Lee Pro 1000

[ezypikns]

I have an opportunity to pick one up......cheap. I've got a Redding T-7 turret press which does a great job. Don't have a progressive. One thing that bothers me about the 1000 is that it only has three die positions. No place for my .38 special factory crimp die. Of course, I don't need a roll crimp for .45 ACP or .40 S&W. Just use the seating die.
Do I save my cash for a Dillon, or jump (cheaply) for the Lee Pro 1000?

 

[Pumpkinheaver]

I have a couple of them and they are a good press for the money. Most problems I have with mine are from letting the primer resevoir get to low causing jams. How much is the asking price on the one you are looking at?

 

[loadedround]

Do you want to drive a Chevy or a Caddy? The Lee is a basic machine and is prone to breakdowns and adjustments, the Dillon after set up runs and runs, plus the Lifetime Warranty. The Lee will load adequate ammo, but the Dillon will load perfect ammo w/o any fuss...your choice, but I'd go with the Dillon if you plan on loading large quantities of ammo in several different calibers. JMHO!

 

[HSMITH]

Been there and done that, save your pennies for a Dillon.

 

[ChiefPilot]

I love mine, I use it for .45ACP as well as .30 carbine and .223 Remington. I've loaded several thousand rounds of each with it and the only thing to watch is the primer level. Otherwise, no problems.

 

[RugerGuy]

I had one about 10 or 12 years ago. LOTS of problems with it. Gave me a bad taste about reloading until about 4 years ago when I bought my first Dillon which was a 550 for .40 and .357. Last year I bought a second hand 650 for .45. Both Dillons put together have giving me a fraction of the problems I had with the Lee 1000. I use Lee dies and wouldn't mind having a Lee single stage for .270. Lee does make some good quality equipment but the Pro 1000 isn't worth your time IMHO.

 

[Rico567]

I've been there and done that, too. The only way, IMHO, to justify a Dillon, is if you need the production. The Lee Pro 1000 (two of them, in fact) Served me very well for many years. I sold my Lees and bought a Dillon 650 because I wanted to reload bottleneck rifle ammo on the same press, and because (as mentioned above) I wanted more production. The Lee Pro 1000 will produce reloaded ammo just as good as any other press made, within its limitations. That ain't bad, considering you can buy one new for $120, including dies and powder measure. That will barely pay for a caliber conversion for my Dillon, less dies. The quirks of the Pro 1000 are fairly well known, but to summarize:

1) don't push it- 350 per hour is about max.

2) it must be kept clean

3) it must be kept lubricated

4) the primer feed system (which gives a lot of people fits) must be kept full (the trough, that is) of primers, or it will not operate properly, being gravity fed.

5) the Pro 1000, like many progressives, has a certain "feel" and best operating speed.