Author Topic: lee anniversart loading kit (Read 1205 times)

Illhunter · « **on:** June 29, 2007, 07:20:30 AM »

i saw this kit in cabela's catalog for $70 would this be ok to get started i am new to reloading and would like some advice wherther to start here or save the money and buy something else also if buy something else i would like some recommendations on what to get any help would be appreciated thanks in advance

Terry

OR-E-Gun Bill · « **Reply #1 on:** June 29, 2007, 09:37:32 AM »

Welcome Terry,

A good place to start would be to read the thread "The Definitive "New to Reloading" at the top of the Handloading Page.

There are a lot of good pointers for the beginner there.

LEE is what I have used for a long time. It serves my needs just fine.

Bill

quickdtoo · « **Reply #2 on:** June 29, 2007, 09:47:30 AM »

I started with a Lee Loader, then bought the anniversary kit, didn't like the scale in the kit, I've pieced together my reloading equipment with some used stuff and upgraded to a Lee cast turret press which I really like, and since I reload for over 20 chamberings, the turret press makes that easy to do. If I were starting now with nothing, and for just a chambering or two, I'd probably just get the RCBS Rockchucker Supreme Master kit from Midsouth.

Tim

http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item.asp?sku=000449357

stimpylu32 · « **Reply #3 on:** June 29, 2007, 10:07:33 AM »

Terry

If you deside to go with Lee , take a look at the Deluxe Turret kit , i started with one and it lasted me 25 years and it is only $ 10 more than the Ann. kit .

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?id=0032404215922a&type=product&cmCat=search&returnPage=search-results1.jsp&No=20&noImage=0&Ntt=lee&Ntk=Products&QueryText=lee&Ntx=matchall&N=4887&Nty=1

stimpy

jgalar · « **Reply #4 on:** June 29, 2007, 06:50:52 PM »

I use alot of Lee reloading tools and don't have any problems with them.
What are you going to be reloading for and how many different calibers?
Why do you want to reload? Do you see yourself spending time and money experimenting to get the absolute best performance possible out of your reloads, or is factory load type performance fine but you want to save some money and shoot more? Or maybe you want a gun related hobby.

There may be better options depending upon what you expect from reloading.

billy_56081 · « **Reply #5 on:** June 29, 2007, 07:30:43 PM »

I love my Lee equipment. I've loaded thousands of rounds on my turret press. The scale is a little chincy but very accurate, and I am an expert on scales if nothing else. I got into reloading to save money on the ammo I shoot, and to increase accuracy. I have done both very successfully. If you buy one of the more expensive brands the Lee product I recommend most is the collet dies. They are great neck sizing dies for loading some of your most accurate ammo. They also save your cases. But most of all follow ALL the directions for safe reloading. And have fun. There is nothing more fulfilling to me than taking an animal with a load I have developed and loaded. 3 years ago both my children made 1 shot kills on Black bears with ammo I loaded. It is one of the highlights of my life. My daughter was very recoil shy so I loaded some very light 30 30 rounds for her and we practiced all summer. She never new the difference when she squeezed the trigger on her bear.

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #6 on:** June 30, 2007, 12:20:49 AM »

I dont use alot of lee stuff anymore other then there dies which id buy even if they werent cheaper but i allways recomend those aniversary kits to any beginning loader. They may not be the best equiptment made but it is serviceable stuff and you cant buy a good press for the price of the whole kit. They make it nice for a beginner as most of the stuff you need to do basic reloading is there and if down the line you find you dont like loading your not out much money. If you decide you like it the stuff is all good back up stuff and if you really get into to it youll find you will always have use for an extra press or 5

myronman3 · « **Reply #7 on:** June 30, 2007, 05:32:42 AM »

i started into reloading with the anniversary kit as well. it is the best deal going and is very user friendly. once you learn the basics you can decide whether or not reloading is for you. and down the road, IF you decide to move up to a progressive press, the lee always comes in handy for odd jobs here and there. i use dillon presses now, but the lee is still on the bench and still gets used to load precision rifle ammo. i see no need to replace it with a more costly press, as the ammo is every bit as good as anything else out there.

cbourbeau32 · « **Reply #8 on:** June 30, 2007, 06:51:00 AM »

I want to also recommend the Lee Turret press kit. Like Stimpy said it is very convenient to just change out the turret when you get ready to change out calibers instead of having to re-adjust your dies every time you change calibers when you have to screw them back into the single stage press. Plus like Stimpy said it isn't very much more than the anniversary kit. Charlie

MnMike · « **Reply #9 on:** July 04, 2007, 04:40:25 PM »

I would start with the anniversary kit and learn the basics. In a few months, buy a turret press. I think learning on a single stage press gives you a better feel for the process, besides, everyone should have two presses.

There is one caution. If you plan to load more than 100 rounds a week, I have heard, on this forum, that these presses could fail in a few years. You may consider going to the Lee cast presses or one of the expensive brands. Or buy the set, learn, and within a year, buy a good progressive like a Dillon.

I still use my anniversary set after 5 years of reloading. It is not the best, but it is American made and it works.

mike

~Ace~ · « **Reply #10 on:** July 04, 2007, 05:13:23 PM »

I cut my teef on the Lee kit, it works well. Was easy to learn on. IF I wear it out, I'll replace the press with a rockchucker, but I can forsee ir lasting a few Years. ~Ace~

quickdtoo · « **Reply #11 on:** July 04, 2007, 05:19:47 PM »

Yeah, those Lee presses don't last!!

Tim

http://www.marlinowners.com/forums/index.php/topic,19388.msg195341.html#msg195341

Dave Allen · « **Reply #12 on:** July 05, 2007, 03:58:27 AM »

terry...i know it's a tough pill to swallow...i agree with quick's comment...i also if to do it all over again would save up another month or two & get the rockchucker kit...i thought about the lee kit about two year's ago when the reloading idea was starting to roll around in my head...i also wound up piecing a kit together i'm happy...it would have been cheaper to get the rockchucker kit...i'm sure the lee will get you going...but...

Jerry Lester · « **Reply #13 on:** July 05, 2007, 05:55:00 PM »

A lot of positive comments here on the Anniversary kit, but honestly, I think that the whole kit with the exception of the priming tool is a waste of money. I started out with this kit, and within days, I'd scrapped the whole thing, keeping only the priming tool. I'm not saying that it won't load ammo, even fairly decent ammo, but just that it's "very" cheaply made. I like LEE dies pretty good, and love the priming tool, but the equipment in this kit leaves a lot to be desired in my opinion.

Take a look at the RCBS "Partner kit". It's only a few dollars more than the LEE kit, and is of much better quality. Yes, The Rock Chucker kit is fantastic, but it is considerably more expensive than the LEE or the Partner. If the price isn't a problem, go with the Rock Chucker, but if you're looking to start out cheap, then go with the Partner kit.

Before I get bashed here over ragging LEE equipment, if you fellows are satisfied with it, then that's all well, and good. I'm pretty much a perfectionist in everything I do, especially handloading, and I'm not satisfied with anything less than well made equipment. I mean, honestly, a "plastic" powder measure?

Mine had big gouges in the top of the metering chamber after one hopper full of IMR-4064, and leaked 296 around the drum like it was a flour sifter. The press was OK I guess, but on larger calibers, it absolutely "did" flex a little causing my OAL to be all over the map. The scale will give you accurate weights as long as you constantly babysit it, but it's very tedious even then.

I actually came very close to giving up on handloading all together because of that kit. Thank goodness a local benchrest shooter talked me into buying an RCBS uniflow measure, 505 scale, and a Rockchucker press. After that, everything went smoother, and my ammo improved at least 5 times better to boot.

OK, I just slipped into my body armor. Let me have it!

Dave Allen · « **Reply #14 on:** July 06, 2007, 12:29:38 PM »

hello...after reading jerry's comment's i agree 100%...i don't hate lee product's...i do think you need to pick & choose your battle's with them...i do use some of their product's...some work great...other's don't...as the comment's come in watch both side's of the fence...

Alan4620 · « **Reply #15 on:** July 06, 2007, 02:52:59 PM »

I was lucky to start out with a hand me down RCBS jr kit.But over the years I have accumulated many other peices of equiptment from just about every manufacturer there is.
I too agree that Lee makes some quality items,but I can't tell you how many replacement parts RCBS has mailed Me to replace something I have broken or bent.No questions asked other than my address.
Keep that in mind when comparing prices.

Alan

7x57mm · « **Reply #16 on:** July 10, 2007, 08:18:42 AM »

I started out with the simple little Lee Loader and then tried the Lee Anniversary Kit years later when I thought I would like to try reloading, but had very little money with which to do it. Sure the scales are not the best, the powder measurer can be frustrating, but I learned how to really do handloading with it. I loaded a whole lot more than 100 cartridges per month and it held up just fine. My only major problem with it were the scales. The scales were not designed to measure an entire loaded cartridge and no matter what I did, short of supergluing them to the reloading bench, they could easily be bumped and move. I think I paid $70 or so from Graf&Sons for it. I later graduated to a better unit and bought a Lyman Orange Crusher Kit and have not been sorry with that purchase either. Now, you can buy an Anniversary Kit for $70 or so, or, you can lay out $250 for one of the better known kits, but when you have little money to begin with, that $70 outlay of cash looks a whole lot more "doable" than $250, especially if I do not know if I will like it or not. This was just a windy way of saying get the Anniversary Kit. Tom Purdom

offhand35 · « **Reply #17 on:** July 17, 2007, 04:21:04 PM »

Illhunter, did you decide on a kit?
I think the comments that you induced are all pretty interesting! I first started with the anniversary kit from LEE about 10 yrs. ago. It was my best way in as I was trying not to spend a lot of money at the outset. I wore the press out in 5 years. The powder dispenser did leak with any ball powder I tried to use, but I later got a Lyman powder dispenser for my handgun reloading. I still have the scale, and use it constantly for my rifle loads. I think it is excellent along with using the LEE Dipper set to first load the pan close, then QS [Quantity Sufficient] it by tapping powder granules out of the smallest dipper. The AutoPrime is indeed excellent, and I bought a spare that was on sale that I have not opened yet in the 3 yrs. that I've had it, the original one is still going strong!

Later, when I started casting and wanted to weigh my bullets and slugs, I bought a Lyman scale good out to 1000 grains. But I STILL use the LEE scale for weighing out preset amounts of powder.

To replace the press, I found an iron turret press at a tag sale, but after a while I figured out that the ram did not line up properly with the diies, so I would have to hold each cartridge in a certain way while lifting the ram......I gave up on that and bought another LEE Challenger O press to use while I decide if and which higher end press I may want to go with later.......

warrior1 · « **Reply #18 on:** July 20, 2007, 02:57:37 PM »

good luck with your choice, the lee kits are definitely a viable option,but before you jump on the anniversity kit , check out the lee classic press kit,and even the lee classic turret press kit. whaTEVER YOU DO BE SURE TO GET A COUPLE OF MANUALS AND READ THEM BOTH. lyman and speer are good bets as is lee's manual also a good choice,
have a good ride, dan

SingleShotShorty · « **Reply #19 on:** July 26, 2007, 01:14:44 PM »

Quote from: Illhunter on June 29, 2007, 07:20:30 AM

i saw this kit in cabela's catalog for $70 would this be ok to get started i am new to reloading and would like some advice wherther to start here or save the money and buy something else also if buy something else i would like some recommendations on what to get any help would be appreciated thanks in advance

Terry

Remember you get what you pay for