Loading .223 on a Lee Pro 1000

[Miata Mike]

Today I converted one of my Lee Pro 1000 presses over to .223 for a larger run from .38 special. I changed the shell plate from a #1 to a #4. Looks like I still have a large pistol shell feeder on it.

I added a double disk kit to the powder thrower and it seems to work pretty good for a 24.7 grain powder charge. I have all my brass sized, trimmed and primed already.

I now see there is an optional PRO CASE FEEDER RIFLE that doesn't come with the new presses set up for .223!

Also I see that older setups came with a factory crimp die and a simple seating die.....which is what I have. Looks like the newer than March 1, 2012 come with a bullet seater/crimper die.

What would be the best die combo and case feed combo should I be using? I'm sure BDS will chime in.

I am actually leaning towards converting my powder thrower back to a spring return and loading these up on my classic turret press instead.

Any opinions out there?

 

[GooseGestapo]

I use a Pro1000 to load my .223. I don't crimp either. (3 station press).
My LoadMaster is dedicated to match .38 and 9mm ammo.
I don't use the case feed as it's just "in the way", and doesn't hold enough cases to be worth the trouble.

You still need to lube the cases, so I just pick them up off the lube pad and insert them into the case feed shelf; and the shell slider then shoves them into the shell plate as the handle is pulled down.

I too use the spring for operation of the Lee Auto disc measures. You'll need a "double disc" kit to load the .223.
I suggest you use spherical powders such as Win748, BLC2, TAC, H335, ect. Though, I have had decent performace from H322, BenchMark, IMR4198 (small grain extruded powders).
A friend of mine back in the late '90's had a heavy barrel match AR15 that with 55gr Nosler BT's over 26.9gr of BLC2 would shoot 1-hole groups (.3's-.4's). It was what one would call a "crew served" AR. Weighed over 12lbs. Had a 1.125" 26" Stainless Match bbl with 1/8" twist and 3.5lb but stock weight. It was like shooting a Ruger 10/22.

We kept it fed using the aforementioned load loaded in the progressive press using Federal 205M primers and Winchester commercial brass.
Friend passed away in '02. Not sure what happened to most of his guns....

 

[LiveLife]

I am actually leaning towards converting my powder thrower back to a spring return and loading these up on my classic turret press instead.

What would be the best die combo and case feed combo should I be using? I'm sure BDS will chime in.

While I like to load pistol calibers on Pro 1000, when it comes to rifle calibers, I prefer to use single stage or the Classic Turret.

I have the die set with both seating/crimping die and the FCD but only use taper crimp for my AR .223 loads. When I ordered the dies, I figured it would be good to have the FCD for a few dollars more.

 

[stavman11]

my 1st lee Pro 1000 was for .223... and Man has it seen some Rounds, I currently have 3 setup on my bench

Personally this is how I do it, after many different trial and error

Clean and Tumble Used Brass
Put my Turret with just the Deprime/Sizer in it
Lube a BUNCH of Brass with my Home Brew Lube (Iso-HEET and lanolin)
Load the case feeder... and Size and Deprime.. usualy i do about 300-500 a sitting
Tumble again to remove the Lube....
If needed, usualy not often cept 1x shot Brass, trim and Chamfer (WFT and 2 drills)
Then I hand Prime with a Lee hand Primer.. Real fast and can Watch TV and do a couple Hundred real fast
Then put my Other Turret In...
Stage 1 Empty... Stage 2 powder Drop... Stage 3 Bullet Seeter (i also dont Crimp)
Then again.. Load up the Case feeder and Go ta Town... Can load the +- 50 in the case feeder in about 8min


this system has worked real well the last year for me.... and depending what stage i am doin I can really bust out some Brass fast

 

[KingM]

I used the Pro1000 ti I got a SS Classic Cast then I preferred that to do my rifle rounds.

I can't do anything & watch TV. I never even notice the TV is on if I'm doing anything else.

 

[Miata Mike]

I am currently using H335 which meters very good. Looks like I might try removing the case feeder and hand feeding some to see how things go.

I have all my brass resized, trimmed and primed, so I could use two dies if I felt the neck tension would be fine for AR use. I still think I might set up the Classic turret press again for this assignment. ;-)