 Whelen, 45-70, 223, 44 mag, 357 mag, 35 Rem, 7.62x39.  Later:  375 HH, 7.62x54, 8mm Mauser, 270, 30-30.  Then maybe: 243, 25-06.  280 Rem, 270.  I will begin the 35 Whelen and the 47-70 first, since for me right now they arethe most expensive.  However, I have a lot of 308 and 30-06 brass as well as 44 mag and 270 that I have picked up at the range. 

[Old Syko]

From the list you posted, it would be foolish to buy anything less than the Rockchucker.  You are going to be mad at yourself very soon with anything else.

[MnMike]

Many of us have started with Lee for similar sets of cartridges (I have 10 die sets from .204 to .500).

Many of us had the idea of upgrading equipment later, if we found that we really like reloading.

Many of us are still using Lee after many years, because it works OK.

BTW, I also don't buy $150 athletic shoes.

mike

[Sweetwater]

My press is a 1957 Herter's Super Model 3. Figured I'd upgrade when Dad got through with it. Didn't happen. I got over wanting to load quantity and really appreciate loading one at a time when I'm working up a load and experimenting. That old press is similar to the RockChucker. I did swap the Herter Powder Scale for a Hornady Magnetic Dampened Model (bought one for Dad, also), and the Herter Powder Thrower got upgraded to an RCBS Model (Dad got one of them, also). Some of my die sets say Herter, some say RCBS, some say Redding, one says C-H, and one says Pacific. I had a Lyman set for 45Colt that I sold when I sold the 45Colt, some years back. I have several Lee factory crimp dies, and they are all splendid. I also have a Lee melting pot and a couple of Lee molds, though most of my molds say Lyman or RCBS. I've had an NEI/SSK mold and hope to have some LBT molds before I'm done. I don't think it hurts to have stuff from various companies. The worse set of dies I've had said Redding on them. They were rough. I sent them back for "fixing" and they tried polishing the sizing die and ended up sending me a new one. I also replaced my 8mm sizing die as the neck portion was oversized - it had the Herter name on it. No company is perfect and they all 'make a bad one' now and then. Guess it goes with manufacturing.

A friend of mine bought a Rockchucker "kit" with several pounds of powder, 3 sets of loading dies, a tumbler, several hundred brass cases, several hundred bullets, a brick of primers - just a ton of stuff - for less than the new price for the "kit". It was nearly new a real bargain.

Suggest you be patient and do some shopping. This kind of quality stuff really holds up and at today's prices for everything, there are bargains to be had.

Regards,
Sweetwater

[boommer]

the one thing is with the rock chucker with me IT IS STILL MY GO-TO PRESS for 25 years still tight pull it down every couple years grease it up! The plastic on the handle getting thin. I do have LEE and dillon and lyman presses nothing bad to say about them they are good too. I have never really been burned on anything and if I had problem they made it right.Just make sure you get a good scale !! Don't get cheap there.

[Sweetwater]

+1 on the need for a good scale.
We had two Herter scales, both were oil-dampened and a mess to use, so the oil was never used. On one the beam sat on a knife edge and on the other it sat on a very thin piece of wire like piano wire. Both had a habit of 'sticking' over time. Granted, we had these scales for over 30 years before they were replaced. I replaced the first one with an RCBS 5-0-5 and a set of checking weights. Don't know how I got along without the checking weights. Always before we used a Sierra jacketed bullet and called it good enough. Maybe it was ok and maybe we were just lucky, but the piece of mind I get with the checking weights certainly outweighs their cost. I later replaced the RCBS scale with a Hornady Magnetic Dampened scale. It is much faster than the other non-magnetic scales I had used and after 5 years, it has proven to be totally reliable for accuracy and repeatability. I gave my Dad a scale just like it to replace his old Herter scale and we 'reset' his RCBS powder thrower as he was wanting to duplicate some loads he had read about.!! The checking weights proved the Herter scale was no longer (if ever) accurate or consistent. I'm more concerned with it being consistent, as I have developed methods to check myself and I always start 'low' and work loads up. It becomes more of a matter of what the weapon likes than necessarily what the book says, but I wouldn't get along with the 'library' of books I have acquired over the years. They are great guides, and need to be used in that light, as references, not cookbooks.
A good scale is a MUST! There are lots of them out there. Not a good place to skimp on the budget.

Regards,
Sweetwater

[beemanbeme]

I'd get the RCBS Partner and spend the difference on a good scale. Say a Ohaus 10-10.  I've done just about everything you can do to a rifle case --including taking a 30-06 down to a 22-250-- and still stay out of jail and have never had a Rock crusher or a Orange chunker or any of those.