Lee Pro 6000 unboxing and testing for OAL consistency

[tightgroup tiger]

Ok, mine wasn't indexing right again, it had a rough spot just about the time the primer arm started to move. I took the carrier screw loose again and pushed it all the way down this time. It seems to be working smoother now. And for some reason the under side of the carrier is all still hitting bottom together.
I wonder why it woundn't before.
The pin on the primer system doesn't touch the post to shake the primer tray either. If the primers don't feed in this thing that will be the end of it for me.
Primer feed was the critical part that has to work for me.

 

[tightgroup tiger]

It's going back for a refund. The primer system doesn't work, the primers won't come out of the primer container, so I shook it by hand to get the shoot full and tried running some cases through it.
The pin that is supposed to shake the primer container doesn't touch the rod with the grooves. It's never going to feed without being shook.

About three primers jammed up in the trough where the primer dispenser runs and lock the press up. I had to dig my primers out of the chute and there was red paint or something laying in the shoot with them. Don't know where that came from but I'm not wasting any more of my time with it.
I just got done boxing it back up for the trip back.

I'll call Lee tomorrow.

 

[tightgroup tiger]

I guess I'll call Midsouth Shooters tomorrow, not Lee.

 

[ManFromMontana]

Hmmm...so in your opinion, the PRO 6000 isn't quite there yet...too many little things yet to work out. Is that a fair assessment? (BTW - thank you so much for taking all the time for such a great evaluation).

 

[tightgroup tiger]

Hmmm...so in your opinion, the PRO 6000 isn't quite there yet...too many little things yet to work out. Is that a fair assessment? (BTW - thank you so much for taking all the time for such a great evaluation).

I don't know, I may have gotten a bad one. Got everything back in order and the primer problem is just where I draw the line.
I'll just stick with my ABLP for .357s. It loads them just fine, I'm fond of that little press anyways. I just wanted the primer system to be integral to the process instead of being a process of it's own. ie-the Pez dispenser.

It's too early to make claims just because of one bad example. Time will tell.

 

[Tilos]

GW Staar,
Do those bullet feed dies work on coated lead bullets? I have the Horandy bullet feed die but I think I already know it won't work with coated lead bullets.
I don't mind setting them by hand but having a bullet feeder that works with the bullets I use, on the 6 station press, would be to much to ignore.
I'll be watching to see what Lee invents for a bullet feeder and the I want the stepped ptx for my measure.


Thank you, These are easy to make too. I use Titebond III for glue. Once it sets it doesn't come apart. I had to break a joint apart on a shelf bracket I made and had to use a hammer to do it. Just a end of a board glued to the face of another one. It tore the face out of the Oak board when it came apart.

The bull nose I do on my router table, its effortless in any direction, grain doesn't matter. Just have to slow down coming off the corners.


I've never used one, DudeDog told me they work pretty good. I've been using the same Pro Auto Disc for almost 30 years now. It's broke in now.
The one with the fishing weight hung on the lever.
If I don't get along with the Auto Drum I can go back to using my PAD. Those Auto Drum measures seem to be controversial. Hopefully mine doesn't leak.
I got some good people here to help me with it if I do have problems.

You will find the Auto Drum difficult to throw a test charge to weigh, and I am sure your PAD is a breeze to throw a test charge with that clever fishing weight return system mod!

As far as a bullet feeder dies, I have been using Hornady's dies for both 9mm and 38/357 for coated bullets.
I did polish and deburr the fingers though and adjusted those fingers a bit.
Some people that had a problem with the Hornady dies switched to RCBS bullet feeding dies and they worked right out of the box.
I believe they worked because those RCBS dies have plastic jaws that are more flexible to work for a wider bullet diameter variation.

Looking forward to your critique of the 6000 after you have used it some.
jmo,
.

 

[LiveLife]

NOTE: Listing of step-by-step press set up, operation, enhanced practice for greater consistency and troubleshooting on this post - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...r-oal-consistency.911743/page-9#post-12471889
----------------------------------------------------------------------

On Castboolits ... 3D printer bullet collator thread......we are on page 156!!!

Page 156?!

What, you guys can't get it together or what?

Even the support thread for the venerable Pro 1000 (Pre-2018 model), by page 8 we got all the major issues root-cause-analyzed and resolutions reached after testing different solution options - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...lutions-no-bashing.507454/page-6#post-9614898

 

[tightgroup tiger]

Deleted, wrong thread.

 

[Tilos]

It's going back for a refund. The primer system doesn't work, the primers won't come out of the primer container, so I shook it by hand to get the shoot full and tried running some cases through it.
The pin that is supposed to shake the primer container doesn't touch the rod with the grooves. It's never going to feed without being shook.

About three primers jammed up in the trough where the primer dispenser runs and lock the press up. I had to dig my primers out of the chute and there was red paint or something laying in the shoot with them. Don't know where that came from but I'm not wasting any more of my time with it.
I just got done boxing it back up for the trip back.

I'll call Lee tomorrow.

Sorry to read this...
thanks for posting.

 

[LiveLife]

NOTE: Listing of step-by-step press set up, operation, enhanced practice for greater consistency and troubleshooting on this post - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...r-oal-consistency.911743/page-9#post-12471889
----------------------------------------------------------------------

The pin on the primer system doesn't touch the post to shake the primer tray either. If the primers don't feed in this thing that will be the end of it for me.
Primer feed was the critical part that has to work for me.

I found this to be the case also during my 15 full disassembly and reassembly (Yeah, call me OCD ... it's jmorris' fault to push things and test things to point of failure).

I initially tried rotating the shellplate carrier top cover during tightening the two flathead screws then even thought about bending the pin to contact the ring grooves on the frame column only to end up figuring they would not work.

So after realizing priming rod/pin moving up and down freely was essential to primer guide entering station #2 freely and fully, I am thinking of strapping zip ties around the frame column to increase shaking of primer tray to fill the chute/trough.

 

[tightgroup tiger]

Yeah ,I was disapointed but that particular press has too much wrong with it. I don't want it back. I'll wait to see how everyone else makes out with theirs.
Some of these problems may be from the carrier falling off of it.
I'm not sure the ram was tightening up in the carrier. I think it had slipped again while I was working on primer system.
I really cranked on the hex wrench when I tightened it the first time too.
Lee can have that problem child back.

 

[tightgroup tiger]

I found this to be the case also during my 15 full disassembly and reassembly (Yeah, call me OCD ... it's jmorris' fault to push things and test things to point of failure).

I initially tried rotating the shellplate carrier top cover during tightening the two flathead screws then even thought about bending the pin to contact the ring grooves on the frame column only to end up figuring they would not work.

So after realizing priming rod/pin moving up and down freely was essential to primer guide entering station #2 freely and fully, I am thinking of strapping zip ties around the frame column to increase shaking of primer tray to fill the chute/trough.

The pin would just fall out of the hole it was mounted in so it wouldn't have stayed in place anyways.
My ABLP works fine, I'll just have to find something better to prime my cases with. My old Auto-Prime2 is about whipped.

 

[LiveLife]

NOTE: Listing of step-by-step press set up, operation, enhanced practice for greater consistency and troubleshooting on this post - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...r-oal-consistency.911743/page-9#post-12471889
----------------------------------------------------------------------

The pin would just fall out of the hole it was mounted in so it wouldn't have stayed in place anyways ... I just got done boxing it back up for the trip back

I agree with the press going back. There seems to be problems with the assembly of that press.

The pin that is supposed to shake the primer container doesn't touch the rod with the grooves. It's never going to feed without being shook.

So after realizing priming rod/pin moving up and down freely was essential to primer guide entering station #2 freely and fully, I worked to ensure the two flathead screws were tightened without binding the priming rod/pin which produced the position of top cover where the primer chute/trough pin was slightly actuating with the bottom groove but not the top groove.

On the Pro 1000, shellplate carrier can be rotated somewhat on ram before tightening so primer chute/trough pin can actuate with the groove but that's not the case with SPP. Filling of primer chute/trough by tapping the primer tray has been feeding the primers reliably but since the primer chute/trough attachment on the SPP is quite stiff, I am instead thinking about working out a mod to "tap" the primer tray instead to move the primers down.

I am setting up the new Home Depot Husky adjustable bench to test new digital scale and new Troemner check weight set I ordered so will take another look at the primer feed operation afterwards but I need to make another grocery store run for turkey day so if I don't get to it, then tomorrow.

 

[GW Staar]

Page 156?!

What, you guys can't get it together or what?

Even the support thread for the venerable Pro 1000 (Pre-2018 model), by page 8 we got all the major issues root-cause-analyzed and resolutions reached after testing different solution options - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...lutions-no-bashing.507454/page-6#post-9614898

It's too together......we keep getting a new crop of "customers" who have questions...too bad we don't get rich from them.... TylerR has kids at home and a wife who needs him worse than we do......so he's not posting much anymore (finally) least until the rest of us get stumped. maybe once or twice a page with short answers and the all important "download" at the bottom. Me tired too......trying to fade away.....not doing too well yet.

 

[Tilos]

NOTE: Listing of step-by-step press set up, operation, enhanced practice for greater consistency and troubleshooting on this post - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...r-oal-consistency.911743/page-9#post-12471889
----------------------------------------------------------------------


I agree with the press going back. There seems to be problems with the assembly of that press.


So after realizing priming rod/pin moving up and down freely was essential to primer guide entering station #2 freely and fully, I worked to ensure the two flathead screws were tightened without binding the priming rod/pin which produced the position of top cover where the primer chute/trough pin was slightly actuating with the bottom groove but not the top groove.

On the Pro 1000, shellplate carrier can be rotated somewhat on ram before tightening so primer chute/trough pin can actuate with the groove but that's not the case with SPP. Filling of primer chute/trough by tapping the primer tray has been feeding the primers reliably but since the primer chute/trough attachment on the SPP is quite stiff, I am instead thinking about working out a mod to "tap" the primer tray instead to move the primers down.

I am setting up the new Home Depot Husky adjustable bench to test new digital scale and new Troemner check weight set I ordered so will take another look at the primer feed operation afterwards but I need to make another grocery store run for turkey day so if I don't get to it, then tomorrow.

It seems there is a Facebook page dedicated to the 6000, mentioned here:
https://castboolits.gunloads.com/sh...urney-Starts&p=5491765&viewfull=1#post5491765

Looks like Lee has been doing some updates to deal with problems mentioned here so I searched Facebook for the page and joined it (pending).

.

 

[Gillie Dog]

It's too together......we keep getting a new crop of "customers" who have questions...too bad we don't get rich from them.... TylerR has kids at home and a wife who needs him worse than we do......so he's not posting much anymore (finally) least until the rest of us get stumped. maybe once or twice a page with short answers and the all important "download" at the bottom. Me tired too......trying to fade away.....not doing too well yet.

Thread drift alert.
That thread is invaluable to those who want to succeed with those projects which lead to other projects and the technology available to the average joe now is incredible. I have gone through over 75 pages so far and by the end will probably be another one of the "customers" looking for free assistance from the old guard. Probably going to have to have case and bullet collators/feeders just because........

GD

 

[dave333]

It's going back for a refund. The primer system doesn't work, the primers won't come out of the primer container, so I shook it by hand to get the shoot full and tried running some cases through it.
The pin that is supposed to shake the primer container doesn't touch the rod with the grooves. It's never going to feed without being shook.

About three primers jammed up in the trough where the primer dispenser runs and lock the press up. I had to dig my primers out of the chute and there was red paint or something laying in the shoot with them. Don't know where that came from but I'm not wasting any more of my time with it.
I just got done boxing it back up for the trip back.

I'll call Lee tomorrow.

Problems like this is why I gave up on lee reloading presses. I learned to load on a pro 1000 and at one time had 4 loadmasters, each had their own quirks I had to figure out to make work. The most reliable of my loadmasters, when adjusted to work properly, had the same problem with the actuator arm to shake the primers not hitting the actuator. I ended up putting a couple of the smallest zip ties on the rod so the pin would hit it and shake primers to feed. Seems like there is enough variance in the build process that no 2 presses ever work the same way. At least that’s how it was with my 4 loadmasters.

I was kinda excited about the new 6 station lee press but after reading enough reviews it seems like it would be another crap shoot. Gonna have to stick with my 5 station hornady. Good luck guys.

 

[LiveLife]

NOTE: Listing of step-by-step press set up, operation, enhanced practice for greater consistency and troubleshooting on this post - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...r-oal-consistency.911743/page-9#post-12471889
----------------------------------------------------------------------

too bad we don't get rich from them

Think of 3D print file sharing as "Pay It Forward" open-source public domain on a galactic scale ... and karma always seems to favor those who "spread the joy" around to all mankind ... even to animal kinds.

It's too together...so he's not posting much anymore (finally) least until the rest of us get stumped. Me tired too......trying to fade away.....not doing too well yet.

Join the club ... I am finding out retiring is exhausting with the never ending "Honey do" long list of projects without days off or vacations. And shooting and reloading, once again is providing much needed diversion and distraction away from aching body parts.

https://castboolits.gunloads.com/sh...urney-Starts&p=5489840&viewfull=1#post5489840

You know, that's the guy who's been "muscling" his way through SPP press operations instead of first learning how the press operates.

He totally became frustrated because the shellplate locked up ... But he caused the loose shellplate when he removed it to lubricate the underside (which is not needed for the "free floating" shellplate design) and didn't tighten the shellplate back up. Once the loose shellplate was tightened, presto, press is indexing fine.

Will try coating it in grease so dirt/powder does not go down the stem.

And now he greases/oils the priming rod/pin and sleeve hole ... Why? (It's designed to operate dry, like the "floating" shellplate design). Lee does not say to lubricate the underside of shellplate or grease the priming rod/pin sleeve hole. In fact, my finding from 15 disassembly/reassembly of press convinced me that priming rod/pin sleeve/hole was designed to operate dry freely without any binding - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...r-oal-consistency.911743/page-8#post-12470568

I dumped powder when the primer had not been seated. This will be a continuing problem. I had put some oil on the primer stem and that was a stupid thing to do. The oil will trap and debris.

And if you pour fine ball powder like Clean Shot (similar to AA No 2) down the greased/oiled priming rod/pin sleeve/hole, it's going to cause problems (Probably even for my Dillon 550).

And this was response from Lee:

"... if there is any contamination in the primer pocket, it may cause the primer pin to stick into the primer pocket and not retract."

Tammy
Lee Precision"
​

And reply from another member - https://castboolits.gunloads.com/sh...urney-Starts&p=5491279&viewfull=1#post5491279

It may not help you to know this, but that's not the only progressive that will jam up with powder through the hole of an unprimed case.

This is a quick fix ... Just get a regular red hopper with lid - https://leeprecision.com/hopper-cov-round-red.html

To add powder, you need to take the bottle off

The powder hopper shipped with the Pro 6000 kit includes the Bottle Adapter meant to be used with factory one pound container so you don't have to take the [hopper] off to refill it from the factory container because the factory container is supposed to be screwed to the Bottle Adapter ...

But he did like the Auto Drum features.

One nice feature is the bottle has a shut off. I also like the powder drum design. Easy to adjust and easy to swap out rotors that are preset for different loads for those who load many recipes. Those rotors/drums are only about $5 each.

​

Comment/suggestion from another member - https://castboolits.gunloads.com/sh...urney-Starts&p=5491323&viewfull=1#post5491323

As I recall, you have been skeptical about Lee products from the start of your journey down this Pro 6000 rabbit hole you find yourself in today. I have found doubt and anger have clouded my judgement and analytical thought process in the past, and walking away from a problem has been the best solution for me.

I hope you reconsider giving up on the 6000, your future success will be that much sweeter if you stick with it.

Primer pin sticking is a common problem in every brand of progressive press and is due to powder spillage and primer smooge contamination, we have all experienced it ... Well, maybe not you though...

And that powder spillage is due to operators continuing on when there is no primer present in the case.

No comment.

IMO is this is unacceptable ... Maybe I am just a slob and too lazy to have clean room standards to load pistol ammunition.

Rant over ... I will attempt to return it.

 

[GW Staar]

Thread drift alert.
That thread is invaluable to those who want to succeed with those projects which lead to other projects and the technology available to the average joe now is incredible. I have gone through over 75 pages so far and by the end will probably be another one of the "customers" looking for free assistance from the old guard. Probably going to have to have case and bullet collators/feeders just because........

GD

Heck, it was invaluable to me, when I started 2 years ago, back on page 30......Obviously addictive too. But I can tell you one thing....if after a mere 2 years, some are relying on me as old guard, just tells you how fast it is to learn.....if you're not an overthinking engineer that is. Think, yes, but don't overthink......same goes for Lee's little presses. Dillon, Hornady, and RCBS progressives are a lot more expensive, and you still have to think, but not overthink them. They can work out of the box.....sometimes, for some people, but Lees can too, there's just less room to get away with abuse.

I remember well how some of the early adopters of RCBS's Pro Chucker 7 abused them to the point of sabotage, then blamed it all on RCBS. I have one I like fine. Problem free? No, but I'm still waiting to break my first primer shuttle.....and I've made improvements in case and bullet feeding. I love 7 stations, epecially for rifle.

 

[Tilos]

You know, that's the guy who's been "muscling" his way through SPP press operations instead of first learning how the press operates.

I totally know the history of "that guy" as I have challenged him on every one of his "problems" and offered fixes along the way.

Why anyone who can feel the absence of a primer would still pull the lever/raising the shell plate and dump powder into a case that has no primer is beyond me.
I consider that operator error, not a press malfunction!

I posted that link to show some other refinements Lee has been doing that have not shown up in this thread, and in know-way a negative on the work you have done here.

Like the different primer pin, spring, bottom cover plate, etc. Lee is offering to remedy the primer pin sticking issue.

Here's a link to that Facebook page, you'll have to join to see what's posted there:
Lee Precision Six Pack Progressive Press, users group. | Facebook
I joined as it's another source of 6000 info,

.

 

[9mmepiphany]

Here's a link to that Facebook page, you'll have to join to see what's posted there:
Lee Precision Six Pack Progressive Press, users group. | Facebook
I joined as it's another source of 6000 info,

It is an interesting page...not very active; but that is sort of a FaceBook thing

One of the Admins just wrote up a how-to on installing the Lee Bullet Feeder on the Pro-6k. There was also a post on making the KMS UFO lighting system work on the Pro-6k

 

[trdjohn]

I joined the FB group this afternoon, some interesting stuff on there in the little I scrolled through, looking forward to seeing what else is there...


Another user error I experienced...must have forgotten that I removed the breech lock- autodrum station, and must not have totally locked the bushing in tight into press head...got about 7 cases into session, heard a massive POP and watched the bushing, auto drum and powder hopper shoot up out of the press and powder fly every where...so make sure that powder station bushing is fully locked into press head!! spent ton of time sweeping it up, and clearing it all from the press nooks and crannies

 

[drband]

I joined the FB group this afternoon, some interesting stuff on there in the little I scrolled through, looking forward to seeing what else is there...


Another user error I experienced...must have forgotten that I removed the breech lock- autodrum station, and must not have totally locked the bushing in tight into press head...got about 7 cases into session, heard a massive POP and watched the bushing, auto drum and powder hopper shoot up out of the press and powder fly every where...so make sure that powder station bushing is fully locked into press head!! spent ton of time sweeping it up, and clearing it all from the press nooks and crannies

I’ve noticed the bushings can be a little fiddly to get seated just right. Best to be sure…

 

[9mmepiphany]

I’ve noticed the bushings can be a little fiddle to get seated just right. Best to be sure…

Line up with the bare metal, pushed all the way in, finger tight turning clockwise, and then fit bushing wrench to tighten all the way to the stop

 

[drband]

Line up with the bare metal, pushed all the way in, finger tight turning clockwise, and then fit bushing wrench to tighten all the way to the stop

Right. Sometimes they don’t want to push all the way in when new— maybe some machining issues or metal shavings.