Lee Classic Loader Kit

Ingalls

Does anyone have any experience with the Lee Classic Loader Kit. For 22 bucks, it seems like a small investment. But it doesnt come in many calibers, and it looks like you need a new kit for each. Should I just wait and get a bench mounted.

Pearyw

I started out with the Classic about 45 years ago. You will be happier with a bench mounted press. The Classic is slow and requires you to drive the case into the die with a hammer. For $89.99 plus the cost of a set of die, you can purchase a Lee Challenger Anniversary Kit which has everything you need to load rifle or pistol ammo. This is a better way to go if you are on a budget.

bpost

A bench mounted press is always more preferable. Keep an eye out for used ones in the local paper or even post a wanted ad in the classifieds.

JustC

PITA way of loading.

Ingalls

I know Im gonna regret this but....PITA[?]

WinM70

Pain In The *.

Ingalls

Got it.

Rocky Raab

Yup. The 753rd time a primer goes off while you're tapping it in with a hammer will convince you: get a bench press and real dies.

Ditto the recommendation for the Lee Challenger kit. You may upgrade to something heavier-duty later, but that light press will always find work to do on your bench. I added one to my bench after using an RCBS press for decades, and am amazed at how often I now need both presses.

I use the light Lee for bullet pulling, cast bullet sizing and other niggley little jobs when I don't want to interrupt myself to unscrew the die in the RCBS.

Ingalls

In searching some old posts about Lee presses, I saw that the aluminum press is subject to flexing. Should I be concerned with this. I will probably stick to handgun calibers, if that makes a difference at all.

Rocky Raab

That's why I mentioned light duty. Lee aluminum presses are fine for handgun or smaller rifle rounds that don't require a lot of resizing force. The Lee Classic Cast and new Classic Cast Turret are iron and among the strongest presses on the market. They may be THE best presses currently made, and are bargains to boot.

The Challenger press is aluminum, but reinforced, I believe. It is strong, but not as strong as the Classic Cast models. It's plenty good for handgun rounds.

Ingalls

I just saw this kit(Anniversary) on the Midway site. For 90 dollars, when the time comes I just may go with it. Im reading the only book my library had, but it was written in 1976. As soon as I get through it, and scrounge up a few more dollars, Ill whip out the plastic money. The handloader kit was tempting, but looking at the reviews on the Cabelas site, popping primers doesnt sound like much fun. It reminds me of that cartoon where the characters job was testing ammo by hitting it with a hammer....

tgw

Got a .45 ACP Lee Loader while stationed at Fort Ord when I had some time on my hands and access to all the empties I could scoop up. It was slow for sure, but an inexpensive introduction to reloading. A week ago I fired some of the reloads at the range, and after 40 years they all worked.

jsurvant

Upgrade and invest the extra $$ in the Lee Deluxe Turret. I went through this same debate and ended up witht he above press. You will not be sorry.