Denton, who posts on this website from time to time, recently mentioned a "fix" for the Lee Challenger press. I did it and it works -- so, I'm passing it along to you folks. I only wish I'd done this YEARS ago, before replacing broken link after broken link after broken link.

In short... get the handle ($5.00), the two links ($3.00 each), and the handle/link bolt ($0.50) from the Lee Pro 1000 press. Install these parts onto your Challenger press and forget about breaking those cheap-a** links.

Sometimes Lee sent me free ones, sometimes I had to pay for them. I think it depended on who answered the phone when I called. Over the years, I've probably replaced six or seven of them. And no, it had nothing to do with abusing the press, it had to do with piss-poor links. As easy as it is to do, Lee should just make this conversion standard fare on their Challenger presses, and sell them as improved "B" models, or something.

Anyway, the conversion worked. It's a MUCH stronger arrangement now. If any of you have Challenger presses, I can't recommend this SIMPLE conversion enough.

Take care.

Russ

I just threw mine out today before reading your post. I bought a RCBS pardner press after the last time the links broke. I'm just tired of fooling with the Lee press. Incidentally, each of the three times I broke the toggle links it was while using their factory crimp die. Maybe the problem is really in the die?

To all of you press breakers, when does your Lee press break?

The best improvement I ever made to my Lee Challenger press was dumping it and buying a Rockchucker.

Gee,it was when I was using the Factory Crimp.I told them I would sooner get rid of the press then the die,they sent links.