Lee Auto Breech Lock Pro Review

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I seen a video on youtube of a guy converting that press to use the solid/interchangeable rotating 4 hole top from another Lee press.



Sorry to bring this back up but I have been giving this some thought. I truly believe that if I were to try bastardizing this press it would be figure how to mount the all metal Pro1000 shellplate carrier, adapting it to a 4 position shell plate and adding the Pro1000 priming system. In my opinion that would make this press perfect!
 
I got my new case feeder today and it took care of all my case feeding issues. If I would have looked closer I would have noticed that the case shuttle on my old pro1000 was twice as thick as the shuttle on the ABLP press. Shame on me.
The new case feeder works flawlessly and makes this press a real keeper.

After buying the new case feeder for $38.00 and putting it on the press, I realized that all I would have had to buy is the piggy back for on top of the case shuttle and my old case feeder would have worked fine.
There are no part #s on the instructions for this but it is called the riser. It is for the tall cases.

I can't see a lot of difference in the two bodies other than a small snout sticking down on the new one where the case drops out.

I seriously doubt that this would have any impact on the way it would deliver a case.

I don't know if Lee will sell this part separately but I can't see why they wouldn't.
BDS put this link up and the part called riser is all you need to buy to feed the taller cases on this press.
- https://leeprecision.com/cgi-data/instruct/TR3872.pdf

I am looking forward to BDS's 5000 round report on this press.
 
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I got my new case feeder today and it took care of all my case feeding issues ... The new case feeder works flawlessly and makes this press a real keeper.
Great, I love happy endings. :)

I am looking forward to BDS's 5000 round report on this press.
I am currently working on it, taking close up pictures of Safety Prime mod.

But unlike the Pro 1000's mostly repair/mod thread, my 5000 round review of Auto Breech Lock Pro will be rather boring as I will mostly be listing what Lee Precision already fixed and how reliable and consistent the ABLP has been working. :cool:
 
Have to totally agree with both of you about many things this press represents. As I already stated this press will find a niche and should find a good following for many that want to load a good number of pistol rounds but doesn't want to go to a 5 position auto press like a Loadmaster, LNL or a Dillon 650. This is one of the simplest designs I can think of, even more so than the Pro1000 and that is about as simple as it gets. There should be no reason not to be able to produce 250/300 per hour at a leisurely pace on this press.

Once again I looked back through Lees site for the directions for the case feeder and now remember there are 3 different base pcs. The old style had either a large case base or a small case base along with large or small slider blocks. The new Universal Feeder has both large and small feed holes with a pcs to block one off.

When I bought my Pro1000 it came with the Large parts and would not work with the small 9mm or 380 cases. Then ordered a small case feeder and that fixed it. I then used the PEX trick in the collator for the 9mm and everything is super.
 
I would just like to throw my $.02 in here, Ive been using my ABLP for about 2 months now. I have retrained my self to put a primer up every down stroke and have been enjoying making 9mm rounds, and now going to try my hand at .45s. Ive been using a Lee Classic Cast Turret press for about 10 years and the primer timing thing was a new task for this old dog to learn, I think I've pretty well got it down now.
 
trixter, I had been using a Pro1000 before I got my ABLP and yes I had to stop many a time to go back a step and place a primer in the cup. It was difficult making the transition from not touching a primer to having add one every cycle.

Hope you are enjoying your press, I am with mine.
 
trixter, I had been using a Pro1000 before I got my ABLP and yes I had to stop many a time to go back a step and place a primer in the cup. It was difficult making the transition from not touching a primer to having add one every cycle.

Hope you are enjoying your press, I am with mine.
You can always resize/prime separately. Using pre-resized and primed brass in Pro 1000/ABLP not only speeds up the progressive reloading but makes press operation silky smooth.
 
You can always resize/prime separately. Using pre-resized and primed brass in Pro 1000/ABLP not only speeds up the progressive reloading but makes press operation silky smooth.

Sorry, I just don't see how adding a step and having to put the case into a press twice speeds thing up. The only reason for adding the ABLP press was because I needed/wanted a 4th position for the FCD to help out a finicky 45acp Witness. On the Pro1000 with the case feeder the only time I touch a case in the press is to remove it to weigh check powder. Yes I did try the sizing/priming separate and didn't like it. Felt out of sync.
 
I fully understand that many do as you suggest, I just find it self-defeating in use with a fully progressive press. One of the guys I shoot with regularly does it your way on his Pro1000 because he doesn't trust the priming. I'm fine with that.
 
You can always resize/prime separately. Using pre-resized and primed brass in Pro 1000/ABLP not only speeds up the progressive reloading but makes press operation silky smooth.
I prime separately, then run through the ABLP, it is my dedicated .357mag press. It makes running that press an absolute pleasure. There is no work, just fun.
I have mine set up to resize in first station, M-die in second station, powder (auto disc pro) third station, seat bullet (right hand) and seat and taper, or roll crimp, in forth station.
This is with plated bullets.
With lead, resize in first station, ptx and powder in second station, set bullet (left hand) and seat in third station, and crimp in forth station.
But I'm ambidextrous, so with me it doesn't matter what hand does what.
 
Yes I did try the sizing/priming separate and didn't like it. Felt out of sync.

I know, it's like learning a new process. I change things around some much on both my progressives, LNL-AP and ABLP, for what I load that I don't really have a set pattern that I'm use to in any press. I'm comfortable with all the methods I use and just run with them.
 
I fully understand that many do as you suggest, I just find it self-defeating in use with a fully progressive press. One of the guys I shoot with regularly does it your way on his Pro1000 because he doesn't trust the priming. I'm fine with that.
It's good to have options in life so we can do whatever we want. :D
 
I need another press like a hole in the head (RCBS Jr, Rock Chucker, Lyman AA Turret, Lee Turret, Lee Breech lock, two mostly useless Pro1000) but this looks good. I have been using the safety prime on the BL and think I have it down. After sixty years of reloading/handloading starting with a 310 and then a Truline Jr, I still like new stuff. Wish I had gotten the Dillons out of my brother's estate, or the Stars out of dad's. Thanks for the review. You don't get any bullet pull on those uncrimped rounds? Or are they light loads?
Stan
I'd take those useless presses off your hands!
 
I was just going through my range bags and bench and realized I need to load up about 600 9mm. I have only loaded 200 rds. through this press. This will give me a chance to see what it will do. Or how well I'll do. :)
 
I've been looking at them for pistol and 223 instead of my Lee turret, I just loaded about 500 45acp and I think I can see the ABLP in my future.
I like the idea of being able to use a turret instead of individual breach locks, but each die would have to be reset between the turret press and the ABLP.
 
I prime separately, then run through the ABLP, it is my dedicated .357mag press. It makes running that press an absolute pleasure. There is no work, just fun.
I have mine set up to resize in first station, M-die in second station, powder (auto disc pro) third station, seat bullet (right hand) and seat and taper, or roll crimp, in forth station.
This is with plated bullets.
With lead, resize in first station, ptx and powder in second station, set bullet (left hand) and seat in third station, and crimp in forth station.
But I'm ambidextrous, so with me it doesn't matter what hand does what.

If you resize when you deprime separately, you can also use a powder check die, since you no longer need the resize die. I’ve found a powder check die to be good with long cases where it’s difficult to see the powder in the case. Lots of good options.
 
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