[Lt.Dan]

It's finally time for me to upgrade to a better press. I am running a Lee Classic turret now but I am looking for something with more output. I was looking at the Lee Pro 1000 because the whole kit is about $170. I know a dillon would be best but I dont have that kind of money to spend, my budget is about $300. I have read a little on the RCBS as well as the Hornady LnL but I wanted to hear from yall. THanks for the input.

 

[Beladran]

I would have gotten a hornady LNL but i think hammer bought the last one and vans was sitting on 4 for about twice what they were worth. I love RCBS but that press was almost $700 bucks.. I was only out $490 for my dillon. I have used the 1000 for 45acp and it will pump out ammo quick. it comes with a case feeder and its auto indexing. Now the draw backs can be frustrating.. the primer feed system is funky resulting in primers either missing or not fully seated and or crushed... granted the likely hood of setting off a primer is not to likely but having a pound of powder sitting right by your face makes you humble. the action is kinda sloppy and will bind up and drag with out lube. Now the lube gets funky and makes its own issues when it combines with powder that is leaking out of the primer pocket that you didnt realize a primer didnt go in... powder+lube= gunk. If all your gonna do is load one caliber(45acp) then go with it but be patient, also you will need some paper clips so you can poke at the primer feed system about every 5th round or so. but if all your gonna load is a pistol caliber keep on ebay and GB for a dillon square deal which can be had for $250+/-

 

[nonnieselman]

I would save up the extra little bit and get a Dillon.. You wont regret it and if it wont spit out enough rounds for ya, save up a lil more and get the Dillon 1050

 

[Beladran]

you can buy three 550's for the price of one 1050..... o yea caliber conversions are almost as much as a 550 press lol

 

[Lt.Dan]

well I will mostly be loading 40 S&W. I will stick to the other press for .223 and other rifle. I will most likely be loading primers with an auto-prime anyway because after I deprime them I will lemshine em. I will keep an eye out for a dillon, I wont click the purchase button just yet ha. Thanks for the info.

 

[jbpmidas]

I have loaded some on a Hornady LNL. We decapped, sized and primed separate. Then, on the Hornady, belled the case mouth, charged and seated.

 

[Lt.Dan]

Would the pro 1000 be good for just doing .40 and maybe 9mm?

 

[Beladran]

If your gonna load two you wanna get a second press ...

 

[Will_M]

If your gonna load two you wanna get a second press ...

I'd say one 550 is fine. Sure two is great (I have two), but I loaded around 25,000 rounds on the 550 in .38spl, .40, and .45 over the course of two years and it was fine.

 

[Beladran]

Yea one 550 is plenty I was talking about the lee press

 

[Lt.Dan]

Well I only load .40 and .223 and I already have the turret press I'm just looking to speed up the process. I shoot a lot of target practice so it usually 500+ at a time.

 

[Lt.Dan]

Well I went with the Lee Load Master. Whole kit was cheap from midway. I wont be cranking out 1000 per hour so I didnt think the 550 was worth it this time. Ill be saving for one tho.

 

[Beladran]

im not a elitest dillon person yet and i will tell you a little secret. with the case feeder and the bullet feeder installed on a 1000 or load master you can pump out a ton of ammo

 

[Reloader]

I wish I had seen this post earlier....there is one for sale from a IDPA member in NE MS.

 

[Lt.Dan]

How much are they asking?

 

[terrybaldridge]

I have a couple of Lee 1000s. I think to really like Lee you must also really like to tinker. My brother got me started on it he is a much better tinkerer than I am. I can be fighting with it adjusting and such and never get it like I want it and he will turn a couple of screws and it will go like gee-whiz.

I usually run them through the 1000 to deprime everything. Prime with a Lee hand primer and then run them through again and load them. Slower than doing it all at one time and requires turrets, but I feel better about the primers installed that way.

terry

 

[SubGunFan]

LEE Load Master over LEE 1000......... Excellent choice.

I have had both and the 1000 is POS compared to the Load Master.

The Load Master can be tricky to setup if you add the bullet feeder, I suggest you don't. If you just run sized & primed brass through the Load Master..... that puppy should fly loading ammo.

.

 

[Lt.Dan]

Well I am a heavy diesel mechanic by trade so I have a good idea how things operate so I will probably try to improve the primer feed. From the videos on YouTube I can see how it can mess up. U will need to get a FCD and another resize/decal die and that Gould keep things straight and lined up. The kit comes with carbide dies I just added the bullet feeder. I want to pump out target ammo and that was my plan for this press. I will still do .223 with my classes turret press. I do thank everyone or the info.

 

[p moore]

Lt. Dan,

How is this working out so far? Made any good rounds yet?

Paul

 

[Lt.Dan]

I got it set up last night and started cranking out rounds. I fell in love quickly haha. I got about 400 out. I still cant believe how quick it goes. Im still having issues with the bullet feeder but I have a few ideas how to fix that. I need to get out to the range to acquire more brass haha. Here is a pic of how I have it set up.