opinions needed

[rduchateau2954]

So there is this on armslist for $550

LEE 1000 Progressive Press
Complete Lee die sets for 9mm, 45ACP, 357mag/38, and 44cal including shell plates and carriers.
Lyman 600 Tumbler and media
Lyman sifter
Lyman Case Trimmer
Lyman Caliper
Lyman Powder Scale
RCBS deburring tool
RCBS bullet puller
Lee large & small primer attachments
Lyman primer tray
800 large primers and 750 small primers
100’s of used brass casings in above listed calibers
BULLETS: (45 cal: Hornaday- 300 FMJ 200gr, Nosler- 250 HP 185gr) (9mm: Nosler- 250 HP 115gr) (38/357 cal: Hornaday- 100HP 158 gr) (44mag: Speer- 100SP 240 gr)
$860.00 value taken from the 2011 USA Midway catalog

I am new to reloading. Didn't want the progressive press, but for $150 it seems dumb to pass up. I can also sell the .45/.357 stuff.

Being new I would appreciate some advise.

 

[Mostly Lead]

"I am new to reloading. Didn't want the progressive press, but for $150..."

Just because something has a good price tag on it, doesn't mean you have to buy it. (wish I'd listen to that advice myself more often )

Hold out for what you wanted. After all, you probably had some good reasons about what made that original choice right for you.

 

[dave333]

If you plan to load in any volume at some point there is no reason not to start off with a progressive press. I understand the argument about learning the steps as you go on a single stage but my thoughts are if you only put one piece of brass in the press at a time you have a single stage press by default and you can add steps as your comfort level goes up.

That being said the Lee Pro 1000 can be a very tough press to learn unless you are willing to spend a lot of time learning it's quirks and how to overcome them. My first and only press to date is a Pro 1000. I bought it after lots of reasearch knowing full well I had a challenge ahead but it was all I wanted to spend at the time in case reloading wasn't for me. Thankfully there are lots of online resources and videos that can shorten your learning curve quite a bit. I feel like I have a PhD in Pro 1000 at this point and it's still tough to get through a run of 500 rounds without having to tweek something.

 

[LiveLife]

Just FYI, if you need help with Pro 1000 setup/troubleshooting, you can use this step-by-step guide/QC checklist and support thread - http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?p=9614898#post9614898

It will help you avoid most common Pro 1000 issues and resolve problems.

 

[rduchateau2954]

What do you guys think of $400 for everything but the press?

 

[greyling22]

I think you'd be buying a lot of carriers and shell plates for a press you don't have. beyond that, you don't need case trimmers, deburring tool, or really even calipers if you are loading handgun. Also, if you are just getting into reloading, start small. Pick 1 caliber and start there.

If I were you, I'd get a lee turret classic, auto disk powder drop, and see if you can make a deal with this guys for some cases, primers, powder, and bullets.

 

[rduchateau2954]

Why wouldn't I need the case trimmer or deburring tool?

Tumbler and media
Caliper
Bullet puller
9mm, .44 bullets, cases, dies

 

[rduchateau2954]

More than likely I will end up with a Lee cast single stage. I'm learning on a rcbs rock chucker

 

[Sunray]

"...100’s of used brass casings..." How many times have they been loaded? Not a big deal, but something to consider.
"...the 2011 USA Midway catalog..." Invalid being three years out of date. For example, the Hornady bullets run $25 per 100. $51.99 for the 185 Noslers.
The Lyman 600 Tumbler is too small. Only does 175 .38's at a time.
The only real issue with buying used Lyman or Lee kit is if anything goes wrong with it, it'll cost you to get it fixed. If you're buying used, buy RCBS. Their warrantee covers you even though you bought used.

 

[moxie]

You don't need a trimmer for handgun unless you get into real precision work with .357 and .44 mag, and you will for sure when you get into rifles, which you will.

You do need a deburring tool for handgun if you ever use new brass or trim any.

And you most certainly do need calipers for handgun to measure OAL and case neck OD. For sure.

 

[rduchateau2954]

"...100’s of used brass casings..." How many times have they been loaded? Not a big deal, but something to consider.
"...the 2011 USA Midway catalog..." Invalid being three years out of date. For example, the Hornady bullets run $25 per 100. $51.99 for the 185 Noslers.
The Lyman 600 Tumbler is too small. Only does 175 .38's at a time.
The only real issue with buying used Lyman or Lee kit is if anything goes wrong with it, it'll cost you to get it fixed. If you're buying used, buy RCBS. Their warrantee covers you even though you bought used.

I'm looking for a used rcbs, but finding one that doesn't look like it's been sitting in water for under $200 is harder than I thought.

Good point on the brass.

 

[rduchateau2954]

You don't need a trimmer for handgun unless you get into real precision work with .357 and .44 mag, and you will for sure when you get into rifles, which you will.

You do need a deburring tool for handgun if you ever use new brass or trim any.

And you most certainly do need calipers for handgun to measure OAL and case neck OD. For sure.

I will eventually get another rifle, and as 9mm doesn't last for ever, I will be buying brass.

 

[greyling22]

9mm brass is probably thick on the ground at your range. it basically has no value.

As far as a press goes you can get a rockchucker for about $150 delivered from brownells. use a code. gs7 or grx were giving about $15 off 100. or free shipping. you can get a lee classic cast for about 120. ish. I like the priming system of lee a lot better than the rcbs, though RCBS customer service and warranty are superb.

personally, I really think you should take a look at the lee turret. allows you to make 1 complete round at a time, so no batching of stuff to knock over or forget where you were. auto index keeps you from double charging, and it's much faster than a single stage for handgun. You can pull the indexing rod out and use it like a single stage if you like, which makes it nice for rifle.

rifle brass grows in length when you fire it, so it has to be trimmed back to the appropriate size. Handgun brass does not grow. I've had 44mag and 357mag cases loaded 15+ times and still not be long enough to need trimming. The chamfer and deburring tool is used after trimming a case. If you're not trimming, you don't need one.

 

[rduchateau2954]

9mm brass is probably thick on the ground at your range. it basically has no value.

As far as a press goes you can get a rockchucker for about $150 delivered from brownells. use a code. gs7 or grx were giving about $15 off 100. or free shipping. you can get a lee classic cast for about 120. ish. I like the priming system of lee a lot better than the rcbs, though RCBS customer service and warranty are superb.

personally, I really think you should take a look at the lee turret. allows you to make 1 complete round at a time, so no batching of stuff to knock over or forget where you were. auto index keeps you from double charging, and it's much faster than a single stage for handgun. You can pull the indexing rod out and use it like a single stage if you like, which makes it nice for rifle.

rifle brass grows in length when you fire it, so it has to be trimmed back to the appropriate size. Handgun brass does not grow. I've had 44mag and 357mag cases loaded 15+ times and still not be long enough to need trimming. The chamfer and deburring tool is used after trimming a case. If you're not trimming, you don't need one.

I'll check out the Lee press. What do they run? For priming I have been using the rcbs auto priming tool, which is handy.

As far as brass goes, my range has a strict "clean up your mess rule" I could probably dumpster dive but with as many reloaders as there are at the club it would be risky. At least until I've been reloading for a while.

 

[jcwit]

The only real issue with buying used Lyman or Lee kit is if anything goes wrong with it, it'll cost you to get it fixed. If you're buying used, buy RCBS. Their warrantee covers you even though you bought used

Never have had a problem with Lee replacing/fixing a broken/worn out part even when my letter stated it was my own fault.

I will eventually get another rifle, and as 9mm doesn't last for ever, I will be buying brass.

Well forever IS an awful long time, for sure. Actually is does last and last till it splits or the primer pocket gets loose.

 

[ljnowell]

If you plan to load in any volume at some point there is no reason not to start off with a progressive press. I understand the argument about learning the steps as you go on a single stage but my thoughts are if you only put one piece of brass in the press at a time you have a single stage press by default and you can add steps as your comfort level goes up.

That being said the Lee Pro 1000 can be a very tough press to learn unless you are willing to spend a lot of time learning it's quirks and how to overcome them. My first and only press to date is a Pro 1000. I bought it after lots of reasearch knowing full well I had a challenge ahead but it was all I wanted to spend at the time in case reloading wasn't for me. Thankfully there are lots of online resources and videos that can shorten your learning curve quite a bit. I feel like I have a PhD in Pro 1000 at this point and it's still tough to get through a run of 500 rounds without having to tweek something.

Your experience is the exact opposite of mine. I put mine together and had it running fairly fast and it has cranked out many thousands without any tweaking, adjustments, or tinkering.

If one keeps the primer chute and carrier clean and keeps the chute full of primers these presses will run like a champ.

 

[readyeddy]

I would avoid buying package deals or kits. Get what you want and only what you need. Read reviews for the different things you need and get it right the first time. Your quality of life can greatly increase if you have the right tools, like the right scale or case trimmer.

 

[Potatohead]

I'd avoid it. A bunch of used Lee stuff? No thanks. And before I get bashed, I like and use lots of Lee stuff, but a rag tag bunch of used stuff..thanks but no thanks.

Hang around here, learn what you'll need and buy it separately. And there's always stuff you'll decide you need after you get started, and I bet you'll be glad you dont have a pile of this stuff when that time comes.

 

[greyling22]

here you go: https://kempfgunshop.com//index.php...n=com_virtuemart&Itemid=41&vmcchk=1&Itemid=41 most everything you need to reload minus components, all in 1 tidy package.

 

[rduchateau2954]

Thanks guys