[Rock_Steady]

I bought a Lee pro 1000 at my local dealer, and I really think I got hosed. I opened the package and there were none of the extra parts in there that were supposed to be there. The hex ratched that is installed is completely chewed up, and as far as I can tell the drive bolt is broken. I called Lee and ordered the replacement parts at my cost, and I still can't get the thing to work. How can a piece of equipment this fragile make it in the market? I installed the new drive bolt an immediately it woudln't index, and I am afraid to push harder because the manual says it can be "easily damaged" by handling improperly. What a horrid piece of junk. The instructions that came with this thing are atrocious - and the videos online are no help at all. My only recourse is to send this thing in and have them fix it, again at my cost, or take it back to the store and get charged a restocking fee? How can they sell something with such bad instructions that is so fragile" Plastic parts? Are you kidding?

[RustyFN]

You didn't buy it at Marstillers did you, just kidding. It sounds to me like somebody had been into it before you bought it. I would call Lee and make them fix it at their expence, it does have a warranty. The few people I know that have a Pro 1000 are happy with theirs.
Rusty

[Car Knocker]

Plastic parts? Are you kidding?
That's why I like my old progressive - the only plastic part is the knob on the handle!

[GP100man]

but i have acces to a pro 1000 thats ran thousands of 38 spl the only hitch i have is that :cuss::cuss::cuss::banghead: primer feeder & finally mounted the :cuss: thing with 2 washers under the back of it to tilt it a little more , ive ran `bout 200 thru it ,but my shootin partener can make it sound like a factory ammo spittin machine:confused::confused:
wanted to add: RustyFN is probably rite ,send it in or at least give em a call.$$$ shippin here you come.

GP100man

[ArchAngelCD]

Rock_Steady,
IMO you should have brought entire box back to the "local dealer" when you first realized parts were missing. Like said above, it looks like someone was already in that box before it was sold to you. You should have gotten it replaced with an unopened box.

Also, in the event that everything was there and something on the press broke soon after you bought it all you needed to do was call Lee and they would have either fixed the press, replaced the press or sent you the parts you needed to fix the press free of charge. (except for shipping) You shouldn't have paid for parts when your press is still under warranty.

[ADKWOODSMAN]

Sounds like the "Big Mart" store where it a customer brings it back as defective, they simply put it back on the shelf!
RDH

[paperpuncher49]

"How can they sell something with such bad instructions that is so fragile" Plastic parts?"

Don't mean to offend anyone (the Lee lovers out there), but this has to be said. Lee sells stuff because a lot of people are looking to spend the least amount possible and if they have good luck with it they spout its virtues. The bottom line is that you get what you pay for. I have said before on this forum that I think their hand priming tool is the most convenient to use (not the most ergonomic). However, they have a tendency to break, and I wish Lee would change the profile of their lever and use better materials. Lee is at the bottom end of the spectrum because the low end is the niche they are trying to fill. You seldomly read abour RCBS, Dillon, Hornady, Forster, etc. presses breaking on this forum, but you can read about broken Lee presses regularly. That speaks volumes.

[stubbicatt]

Well, paperpuncher49 has a point. His point would be quite valid 3 years ago. However, with the advent of the "classic cast" line of presses, Lee has definitely entered the "RCBS, Dillon, Hornady, Forster" world. Their dies have always been really good, but their early handloading tools were made of inferior MIM and plastic.

If you purchased one of the old style presses, paperpuncher is right. These are not very good quality.

[redneck2]

I have a friend that has 4 Lee Progressives. To say they're all "marginal" would too kind. I wouldn't carry them home for free if I had to use them. I told them I'd sell them on the forum here, but he doesn't want someone else to end up with his problems.

The Lee turret and single stages have good reputations.

I would suggest trying to trade your progressive for a Classic Cast Turret or getting my money back and getting a L-n-L or Dillon if you want a progressive.

[345 DeSoto]

I ran into the same problem with an item I purchased at Harbor Freight. Opened the box at home, and it was obvious that someone had "been into the box". I immediately took it back, and we had to go through three more boxes (at the counter) before we found one that had not been "gotten into". Seems like they just throw returns back on the shelf with out even bothering to look inside...

[ranger335v]

Without getting into an argument about Lee's equipment, it seems the real culprit here is the "local dealer".

[evan price]

Wow... I guess the thousands of rounds I chuck out in my Pro-1000 are just pathetic sub-par ammo then.

I'll be the first to say that Dillon presses are great- but you pay for that level of greatness.

I say this all the time- there are those who can justify spending the cash to buy a John Deere lawn mower.
Me, I buy the Sears mower and it's what I need.
It's not that Deere equipment isn't good- it is pretty good- but I can't make the cost-benefit numbers work out in my favor.

If I was making thousands of rounds a month like an IPSC competitor might use, a Dillon woould make sense.
I will load less than 500 rounds a month.
Lee does the job for me.

That being said, your problem is not the press per se, it was whoever monkeyed the press before you got it. AND the dealer that sold you a broken press.


(How the HELL do you break the drive bolt anyway??? The only way I can see is to put the hex shaft in the wrong way on the carrier!)

[moooose102]

i agree, with a lot of what has been said here. the first thing that you should have done was take it back to the "local dealer". but it is to late for that now. have lee fix it! it is their product, it has a warranty, why should you be taking the hit for a defective press? call their customer service line and talk to them! as for the quality, yes, some of it is not the greatest. but as most things, you get what you pay for. some of their stuff is very adequet, some is made pretty cheaply. when you are looking to save a buck, sometimes you have to accept some deficiencies. i know from personal experience. i bought a lee press kit. the press works great, the powder scale sticks intermittently, i have learned how to make it work. the perfect powder measure works GREAT on longer stick type powder, but the fine pistol powder leaks through it like a siv. and it says in their manual it will. it is something i can live with. i just make sure the bench is spotless before i charge pistol cases. when i am done, i simply sweep what has leaked all over the bench back into the jar. but with all powders, it measures fantasticly consistant charges. if you want top quality stuff, buy rcbs, or from what i understand dillon. i used to have some rcbs stuff years ago. it was flawless, but it was expensive. i ended up selling it as i wasnt using it. 10+ years later, when i decided to get back into it, i bought less expesive stuff, as i know i am not going to run a million rounds through it. call lee up and have them fix your press. if you explain what happened, they may even refund you expenses so far.

[schloe]

the lee classic single stage and turret presses are awesome, but I wouldn't consider buying the pro 1000or loadmaster. Would rather get a hornady or dillon progressive. Return the press to your dealer.

[adweisbe]

Does the store not have a return policy? In the worst case you could sell it for parts and buy a new one. It may even be better to start that way so you don't have to pick up someone else's baggage.

Check youtube for videos on adjusting Lee progressives. There are a number of tweaks (not in the instructions or factory videos) for the two Lee progressives that help things run smoother. The people who get past the tweaking stage on the Lees seem to love them.

[Roccobro]

Without getting into an argument about Lee's equipment, it seems the real culprit here is the "local dealer".

Agreed.

Is there a reason you did NOT take it back to the dealer the first time? I long time friend maybe?

I worked for a guy that would sell his stuff like this. Only because he cared so much about his customers and he would pillage the unopened stock himself and leave it for the parts manager to deal with later (irate customer in an instance like this, or return to mfgr if PM realized it was missing/defective before a sale).

Justin

[Rock_Steady]

My problem was, not knowing exactly what I was buying. If I had seen a press like this before, I might have known upon opening that it was obviously tampered with. As it is now, I only have the option of sending it to Lee to make it right. I plan on shipping it out early next week (lots of $$, I'm sure) to have them fix it. Is there a serial # on these presses so I can tell when it was built? If I have to pay repairs on it I think I will just give up and try to sell it. I have been reloading for three years, all on my Rockchucker and MEC grabber. with never a problem. I am pretty disappointed.

[David Wile]

Hey Rock Steady,

You said you bought it from your local dealer. Who is your local dealer? Was it a chain store or a local one of a kind? Either way, the dealer ought to be taking it back. Did you try to take it back to the retailer? If not, why not?

Lee's products may not be made as well as RCBS and others, but they are a lot less expensive, and a whole lot of folks make good ammunition on them. Before this becomes Lee's problem, it should be the local retailer who is replacing your loader. I just cannot imagine any gun shop with a reputation to uphold not taking care of your problem.

Best wishes,
Dave Wile

[ftierson]

What David Wile says...

Forrest

[SSN Vet]

I'm thankfull I found THR, because after investing a lot of time reading, I've managed to avoid making any dud investments.

[paperpuncher49]

Evan stated, and I quote:

"Wow... I guess the thousands of rounds I chuck out in my Pro-1000 are just pathetic sub-par ammo then."

Evan, I never said you could not reload good ammo with Lee eqipment. All I said was the low end was the niche Lee chooses to fill. Durable materials come with a higher price. A Kia will get you from point A to Point B. So will a Lexus. The Lexus costs much more and is more luxurious. Both may break down at some point, but one is of greater quality, and probably less likely to break down. I choose not to use many of Lee products because I personally don't like the quality. I would rather spend more and get what I consider to be a better product. But each to their own.

[Pumpkinheaver]

I have loaded thousand of rounds on a couple of pro 1000s I hace had over the years. They can get finiky at times. The biggest problem I can remember is when the primer resevoir gets low it causes the whole thing rto jam up. I would call Lee and explain what happened to you and see if they will fix it.


By the way I also have a couple od dillons and I do prefer them over the Lee but the lee will work.