Lee Pro 1000 & Crimping

[bersmith]

Help

Hey there smokinggun, I live in Cambridge and run two 1000's in .45 acp and the other in 9 & 40 cal. If you need help, I will lend you a hand and show you the ropes. I have been reloading for 15 yrs and have run through all the problems myself.
Pete

 

[smokingunns]

A Huge "thank You"!!!!

Hey there smokinggun, I live in Cambridge and run two 1000's in .45 acp and the other in 9 & 40 cal. If you need help, I will lend you a hand and show you the ropes. I have been reloading for 15 yrs and have run through all the problems myself.
Pete

Hi Pete,

It would be great if you could just take a look to see if I'm heading in the right direction!

PM sent!

 

[GSoD]

So not to threadjack - will delete if it gets called as much.

But I was wondering from the people with experience with these things, would you recommend them to someone looking to start reloading for their pistol? Reading this thread they seem a little finicky but not impossible to overcome.

I'm looking to get one from WSS.

 

[lister]

I found it was best to start with something like a turret press to get the general idea of what's going on before going to a progressive, but if you're only doing handgun rounds a turret press would take forever!
Once you're reloading for a while you work out the kinks.

Smokinguns--sounds like a sizing problem you had there. Maybe check your sizing die setting in relation to the shell plate.

 

[smokingunns]

So not to threadjack - will delete if it gets called as much.

But I was wondering from the people with experience with these things, would you recommend them to someone looking to start reloading for their pistol? Reading this thread they seem a little finicky but not impossible to overcome.

I'm looking to get one from WSS.

From one newbie to another, I think all these issues were good for me...I really got a chance to explore each stage of the progressive press and see the mechanics behind them (I could have done this with a single stage also but I didn't have one).

I think if I didn't get these issues and everything worked as supposed to be, I would be ignorant as to how this press (and reloading in general) worked....the biggest stoppage (the powder measure) was the most important learning experience. I didn't realize how much 0.2 grains were (I was loading 2 different powder amounts with the Titegroup 4.4gr and 4.6gr) but by hand weighing my powder, it really made me pay attention and be more concious of how much powder it took to move from 4.4gr and 4.6gr...a very small amount...I know can respect the power of such a small charge.

Anyhow, consider the Lee Pro 1000 a learning tool for a great hobby...consider the Dillon 650 as a no non-sense, 800 rounds/hours machine....and consider your local guns store for factory ammo if you don't want to learn anything

 

[smokingunns]

I don't have a Lee Pro 1000 yet however I've been doing some reading about here on CGN.

From what I've been reading the Pro 1000 has priming issues and it does not allow for a crimping die (which I believe is a requirement).

I am wondering if

(1) If the unit comes with a 3 hole plate and can not add the crimping die, am I able to hand prime and utilize the extra plate hole for a crimping die?

If this is possible, I shouldn't see a bad primer feed...

(2) If the dies are changable and I can customize the die sets?

If so, couldn't I use this progressive as a single stage (sort of)...this is if I get absolutely frustrated with the progressive mode and it becomes easier to do a step or two by hand.

Thanks for the input in advance.

Okay, back to my original question about the crimping....will a factory crimp die reshape used cartridges (I'm directing this question directly at bulging cases.

The current RCBS die set I'm using may crimp the casing to complete the bullet seating however I don't think it addresses reshaping of the rest of the case due to bulging.

Also is there another quick way to test the diameter of a cartridge other than taking your barrel out, putting in your newly loaded cartridge one-by-one and seeing if they fit?

I bought some range brass and they may have had bulges...which I never knew about until now...but come to think of it, it only makes sense that the case would be deformed and "bulge" due the pressure of the gunpowder.

So much to learn...so little time...and money