Lee 6000 press

Now this is cool. A 6 station progressive press coming this summer. It looks like a primer feed system similar to the 1000.
https://leeprecision.com/pro-6000-six-pack-reloading-press/

 

I would love to have a progressive press that has more than 5 stations but I need to see some reviews on this before I bite. And know how the layout works with the mechanics on it. (die arrangement and such, in relation to the posts around the shell plate, bullet placement.)

This one is the same price point as the Loadmaster and I expect will replace it. I have no reason to think it won't be successful with Lee's tenacity towards design and marketing.
Really interested in this one. Curiosity is growing already. Larger ABLP with 6 working stations instead of like the Loadmaster.

Wonder if ram is centered to shell plate or still under station 1.

Wonder if the primer delivery has been improved, Looks the same as new Pro1000, I don't prime on lee presses anyways so guess I don't care.
I'd set this one up for .357 magnum, seat and crimp in two steps and be able to use a powder lock out die.
I'd move my ABLP and leave it set it up for .41 Magnum.
I expect the top will be as cramped as the ABLP is, probably have to buy even more of the breech lock bushings. I'm not a big fan of them because of having to replace my die nuts with Hornady crimp nuts due to dies being to close together and nuts hitting each other.

Wonder if Lee addressed that little problem.
Bad time for me to be laid up. Early summer is almost here but I will wait for some credible reviews and answers to my questions.
I'm not a pouncer.

 

Thats what I would use it for, straight walled pistol rounds. I still load rifle on single stage presses.

 

I'll get one and keep it dedicated for either 38spl or 45acp. I always wanted to add a powder cop but never had the available station.

 

I will pre-order and review the press for you.

This will fit in nicely with Dillon 550C and Lee ABLP/Pro 4000 for my reloading needs. I will dedicate 550C with C-H 502 powder measure for rifle load development and assign Pro 6000 for high volume pistol/rifle load production and use ABLP/Pro 4000 for pistol load development/testing/myth busting due to easy/fast caliber change, particularly small/large primer swap.

Pro 6000 may be a game changer for the reloading world and likely outsell all the other progressive presses combined. And by one of last remaining true "Made in USA" manufacturers of reloading equipment.

• Six stations allow any brand of die be used -- in line bullet feed dies, powder check dies and such.

• Simple and reliable automatic indexing -- just one moving part, replaceable in seconds, no tools required and never requires adjustment.

• Stroke and clearance sufficient for largest magnum rifle cases. Uses the same all steel linkage found on our Classic Cast 50 BMG press.

• Massive 28.4mm ram glides through 82 mm of solid steel giving the ram over 7300 mm2 of solid support.

• All dies securely fastened in the upper die carrier with the LEE Breech lock quick die change system. No more turret or tool head to replace or move during use.

• Automatic priming system - simple, reliable and safe with any brand or size of primer. Primes at the bottom of stroke so all six stations are available for operations.

• Automatic case inserter works with any case. Cases can be manually fed through the convenient loading port. Includes the Lee case feed magazine, works with most hand gun cases and all AR rifle cases.

• Easy to set case retainers on every station. No springs, plugs or buttons to loose or tinker with.

• Cartridge changeover in seconds, including primer size with no adjustments.

• Automatic case ejector reliably whisks away your completed round to the ammo bin. Press includes combination tool rack, bin bracket, along with free ammo bin.

• Country of origin Proudly made in USA
  

 

MSRP is $350 for press and $500 for the kit but likely will sell for less by various distributors - https://leeprecision.com/pro-6000-six-pack-reloading-press/

I subscribed to notification of stock.

 

Until they develop a controlled, reliable priming system, I’ll pass on any more Lee “progressives”.

 

I’m not a Lee hater. What I started on and still use for priming and sizing. Don’t like the breech lock though. More of a gimmick in my estimation and introduces some minor play/slop at the die/press contact point. I would prefer to do without it for the 10-15 seconds it saves spinning a die out to replace it with another.

For now I’ll run my T7’s and see what the feedback is from early adopters. Could see one dedicated to .327FM or .357mag

 

That’s going to be some review.
All I need to know is, “Where does he get such marvelous toys?!”

I’m not a progressive press guy but it sure looks like the kind of thing a progressive press kind of guy would want.

 

Actually I have been contemplating getting a Dillon 750 with case feeder but have been looking at 10-station Frankford Arsenal X-10 with case feeder but after a year, it's still "Coming Soon" - https://www.frankfordarsenal.com/re...ogressive-press-with-case-feeder/1178469.html

Then Lee releases a 6-station press (Six Pack press/Pro 6000 kit) that looks to be much simpler in operation (I already love the simplicity and features of ABLP/Pro 4000) and have no concern that Lee did the proper design/engineering for Six Pack/Pro 6000.

 

What I’m thinking is this could run a Hornady bullet feeder die, powder check die, and still have 2 stations for seating/ crimping/FCD options.

 

They must have some real problems with that one. Hope they get it worked out.

I look forward to that.

As far as price goes I looked at the Load master's MSRP and it is at $480.00 right now on Lee's web site. Lee is saying that the 6 pack will be $500.00 so if we look at prepandemic prices for the Loadmaster they were usually around $250-280.00 so I'm hoping that the prices on the new press will reflect something near that after the first year goes by.
It probably won't get down to $250.00, but it will certainly be below $350.00 after the "new" wears off of it for us.
I'll be waiting for that to happen before I buy it.

edit to add: I doubt this will be much of a deterrent for someone who wants a Hornady or Dillon progressive. I would still go Hornady or Dillon over anything Lee makes at any price, but what back up press for secondary cartridges this would make. I think that's where it will get the most looks. That's why I'm looking.

 

Yes, definitely appears Six Pack/Pro 6000 press placed ram offset under Station 1 (Notice case feeder slider) with counter clockwise rotation of shellplate with Station 6 just to the left of ram with finished round ejector/chute/bin.



Likely Six Pack/Pro 6000 shellplate/carrier design is similar to ABLP/Pro 4000 where ram is mounted under Station 1 and "floating shellplate" is utilized as shown in below drawing - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...progressive-press.833604/page-2#post-10779966

Advantage of mounting the ram under Station 1 where resizing takes place is bottom of shellplate under the brass being resized contacts the carrier/subplate limiting further travel, which theoratically will have less affect on tilt/deflection of the shellplate (Especially with larger 6 station diameter shellplate). Whereas, progressive presses that mount ram under the center of shellplate can tilt using the subplate as the fulcrum (If significant OAL variance reduction is measured when using pre-resized brass, it would indicate such shellplate tilt/deflection at play).