Lee Pro 6000 unboxing and testing for OAL consistency

[9mmepiphany]

Got mine ordered, thanks for the heads up

 

[LiveLife]

Got mine ordered, thanks for the heads up

Nice and congrats!

 

[GW Staar]

I decided I wanted the 9mm version, but no dice. So I ordered the press only from Grafs (they didn't have 9mm shell plates either). But I did find the 9mm shellplate at Titan! So I'm good. Will use a case activated Uniflow I have extra for powder. Saying thanks for the heads up too! Christmas is on the way.....we will see how early!

It seems to be my lot in life to buy all my progressives the hard way.

My Pro 2000 had to be bought in the manual version and had to buy the auto update kit....which turned out OK just a little more expensive....that was the month after Obama was elected the first time! Not only couldn't you buy primers then, progressuv reloading equipment was rarer than hen's teeth. Panic demand.

My Pro Chucker 7 was bought as a PC5. Nobody had a 7 station in stock, and so I had to add the PC7 upgrade kit to it......

Now this one......part of my divergent makeup I guess. Weird.

 

[LiveLife]

Nice and congrats too!

 

[Gillie Dog]

So I ran 50 9mm progressive except priming, as I did them earlier as a test. Powder drop and all. Lee FCD at end, so 4 dies installed. I always decap and clean ahead of time anyway.
Kept first 6 lined up set aside, kept the last 6 lined up set aside.
The middle 38 COAL came in at +-0.003, except 2 of them were +-0.0035, so can argue +-0.0035, total 0.007.
The first and last 12 COAL came in at +-0.004, total +-0.008.
Mixed once fired, random, range brass and xtreme plated bullets. Not new or sorted brass and cheap bullets.
I bet the paper will not show the difference with me behind the handgun.
Might get better as we go, we will see.

Seems ok to me.

GD

 

[tightgroup tiger]

I want to order one too but I have to get back to work, (tomorrow) and get some bills paid for from being off for 6 months. The company I work for was nice enough to pay all my insurance payments until I get back. I need to pay them back for that before I spend one dime on reloading.
It will be a couple months or more before I even think about buying bullets let alone a new press and I'm out of 9mm bullets. I'm shooting up my reserves right now. Have about 4 years worth in 9mm alone so I'm not worried.
I'm a patient man.

 

[Soonerpesek]

I'm a patient man.

Showoff......................

 

[LiveLife]

Repost from another thread regarding small/large primer guides using the same priming rod - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/lee-6000-press.905987/page-13#post-12457765

one priming pin ... work for both small and large.

Anybody have a picture?

Yes

Small and large primer guides installed on sliders - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...ing-for-oal-consistency.911743/#post-12443415

Priming rod with spring at bottom right of picture (narrow top pushes on the primer and same rod is used for both small and large primers)

This picture shows the cutout/hole through shellplate carrier that priming rod sticks through

Priming rod pushed up with shellplate/carrier in the down position with primer guide/slider pushed fully in to station #2

Priming rod shown with shellplate removed and primer guide/slider pushed fully in to station #2

And shellplate carrier removed

Priming rod with spring installed on bottom shellplate carrier cover

 

[tightgroup tiger]

Does the ball and spring on the left of the last picture use the same set of holes that the alignment rod uses?

 

[Gillie Dog]

Thanks to member @Gillie Dog, we have an issue/resolution identified for SPP/Pro 6000 - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/lee-6000-press.905987/page-12#post-12454985
On the primer slider channel/trough, there are four (4) tabs that prevent slider from lifting out of the channel/trough. But the spring end can contact/snag on the tabs to prevent smooth sliding of slider and make clicking noise. Using pliers, I gently narrowed the spring end (while ensuring there was enough opening to clear the slot where spring end slides down into). Now primer slider slides smoothly without making noise.

Have a look here at new slider which deletes need for slider hold down by making all the tabs do their job. And possibly spring modification to address above issue. Lee is sending them out now, do not know to whom, but I have one being shipped at some point. Thank you Lee.

https://leeprecision.com/small-case-retainer-for-six-pack-pro.html

GD

 

[GW Staar]

Have a look here at new slider which deletes need for slider hold down by making all the tabs do their job. And possibly spring modification to address above issue. Lee is sending them out now, do not know to whom, but I have one being shipped at some point. Thank you Lee.

https://leeprecision.com/small-case-retainer-for-six-pack-pro.html

GD

My 9mm plate out for delivery....press coming tomorrow. Will be interesting to see if the new parts are there. Probably not yet. That would be amazing efficiency, especially since the press came from Grafs and not Titan. Yesterday Titan still didn't have any presses.....maybe that is why. Waiting for the new parts, perhaps?

Does the ball and spring on the left of the last picture use the same set of holes that the alignment rod uses?

I must be blind. I downloaded the 6000 "manual" last night and could not find any mention of an "alignment rod". So curious, since my press is coming tomorrow.

 

[LiveLife]

Does the ball and spring on the left of the last picture use the same set of holes that the alignment rod uses?

Yes.

While the shellplate carrier top cover (That's what Lee calls it) shows two holes for detent ball and index pin, when you removed the top carrier cover, you will see the same slot in the carrier body. But the picture below that shows index pin is affixed to the press base while the detent ball and spring at held by black plastic lower carrier cover.

Below picture shows index pin affixed to the press base (and the flat index rod to the right along with ram and two black frame columns behind)

And lowering the black plastic bottom carrier cover shows detent ball on top of spring that's held by the bottom cover.

 

[GW Staar]

OK, his "alignment rod" IS the index pin. I was thinking it might be some temporary part just used for aligning. But looks to me like the ball and spring go through a different hole than the index pin does.....that's confusing, what you're saying when I see two separate holes.

 

[Gillie Dog]

OK, his "alignment rod" IS the index pin. I was thinking it might be some temporary part just used for aligning. But looks to me like the ball and spring go through a different hole than the index pin does.....that's confusing, what you're saying when I see two separate holes.

I'll take a shot at it.
So the index pin uses one hole in the carrier cover and the spring/ball use another, likewise in the shell plate the index pin uses the hole and the spring/ball use the "U" shaped notch in the shell plate where the case slides in to hold index when the carrier is off the index pin.

Thus they are in the same plane but off center a little from each other to do the "two jobs".

I do not think LiveLife interpreted the question this/that way.

GD

 

[Tilos]

Does the ball and spring on the left of the last picture use the same set of holes that the alignment rod uses?

You know what they say about pics being worth a 1k words:
I stole this one from @LiveLife and put a red ring around the detent ball under the case cavity in the shell plate:

Hoping this clears that up,

.

 

[GW Staar]

Oh, wow! I see what you mean now. That's almost exactly how my RCBS ProChucker 7 works!
I took a video back when I was figuring that one out....it's been a great press....advance is very smooth....hope the Lee 6000 is too. Take a look at the innermost holes at the end of the indexing slots....about 10 oclock is the ball bearing detent. 12:30 oclock is a similar indexing post to the 6000. Works really well, so the 6000 probably does too! Expecting the press tomorrow......fun fun!

 

[Gillie Dog]

Have a look here at new slider which deletes need for slider hold down by making all the tabs do their job.

https://leeprecision.com/small-case-retainer-for-six-pack-pro.html

GD

The 4th version of the instructions (manual) is on their site now showing this new primer slider.

GD

 

[Bartojc]

The 4th version of the instructions (manual) is on their site now showing this new primer slider.

I wonder what will be in my box tomorrow when it get here ? It’s probably like a lot of things in life “ it depends “

Jeff

 

[Gillie Dog]

I wonder what will be in my box tomorrow when it get here ? It’s probably like a lot of things in life “ it depends “

Jeff

It was generated 11/9/2022 so I see no way.

But it can be down loaded but it will most probably be different than one shipped which would match the parts you received anyway.

GD

 

[GW Staar]

I got my basic press, not a caliber kit. So all that it didn't come with is the shell plate, the die set, and the powder measure. Was surprised it came with the universal case feeder....now I have two. I plan to use an extra case activated Uniflow for a powder measure, I already have the die sets I want, so all I had to order separately was a shell plate for .40/9mm.

I knew it would be on the small side, but I didn't realize how small! I guess if it performs who cares. Not mounted yet.....that's the major issue right now....figuring out where and how.

 

[LiveLife]

I got my ... press ... I knew it would be on the small side, but I didn't realize how small!

It's more compact than Dillon 550 but has linkage and ram lever from .50 cal BMG press (Medium range bag from MidwayUSA on bench top that is 2'x2') - https://leeprecision.com/pro-6000-six-pack-reloading-press/

stroke and clearance sufficient for largest magnum rifle cases. Uses the same all steel linkage found on our Classic Cast 50 BMG press.​

 

[tightgroup tiger]

Yes.

While the shellplate carrier top cover (That's what Lee calls it) shows two holes for detent ball and index pin, when you removed the top carrier cover, you will see the same slot in the carrier body. But the picture below that shows index pin is affixed to the press base while the detent ball and spring at held by black plastic lower carrier cover.

Below picture shows index pin affixed to the press base (and the flat index rod to the right along with ram and two black frame columns behind)

And lowering the black plastic bottom carrier cover shows detent ball on top of spring that's held by the bottom cover.

I asked that wrong, the way I asked it there was no wrong answer. I said set of holes. My bad!
I should have realized the ball and detent had to be on the same bolt circle as the primer punch pin.
Thanks for the pictures Tilos, they are worth a thousand words.

 

[eugenesan]

I had unused synthetic detent ball designed for Dillons 650/750 and decided to test it in SixPack.

It seems to be working nicely.
The press runs somewhat quieter and slightly smoother.
At least now I can hear new noises that were masked by the noise the steel ball was making ;-)

Just in case, I've got mine here: https://hitfactorshooting.com/products/products.html

 

[Tilos]

I had unused synthetic detent ball designed for Dillons 650/750 and decided to test it in SixPack.

It seems to be working nicely.
The press runs somewhat quieter and slightly smoother.
At least now I can hear new noises that were masked by the noises the steel ball was making ;-)

Just in case, I've got mine here: https://hitfactorshooting.com/products/products.html

Wow, thanks for the link...
Whoever knew there is anything on a Dillon that needed upgrading/enhancement/modifying/fixing.
I thought Dillons ran flawlessly right out of the box, and forever.
sorry for what I typed right there

.

 

[LiveLife]

= Inline bullet feeder with rotating magazine coming for SPP/Pro 6000 =
= Next generation of Pro 1000 will have new priming system similar to SPP =


So I get an email from Lee Precision this morning ...

Hello John,

... the High Road. The leadership team at Lee has enjoyed reading about your positive experience with the Six Pack Pro and your active participation in other customer's inquiries. We appreciate the high-quality review.

... we have been busy working on an inline bullet feed die and magazine feeder to complement our Six Pack Pro. The product has already passed through many revisions and improvements, at this point we are very happy with the product and find it to be an improvement over anything in the market.

... Would you have any interest in taking a first look of our new inline bullet feed solution? We have a pre-production 35 CAL Inline Bullet feed die and Magazine feeder that we could send to you for testing/review. The magazine feeder you would be testing would be 3D printed, the production product should be available late January as the mold is currently under production to produce these parts.

Calvin Katzfey
Lee Precision, Inc.
​

Apparently he tried calling me yesterday but I had my phone on silent and was out mowing the acreage. So I call him back to confim beta testing of their pre-production inline bullet feeder/magazine and we had a nice long chat about Six Pack Pro/Pro 6000 and new product R&D:

• The SPP ram, linkage and lever are the same parts used for their .50 Cal single stage press

• Roller handle is being considered but there is the issue of off-center twisting of linkage with roller handle and I suggested reshaping the roller handle so it is center-line to press/linkage to not cause off-center twisting of linkage (Roller handle would be by/above red press frame top)

• Short primer slider is being replaced with longer slider to eliminate the black retainer on primer slide channel/trough but short sliders with black retainer will continue to work fine

• Next generation of Pro 1000 will have new priming system similar to SPP