Help! With my Lee Pro 1000...

[Rhinodogg]

I'm new to reloading. My buddy has the same press, and I've helped him load a bunch of 9mm. I went to the fun show this past weekend and purchased a Lee Progressive 1000 in .40 S&W. I also purchased carbide dies to load 9mm. The problem is with the .40 s&w. On the second die, the one that sizes and powders the case, after the case moves away from that die, the die continues to dump more powder, which ends up on my primers. This jams my primers (usually flips over on it's side), and makes a huge mess. I've loaded about 300 or so 9mm, and didn't have a problem. It's getting rather frustrating. I'm currently using Bullseye powder. I'm gonna make a switch to Unique next time I get to the shop that sells it. I'm not sure if that would make a difference or not? Any suggestions? Thanks

 

[dickwholliday]

it sounds like a priming problem to me....i think you're not getting a primer in the case at the powder/expanding station and then the powder runs through the case and onto your priming system....you may need to check the directions concerning setting the timing....it may be over or under rotating......i recall one day i called Lee and told them if they could not help me with a similar problem i was headed for the dumpster......good luck...Dick

 

[Rhinodogg]

I sent them an email, and basically told them I was gonna send it in the mail back to them....in chunks. Then, I went out to my garage and took the whole thing apart.. every last bolt and screw. I put it back together, and it loaded 133 .40's without a problem. I watched every single case to make sure it primed and powdered. Then it went to crud. I have no idea why? I'll look at it closely tomorrow after work. It has to be a timing problem? I don't know what else it could be? Thanks for the response.

 

[dickwholliday]

seems like there is a step in the directions somewhere telling you how to adjust the timing....i wish i could help more but all my directions were in the box when i got rid of the two 1000's that i had...i know people who load commercially using these presses but i could just never get mine to work like they should.......Dick

 

[larry408]

This is what the instructions for making an adjustment to the shell plate reads.

With the turret installed, raise and lower the shell plate carrie. If the shell plate does not index to the proper spot, turn the adjusting screw clockwise; the shell plate should move.

If not-raise and lower the ram again to engage the ratchet. Keep turning until the shell plate snaps into place; then turn an additional 1/2 to 3/3 turn.

Confirm the zero adjust is set properly. With the carrie in the down position, try turning the shell plate clockwise; there should be no movement. If there is, rotate the zero adjust screw a fraction of a turn clockwise to remove all free play.

This need only bedone once. If the shell plate gets out of adjustment because of a short stroke or jam, simply advance the shell plate bu hand, not the adjusting screw.



Hope that this helps.

 

[Rhinodogg]

Thanks Larry. I set the timing like that. I think it's just being difficult. I wish I would have bought a single stage press first (Buying a new one this weekend). I'll just set my progressive up for 9mm and leave it alone. I'm thinking about the Lee anniversary kit. Anybody have any negative opinions of it? Thanks for the help.

 

[org]

Are you getting powder on top of the shell plate or just on the primers? If you're getting powder on the shell plate, it's overfilling the case and dumping everywhere when the case is withdrawn from the die. In that case, I'd say it's a powder measure problem over filling the case. If that's the case, it's hard to figure how that could happen if you're using the Lee disc measure, unless the plate isn't indexing and you're getting a double charge.

I've used the Pro1000 for years on .45ACP, 9mm, and .223 and haven't seen anything like that. Can you give more info on where the powder ends up and if the case is full?

If you're not getting a primer in every case, the powder will go through to the primer seating area. Do you keep your primer tray fairly full? If I let the primer supply get low sometimes the primers don't slide down and I'll miss one. If that happens, you should notice the lack of resistance, since you aren't seating a primer.

Bullseye works well in the disc measure, as well as H335, and similar ball powder. That's all I've used, so I can't comment on other powders.

 

[JA]

You need to take the powder die and powder measure apart and clean all the oil out of them. Clean the tube of the powder measure out and the inside of the die and all it's parts. Then make sure the die is screwed in enough so the hole in the disk is moving all the way over the tube and dumping all the powder. You might not be flareing the case mouth to allow the disk to move over the tube all the way and dumping all the powder charge down it.