Lee Pro 1000 with Perfect Powder Measure

[ForneyRider]

Setting up .223 on the Pro 1000. I bought the shellplate carrier, Lee Universal Charge die, turret, and Lee Deluxe rifle dies.

I assembled the univ. charging die and the Perfect powder measure(PPM). I got the PPM with breech lock kit.

I can't figure out how to attach the chain. When I use the hole for the Auto Disk, the chain rubs against the press. Where are you attaching the chain?
I am using station 2, which is where I put the Auto Disk and pistol expander die, or the rifle charging die.

Using H-Varget, not sure if PPM or Auto Disk is better for this powder. I have adj. charge bar, and the double disk. I want to drop 26.5gr of Varget. I may get some RL15, and/or AA2230 or a Ramshot powder. They seem to be cheaper than Varget.

Also, I am going to attempt to prime on the press with the primer chute. Not had much luck so far priming this way.

 

[Griz44]

The chain kit has an eyelet in it that should attach with an existing screw. I don't have a P1000 in front of me, but I saw one set up that way. The instructions that came with the die have a picture I think...

 

[lee n. field]

There's a video on Lee's web site that will show you exactly how to attach and adjust that chain.

 

[ForneyRider]

Yea, I have the instructions and the eyelet. The picture on the instructions is pretty small and difficult to make out.

Thanks, but the video is a LoadMaster with Auto Disk.
The Pro 1000 and PPM are little bit different setup.

 

[CatsEye]

I load for pistol using the disks so I don't know if your setup is slightly different than mine or not. My Pro 1000 is done just like in the video except the hole in the carrier is opposite the handle instead of on the left side like is shown in the video. Post a picture if you are still having problems, we might we able to provide more guidance.

 

[jetrecbn]

With the ram in the up position (shellplate carrier is down) make sure the hopper lever is down too. Put the chain thru the rear hole then back thru the front hole and put the chain keeper on. Ensure that the carrier is down and the hopper lever is down. When a round exits the charging station enroute to the bullet seating station, the downward movement of the carrier will pull the hopper lever all the way back to get a FULL load of powder. If you do not ensure that the hopper lever is in the down position prior to connecting the chain you will get less powder in the cylinder thus light charges. Very problematic with small charges. I know because I'm that guy.

 

[Txhillbilly]

Hope you have better luck than I had

I bought a Lee 1000 and it was the biggest piece of junk I have ever had. The instuctions are terrible,no detailed pictures,and no trouble shooting guide.
If you don't have everything adjusted perfect it is just going to break all those important parts that are made out of VERY CHEAP PLASTIC. I used mine for around 5 minutes before I was putting it back into the boxes and on the phone with LEE demanding a prepaid UPS shipping back to them for a full refund. I must say that Lee's customer service is great,and I do have a Lee turret press that I have been very happy with except for the auto-index which once again,has cheap plastic parts,and is no longer part of my press.
I just turn it by hand.

 

[Griz44]

I used mine for around 5 minutes before I was putting it back into the boxes and on the phone with LEE demanding a prepaid UPS shipping back to them for a full refund.

If 5 minutes is all you are willing to put into learning a new piece of equipment, then it is easy to see why you failed, and probably fail at making quality ammunition too. What range do you shoot at? I want to be sure and not go there. Try reading the "rules" at the top of this section. A lot of folks here use equipment from every venue, and do so very successfully. We frequently see posts from folks here who hit the 10K, 50K, 100K even closing in on a million rounds from their equipment, from every maker. It really is a matter of learning to do it right.

 

[CHEVELLE427]

FYI

i have the pro 1000 as well and have been useing it for years now.
and i have had the auto powder throw skip rounds before .
I CANT SEE HOW THIS CAN HAPPEN AS EACH PULL OF THE HANDLE SOMETHING MOVES.
if it got in a bind the chain would snap.
once a long time back on some 9mm so i quit using it till first of this year, loaded up some 45acp about 1000, and again i found 5 that had no powder in them so again i dont use there powder throw.
(and no i didnt run the hopper dry)
last 2 stages .powder and bullet seat i do on my rockchunker. this way
I KNOW WHAT IS IN THE CASE.
loading 223 it will even be harder to see powder in the case.
just my experience and .02

 

[ForneyRider]

I thought the .223 kit for Pro 1000 came setup with PPM.

Originally, mine was .41 magnum with single Auto Disk on powder through expander die.

I know I can use the double disk to get my 26.5 to 27.5(c) of H-Varget.

The PPM chain disk does not extend over the press like the arm on the Auto Disk. Therefore the chain is rubbing against the side of the top of the press.

I've crushed 2 cases, which I fixed by adjusting the height on the universal powder die.

My priming is going okay. I don't have any dry lube for the chute. But they are flowing pretty good. Since the shellplate assembly is new, so is the plastic. woohoo!

I am not getting any powder to come out which I think can be remedied by changing the start/stop points of the rotation of the PPM.

A smooth, full follow through on the press handle is a definite necessity on this press.

Once I get this thing adjusted properly, I may tack weld it.

 

[Oldcoyote]

Can't you use the Pro Auto Disc with this press for .223?

 

[ilbob]

My only gripe with my lee 1000 is it requires more adjustment, lube, and cleaning than is required with my Dillon 650. I've had mine for over 20 years. None of the plastic parts have worn out yet.

Admittedly I only run a few thousand rounds a year through it.

I found the directions pretty clear, and had no trouble getting it up and running. Of course, I was 20+ years younger back then.

 

[jfh]

fortney: How old is your Pro 1000?

The "latest version" has a change to the frame--it includes the eyelet for mounting the pull chain. Older ones don't (mine is an older one--from about '92).

There's a picture of this difference somewhere--if I can find it, I'll post it.

Personally, I use the Lee Auto disk (Pro version, with adjustable charge bar) measure on my Turret, and a Pro Auto disk with the chain return measure on my Load-Master. As mentioned by others, the standard spring return can hang if there is wear in the measure, or if it isn't kept clean, and it's easy to miss the hang-up when operating in a progressive. However, I have no worries about the spring-return version on the Turret--its operation is right there in front of me when I'm loading on the turret.


Txhillbilly: That "cheap plastic" indexer on a Lee turret is made that way as a fail-safe. It's designed to break if (for whatever reason), the press binds, jams--if excessive force is applied. Once you get the press tweaked up correctly, the indexer will last about 5,000 rounds or so. Your turret press should have come with one extra; I bought more and keep them on hand.

FWIW, I updated a standard 3-die turret to the new 4-die configuration about fifteen months ago, and I initially had trouble with that failsafe until I tweaked the settings for the indexing.

Final tweaking of the settings came after 1) I had developed the proper rhythm to my stroke, and it included 2) adjusting the nut on the indexer bar to provide minimal friction on the turret as well as having the correct lateral position at the end of the stroke. Also, note that there a "top" and "bottom" to the failsafe--check to see which way the shoulder on the part is facing (up or down)--right now I forget the correct orientation, but someone (ilbob?) can chime in with that.

Mine runs successfully now, and I use auto-indexing about 99.5% of the time.

IMO, the effort to learn these details are well worth it--so: If you do a google here, in this forum, on "turret" or "Lee turret" or the like, you can find more discussion of these tweaks and final adjustments.


OldCoyote: I don't see why you couldn't use the spring-return Auto-disk--I'm doing that on the turret, with H-335. However, I am also using an older aftermarket adjustable charge bar that allows me to tweak the charge precisely at the volumes needed for a .223 load. Personaly, given the "progressive" operation, I no longer use spring-return Auto disks on Load-Master. (Currently, I am not using my Pro 1000.)

Jim H.

 

[lee n. field]

Txhillbilly: That "cheap plastic" indexer on a Lee turret is made that way as a fail-safe. It's designed to break if (for whatever reason), the press binds, jams--if excessive force is applied. Once you get the press tweaked up correctly, the indexer will last about 5,000 rounds or so.

Would you happen to have Lee's part number on that?

 

[jfh]

The Link to the parts page for the standard turret, four-hole version is here, and for the Classic Cast version here.

The proper name for the failsafe is "Square Ratchet", and the P/N is the same for both presses: TF 3567.

I also bought a second auto index clamp (P/N 3566), simply because it appeared that part can wear, too. However, so far I have NOT had to install it.

One last tip: At least on the standard turret / 4-hole upgrade assembly, the rotational forces on the indexing rod tend to 1) drive the rod bottom off center, and 2) twist the auto index clamp. Don't worry about it--it causes no problems, but you could go nuts trying to prevent it from happening.

I've also installed the Fast Prime update, and that is worthwhile--once you get the hang of using it. Again, you can google in this forum for more comments on this.

Typically, I do a simply C-L-A on the press about every 300-500 rounds; it depends on how messy the powder is that is being used in the ADPM. when I installed the upgrade kits--e.g, both 4-hole conversion and the Easy / Fast Prime (whatever), I did find the parts had to wear in somewhat; the newest Lee parts are less-well-finished than they were in earlier years, I think.

When you adjust the nut on the top of the indexing rod, be sure to cushion your pliers / wrench; the rod is very soft and can get scratched--which will wear the failsafe if you were not careful to grasp the rod high up.

I also run mine fairly wet--a good dollop of oil under the rod, oil on the turret rim and on the press turret frame, and a fine film on the rod.

Since doing my updates, I've loaded 12,000-15,000 rounds on my turret--mostly, load development sets--e.g., twenty cartridges of a given charge, then adjusting the powder weight by two-tenths, etc., etc. I usually load 100 cartridges at a time for testing; I find that I can do about 180 rounds per hour when working in this workflow, and I have done up to 240 RPH in just production.

However, the L-M is what I use for production. When I set up with extra primer trays, that will run from about 360 to 500 or so per hour (using the case feeder).

Jim H.

 

[ForneyRider]

I bought this press from Midway a year or 2 ago.

Yes, I can use the auto-disk. I will go with that for a while.
The double disk should get me pretty close to drop I want. The adjustable bar limits out at ~26grains. I may use that for over 60gr, and the double disk for under 60gr, where I can run up to 28gr of Varget.

I was hoping to use the Perfect Powder measure work because it should be more precise. And I want to drop exactly +-.1gr for some precision plinkers.

I need to snap a photo and show. There may be a way to rig the chain.

Thanks all.

 

[jfh]

fortney: I think the issue of how to operate the manual return for a PADM (or the PPM) rests on the fact that the newest carrier assembly has the chain return eyelet cast in it. Since I had already purchased multiple assemblies back in the day when the Pro 1000 was my primary machine, I decided not to replace them now that I had "moved on" to 4-die / 5-die processing.

I do know I have read a thread, probably in this forum, about automating the PPM with a manual return, but I don't remember the details or the relative success of it.

Since I am a novice rifle / .223 reloader, I've been content with the PADM with that aftermarket charge bar--so far, I use only H-335--running on the turret.

I really haven't gotten the PPM running yet--but IIRC, you need to run at least one hopper-full of ball powder through it to get it well-coated with graphite. Google here, in this forum, I think, for more on the PPM.

Jim H.

 

[ForneyRider]

I got the PPM with single stage Breech Lock kit.

The Pro 1000 (my first press) came with 41 mag dies kit and single disk Auto-Disk measure with chain return (newer than spring-loaded one).

I am having my dad make a piece of sheetmetal about the size of a stick of gum to extend out the shell-plate carrier. I'll see if that works.

 

[ForneyRider]

I got a bracket from Lee. It is about the size of a half of stick of gum.

Thanks All.