I bought a Lee anniversary kit about 18 months ago. I have been happy and it gets you into the basics for cheap. The breech lock is nice and makes loading multiple cartridges easy.
A problem I have had with the Lee anniversary kit is that the aluminum is already wearing out. It has about 1/8” of play at full stroke. I have loaded probably somewhere around 3000-4000 rounds with it. When I was planning on ordering the aluminum was a concern but the price was enticing enough that I didn’t worry about it. I planned on upgrading anyways once I got the basics down.
I recently switched to a different setup. I use the Lee Classic Cast press with the Hornady Lock-N-Load die conversion bushing kit. I use the Lee press with the Hornady kit and really like it better than the Lee breech lock system. I suspect if they would make a breech lock press that wasn’t aluminum I would have stayed with the breech lock system. I even called Lee to see if there was a press that used the breech lock system that wasn’t aluminum and there isn’t.
Hornady Lock-N-Load Press and Die Conversion Bushing Kit
By using the Lee Classic Cast with the Hornady Lock-N-Load setup I have the best of both worlds, a quick change system with the durability of steel.
A few things I would also recommend would be:
Redding Powder trickler
Electronic scale of some sort (super fast compared to balance beam scale)
Tumbler for the brass with media
Additional Breech locks or Hornady setups (count how many you think you need then add 2-3)
Calipers
Impact bullet puller (I use this very often, you may think you will not need it but you definitely will)
This has been my experience with the Lee kit. I still use the press but only to deprime, neck size and charge the cases. I use the Hornady and Classic Cast setup to seat the bullet because it is rock solid with no play.
The Lee Anniversary kit is graet for what it is, a beginners kit that allows you to get the hang of it for cheap as well as see if you want to reload. For me the allure of reloading wasn’t the cost savings but the quality of ammo. Any reloads will be better than most off the shelf ammo you can buy. I can load sub ½ MOA ammo for less than blaster ammo, including Wolf.
Hope this helps,
Dolomite
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