Pro 1000, an alternative view
At the risk of raising hackles with my first post here, I have to say that my experience with a Pro 1000 back in the early 90's left me less than impressed.
It was my first loading setup, for .38/.357, and while at first I was pleased, I gradually got more and more frustrated with it. I have a very low tolerance for complications and frustrations, and the Lee eventually hit my limit. Partially seated primers jamming the system, missing a primer when the auto prime system failed to drop primers into the shute, the very real risk of double charging .38's with certain powders if I wasn't absolutely focused on ONE full stroke at a time (like when a spent primer would hang in the case and needed a second tap in the sizer die to dislodge it), the lack of a good "feel" for proper primer seating (resulting in primer jams from partial seating), occasional indexing problems, the (IMHO) cheap design of the powder measure and the need to disassemble the measure to change disks for different powders (although later I did buy an adjustable charge bar for it that solved that hassle), the BIG hassle of pulling a cartridge out without a bullet seated to check the charge weight, and more. The final straw came when I noticed powder flakes (Bullseye at the time) scattered on the shellplate. Upon close inspection and no matter how fast or slow I operated the press, I found that powder was actually splashing up out of the charged cartridge on each down stroke (and I was wondering why I was having very limited success with getting a consistent shooting load). The system was just plain jerky, not smooth at all.
Now maybe I just had a bum press that wasn't a good representative of most Pro 1000's, or the lack of experience at the time resulted in more goofs than normal, but it ultimately turned me off towards progressive reloaders. I just don't like all that activity going on with each stroke of the arm. That, and I like to check 10-15% of the cartridges randomly for proper charge weight (yeah, I'm anal about that), a real hassle with a progressive (at least with the Lee). The 3 die limit also became a hassle when I sprang for a separate roll crimp die.
I did experiment briefly with an RCBS Piggyback II, but quickly found many of the same frustrations, so it's back to single stage again. I am setting the PG II up to handle initial case prep (size/deprime, flare), but priming and seating will remain single on the old reliable Pacific 00-7. I do use a Lee Auto Prime II on top of the 00-7, but it's easy to see the primer shute on top of the press and give it a light shake to get primers to slip down and keep things working smoothly.
When I first bought the Pro 1000, I was only shooting revolvers at an IHMSA range. When I moved into High Power Rifle at a local club with a club M1 Garand, I had to buy another press (the 00-7) and powder measure anyway, since the Pro 1000 won't handle rifle calibers (except a few like the .30 Carbine).
If I ever get the urge to go progressive again (which I doubt), the only loader on my short list to consider will be a Dillon 550. Alot more $$$, but alot better reputation.
Just my nickle's worth.
GP