I am ready to smash my Lee Pro 1000

[razorsharptokill]

I recently bought the dies to switch it to .223. I have loaded 1000s of rounds of pistol ammo on it. While trying to charge the case with ramshot TAC, it drops powder past the case onto and into the press. I have written Lee to get guidance and from what I can tell I have the die adjusted correctly per their instructions. If it didn't work so well with pistol ammo I'd probably take a sledge hammer to it. I think I'm going to pull the trigger on a Dillon 550.

 

[Divernhunter]

Get the Dillon 650 and be done with it.
Lee was a mistake to start with.
Use Dillon dies with the Dillon.

 

[Shootist43]

I agree with getting a Dillon press. Either the 550 or 650 will work. I've been using my 550 for 30 years (it started out as a 450 which I bought new and later converted) Dillon's no BS warranty will make sure it still works when my kids inherit it. Some of my dies are Dillon those that are not are Redding as they too are made to be used in a progressive press.

 

[ChrisG]

The issue is likely the powder funnel collet. Most of them are made for cases larger than .243. See if lee has a smaller available. My Hornady Powder measure did the same thing with anything smaller than my 6.5x55 case so I had to get the smaller size. Lee has good customers service so far as I can tell and it may be free. Give it a shot.

 

[razorsharptokill]

I believe the collet or drop tube as Lee calls it is the issue also. I bought a metal funnel and a case tray to be able to continue loading. At work I have a friend in the machine shop. I am going to have him modify the drop tube to mimic the part of the funnel that fits over the case mouth. This will eliminate the possibility of powder dropping down the outside of the case and not inside due to bad alignment. I wrote Lee about this but they I have yet to respond. I also polished the tool marks out of the conical recess on the bottom of the drop tube so that the case mouth will glide into position better.

 

[lcq]

My Lee Loadmaster (big brother to the 1000) is a pain in the ass. It is bigger and more robust than the 1000 and I wouldn't use it for rifle cases. Given than you should always trim or at least check case length after resizing I don't see a real advantage to using a progressive for rifle. You could resize, trim, champfer first then prime, drop and seat in the progressive and save a bit of time.

my $0.02

 

[PLM]

I vote for the Dillon 650 if you decide to go for a new press. Great machine.

 

[larry4831]

I have a Dillion 550B there a pretty good press also, I have not had much trouble with it at all. I am thinking about getting a 650 Dillion press also.

 

[larry4831]

Lee makes some pretty good products, but there progressive press isn't one of them.

 

[razorsharptokill]

Saving for South Africa this summer so the Dillon may have to wait. I de-prime and re-size, then I trim and chamfer. Right now I really only re-load one cartridge at a time anyway to double check everything. It would be nice to have a press that you don't have to be a magician in order to make it reliable though.

 

[PARA45]

I've own Dillons since I can remember. I also started with the RL450, and later converted to the 550 & 550B. Like other have said, use Dillon dies, and get a RL550B, and call it a day.

 

[lcq]

Saving for South Africa this summer so the Dillon may have to wait. I de-prime and re-size, then I trim and chamfer. Right now I really only re-load one cartridge at a time anyway to double check everything. It would be nice to have a press that you don't have to be a magician in order to make it reliable though.

That is the best and safest way to reload, also makes the most accurate ammo. Unless you are doing high volume shooting I don't think a progressive is worth it.

 

[Rob404]

Thank God I have a two Single Stages the Rock Crusher won't handle my 404j

 

[Ray B]

Any cartridge that I care about loading correctly gets loaded one at a time. If hunting accuracy is sufficient then the RCBS or the PW is used. If match accuracy is desired then is an LE Wilson.

 

[enysse]

Well, I learned one thing a lot of people are use Dillon presses and products.

 

[lcq]

Thank God I have a two Single Stages the Rock Crusher won't handle my 404j

My Lee Classic Cast will do a 50 BMG. As others have said Lee makes some good products but their progressive presses are the worst in the industry

 

[Rob404]

My Lee Classic Cast will do a 50 BMG. As others have said Lee makes some good products but their progressive presses are the worst in the industry

True Lee Dies are as good as you can get, way better than the softer metal that RCBS seem to use on their dies I use my RC junior for loading and the lee for bullet pulling amongst other minor tasks

 

[lcq]

True Lee Dies are as good as you can get, way better than the softer metal that RCBS seem to use on their dies I use my RC junior for loading and the lee for bullet pulling amongst other minor tasks

I'll probably get flamed for this but I like Lee neck sizers better than my Reddings.

 

[Rob404]

The guy that taught me re-loading has a Lee progressive that he said took a lot of tweaking to get right, he's in the process of upgrading to a Dillion 650, My fear is he'll want to sell me the Lee once he does the changeover

 

[lcq]

The guy that taught me re-loading has a Lee progressive that he said took a lot of tweaking to get right, he's in the process of upgrading to a Dillion 650, My fear is he'll want to sell me the Lee once he does the changeover

If you need an anchor take the Lee, if not run. My Loadmaster has been a royal pain. The worst is the priming system only handgun loads. It puts primers in backwards, sideways or not at all, talk about a mess. I only use it semi, auto now, ie. drop powder, seat, crimp. All priming is done by hand. I do rifle single stage and feel I'm not sacrificing very much and the ammo is better. I use an RCBS Chargemaster it weighs each charge.

Save up for the Dillon