For years I’ve done all my reloading on a Hornady Single Stage Challenger press. I have accumulated die sets for all the handgun and rifle calibers I normally use. My workspace is organized, and I’m comfortable doing all the steps. I didn’t have a pressing need for a Lee Auto Breech Lock Pro 4000, but it was priced so reasonably I decided to upgrade my reloading operation.
Lee Auto-Breech Lock Pro 4000 press mounted on its own stand with Lee Auto-Drum Powder Measure attached.
When the press arrived, I first tried mounting it in place of the Challenger on the edge of my reloading bench. Lee has videos on their website coaching users through installation, and as I tried following them I soon realized I really needed a reloading stand that would allow me to easily access all sides of the press. So I ordered a Lee Reloading Stand #90688 and set it up complete with a concrete block for stability as per Lee’s instructions and went about configuring the new press.
Lyman Primer Installation tool and Harvey DePrimer
I don’t mind admitting the setup intimidated me. When you look at all the components and view a press totally set up in their instructional videos, you can easily convince yourself this press is a “load it up, turn it on, come back later for your finished brass” operation. In real life, it’s not. For one thing, there is at least one admonition in the instructions to the effect of, “Advanced users only.”
You should be able to use all your existing Die Sets with the new Press
Here’s what I found works for me. I include decapping and installing the primer in my off-press brass preparation. The tools I use for this are the Harvey DePrimer and Lyman priming tool. That makes the primer installation part of the process of ensuring you have brass that is free from defects, the right size, etc.
All your dies are installed at the same time, as is the Powder Measure
When I introduce brass to the press, it’s ready to go. Each pull of the handle takes the round through the next step of the reloading process. The first die is the expanding die which has the powder funnel attached. Then comes the bullet seating die followed by the factory crimp die if that die is part of the current set. The powder processing is beautiful on this press. Of the several options for feeding powder I installed the Lee Auto-Drum Powder measure which is an optional component I had to buy. That means that in addition to the cost of the press, which was somewhere around $200, I spent around $150 for the stand and $40 for the Powder Measure. So if you embark on this journey, you can count on spending around $400 by the time you’re through. Is it worth it? Yes. The progressive press is fun to run; its results are consistent and my protégé’s have fun running it. And I produce more ammo during the time spent than in my single-stage press days.
