Lee Challenger Breech Lock Press for Pat's tool.

[pistolman44]

Has anyone here use the new Lee Challenger Breech Lock single stage press with Pat's gas check making tool. It's the cheapest breech lock press made by Lee. I thought I read a thread by someone saying that the opening in the ram was too narrow for the ejecter part of the tool. I know the Lee Classic single stage press will work.

[30CAL-TEXAN]

I noticed that no one has posted on this one so I guess I will chime in.

I have not used the Checkmaker on the Challenger but I use it on the even smaller Lee Reloader press (the little "C" style press). I don't know this for sure but I think the ram is the same diameter for both (just about the same diameter as a shell holder).

The little aluminum ejector piece that is included for the Lee Classic Cast will not work in my press and I don't think that it will work in the Challenger either but I bet the method that I use would probably work for both.

I knew that the tool would not work with my press right out of the box and I plan on getting the Classic Cast at some point in the future but for now I have just figured out how to make the Checkmaker work with what I have.

I'm sure there are more ways to accomplish this task (and probably less complicated ones for the Challenger press) but, hey this is what works for me on my tiny press.

1. The slot in the ram on my press faces the back so I turned the ram around so that it faces me.

2. The socket on a 3/4" sweat copper fitting is the perfect size to slip over the ram of my press (and I suspect that the Challenger would be the same) so I cut the socket off of a fitting (if you cut a coupling in half then you have 2 in case you screw one up).

3. I cut a rectangular notch in the piece of copper .30" wide and half way down the length of the pipe or about .41"

4. I cut a piece if 1/4" plate about 1" x 1/2" and drilled & tapped (I used a 10-32) the cross section of the plate on the very tip of the 1" side all the way through the 1/2" side. I then cut a very thin notch .55" away from the drilled and tapped end. This slot then notch then slips into the one on the copper part to put the tapped hole in the center of the pipe and in the center of the ram because it protrudes into the ram's slot.

5. I threaded a 1" long set screw into the end of the center piece and that is what lifts the extractor in the Checkmaker die on the down stroke. If the extractor does not lift the newly formed check far enough out of the bottom die (or too far maybe) then I adjust the set screw in or out accordingly.

The added pieces (and minor ram re-adjustment) make changing over to the Checkmaker a little more of a hassle but I usually make quite a few at a time so it's not that big of a deal.

I know this probably makes very little sense without pictures but I have not tried loading pics yet.

[PatMarlin]

Sorry for just finding this thread. I've been working daily in the shop refining, organizing, getting out orders and working on new calibers, and hadn't done any surfing over here lately.

Currently, my RCBS style and LEE style ram ejector arms handle most all of the single stage presses on the market with the exception of a few...

***Chris - (30CAL-TEXAN) below came up with an excellent fix on the Challenger.

****I now have a working ram ejector arm for the LEE Classic Turret*******

All presses will make good gas checks with the dies, it's the issue of bringing the formed check out of the die automatically. Manual is doable, but another step.

What I will do is send out at no charge the correct ram ejector arm if you decide to upgrade to a nice single stage press in the future.

Here's a PDF download of operating instructions with photos so you can get an idea of how the ram ejector arm works:


http://www.patmarlins.com/CheckMakerDiesInstructions.pdf

...

[PatMarlin]

Chris-

If you have photos of your setup, email them to me and I would be happy to take a look at them. May help jog my brain for a new solution.

[30CAL-TEXAN]

I searched for some pictures of the Challenger press and it looks to me like the ram is comlpetely different but I could be wrong because to be honnest I could hardly find any pictures of what I wanted to see so I think I will go to the gun shop today and inspect a new one out of the box.

Pat-

I took some pictures of my set up today so I will download them from my camera and send them to you.

- Chris

[30CAL-TEXAN]

Well what do you know, I was wrong!

I went to the gun shop and inspected one of the Challengers and I think my contraption for using the CheckMaker will work just fine on it. There is a tall raised rib that butts right up against the ram that I guess is part of the spent primer chute but I think there is enough room between it and the ram for the collar to slide up and down. If not that could easily be fixed by slotting the collar on that side.

Pat - I am fixing to send you the pictures and if I can ever figure out how to post them on here I will do that too.

[PatMarlin]

....:Fire:

30CAL-TEXAN Chris sent me photos of his setup and it is very impressive to say the least. That looks like it solves the LEE Breechlock Challenger press issue to me.

Unfortunately, there are so few requests for this press in my die sales that it would not be cost effective for me to make what Chris has done.

Maybe folks who wish to use a LEE Breechlock could pay Chris make them one?

What do you think Chris?


http://www.patmarlins.com/1leeBreachlock.jpg



http://www.patmarlins.com/2leeBreachlock.jpg



http://www.patmarlins.com/3leeBreachlock.jpg



http://www.patmarlins.com/4leeBreachlock.jpg



http://www.patmarlins.com/5leeBreachlock.jpg


....:Fire:

[pistolman44]

This is why I like this site, some will try to solve a problem or solve a problem. I have that same Lee C frame press. I am impressed how you made Pat's tool work for it. I'm in a deciding stage, I have 3 Lee presses Loadmaster being one of them. I have an old Challenger press I want to replace maybe with a 2nd Loadmaster or a new Lee Classic press that Pat's tool will work on.

[30CAL-TEXAN]

[QUOTE=PatMarlin;1002966]....:Fire:

30CAL-TEXAN Chris sent me photos of his setup and it is very impressive to say the least. That looks like it solves the LEE Breechlock Challenger press issue to me.

Unfortunately, there are so few requests for this press in my die sales that it would not be cost effective for me to make what Chris has done.

Maybe folks who wish to use a LEE Breechlock could pay Chris make them one?

What do you think Chris?


I don't mind making a few more of these, as they are really not that difficult to produce. I would however like for someone with a Checkmaker that also has a Challenger press to try this gadget out and make sure that it will indeed work on that press without further modification.

So are there any proud Checkmaker owners that also happen to have a Lee Challenger?

[PatMarlin]

This member has 2 of them Chris:

asw1911pc@aol.com

That's his CB handle. Looks like email too.

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

Chris,
I am interested, But I don't have a challenger press.
I have a Lee "Reloader" press, the same as the "C" style press in the photos.

I would much rather use the "Reloader" press instead of the LEE classic cast
since I have the Classic cast press setup for swaging. I have the 30 checkmaker
and am ordering the 35 checkmaker.
Jon

[Jim Sheldon]

LEE Turrets do not have enough ram travel.
...

I can't speak for the aluminum, original Lee 3 hole/4 hole turret press, but the Classic Cast turret press definitely doesn't have quite enough ram travel. It does work, but with the original ejector piece from Pat it's sometimes just a bit difficult to extract the finished check as the ejector ram doesn't get pushed up far enough to make it easy to grab the check.

I've come up with a fairly easy solution to the problem that anyone with a drill press, #36 drill and a 6-32 tap can implement.

Drill and tap a 6-32 hole near the end of the aluminum ejector piece that fits in the slot. Put a 6-32 screw in the hole and use it to adjust the height of the ejector with the press's ram all the way down. Problem solved. Depending on how easy the screw travels, it may be necessary to lock it down with some blue Loc-Tite, or use a slightly longer screw and use a jam nut under the head end of the screw.

Jim

[PatMarlin]

****I now have a LEE ejector arm that replaces and takes care of the fix that Jim has done above. Please PM or email if you need one.****

[Jim Sheldon]

You guys are amazing!

Frankly, I put my design brain on a rest for awhile as that's all I've done for 2 years and have been concentrating on production. Say "it can't be done", and CB members will say, "Watch me".

You have a picture of that mounted in your press Jim?

Yup, I just went downstairs and took a couple -- I did wind up having to run the screw up from the underside to get enough travel because I cut it too short the first time. Works better this way anyhow.

Jim

[30CAL-TEXAN]

Chris,
I am interested, But I don't have a challenger press.
I have a Lee "Reloader" press, the same as the "C" style press in the photos.

I would much rather use the "Reloader" press instead of the LEE classic cast
since I have the Classic cast press setup for swaging. I have the 30 checkmaker
and am ordering the 35 checkmaker.
Jon

Not a problem Jon, I scrounged up the material to make several more of these today but it will probably be a couple of days before I get a chance to get them put together. PM me.

- Chris

[30CAL-TEXAN]

Thanks for the pictures Jim!

That actually answers some of my questions as well. I guess you could say I am in a decision making state as well. I plan on buying a nice big press when I have a more permanent place to park one.

I have been looking around and I have pretty much decided on the Lee Classic Cast but as I get in to pistol reloading I bet that turret will look much more appealing. :mrgreen:

[Jim Sheldon]

Thanks for the pictures Jim!

That actually answers some of my questions as well. I guess you could say I am in a decision making state as well. I plan on buying a nice big press when I have a more permanent place to park one.

I have been looking around and I have pretty much decided on the Lee Classic Cast but as I get in to pistol reloading I bet that turret will look much more appealing. :mrgreen:
You're welcome Chris,

and you'll love the single stage cast press too. I actually have replaced my little aluminum Challenger light weight O press with the bigger, much more robust Classic Cast single stage to compliment my turret. I moved the little challenger to the far side of the bench and rigged a chute to catch the primers and funnel them down into an old coffee can so I use it with a universal depriming die strictly to punch primers. It's original primer catcher usually didn't catch them and they just flew all over the place.

I like the Classic series as they drop the primers right down the center of the ram and into a big vinyl tube that can be routed into a receptacle or just capped off to catch the spent primers. So far it's the best spent primer catcher idea I've seen.

Jim

[30CAL-TEXAN]

Ok guys I have made up some more adapter rings as seen in the pictures above for using the Pat Marlin CheckMaker dies in the smaller Lee Reloader press. I still have not tried this on a Challenger yet but I am fairly sure that it can be made to work as well.

If you are interested PM me. I didn't really come up with a price as JonB was the first taker and we agreed on a small trade. I'm fairly easy to please so I bet we can work something out. :-D

- Chris

[skimmerhead]

i have the lee breech lock challenger press, it's different than the one that 30cal-texan shows in the photo's above. the check ejector arm that came with my 35 cal check maker does not fit my press. i screwed the ram die into a breech lock bushing and locked it in place with a lee nut, really like those bushings makes die changing a snap. after doing this i was trying to figure out how to get the ejector to work, but no way. i took the primer arm that came with the press and saw it would work if the spring and primer cup were not there. instead i traced the outline of the primer arm on a piece of 1/4" alum. and just added 1/2" to height and cut in my band saw. i cut the long arm off so only a 1/4" stuck out. cut the slot 1/4" deeper where the arm hangs on the pin so it wouldn't fall out every time i raised the ram. alittle fileing here and there to adjust fit and works fine now. don't know what the ejector that came with the check maker fit's but it ain't mine.

skimmerhead :arrow: :cbpour:

[PatMarlin]

Danny- the ejector arm I sent you was for a LEE classic cast. I have no way of knowing if it would work for a breechlock as I don't have that press here.

Could you possibly email a photo of your press and you're arm?

Pat ...:drinks:

[skimmerhead]

Danny- the ejector arm I sent you was for a LEE classic cast. I have no way of knowing if it would work for a breechlock as I don't have that press here.

Could you possibly email a photo of your press and you're arm?

Pat ...:drinks:

no problem pat it was just a mix up on what kinda press i had, it was an easy fix and saw no reason to send it back. i'll take some photo's today and send em, but be warned this will be the first attempt at sending photo's, life is like a box of chocalet's you never know what your gonna get. and thats all i have to say about that. my name is forrest gump, people call me forrest gump.


skimmerhead [smilie=s:

[PatMarlin]

I really appreciate your guys help so I can squash any bugs, and get things refined across the board.

[skimmerhead]

Danny- the ejector arm I sent you was for a LEE classic cast. I have no way of knowing if it would work for a breechlock as I don't have that press here.

Could you possibly email a photo of your press and you're arm?

Pat ...:drinks:

hi pat, i sent photos i think. it was my first attempt at sending photos if you did not get em let me know i'll try again.

skimmerhead

[pistolman44]

I also would like to see photo's of Skimmerhead's home made ejector for his Lee Challenger Breech Lock press. I would like to replace my old Challenger for this newer Challenger breech lock one. Pat if you could post the photo's here or skimmerhead would be appreciated.

[skimmerhead]

I also would like to see photo's of Skimmerhead's home made ejector for his Lee Challenger Breech Lock press. I would like to replace my old Challenger for this newer Challenger breech lock one. Pat if you could post the photo's here or skimmerhead would be appreciated.

i don't know how to post em on here yet, trying to learn. :veryconfu:veryconfu

skimmerhead

[PatMarlin]

Hee, hee... those pics are 3 megs Danny, and my email server will not download them to me and says they're to big.

I'm going to try another way to download them.

[PatMarlin]

Couple questions...

From the pics it looks like my ejector arm will work, but the end needs to be taller, like you show. Should not need to cut the slot.

Is the ram diameter on the Breechlock the same as the Classic Turret?

[skimmerhead]

Couple questions...

From the pics it looks like my ejector arm will work, but the end needs to be taller, like you show. Should not need to cut the slot.

Is the ram diameter on the Breechlock the same as the Classic Turret?

http://www.patmarlins.com/1D.jpg


http://www.patmarlins.com/2D.jpg


http://www.patmarlins.com/3D.jpg


http://www.patmarlins.com/4D.jpg


http://www.patmarlins.com/5D.jpg


http://www.patmarlins.com/6D.jpg


http://www.patmarlins.com/7D.jpg


http://www.patmarlins.com/8D.jpg

the lee primer arm fits both press's, so i copied it and made it taller for the long stroke on the breech lock, i made notch for it to hang on pin deeper so it wouldn't fall out when i raised the ram, now the one you had would not fit in the slot, when i put it in the slot and tryed to lower the ram it was too deep. the arm has to fit so it will ride inside the diameter of ram's cylinder. i probably could have cut yours so it would have fit inside cylinder but i had the scrap laying around and decided to cut that one in case it didn't work i woulda kept quiet so no one would know i screwed up. but that the only thing i can see is that it was too deep. look in the photos the width of the two arms at top of the hinge pin slot. i didn't measure the rams so i don't know, if you need i can just let know. now in the last photo you see the arm in my lee 4 hole turret press, now it works in that press but i did not mount the check maker on that press and try to make any checks. tomorrow i'll measure the depth of the arm and let you know.

skimmerhead

[skimmerhead]

pat look at the one before last photo you can see how the arm has to ride in the cylinder. thats the width the arm has to be.

skimmerhead

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

Ok guys I have made up some more adapter rings as seen in the pictures above for using the Pat Marlin CheckMaker dies in the smaller Lee Reloader press. I still have not tried this on a Challenger yet but I am fairly sure that it can be made to work as well.

If you are interested PM me. I didn't really come up with a price as JonB was the first taker and we agreed on a small trade. I'm fairly easy to please so I bet we can work something out. :-D

- Chris
I got the adaptor yesterday,
Looks nice, the two pieces fit snug.
Sadly, I won't get to try this out for a few days...heavy work load.
Thanks,
Jon

[XWrench3]

well, i can not coment on the breech lock part. but i can talk about the press itself. i bought the challenger press (witch is basicly the same press, both are cast aluminum) and used it for about 3 years. in that 3 years, i wore it out. at the end, i was crushing about 15% of the cases i was sizing, because there was so much play between the ram and press body. if you plan on reloading very much, or for any length of time, do yourself a big favor and buy a better press. if you are looking at trying reloading, and are not sure you will keep doing it, this press will give you a good idea what it is all about. i replaced my aluminum press with the lee classic cast press. it is built MUCH stouter. stout enough that if you ever want, you could reload the 50bmg. i would never buy another aluminum press, unless it was the lee portable hand press for taking to the range. a home press, needs to be cast iron or steel for longevity. by the way, i am on a tight budget, so money is a big deal to me. the lee cast classic was only $98.00 on sale at midway usa.com. off sale, i think it runs about $120,00. but this press will probably last you the rest of your life. one of the key design features of the classic is that the primers (and all the junk that comes out of a shell) goes down through the middle of the ram, where it contacts no other part of the press. the cheaper versions, dump all that junk out the side of the ram, so it get forced between the ram and the press body. can you say PLANNED OBSOLECENCE! they (and others) purposly design these to wear out so you will buy more. way to many items in this world are designed this way, with no long term value.

[PatMarlin]

I forgot to mention that Ruger hog leg is a beauty Danny. What caliber is it?

[skimmerhead]

I forgot to mention that Ruger hog leg is a beauty Danny. What caliber is it?

it's 45 pat. my wife bought it for our wedding anniversery, and she has a job too! what a woman! couldn't help puttin it in the pictures. i lovvve my wife!

skimmerhead--ps tell snoop i said hi. :lovebooli

[PatMarlin]

Snoop says hi backatcha Danny...

http://www.patmarlins.com/snoop.jpg

[asw1911pc@aol.com]

I have the same problem using the Lee press. I will try to make the same setup as in the pictures

[30CAL-TEXAN]

asw,

I just sent you a PM.

[Hammer]

I ordered a Challenger specifically to use Pat's die maker. I have this aversion to tearing presses down and resetting them for big jobs... The Challenger was a low cost alternative.

Pat told me he didn't make the ejector and referred me to these threads....

My press arrived yesterday and aI took a look. As you can see in the pictures above, the primer arm fits over a push pin in the ram. I took out my dremel tool with a stone on it and in five minutes I had ground down one of the two supplied primer arms to fit under Pat's ejector pin....

Haven't slowed down since.. Make fairly perfect gas checks Pat.

I would suspect the Lee ejector can be had for a nominal fee from Lee if you decide to use the press for double duty.... In the meantime, mine is mounted on a piece of 2 x 6 with Pat's die in it never to be removed for reloading...

Thanks Pat and everyone on this board - AWESOME!

Yet to be seen about durability. Works well with .010 material. No so much with the .016 material...

Have a great weekend!
Ed

[asw1911pc@aol.com]

30-Texan adapter works great. Its a simple and yet perfect set up.

[PatMarlin]

Snoop concurs, but still wants a dogbone ...

http://www.patmarlins.com/snoopdroop.jpg

[pistolman44]

Well I decided to get rid of my 2 Lee single stage presses for a new Lee Classic Cast press. It is made of cast iron and also take the larger size dies and comes with an adapter to use the standard size dies. Now I don't have to worry if Pat's GC tool working 100% with my press. Midway has them on sale for $76.95. I have 2 Lee Loadmasters for loading all my handgun ammo.

[VHoward]

Thanks to Skimmerhead's pictures, I made an ejector arm for my challenger breachlock.

[Bullet Caster]

What does PM mean?

[Bullet Caster]

When a person says "pm" me what exactly does that mean. I'm new to cast boolits and don't know all the jargon yet. thanks. Bullet Caster

[edsmith]

It means private message.

[DLCTEX]

Click on the screen name and then on send a private message.