compujas

The Breech Lock has the quick change die system. Without that, you have to thread and unthread each die every time, which also means resetting it's position each time. I've never used any of the lock rings that claim to save your settings, but I'm not sure I personally would trust them anyway since it still depends on how tightly you thread it into the press. With the breech lock bushings it's at the same position in the press every time. I would suggest getting the Breech Lock. Make sure you get enough bushings for all of your dies as well.

I have the Lee Challenger Anniversary kit and I love the press. IMO you wouldn't really save any time by going with a turret since the dies take 5 seconds to change out once they're set up. I've loaded plenty of 9mm and .308 on it. I would probably advise against getting the kit though because I wound up probably spending more replacing things that it came with. For example, I didn't like the powder scale at all, so I got an RCBS 5-0-5. I also preferred the anniversary kit over the other one because I prefer hand priming rather than press priming, but that's a personal preference. As others may have insinuated, the Lee presses are not "cheap", they are a good value. They are not necessarily built as robust as others, but if it doesn't need to be, why make it that way. Like I said, I load .308 which is only a short version of 30-06, and requires a fair amount of force to resize, and my press has never winced at it. As far as calipers, it doesn't matter. Unless you're spending $100+ on a certified calibrated inspection grade set of calipers, $20 calipers are all the same. I have a Frankford Arsenal set and have never worried about it causing any problems, and I also use Mitutoyo certified calipers regularly at work, so it's not like I've never used real inspection equipment. IMO, when discussing reloading equipment, just like anything else, you'll find plenty of people who think low cost equipment is useless and will only cause problems, and then you'll find plenty of people who use that same equipment for years and have no problems at all. Also, just like any other hobby, no matter what you get now, you'll be spending more on stuff later, so get what you can get now and worry about the rest later. I couldn't afford a Dillon 650 (and still can't) so I got a Lee Challenger kit and slowly added more to it as I've needed and it's served me just fine. Would I like to eventually get a progressive, absolutely, and I probably will eventually, but that doesn't make my single stage any less useful. I personally would never load rifle on anything more than a single stage anyway. That's only my opinion though, and I'm sure plenty will disagree with me, just as plenty will agree.

I'm thinking about picking up a SOG Flash 2 for a general utility knife. My only question (other than serrated vs straight) is if the Zytel handle is rubberized at all. The current knife that I use is a cheap walmart knife, and the frame is a little rubberized, probably for better grip, but when I try to clip it in my pocket, it's very difficult because it won't slide easily. Any idea if the Flash 2 would have that problem? These are the particular ones I'm looking at, unless someone points me to a better one. I'm not looking to spend much more than about $40 since I don't really use them that often. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000IXC7IW/ http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00007E1M1/

Oh, I wasn't aware of that. It makes sense though. There's my one thing learned for the day, I guess I can go home now.

Actually it's micro-usb. Normally I wouldn't correct it, but since mini-usb is also a real and different connector, I figured I'd point it out in case anyone else is confused. And I do agree, micro-usb is basically the new standard. All of the other device manufacturers realized that people wanted a common connector since no one was buying the first-party $30 car chargers anymore anyway. Apple is still a money-grab corporation though, so anything to make an extra buck or 20.

What happens when you get a liberal psych doctor who wants nothing more than to ban guns? Now they start submitting everyone's name who comes through the doors to the NICS system and "accidentally" never removes them. Or what if you have a heavy handed politician that comes through and says "If you don't annotate everyone as high risk, maybe you won't see any government funding next year", or send the board of health after your facility, etc. When that much power is involved, corruption runs rampant (look at NJ). Plus giving someone that much power over a right like firearm ownership is unacceptable. Really, over anything. It's essentially the same as removing the checks-and-balance system from the government and making a single point the ultimate authority, aka. dictatorship.

States don't have rights. Individuals have rights, states have powers. Tenth amendment. There's a BIG difference between rights and powers. Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

They're already up. I'm assuming you're not a USPSA member if you didn't get the e-mail. If that's the case go here (http://www.uspsa.org/uspsa-display-match-results.php), club code is MID05.

Great day with everyone, but bad shooting (for me), weather, and that damn heat-seeking steel splatter. Nick, was it really just a splash of coke in a bottle of Jack?

Surprised no one has started this yet. Who's in? Weather looks reasonable, mid-80's and cloudy for now.

I usually listen to podcasts, typically GFH and Gun Talk.

Glad you're ok. Lesson learned the hard way unfortunately. Really hammers home that it can happen to any one of us. Before the pics I was going to ask how you could possibly not notice loading a .38 Super into a .45 mag...then I realized it's chambered for .38 Super. :unknw:

I bought the Lee Challenger Breech Lock Single Stage Press Kit and the only things that I replaced so far are the scale and the lube (for rifle). I picked up an RCBS 5-0-5 on ebay and haven't looked back. I also added a lot of other things to my bench, but that will come with time for anyone. That kit has served me for almost 2 years now loading 9mm and .308, but I'm considering getting a LnL AP soon for pistol. There's nothing wrong with the kit as long as you want what's in it. It also depends on what you're doing with it. I wanted the Perfect Powder Measure instead of the Auto Disk one because of the micrometer charge bar, but now I found out that for flake powders, the thing leaks a bit. For extruded powder though, it doesn't leak at all.

I pick up my own brass and don't reload enough to warrant dumpster diving, but I know that there are plenty who do. I also find it a big F U to the 'customers' when a range does these kinds of things. Even more-so when they say you can't pick up your own because it touched their floor and is therefore now their property. If they're going to use the brass to raise money for range improvements, or anything that goes directly back to the members, or even a good charity as siderman suggested, then I don't really have a problem with this. But if it's going to benefit just the RO's or 'friends' of, then I have a problem with it. Best thing to do then would be, if you're just going to throw it away, take a quick look on the line and see if anyone is collecting it and give it to them. I may just have to start picking up everything I see and giving away what I don't need.

+1 Bob pointed me to this guy and I picked up 3 from him. They're very simple, but they get the job done much cheaper than real production ones. I only got them to use for USPSA Rifle stages.

If I remember correctly, at least from a few years ago, they were only open a few hours a week. It was like Sunday afternoons and Tuesday evenings or something like that. Outside of those hours, the gate was closed near the tracks.

It's pretty difficult to find even when you know where you're going. I went a few years ago to check it out, but never wound up actually shooting there since I joined Cherry Ridge. If you think you're going the wrong way and are in the middle of some industrial area, you're on the right track (no pun intended given the train tracks you cross over). https://maps.google.com/maps?q=41.04845,-74.63208&ll=41.048401,-74.632047&spn=0.007727,0.016512&num=1&t=h&z=17&iwloc=near

Unless you have a lot of guns in a lot of different calibers, I personally prefer buying the individual pieces I need. I tried a universal kit at first thinking it would be a better value, but it just turned out that the pieces were mostly junk. I eventually wound up buying all the separate parts anyway. I like the boresnakes for rifles and shotguns since you don't have to (or sometimes can't) get straight clear access to the chamber to be able to get a rod in. For handguns though, I use a rod with a bronze brush and then jag with a patch. Also, be careful because standard size rods won't fit in a .22 cal rifle (that includes AR's). I almost got a rod stuck because I didn't think of that. I haven't used any of them, but if you're set on buying a kit, Otis is probably the way to go.

I understand your point Sandy, and do agree to an extent, but there are also women who aren't comfortable with a .40. My wife and several of her friends for example. They've all shot my Glock 22 .40S&W and none of them enjoy it, they say it's too harsh, and that was with 180gr rounds...they wanted nothing to do with the 165's. But then none of them have a problem handling my Beretta 92 9mm. So while you're right in that they shouldn't be pigeon-holed into starting on a .22, a .40 might not be the right place either. Also, when considering a brand new shooter, regardless of gender, starting with a .22 helps them overcome their fear of guns (if they have one) because they have nearly no recoil, so they don't have to worry about the recoil and can focus on the fundamentals of grip and trigger rather than thinking "oh crap, am I going to drop it". A .22 IMO is a good place for anyone to start, not because they CAN'T handle anything more than that, but because you don't KNOW what they CAN handle. People come in all different kinds, not everyone is suited to a .500S&W Mag. All that aside, my wife actually picked out the M&P 9mm as what she wants for her first gun.

I've been having the same problem with slowing down. I went too fast and pulled 2 NS, but luckily noticed and took the extra shots to avoid the 2 mikes on the first stage this time. By the 5th stage, I managed to slow down enough that I avoided all penalties and scored decent...my time was slow, but I scored good hits. I foresee a lot of practice and a lot of time before the speed will come.

Thanks. Yeah, the star can be a real menace. Luckily I seem to have an agreement with steel that when I shoot at them, they fall over. Unfortunately not everyone has that. I still made a lot of mistakes, but it's only my 3rd match, there's still plenty of room for improvement.

Yes, great time as always. And the weather turned out great. Definitely needed sunblock. Glad I could help Nick, and glad Ken decided to come out and shoot. I'm sure he'll catch the bug like the rest of us. And now some video for anyone interested in seeing what they missed, or less likely, seeing my extraordinarily mediocre run. Unfortunately my wife missed the first half of Stage 2, but it was just a drop-turner, no big deal.

No rain here in Jefferson and blue skies are starting to show. Think it's going to be a nice day.

No problem, I'll throw it in my bag. Sent from my Droid Razr Maxx

My Bladetech took 10 weeks to ship from Red Dot Shooting, but I'm a lefty with a Beretta 92A1 w/ Rail, so quite the combination of rare options.