Lee Pro1000?

[rbernie]

Right now, I handload lots of rifle chamberings and some pistol (357, 44mag) chamberings on a single-stage press. I do shoot a lot of 9mm, but I buy that commercial in bulk and don't load it. Lately, I've been debating loading 45ACP, but I really don't want to load hundreds of rounds of 45ACP on a single-stage press.

Lo and behold, yesterday I was offered a Lee Pro1000 for darn near free, complete with a set of 45ACP dies. I had been saving my pennies for a LNL, but the offer of a near-free Lee has me intrigued.

So who has one, and would I be so sad in using it that it'd be worth my while to turn down the free Lee and get the LNL?

 

[ChiefPilot]

I'm a newbie to reloading, and I started with the Pro1000. Following the directions, I have since made about 1,000 rounds of .45ACP and .30 carbine with very few troubles.

Others on this board have helped me with advice and recommendations which I have found to be true :

1) Keep the primer feed mechanism clean. Not hard to do, but important.
2) Keep the primer tray at least 1/4 full. Again, not hard to do.

If the press is darn near free, I don't see how you can really go wrong.

 

[Skipper]

A big +1 on a free 1000. You can do better,but not for FREE!!!

 

[Werewolf]

The nice thing about FREE is that if you decide later you really don't like the Lee then you've not lost much when you go with the LNL.

 

[Rico567]

You can have confidence that you'll be able to produce several hundred top-quality reloads per hour on a Pro 1000. I had several that I used for around 20 years, until my need for higher output made me consolidate all my pistol reloading onto my Dillon XL650. As with any progressive press, a little mechanical aptitude is helpful, but most important is patience while learning.

Specifically, with the Pro 1000, you MUST:

1) Keep it clean.

2) Keep it lubricated per instructions.

3) Don't try to push it too fast.

4) Keep the auto primer feed channel full of primers; since it is gravity-fed, it will not work properly unless there is a row of primers pushing the one that is being seated into place.

 

[trickyasafox]

definatly agree with everyone else. keep em clean and keep the primers full and she'll throw rounds at you like a champ!

 

[1911user]

How close to free? Lee products sell for a huge discount (new) compared to suggested list pricing. Used prices are normally somewhat less than the discounted new price. Make sure it really is a deal first.

You could have a new one (with dies) for a little over $100, not that I'd recommend buying it for that price. (and yes, I have owned one before and was happy to see it go away)

 

[skag7]

I have 3 Lee Pro 1000s, 1 for 357mag 1 for 45 auto rim & 1 my favorite for 44mag, I've been reloading the 44 mags & 45 AR for over 5 years now, me & a friend shoot 200 rnds every week end of the 45s & 44s, THATS a lot of reloading on Lee pro 1000s presses, I've really hadn't had any major problems with them, Just the occasional primer mishap:banghead: , KEEP THE PRIMER TRAY & FEED SHOOT CLEAN & FULL , & you should have many years of good reloading

 

[rick_in_lb]

RBERNIE...BAD PRESS---GET RID OF IT NOW BECAUSE IT CAN BE ADDICTING!!!
OF COURSE SINCE YOU ARE NOW GOING TO GET RID IF IT, I WILL SEND YOU MY ADDRESS .... YOU WILL REALLY ENJOY IT AND DON'T PUSH IT TO MUCH!
KEEP IT AS CLEAN AS YOUR RELOADING BENCH...YOU DO KEEP YOU BENCH CLEAN

 

[rbernie]

You could have a new one (with dies) for a little over $100, not that I'd recommend buying it for that price. (and yes, I have owned one before and was happy to see it go away)

Why?

 

[1911user]

Why?

If it's free, why not? Why are they getting rid of it for cheap?

I took one in a trade several years ago and had a chance to load some 9mm ammo using it. It went on ebay soon after.

The priming system is notorious for needing lots of attention and it might not work well even then. Spare plastic parts are cheap to replace and should be stocked. I still have some of the 9mm rounds with the primer inserted sideways, half-crushed or missing. The small primer punch was denting the primers unlike any other press I've seen, but they did fire.

The other weakness is/was the auto-disk powder measure. Small ball powders like AA#7 will find any gap and lock the measure and gouge the plastic hopper at the same time. This may have been improved since then, but every squib load I've ever loaded was made with a Lee auto-disk. I tired of having to use Hercules flake powder for semi-reliable operation.

Don't try to load very fast (unlike the non-Lee progressives on the market) or the primer or something just won't be ready a certain percentage of the time.

A personal preference is that it's only a 3 station press requiring another operation to seat and crimp seperately which many like to do. To me a progressive press means one completely loaded/ready round with each handle stroke. Your preference may be different.

If you are willing to baby it, clean/lube the primer feed every 100 rounds, and aren't needing to load a lot of reliable ammo quickly, then maybe the pro 1000 is a good fit.

I was able to load better ammo faster on an old $150 Dillon 450 with the manually operated powder measure and manually operated primer feed (and manual shellplate but I don't consider that an issue until an electric case feeder is used). These are automatic on the Lee 1000 and it's still slower.

Cheaply made progressive presses are not a bargain in the long run IMO.