Budget Progressive Kit?

[Ken70]

Just get a Loadmaster. It's $220 with the caliber of your choice. If you actually read the instructions, look at the videos, and adjust and operate it like it's supposed to be, it cranks out good ammo.

I bought mine in '95, followed the instructions and had no problems. Including the primer system, ran over six thousand rounds on the original primer parts. Finally mangled a primer slider running crimped brass, ream all the range pickup and no more trouble.

The Windex drinkers will tell you to buy their stuff, it works, but it's going to be expensive. Go look at the Windex catalog and price out what you want then go look at Lee Factory Sales and see what it cost from them. And it's not like the Windex drinkers will tell you, there are a lot of happy LM owner. I took the money I saved and bought $800 of primers, powders, brass, bullets and all the other stuff you need to reload.

I helped a couple of locals that were having problems with their LM's. Once I fixed all of their screwups they were really surprised at how well it works. (they didn't like reading or following instructions)

 

[Lost Sheep]

My prediction:

I plan on leaving the press set up. As to the rounds per hour, I really don't have a requirement. My intent is to view reloading as another hobby. There really isn't a 'rounds per hour" requirement. When I shoot, I might go through 50-70 rounds through my 44, and the 270 now stays in the closet unless I'm hunting with it. Range trips happen once a month if we're lucky.

I only shoot 22, 40, 44, 7.63x39, x54, and 9mm. There is the possibility of 38 / 357 as they are in the family as well. I think we're satisfied in buying 9mm ammo locally or through Mastercast from an economic standpoint. 357 may be a different story but time will tell. Ammo prices for both 7.62s are low enough I can't see investing in dies and brass for those, and the 40 is shot rarely.

The above is what makes me think the money would best be spent on a single stage press.

With that kind of quantity, a progressive's capacity would be wasted money and effort (swapping calibers would be more work than it is worth).

A single stage press would do very well for you. If you increase your quantity of shooting you will appreciate the Lee Classic Turret, which can produce 2 to 4 times as many rounds per hour with no sacrifice in accuracy or safety. (The time savings is provided by the fact that you don't have to remove and reinsert the case multiple times.)

However, a single stage press is rigid. If you want supreme accuracy, a Forster Co-Ax or single stage "O" frame press will keep alignment just a little better than a turret press.

I predict that you will wind up owning two presses eventually. A Lee Classic Turret for your handguns and a single stage for your rifles. Think RCBS RockChucker, Forster Co-Ax or one of the Lyman, Hornady or Redding presses.

If you get the Turret first, you may decide to do without the single stage. If you get the single stage first, you will find yourself shooting so much handgun that you will want the greater speed of production of the turret.

Just my prediction. Wild guess. Based on my experience with me and the posts of many who say, "you don't save any money reloading your own, you just get to shoot more."

Lost Sheep

 

[MtnCreek]

Windex drinkers

When did they start making presses? Fine product for cleaning glass, but I don't think I would want a windex press.

 

[MikeRussell]

I don't think the Lee Pro1K would work for .270 (cartridge is too long), so I'd recommend a turret press...since you don't have a "speed" that you'd like to crank out rounds. Any maker's turret press is fine, they all sell a lot and everyone has their preferences.

Now, if you wanted to crank out 9mm & .44mag but precision reload for the .270, then I'd recommend a single stage (for the .270) and a Lee Pro1K for the handgun rounds. Those with limited experience with the Pro1K will tell you it can't be swapped or it takes forever. The first time or two you try, yes it will take some time. I had one that I used to swap between 9mm, .40s&w, and .45acp. Swapping 9mm to .40s&w took less than 30secs (you don't have to swap the shellplate), swapping to .45acp or back took less than 2mins. As far as speed, the Pro1K isn't a speed demon, but I could get out over 300rnds per hour while stopping about every 20 to check charge & OAL.

 

[kingmt]

270 could be done with a simple mod.

 

[carbuncle]

Starting to think the budget and experience level will dictate a single stage press.

I just went through this same debate, I have my first kid on the way, and still decided to start with the Lee Anniversary kit: convenience is fine, but I'm looking at this as getting into a new hobby and I want to learn the basics before I get into volume production.

Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using Tapatalk

 

[res7s]

Buy once cry once. I use my Lee Classic Turret press, WAY more than my Dillon. I just don't need to load a thousand rounds every time I sit down. It's a fine press, but it's not what I'd recommend unless you were going to compete.

I think if you stay with it, your grandchildren will own several presses one day, a Lee Classic Turret, a Lee Classic Cast, a Dillon RL-550, and probably some sort of MEC shotshell reloader.

 

[Loic]

my first press was/is the lee deluxe turret; it's very simple to work with, very smooth and not problems with anything. I load 9mm and 38 spl. the 9mm are a little easier (less effort) than the 38spl. if you want to use the press as a single stage you just remove the rod, it will take a whole 30 seconds to do that.. I can load about 140 9mm in an hour and 100rd of 38 spl / hour.

a couple months ago I bough the Lee load master, I need more output with my 9mm (I shot 7k rds in 4 months) the LM is more of a pain to set up. I still get some problems with the primer been "crushed" once in a while. but on this press I can load 100 rd of 9mm in 10 minutes.

of the 2 press, I like the turret 10X more than the load master because its so smooth and easy. but I like the output of the LM.
changing caliber on the turret takes me about.. 30 seconds but I bought an extra turret where I set up my dies, so all I have to do is exchange the turret and put the other shell holder. ( the 4 hole turret cost is about $13..)

I just bought a remington 700 sps varmint in 22-250, so now I'll be looking at reloading this on the turret as well.

 

[Loic]

i dont know if its ok to post link, so if not, mod please remove.

this guy sale only Lee product at a good price : https://factorysales.com/html/xcart/catalog/index.html

 

[dnmccoy]

I too started with Lee equipment, and while the classic turret was an okay machine, I have heard mostly bad reports on the loadmasters and pro1000. The priming systems on the lee machines are junk, and while people say," I prime off the press" I laugh because that's ruining the whole point of going to a progressive.My motto is buy once cry once. Used 550's can be found for good prices everyday. I got mine from a fine fellow on this board and I just made my 8000th round the other day. If you don't mind slower production, finicky products and having to tinker with your machine constantly, the Lee is for you. If you want a quality machine get a dillon or a hornady

 

[EddieNFL]

When did they start making presses? Fine product for cleaning glass, but I don't think I would want a windex press.

It's a defense mechanism.

 

[RustyFN]

The Lee is case specific. I mean, it *CAN* be converted, but it's not easy.

Maybe it's late but I'm lost on this one. If you could explain it I would appreciate it.

 

[altitude_19]

I bought a RCBS PRO2000 to start with and was wanting a single stage on very short order. It's counter intuitive, but progressives can actually take more time than they save in some instances (setup and calibration). I can actually load cartridges SS with only 15 minutes here and there. Load in stages (size a bunch, come back a few days later and flare them, etc). I don't fire up my progressive for anything less than 200 rounds in a sitting. I shoot a lot more than you and get away with my single stage Lyman in most instances. I really think you'd kick yourself for dropping the cash on a progressive, ESPECIALLY if you mean to treat this more as a hobby than a way to keep the guns hot.

 

[kingmt]

I too started with Lee equipment, and while the classic turret was an okay machine, I have heard mostly bad reports on the loadmasters and pro1000. The priming systems on the lee machines are junk, and while people say," I prime off the press" I laugh because that's ruining the whole point of going to a progressive.My motto is buy once cry once. Used 550's can be found for good prices everyday. I got mine from a fine fellow on this board and I just made my 8000th round the other day. If you don't mind slower production, finicky products and having to tinker with your machine constantly, the Lee is for you. If you want a quality machine get a dillon or a hornady

Why bash something you know nothing about. I can't say Lee is better then Dillon or Dillon is better because I have never used a Dillon. i can speak about the Pro1000 & setup is quick & easy. I can set up the press as fast as a SS even faster if the dies are preset in the turret. I don't have problems with the primers ether. The only primer problems I have had was from crimped 9mm pockets had nothing to do with the press. As for tenkering all that I have done is modify a turret so the press would work with 30-06 & make a tool to hold primers in the tray while installing or removing it.

 

[Loic]

I still think the lee turret would match your need. Don't discount reloading your 9mm, my cost for 9mms is about 11 cts/round. Once you buy extra turret for diffetentes caliber dies, it will take you 30 seconds to change calibers ( that how I do between my 9mms and 38spl, but I have a powder measure on each set) I have the cheapest deluxe lee turret and have no problems with it after about 2000 rds with it.

 

[RustyFN]

My motto is buy once cry once. Used 550's can be found for good prices everyday.

Isn't that kind of contradicting?

 

[Lost Sheep]

Isn't that kind of contradicting?

No, I think the philosophy being espoused is similar to my own.

If you buy the very best, it only hurts once.... In the wallet.

If you compromise on quality, it hurts every time you use the (inadequate) tool.

The trick is to buy good enough to satisfy yourself, but not so extravagantly that you wasted money on features or capacity you don't need.

Lost Sheep

p.s. The quote "In the wallet." was lifted from a 1972 Peter Sellers film, "Where does it hurt?", which, considering the state of health care in the U.S. today, is still topical.

 

[RustyFN]

No, I think the philosophy being espoused is similar to my own.

The way I read it is to save your money and buy the most expensive brand because they are the best. You can find them used every day.

If they are that much better than everything else then why are there so many for sale.

Don't take it wrong I'm not saying anything bad about Dillon, I own one. I just thought it was funny to say buy the best and they are for sale used all over in the same sentence didn't make sense.

 

[GT1]

I own a relatively new Dillon XL 650. While I didn't cry at all when I bought it there is definitely a few tears in my future when it will roll a primer, or something else in its somewhat complicated bell and whistle set-up needs taken apart, cleaned and re-aligning.

Anyone with a brain can go read Enos' forum>'Dillon reloading equipment' to see they don't run perfectly, in fact they are about as fiddly as any progressive press, doesn't matter what color they are. I would go so far to say they aren't the best press one can buy(The best press for any one person can not be written in stone, anyway, the best press is the one that fits the needs and wallet of the user).
But they do have a great no questions asked warranty.
So does RCBS, and Hornady, and I've never heard of Lee not taking care of someone when their press goes down, either.

I have a LCT next to my 650, I like it as much as I can like any tool. I think it is the best buy in reloading presses, hands down.

I am pretty certain there are a boatload of pro1000 and loadmaster users cranking out millions of rounds of ammo and they don't even realize they aren't supposed to be because it is bad equipment.