Lee 6000 press

[LiveLife]

I kept Dillon 550C and Pro 1000 (NIB pre-2018 model) and building a reloading bench ... Pro 6000 press ... to finalize my bench layout and reloading set up.

I went through that before I retired, hope it all works out ok for you.

Thankfully this time around, I am retired and have unlimited budget (I just increased wife's "spend on anything slush fund" from $15K to $20).

And I am not limited to dimensional kiln dried lumber/11 layer plywood either as I have a nice stock of metal plates/bars/tubes/angle irons to weld up for mounts, etc. It's kinda like starting over with 30 years of reloading and match shooting with the benefit of THR's collective knowledge base.

I am also finally getting to the project of fabricating hard machine rest to test accuracy of pistols/carbines/rifles with them bolted down on hard plate mounts and using the almost 1000 lb welded trailer as the base (I got tripod mount system being worked on now to lift trailer off ground) to bolt the machine rest to and smaller Pro 6000 would be better suited to reload at the BLM shooting area (I got covered all weather reloading setup worked on with 4 sided shelter for the trailer and propane heater for comfort).

 

[boredkender]

Mine is scheduled to get here Monday. They pulled it off the shipping dock to check out the issue this morning and re-sent it. will post up pics and such if nobody else does by then

 

[f.g]

Thank you very much to all of you for all this very interesting information!!!
I also look forward to a video developing more this press

A French Guy

 

[Gillie Dog]

Thankfully this time around, I am retired and have unlimited budget (I just increased wife's "spend on anything slush fund" from $15K to $20).

I am also finally getting to the project of fabricating hard machine rest to test accuracy of pistols/carbines/rifles with them bolted down on hard plate mounts and using the almost 1000 lb welded trailer as the base (I got tripod mount system being worked on now to lift trailer off ground) to bolt the machine rest to and smaller Pro 6000 would be better suited to reload at the BLM shooting area (I got covered all weather reloading setup worked on with 4 sided shelter for the trailer and propane heater for comfort).

I have been retired 7 years and just now am finally getting the time to do anything I want. After retiring I was busier than when I worked 60 to 70 hours a week for a couple decades it seems.

Thankfully I am, we are, in the same boat as you are I and will enjoy it also. Just ordered a fancy-schmancy spotting scope for rifle loads work up.

Will be fun going forward.

GD

 

[Et2ss]

@LiveLife

Did you get the pro 6000 yet?

 

[LiveLife]

@LiveLife

Did you get the pro 6000 yet?

Got the below email yesterday ... So I am looking at end of September - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/lee-6000-press.905987/page-6#post-12403559

""Dear Lee Customer's,

Thank you for ordering our pre-production Six Pack Pro.

We discovered yesterday from a customer in the field, a crack around the
feature that supports the ram in the pre-production bases we received.
We will not be able to assemble any more presses until we get the new
bright and shiny bases in (will hopefully be receiving more week of
September 26th).

Stephanie Lee
Lee Precision, Inc."​

 

[Mark_Mark]

Got the below email yesterday ... So I am looking at end of September - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/lee-6000-press.905987/page-6#post-12403559

""Dear Lee Customer's,

Thank you for ordering our pre-production Six Pack Pro.

We discovered yesterday from a customer in the field, a crack around the
feature that supports the ram in the pre-production bases we received.
We will not be able to assemble any more presses until we get the new
bright and shiny bases in (will hopefully be receiving more week of
September 26th).

Stephanie Lee
Lee Precision, Inc."​

you think Stephanie Lee is apart of the Lee family? like her grandad or something

 

[Frulk]

I’m wondering from where Lee sources this part. Was always under the impression they made (cast…machined etc.) all their stuff here in the USA in their own facility.

 

[LiveLife]

you think Stephanie Lee is apart of the Lee family? like her grandad or something

Another member recently posted Stephanie Lee is granddaughter of Richard Lee and Vice President (I believe son John Lee is still President of Lee Precision)

I’m wondering from where Lee sources this part. Was always under the impression they made (cast…machined etc.) all their stuff here in the USA in their own facility.

They may not do their own casting and plating but likely farm out the work to subcontractors in the US.

 

[boredkender]

Out for delivery. The suspense is terrible! I hope it lasts

 

[boredkender]

Priming system





It seems that if there is no primer in the shell it will over-cam and lock up (from initial toying). Going to get it mounted here in a bit

 

[LiveLife]

Priming system ... It seems that if there is no primer in the shell it will over-cam and lock up (from initial toying)

From my understanding so far, the primer slider will slide with each cycle of the ram with a primer in the "Small/Large primer guide".

But if there is no case in station #2, the priming rod/pin won't drop down to allow the primer to be inserted into station #2.

Looking forward to your findings.

 

[Gillie Dog]

From my understanding so far, the primer slider will slide with each cycle of the ram with a primer in the "Small/Large primer guide".

But if there is no case in station #2, the priming rod/pin won't drop down to allow the primer to be inserted into station #2.

I'll bet the primer just rides back and forth in the guide and up and down on the pin until there is a case to push it into just like on the Load Masters.

My guess by looking at his pictures.

GD

 

[boredkender]

I'll bet the primer just rides back and forth in the guide and up and down on the pin until there is a case to push it into just like on the Load Masters.

My guess by looking at his pictures.

GD

After testing, this is indeed accurate. However, I have noticed that the weak point of the priming seems to be the plastic slider. it lifts up and binds as seen here.
I have tried it lightly oiled and dry, and both sliders that it comes with. I have changed spring orientation and tried twisting it (but that made it worse). Will dink around and see if a layer of light ptfe grease will do the trick later.

In another mild annoyance particular to my case, the lee mounting plate is a different offset from the loadmaster for it so now it doesn't clear the drawers on my bench...

 

[tightgroup tiger]

After testing, this is indeed accurate. However, I have noticed that the weak point of the priming seems to be the plastic slider. it lifts up and binds as seen here.

Short of Lee just sending you another sled just like it that will do the same thing, I'd be curious to hear what they say to do about this problem. Maybe later in the day you could call them about it to find out what their response is. Hopefully it's just a teething problem.
How often does it do that.?
Keep us posted

 

[boredkender]

From Lee when I sent them my pic:

Dear redacted,



Late last week we received similar feedback from a couple customers on the black slider curling up at the spring attach point during operation. We are sending out a new part that slides onto the end of your shell plate carrier to prevent this from happening. Please install upon receipt.

-edit- And just like that, part is sent


-edit 2- Looks like if i would actually READ the attachment they will also send over the STL of their part to print myself. Brrrrrt. My thought that I was going to try was to design a u-shaped sleeve to go over the trough, I wonder if their idea is the same. Will find out shortly.

All in all, it is a VERY sturdy and well built press. Very dense cast, interesting design. I appreciate not having an index rod that likes to just pop out at me or a flipper that wears out. I don't know how i am going to fill all 6 slots but I guess I really don't have to, instead it just has more options for where to put the dies i DO want to use. The only "requirement" is to decap in position one so it can prime in position two.

Also, can confirm that there is no primer lockout feature. And to "jiggle" the primer feed they use a pin that rubs against detents on the head connector rod along with the grooves on the slider itself which seem to agitate the primers on deck. Will TRY to do a short video later this week or this weekend once i get the primer situation straightened out

 

[LiveLife]

Thanks for the update!

Nice to see Lee Precision being responsive and prompt.

Keep us posted how replacement part works out.

 

[Mark_Mark]

Lee Fan Boys!!! just get a Dillion LOL

 

[Gillie Dog]

After testing, this is indeed accurate. However, I have noticed that the weak point of the priming seems to be the plastic slider. it lifts up and binds as seen here.

Looks like Version II Carrier, if there is one, will have a channel for slider instead of just tabs in a couple spots.

GD

 

[boredkender]

Thanks for the update!

Nice to see Lee Precision being responsive and prompt.

Keep us posted how replacement part works out.

Printing the part now, will give it a run-through on my lunch break

 

[f.g]

@boredkender
Thank you for the photos and for sharing experience with this new press... Video will be welcome Keep us in touch !!!

 

[Mark_Mark]

@boredkender
Thank you for the photos and for sharing experience with this new press... Video will be welcome Keep us in touch !!!

I bet there will be 2 dozen mods the 1st week the 6-pack comes out! Heck I might try to buy it too

 

[Mark_Mark]

Thanks for the update!

Nice to see Lee Precision being responsive and prompt.

Keep us posted how replacement part works out.

why would they not? it’s their flagship press and it’s opening week

 

[LiveLife]

Nice to see Lee Precision being responsive and prompt

why would they not? it’s their flagship press and it’s opening week

It took them over 20-25 years to address the complaints their customers had regarding the Pro 1000 issues to do a redsign/update in 2018.

I think John Lee taking over as president had a lot to do with upgrades/new product research and development as demonstrated by release of ABLP/Pro 4000 (I for one requested a 4 station press) that addressed essentially most of decades of customer complaints and now we have Six Pack Pro/Pro 6000 that in many ways may have delivered beyond what the customers wanted/needed. And overdelivering is good in my book.

And looks like Stephanie Lee is at the helm of the product launch of SPP/Pro 6000 that may just be the game changer for the reloading community world-wide. Who knows, after John Lee retires, she may go from VP to president of Lee Precision.

Today's Lee Precision is definitely not the same company as 20-30 years ago.

 

[Mark_Mark]

It took them over 20-25 years to address the complaints their customers had regarding the Pro 1000 issues to do a redsign/update in 2018.

I think John Lee taking over as president had a lot to do with upgrades/new product research and development as demonstrated by release of ABLP/Pro 4000 (I for one requested a 4 station press) that addressed essentially most of decades of customer complaints and now we have Six Pack Pro/Pro 6000 that in many ways may have delivered beyond what the customers wanted/needed. And overdelivering is good in my book.

And looks like Stephanie Lee is at the helm of the product launch of SPP/Pro 6000 that may just be the game changer for the reloading community world-wide. Who knows, after John Lee retires, she may go from VP to president of Lee Precision.

Today's Lee Precision is definitely not the same company as 20-30 years ago.

Family company 4 sure! You guys buy one, be a Lee Beta tester, and when the kinks work out in a few years, I’ll get one! Hopefully they will come out with a Gen 2 Pro Disk!