Lee progressive?

[VanGoghComplex]

I just got my qualification at my range, which means I can draw from holster on the firing line, and exceed the normal 1 shot/second rule. This means, among other things, that I need to start bringing more ammo with me to the range.

I've been considering a progressive press for a long time, and I've had no issue in the past with Lee products, whatever may be said about them. Anyone have anything good or bad to say about Lee's progressive presses? Anything I should know before I plunk down cash?

Thanks. =)

 

[oldpapps]

Many will bash the Lee equipment, I don't.

I have a 'Pro 1000' and like it... to a point. I find it mentally labor intensive, so many things to watch and verify at each pull of the handle. I produce lots of round in little time but I also don't rush and just move at a slow steady pace. It is great for .45s, .40s and my brother's 9MMs. I don't use it for .44s or any bottle neck case rounds. If I weren't so picky and only loaded rattle time .223s or .300 blackouts, the Pro 1000 would do well.

Is the Lee better or worse than brand X? I don't know but suspect that those that cost 3 times as much with great reviews may be. But then, if I buy 'X', I will think it is good even if it isn't until I determine it is junk, no matter what the item. I like mine and will keep it for the rounds listed above.

Many say not to learn with a progressive. I say, it all depends upon your personnel mechanical abilities. I wouldn't trust my brother to load anything with anything and I love him but not anything he mite load.

Do think it all out and find as many other reviews and opinions as you can before committing.

I'm happy that I don't have to shoot at the range you do. Sound like a pain in the.... But, I'm just an old X-cop/one time range master.

 

[cfullgraf]

The Lee Classic Turret press has a better reputation for ease of operation and ease of learning than their progressives.

In my opinion, while one could learn to reload from scratch on a progressive, learning on a single stage is less likely to cause frustrations and mistakes. After a while, with some experience under your belt, you can assess the need for a progressive and which one.

Besides, a single stage press is handy to have around for some specific tasks not suitable to be done on a progressive. Also, except for the Dillon SDB, dies used on a single stage can be used on the progressive press as well so those pieces do not need to be duplicated.

 

[wally]

Which Lee press?

I think the Classic Turret is a great value although not as fast as a true progressive, its about the easiest and fastest to switch calibers.

The Loadmaster, I'm not so happy with -- the primer system is the worst that I know of, which is too bad as the rest of the press is solid.

 

[VanGoghComplex]

Oh, I'm sorry guys, I should have clarified.

I've been loading for two years and currently have three single-stage presses attached to my bench. I'm certainly not a first timer, eyeing a progressive press.

The turret looks nice, too. Does the 1000 have a bullet/other loading system?

 

[TBJK]

I have a loadmaster as well. Priming system sometimes needs help. I've got to the point to where I just load then check the primers as I put the loaded ammo away. I may get 5 out of a 100 that the primer is missing. No big deal for me anymore, I just pull them then dump the powder back into the hopper, keep cranking I go.

 

[ljnowell]

I have a pro1000 that does not have ANY priming issues. The pro 1000 shares a lot of characteristics with the turret press and has a much better primer feed system than the loadmaster.

Keep the primer chute full, and clean and you will not have priming issues.

 

[maxxhavoc]

You can get a bullet feeder for a pro 1000.

However, I do not use the one I have. It blocks access to the left side of the press, and makes it difficult to look at powder charges of cases on the turret.

I prefer to visually inspect all charges before placing a bullet, so it doesn't work for me. Even with the extra care, I can still do 100 rounds in 20 minutes or so.

 

[Walkalong]

My son has a Loadmaster and likes it. I haven't used it or seen him use it, but he is a picky fellow (Like dad) and mechanically inclined. If he likes it, it must do a pretty good job.

 

[evtSmtx]

I have a dillon 650 and a lee turret. Like them both. Do high volume stuff on dillon

 

[LiveLife]

considering a progressive press ... I've had no issue in the past with Lee products, whatever may be said about them. Anyone have anything good or bad to say about Lee's progressive presses? Anything I should know before I plunk down cash?

I have loaded several hundred thousand rounds on multiple Pro 1000 presses and these are my opinions:

Pros:

- Made in the USA
- Kit comes with dies
- Lowest cost caliber conversions
- Case feeder comes with the kit (collator purchased separately)
- Ergo handle with foam grip and improved ram linkage on newer kits
- High volume production rate for pistol calibers when used with case feeder


Cons:

- 3 stations so you need to seat/crimp in the same step (station #3). You could use resized/primed cases so you can seat/crimp in separate steps.

- Reloads handgun cases and short rifle cases (.223/7.62x39/.300 BLK)

- Case collator occasionally flips smaller cases like 9mm/380 but you can use a penny with a hole drilled in the center to prevent flipped upside down cases - http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?p=6322330#post6322330

- Bullet feeder which I prefer not to use and like many, run the case feeder and operate the ram lever with right hand and set the bullet with my left hand.

- Primer feed attachment is gravity based and requires keeping the attachment full and keeping an eye on the column of primers to ensure they drop down with each cycle of the ram lever. Attachment is open on top so powder granules can fall in to cause misfeeding of primers. Reliable primer feeding is the most often complaints about the Pro 1000 and requires proper shell plate timing, clean attachment surface and monitoring for primer drop to ensure reliable operation and covered in detail in this thread - http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?p=7877744#post7877744

- Spent primers don't always fall into the collection hole but you can make a cover for the ram slot so 99.9% of spent primers go into the collection hole - http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?p=7884861#post7884861

- Pro Auto Disk cannot meter less than the smallest hole on disk but you can modify the disk to drop smaller powder charges consistently for smaller calibers like .380 (W231/HP-38 metered within .1 gr with this mod down to 2.0 gr and Bullseye down to 1.5 gr) - http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=741988

 

[Jeff H]

I have the classic turret and like many many others, I have no issues with it. If my shooting actually was enough to justify a progressive, I would look real hard at the pro1000 for handgun only. Rifle, I would look to Hornady.

 

[Rule3]

As with anyone buying a press (new reloader or experienced) it boils down to HOW MUCH ammo do you need?? Do you shoot competion, do you need 100, 1,000 rounds a week a month???

How many calibers do you reload??

How much are you wanting to spend??

Do you need a progressive or will the auto index LCT press fit your needs??

 

[dave333]

Lots of folks hate Lee progressive presses. I taught myself to reload on a pro 1000, and in the last year rehabbed a loadmaster that had sat unused in a shed for 7 yrs. They both work well now that I have taken the time to understand how they work and why they do what they do. If you have a little patience, just a little mechanical ability, and a little time to do some research they can make great quality ammo without too much aggravation.

Here is an example. The loadmaster I refurbished, once I got it up and running, stopped reliably priming. It would either totally miss a primer or crush it sideways. I got the upgraded priming parts, cleaned up everything real good, still couldnt get it to prime worth a crap. Started priming on the pro 1000, which is a great stand alone priming machine, and loading on the loadmaster. One day I decided it was silly to have a progressive machine on my bench that wouldnt prime cases and if I couldnt figure out why, I was going to get rid of it. I put on my safety glasses, directed all the lights on my bench on the priming station, stood up over the priming station and with my left hand operated the handle slowly. If you arent familiar with the priming station on the loadmaster, it takes place in station 2, and you can watch what is going on pretty easily from directly above it. As I slowly lowered the handle and raised the ram I could see the wedge bar push the primer slider over and drop a primer into the cup, the primer pin hit the rocker arm and primed the case perfectly. Ok, let me look at that again, and again a perfectly primed case, and then my "A HA" moment. Work the handle slowly and smoothly up and down and it primes perfectly. I could make it miss primers simply by working the handle too fast. Working the handle smooth and a little slower and it primes perfectly 100% of the time.

This is the kind of stuff you have to find out about lee progressive presses as you use them and figure out how to make them work, either online or by trial and error. If you are willing to spend some time you can save hundreds of dollars. To get a case fed 5 station progressive press you either have to spend about $1,000, which is almost 10 times what I have spent on my used loadmaster, or be willing to learn the lee. It may be worth it to some, and honestly I may still get one of those high dollar machines one day, but right now my lee stuff is doing a good job.

 

[9mmepiphany]

I was steered toward a Pro-1000, before I got my Hornady LNL, as a low cost entry into progressive reloading.

The first thing that gave me pause was that there were only 3 die stations...granted, turret heads were cheap enough that having 2 set up for each caliber wouldn't be a huge issue.

I'm not too taken with the Pro Auto Disk powder measure either. Used one on a Lee Turret and it just seemed less than what I expected. However, this seems to have been addressed with Lee's new rotor powder measure.

What tipped the scales away from the Lee was the primer handling system. Both new primers and spent primers had enough issues to turn to toward another press.

What I really did like is the included case feeder...plus the collator is very affordable. I don't think I've ever heard/read anything good about the Lee bullet feeder...great idea, poor execution

 

[Schwing]

I have had a pro1000 for a few years now. I just "upgraded" to a Dillon 650 last week.

I didn't buy the Dillon because I was unhappy with the pro1000, I just decided 3 stations wasn't enough anymore. I did give a loadmaster a go since I had had such good luck with my pro1000 but it was a disaster. I know guys buy them and love them as much as I love my pro1000 but it just never worked well for me. The priming system is really strange and unreliable and the indexing system is... sorry to the loadmaster fans, a joke.

If you are just feeling out the waters of progressive reloading, the Pro1000 is a great place to start. Heck, where else can you get a full setup including a set of dies, and a case feeder for under $200??? It has a small foot print, is super easy to mount and is very simple to learn to operate

Having said that, if cost is not a huge issue for you, I would skip over it and look at a Dillon or Hornady. Like I said, I really like the Pro1000 and, for the money, it is a huge bargain. The Dillon is just light years ahead as far as smoothness, reliability and has 5 stations.

 

[PapaG]

I guess I was spoiled by having a pair of Star progressives back when we loaded commercially. When we closed down, they were sold. I used a Lyman AA turret, a RCBS Rockchucker and a couple of Spar-Ts. I came across a pair of Pro 1000s and bought them. Never grew on me, mainly because of the priming system but also because of the "powder through" die and how stick they are. Polishing the expander helps some.
I now use both presses as "finishers". I size hundreds of cases on a single stage, prime by hand, and then use the press for powder/seat/crimp. Works fine that way.
Had a Loadmaster and it was worse, especially in the priming and indexing areas.
Have a Lee turret and it is what I use for small batches of trial loads.
Not a Lee basher, just not my cup of tea. Probably half of my 30 or so sets of dies are Lee.

 

[CuriousCarl]

Lee Classic Turret Press

If I could do it over I'd start Lee Classic Turret Press. I did start with a Pro 1000. I load a 1000 or more a month of 9mm & .45 acp by primering with a RCBS Universal hand primer then use a Dillon Square Deal to bell/ drop powder, seat, and remove belling. Consider wet tumbling (I made my own tumbler).

 

[WessonOil]

I have a Lee 1000 I purchased in the early 80's and have run a few kazillion rounds through of various cases.

When I bought a 45 acp several years ago I bought a second Lee 1000 and have run a few kazillion rounds through it.

I keep one set up for 9mm and the other set up for 45 acp.

I since then bought a Lee Turret Press which I use for revolver loads, as I don't burn through them as I do 9mm and 45 acp.

In all that time, I had a $5.00 connect link break on the one I bought in the early 80's, and the new part has been redesigned to prevent that from happening.

 

[Stripesdude]

I started reloading on a Lee Classic Turret, then moved to a Loadmaster a year later. I haven't had any of the issues others report - I'm mechanically inclined and seek to understand how something works before I jump in with both feet.

There is a dedicated Loadmaster forum, and a member has made several custom parts to address some of the issues others have reported - mainly fool proofing the machine.

I can buy more than three Loadmasters for what one 650 costs when you include the case feeder.

 

[savagemann]

To make priming much better on the loadmaster, I use a sizing die with the decapping pin removed on station 2 (priming station) and have it setup to not size the case, but back it out so all it does it guide the case at the top of the stroke.
This helps center the brass and priming is pretty much flawless.
Last week I did 1500 9mm and 1200 .223 over the day and didn't have a single primer failure.
Dennis at Titan Reloading has put together one of the best sets of instructions I have seen for the loadmaster. I believe it is available on his website on the loadmaster page.
I got my first loadmaster way back in the 1990's. Back then I went through a bit of trial and error to get it to run properly. I recenty picked up a second so I could have 2 setup for different primer sizes.
Over the last few years and 10's of thousands of rounds, I think I have maybe had 2 or 3 primer issues.
All have been due to a crimped case that slipped through my qc.
There are many awesome tutorials on youtube as well to perfect the loadmaster. I personally have not done any of the polishing of parts that a lot of people speak of, but focused on proper functioning.

 

[ilbob]

I have a lee progressive press set up for 30 special. have not used it for several years but when I was shooting 38 special more, I used to run off 100 rounds or so every couple of weeks. keep the primer feed chute clean and have at least a handful of primers in the tray so there is downward pressure on the primers in the feed chute and it works well.

I do wish sometimes it was a 4 station press though. I also place bullets by hand.

 

[PhilMc]

I have 2 Lee Pro1000's which I use one of them for my 45acp. The other is for 9mm which I only use once in a while. Also worth saying is that I prime with a RCBS Bench primer so the priming issue is not a problem. I also have a RCBS Rock Chucker which gets a lot of use. My main press these days is the Hornady LNL AP which is a nice press to load with.

Someone mentioned that the Pro1000's demand more attention mentally and I must second that. But once I get into a rhythm I can load a decent amount of ammo with them. Don't much like the powder measures on the Lee's, always seem to be a PITA for me.

For any really serious work I always fall back to my single stage press.

 

[Paladin7]

I'm not one to bash Lee Products since I use a lot of them, especially their die sets. Lee products are very innovative and give good service. Customer service is also very good.

But when it comes to a progressive reloading press I would point you elsewhere... Seriously, spend the money and get the Hornady Lock n Load or a Dillon. There are very good reasons why these presses are so popular. What you spend for the press, you will more than make up for in a lot less aggravation loading high volumes of pistol calibers.

YMMV, that's my 2 cents.

 

[ljnowell]

I'm not one to bash Lee Products since I use a lot of them, especially their die sets. Lee products are very innovative and give good service. Customer service is also very good.



But when it comes to a progressive reloading press I would point you elsewhere... Seriously, spend the money and get the Hornady Lock n Load or a Dillon. There are very good reasons why these presses are so popular. What you spend for the press, you will more than make up for in a lot less aggravation loading high volumes of pistol calibers.



YMMV, that's my 2 cents.

Yeah, totally disregard all the people happy with those presses you just knocked.

You are wrong too, but that probably doesn't matter much in these type conversations.