Been considering getting into a progressive press

Stefan A said:
That’s great. I actually went ahead and bought the inline fabrication quick change mount.
Click to expand...

You will love it.....way way sturdier than Lee's. I mounted my APP on Lee's first but couldn't tolerate the flex so bought another Inline Fab. flush mount. Did you get a flush mount or did you need it raised....both are sturdy as can be. I have two flush mount lowers now and four tools mounted to the top pieces. Not one negative....except I'd like to be able to wave a wand and change tools. :)
 
I decided to get into reloading 3 years ago and opted for the Lee Classic Turret. I have turrets for about 5 or 6 handgun calibers and have generally been happy with the LCT but it is slow. This Lee 6000 has me thinking about making the jump to a progressive for the first time so I've enjoyed reading the various 6000 threads here on THR. I certainly appreciate all the helpful info here.

One thing I liked about the LCT is the relative ease of switching calibers by just swapping turrets with the dies already adjusted. I think the 6000 bushings would be a suitable method to swap relatively quickly between calibers and the cost is definitely attractive.

If I focus, I can make 120-140 rounds per hour on the LCT doing a visual powder check on every case. Watching Youtube videos of the 6000, it looks like 400-500 rounds per hour are possible depending on how you do case feeding and bullet feeding. The primer feeding is obviously hands-off compared to the LCT and the 6 positions gives me the option to stick a powder check in there which would be a step up in QA compared to my current process.

Anyway, just wanted to throw my 2 cents in. Kind of excited at the thought of upgrading but I would be even more excited if I could find small pistol primers for $35 per thousand. Kind of concerned about the continuing ability into the future to get powders and primers shipped but that's a bit of a separate topic. Buying ammo in local stores is expensive (9mm) to very expensive (38/357/40/45) so this would let me do all of those reasonably.
 
GW Staar said:
You will love it.....way way sturdier than Lee's. I mounted my APP on Lee's first but couldn't tolerate the flex so bought another Inline Fab. flush mount. Did you get a flush mount or did you need it raised....both are sturdy as can be. I have two flush mount lowers now and four tools mounted to the top pieces. Not one negative....except I'd like to be able to wave a wand and change tools. :)
Click to expand...
I got the flush mount. Not sure if that is what I need, but my turret press is currently flush mounted directly to my bench. So that's what I went with.
 
dcsforum said:
I decided to get into reloading 3 years ago and opted for the Lee Classic Turret. I have turrets for about 5 or 6 handgun calibers and have generally been happy with the LCT but it is slow. This Lee 6000 has me thinking about making the jump to a progressive for the first time so I've enjoyed reading the various 6000 threads here on THR. I certainly appreciate all the helpful info here.

One thing I liked about the LCT is the relative ease of switching calibers by just swapping turrets with the dies already adjusted. I think the 6000 bushings would be a suitable method to swap relatively quickly between calibers and the cost is definitely attractive.

If I focus, I can make 120-140 rounds per hour on the LCT doing a visual powder check on every case. Watching Youtube videos of the 6000, it looks like 400-500 rounds per hour are possible depending on how you do case feeding and bullet feeding. The primer feeding is obviously hands-off compared to the LCT and the 6 positions gives me the option to stick a powder check in there which would be a step up in QA compared to my current process.

Anyway, just wanted to throw my 2 cents in. Kind of excited at the thought of upgrading but I would be even more excited if I could find small pistol primers for $35 per thousand. Kind of concerned about the continuing ability into the future to get powders and primers shipped but that's a bit of a separate topic. Buying ammo in local stores is expensive (9mm) to very expensive (38/357/40/45) so this would let me do all of those reasonably.
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You and I are in the same boat. Been reloading on the LCT for about 2-3 years, but I am ready for something new - and faster. 120-140 rounds and hour! Wow, that's pretty good. I hear you about the primers...
 
RONALD MORPHEW said:
I prefer the Hornady, seperate powder than the loading dies, requires an extra step, but don't have to screw it into the expander die, with each change of calibers
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I have my Pro-6k set up to expand and drop powder separately. That's the beauty of having 6 stations...flexibility. My current set-up is:
Station 1: Lee Sizing die
Station 2: Lyman M-die expander
Station 3: Lee Autodrum
Station 4: Hornady Powder Check
Station 5: Redding Competition Seating die
Station 6: RCBS Taper Crimp die

...the hornady lock n load, also comes with case feeder and primer feeder
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Unless you got it used, the case feeder is an extra cost option. I loaded without a case feeder for a long time. I think the Hornady LNL AP is the easiest progressive to handfeed cases into
 
Stefan A said:
I got the flush mount. Not sure if that is what I need, but my turret press is currently flush mounted directly to my bench. So that's what I went with.
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The nice thing about the flush mount is that the spent primer tube clears the bench. My ACP and APP are currently sharing my flush mount, so I mounted the Pro-6k on the Ultramount that used to be home to a Dillon 750. The spent primer tube just misses the hole in my bench that was originally drilled for a second LNL.

I can move the Pro-6k to the flush mount, but it would be a bit crowded between two Ultramounts. Plus, I'm a bit spoiled by having the shell plate closer to eye level. I just received the Inline Fabrication JR mount (about 2" shorter) which would mount flush with the edge of my bench...just have to decide where to place it
 
Stefan A said:
Well, that didn't take long... I broke my promise to wait longer for kinks to be worked out and I bought the 6000 in 38/357 cal. I've been going through Livelife's threads along with some of your comments and I figure it'll all work out. I was getting to the point where I was thinking about it when getting up to take a leak in the middle of the night - so, enough was enough! Again - thanks for all the help and discussion. You'll hear from me again :)
Click to expand...

I think you made a good decision. I too was following this thread before Xmas and ordered one mid December as my present to me. I like you ordered it in 38/357 but also ordered a 9mm shell plate since I shoot both calibers. I upgraded from a Lee Classic turret which I still will use for limited runs of Rifle rounds in 30.06 and 30/30. I have only loaded a limited amount of 38 ammo so far but have only had a small amount of issues which were corrected by up grading my primer pin to the new one supplied free of charge by Lee. I also received the updated primer chute with the larger pin but have not had issues with the original so its sitting for a future upgrade. The only real issue I have had was getting used to full stroking the ram as it does not work well if you short stroke it.

I follow this forum and read everything about this press and so far think its probably the best bang for the buck progressive press out there. As others have said no press is 100% fool proof but with practice and due diligence you can produce quality & quantity ammo with few issues on this press.

I look forward to seeing more hands on reviews and tips in the future.
Dave
 
Stature-wise, I'm short. Comes in handy for some things Not so great for for seeing in bullet and case feeders......so I'm not interested in raising my presses. Therefore, for me the flush mount will be all I ever buy. ;) I mounted two of them side by side. APP, Summit/APP, and APS bench primer is what I'll use the right (end) one for. The left one is for the Pro 6000 and temporarily the Rock Chucker.....but I'm probably going to mount my RockChucker on another bench permanently....it's just not ready for it yet.

I use the RCBS lockout die for pistol, but I plan to use a video system for rifle that does not require a station. (not built and not set up for the 6000 yet). This is why: On the Pro Chucker I am using the a Gold Medal bushing die set from RCBS to load my .223 minus the expander rod, because I also use RCBS's rifle bullet feed die with it's 'M' expander, then the Gold Medal seater. Concentricity is fantastic with that combo. So what my intention here is....is to move all that to the 6000 and use the other press for just .308. May change my mind down the road, but for now, that's the plan, but, and it's a big but....that requires 7 stations if I have a powder cop. On the 6000 it will be:
1. Sizing
2. M expanding and priming
3. Powder
4. bullet feeding from electric collator
5. seating
6. taper crimping.

Using a bullet feeder/collator, with even with 6 stations, there's still no room for powder level checking. So.....

The plan is to build a combination lighting and video powder check for the 6000, like I did for the 5 station Pro 2000. Video below shows how it happened on the RCBS progressive. Just have to come up with a plan to do something similar with the 6000. With the 7 station Pro Chucker, that wasn't necessary. Honestly, I never thought I'd want to use up 7 stations for "rifle". ;)



The other new possibility is the new NOE powder-through expanders for Lee's powder-through powder dies! Save another station for pistol and rifle!

Now there's another reason to buy the kit and have Lee's p.m. Imagine a powder thru "M" die/expander....for RIFLE!
 
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GW Staar said:
The plan is to build a combination lighting and video powder check for the 6000, like I did for the Pro 2000. Video below shows how it happened on the RCBS progressive. Just have to come up with a plan to do something similar with the 6000. :)
Click to expand...
Pretty neat contraption you’ve got there. I decided to get the DAA magnetic powder check.
 
Walkalong said:
Another big reason I chose it, people thought I was nuts when I cut off the arm that would have held the case feeder, but I don't shoot the volume of handgun rounds the gamers do, not even close.
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I didn't think you were nuts.....but I did wonder if you'd ever get old and senile and someday regret that. ;) You've read my post where I talk about my adding feeder/collators right and left to lessen the brain load so I can focus better on primers and powder. Well I didn't cut anything off, but I bought my first progressive that didn't even come with a case feeder arm or bullet feeder/collators either....and have since rectified that for the reason above! But you're still young and smart. You still got plenty of time! :)

These days I load more for and with my Grandsons than I do for me. But I still love to tinker and build up my cave to new heights of efficiency! A few years ago, I wouldn't have dreamed doing that with the help from a Lee progressive! Thanks John Lee...still helping to make things stay fun without a fortune spent doing it.
 
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GW Staar said:
I didn't think you were nuts.....but I did wonder if you'd ever get old and senile and someday regret that. ;) You've read my post where I talk about my adding feeder/collators right and left to lessen the brain load so I can focus better on primers and powder. Well I didn't cut anything off, but I bought my first progressive that didn't even come with a case feeder arm or bullet feeder/collators either....and have since rectified that for the reason above! But you're still young and smart. You still got plenty of time! :)

These days I load more for and with my Grandsons than I do for me. But I still love to tinker and build up my cave to new heights of efficiency! A few years ago, I wouldn't have dreamed doing that with the help from a Lee progressive! Thanks John Lee...still helping to make things stay fun without a fortune spent doing it.
Click to expand...
Well darn. And here I was thinking the only advantage of getting senile was you couldn’t remember any of the things you might regret. One less thing to look forward to. :cool:
 
I went with the Hornady lock n load, has bushings similar to the Lee, but I like the fact the powder is not the flow thru that has to be changed everytime you change calibers. The flow thru works ok had that on the Lee Pro 1000, but I like having a separate station for the powder, so I do not have to reinstall it in the expander die, every time I change calibers. I reload for 7 pistol calibers and 2 rifle calibers

I do still have my Lee classic turret press.

and the truth is I finally got rid of my "CLASSIC RCBS ROCK CHUCKER" single stage press I started loading on back in the 1970s

but sometimes I wonder if that was a mistake,
 
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Stefan A said:
Pretty neat contraption you’ve got there. I decided to get the DAA magnetic powder check.
Click to expand...

I spent a few hours examining the 6000 for lights and camera, and decided it can be done....so I designed another little "contraption" for it......whether this one is neat depends if it works. I ordered another $20 camera for it so I guess that indicates I'm pretty sure it will. Here's a couple of pictures of the design...camera goes in the middle, LED brights, go on each side. It'll be a day or two before the Chinese ship gets here with the camera.....so don't hold your breath. ;)
Lee lights 1.jpg
Lee 6000 lights and camera.jpg
 
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Derek wasn't the only one with problems today....My print of the above failed and I didn't know it for 2 hours. Seems some dummy hit a power pole 2 blocks from my house with his car, and gave us a brown-out for about 10 seconds. That's all it takes unless you buy a battery backup power supply for your 3d printer. Now I know I need one. ;) I had no idea it happened.

Hope Derek gets his much more serious problems figured out. I sure couldn't do what he does. Good luck to him!
 
Lots of good stuff here. Started shooting cowboy action 13 years ago and soon an LNL-AP joined my 1980 Rockchucker. Discovered Inline Fabrication Ultramounts-brilliant.

I’ve helped a number of new cowboy shooters get started in handloading. I’ve recommended the Lee Classic Turret (IE makes a great cartridge ejector for it), but I recently “cottoned on” to the Lee 6000. One of my guys has one on order. Really hoping it works out. I chose the LNL-AP in part because it has five stations. Lee’s sixth station is, well, it’s one more station.
 
Trying to get the 6000 here in Europe but still difficult even to pre order. Will be going for it and for sure make changes as I did with the 1000 Pro. I like the setup listed above by GW Staar and will set it accordingly. For now, the 1000 will have to do. Here are some excellent closeups and the detailed process of the Pro 1000 in action on some nice .45ACP.

https://youtube.com/shorts/I1JW-W44Eis
 
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