Lee pro 1000

[RVenick]

I'm taking a serious look a buying a Lee Pro 100 press 9mm. I also would like to load 40 S&W, 45 acp, 38 special, and 357 mag. Can I just buy the appropriate plates and dies to change on the press, or do I need to buy the whole caliber specific press?

I load everything in calibers you mentioned and also 223 rem and 380acp. You do not need to buy a press for each. What I did was buy a turret for each set of dies and the whole shellplate carriers rather than just the plate. Keep in mind 9MM and 40SW use the same plate as do 380acp and 223 and 38spl and 357 mag. The main reason I bought the whole shellplate carriers is two fold, one is quick caliber changes and two once you change just the plate you have to readjust the carrier. Also while 38spl dies will work for 357mag I actually got both the 38spl and 357 dies again for the quick change and not having to readjust.

 

[BOlesen]

That's about what I figured. I used to reload many years ago with the single station RCBS Rock Chucker Jr., but this press seem much more efficient using the multiple stations.

 

[kestak]

Z Bar issue

Greetings,

Another small glitch...Sudently (like the song) the Z-bar felt.

I put it back....Felt again to the first stroke.

I put the small on the top and the long on the hole the closest to the screw on the slide action.

The bar seems straight. Any clue how to fix that???

Thank you

 

[RVenick]

I think the long goes in the top.

 

[LiveLife]

kestak, was gone out of town for work most of the week.

Yes, +1 on the long end of Z-bar into the top spring aluminum bar and short end into the black case slider.

FYI, small case (9mm) uses the normal Z-bar and large cases (40/45) use the "bent" Z-bar to clear the case during the sliding cycles - Yes, you can bend the Z-bar yourself but they are really cheap.

So, how are you doing with the Pro 1000? Anymore unresolved issues other than small primer feed attachment?

 

[kestak]

Greetings,

Hmmm... are you sure the longest of the zbar is on the top? I was able to fix it (ran 100 rounds) with the little on the top. Also, the video says to put it on the furtest from the screw on the sliding attachment and in the book the closest from the scew..... How is it setup exactly on your press?

I ran yesterday about 300 reloads with no major issue with the primers. I had exactly 3 times the primer felt off the primer push rod and I just put it back with an unbent paper clip I made for that purpose.

There are still 3 little things that I find quite annoying:
1 - I use Unique. I put my finger on the case from station 2 to station 3... and I find 2 or 3 grains (I mean particules here) power on the plate, 3 or 4 between the dies and a little bit on the floor (my floor is very clean). With my dillon, no powder get away like that. I could not find yet where is the leaking...any idea?

2 - From station 1 to station 2, once in a blue moon a case get like stuck when the plate begins to turn. It look slike it gets out of the case hole and get stuck on the metal border that is like keeping the case from going out by the centrifuge force.

3 - The bullet feeder.....:banghead: If I fill up entirely the tubes, the weight of the bullets in the column looks too great so the claws don't extract the bullet and I end up with a case with no bullet, spilled powder and a frustrated reloader. I wish I could find a way to put a rubber or a spring to reeinforce the claws pressure.

Frankly the primer system small issues I have would be solved very easilly by Lee if they would use a cup like Dillon. No way a primer would fall from the rod and it would eliminate the primer feeding issues with their press. I tinkered a lot with it to make sure the primers slide well. I filed a little bit the round thing exit to make the exit angle more a 45 degrees instead of 90 degrees. I polished the ramp and I use a little bit of graphite powder. I put a piece of tape to squeeze the 2 pieces of the feed ramp so the ramp is "very closed". I am almost satified with the primer systems now...

Thank you

 

[LiveLife]

kestak, check out this 7 of 9 part Youtube video on Pro 1000. The installation of Z-bar is covered at 3:00 minute mark with long end going into the bar at top and short end going into the slider - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWQmvyxiNFM

The video goes into complete details of disassembly and reassembly - would make a good reference for those new to Pro 1000. You might want to check out all 9 videos ... can't hurt.

1. The few particles of powder you see may be falling from the Pro Auto Disk assembly as the disk cycles, but I suspect they are probably being "flicked" out of the case as they click into station #3. Occasional few particles of powder should not affect powder charge/chamber pressure or accuracy of the rounds. I usually brush/wipe down the press at the end of the loading session.

2. Shell plate #19 is used for both 40S&W and 9mm cases. The shell plate is cut a bit loose to hold both case bases with a bit of clearance so especially the 9mm case will "move around" in the shell holder causing that occasional jam - I keep an eye on that area and simply push on the case with my finger. If you are not in a rush, slower smooth rotation of the shell plate also help position the case in the shell plate too. With that said, this video shows the speed at which I operate my Pro 1000 with primed cases - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kWXyxOEbZ0

3. I don't use the bullet feeder so perhaps someone else can comment.

Good to see you making progress on the Pro 1000. I did warn you that you were brave.

BTW, how are the rounds shooting?

 

[LiveLife]

Just FYI, unlike the video, I normally do not disassemble the top of the press when I remove the shell plate carrier. I remove the Pro Auto Disk hopper, remove the turret with dies, remove the primer tray (use paper clip to push the primers into the tray), loosen the shell plate carrier hex bolt, wedge an empty primer tray between the bottom of the shell plate carrier and the bottom of the press and once the shell plate if off the ram, tilt the shell plate carrier out between the vertical frame rods.

 

[kestak]

Greetings,

Thank you for the answer!

The rounds shoot well, like the rounds I made with my Dilllon.

The powder does not come from the case. IT comes from somewhere else because I put my finger on the case middle way on the stroke down.

Thank you

 

[LiveLife]

The powder does not come from the case. IT comes from somewhere else because I put my finger on the case middle way on the stroke down.

Then they are probably falling from the Pro Auto Disk base. The back of Pro Auto Disk base hangs over station #2 and #3. As the disk goes back to be charged by the hopper, it may be pushing some powder particles off which then falls on the shell plate. If it is just a few particles per session, no concern for charge accuracy.

For me, just about the only issue I have with the Pro 1000 is the small pistol primer feed ramp attachment:
- Primer is pushed into #2 station base by the weight of the primers in the feed ramp. Feed ramp is just long/tall enough to add the required weight to push the next primer in.
- If the top of the feed ramp runs dry of primers or there is any obstruction in the feed ramp tube (like powder flakes), then the primer may not be pushed into position or partially pushed into position causing the frustrating jam/sideways primer. :banghead:
- Round part of the attachment that inserts into station #2 has some play for the primer to line up precisely under the primer pocket, thus causing crushed primer cup if you apply too much force.
- There is no depth adjustment for primer seating depth. How deep the primer is seated is determined by the bottom of the primer push rod housing (bottom of shell plate carrier under station #2) hitting the top of the press base. This mostly results in primers seated just flush with the case bottom - and one of many reasons why I switched to hand priming.

I have pondered about addressing these issues and even talked to some reloaders who have machinist experience. We thought about making the attachment feed ramp bottom part out of aluminum/metal with more precision and taller feed tube to apply more weight on the primers (factory ramp would be cut in half and inserted on top of the metal base). This would ensure the primers always got push into station with better alignment.

I also thought about drilling the spot where the bottom of shell plate carrier hits the top of the press base and inserting different length rod to provide deeper primer seating. Even thought of drilling a larger hole to fit a nut with bolt to make it adjustable.

I have another week off work coming in June and may pursue above two projects. If I do, I will post my success/failure on this thread.

 

[kestak]

Greetings,

More and more I get used to the press and I can get some more speed.

Still issues with bullets jaws not strong enough to pull out a bullet sometimes.

I did a test and the primer feeder works fine until the ramp is empty only 1/4 of it. Then I get sideways primers. I just have to keep it full. I dont' have problem with primer dept, but I still think the cup Dillon uses is WAYYYYYYY superior design.

The powder issue....:banghead:
100 rounds...I lose more than 4 grains of Unique powder. I know, I picked up ALL the grains on my desk, on the plate and on the ground!!! It is a lot of powder that is beeing lost. I find most of the powder on the shell plate and it looks like up to 6 inches in the back and 1 foot on each side of the press. I find also powder on the ground between me and the press.

I look and alook and look and I still can't figure out where it is coming from. I think I'll ask my wife to check with a flashlight while I operate the press.

Thank you

 

[drgoose]

Primer Issues

Hi, this may not be the anwer you are looking for but I have a Lee Loadmaster, I have had it for about 2 months and have reloaded probably around 2k of 45 ACP. I have come to the sad conclusion that the priming system is a POS and my happiness has been so much greater since I decided to split the reloading process in two. On the first run I deprime the cases on station #1 and flare them on station #2. Then I hand prime with a lee auto primer and on the second stage I charge on station 3 (case already flared) and seat the bullet on 4 and crimp with LFC die on 5.

I know that the whole point of a progressive press is to do the whole process in one continous loop but I was perforating myself an ulcer with the priming system. This way I have very rarely any stoppages.

You have to pick your battles, and I chose not to pick the one with the primers any more.

Just my 0.02$