Thinking about reloading .223, what would you pay for a used Lee Pro 1000?

KNO3-

KNO3-

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Hey guys,

Im thinking about reloading .223, wondering what you guys think. I know someone whos selling a Lee Pro 1000 and about 1000pcs for brass and primers, bit of powerder and some bullets for about $200. Is this a reasonable deal? Iv heard good and bad about the that press, i know there are alot better quality ones out there but im not willing to pay that much.

I dont shoot a whole lot, maybe 2000rnds a year for .223, some stuff i read said it wasnt worth doing unless you shoot a lot. I shoot about the same amount of 7.62 but from what i have read you cant reload the milsurp stuff, at least not efficiently anyway.

Also from what i read i would have to buy a tumbler as well or risk dirty brass casing malfunctions. I saw videos of guys putting it in a bag in the washing machine, or shaking them around in soapy water but getting them wet seems like a bad idea and a pita.

Thoughts?
 
I use mine to reload 38 special rounds for my ruger gp100. It takes a bit to get it setup but once it is up and running you can crank out quite a few rounds in a very short time.

The price sounds reasonable if the press is in good shape with all of the different powder disks.
 
That really depends on your outlook on reloading as a whole (is it a chore, or is it an opportunity to load tailored ammo that happens to be cheaper than store bought?), how you see the cost of reloading equipment and time spent (good equipment retains it's value fairly well, and having the ability to create ammo from components is a plus during times of ammo shortages/raised costs), and what your expectations are of the ammo you buy/produce (bulk run-of-the-mill FMJ or precision 'match' quality).

I would recommend investing in quality gear from the get go. With a Dillon 550 and the remainder of equipment you'd need to make quality ammo, you are looking at around $1000 to start.
Hand loading a 1000 rounds will generally run you about half what 1000 rounds would cost from a supplier (give or take depending on bulk FMJ v. Match ammo; there are deals to be had presently on bulk ammo).
It will take you a few years at that use rate to pay off your equipment, but there is the resale of the equipment to consider too.
 
Thanks for the replies, while i appreciate the advice to go with a better setup to begin with were talking a huge price difference. Like beltfed said for the dillon 550, which would be really nice, i would be looking at about $1000 to start. Thats about what i found when i added it up as well, and that doesnt even include any of the reloading componets i would have to buy to get started.

For me thats just to much of an investment to try something out. I like to tinker with stuff and think it would be fun to shoot ammo i loaded and i dout the process would be a chore for me, looks like fun in the vids if watched. I just shoot cheap FMJ...never shot any expensive match ammo so i dont know if im missing out or not...i wouldnt be reloading for the custom tailored ammo side of things.

Some things im all about the quality but for this im thinking ill just go cheap, see how i like it and that way if i find i dont like it or have time to do it less funds will be tied up. I have seen vids on youtube where people seem to be running this press just fine, made 1000s of rounds. The one im looking at has only had a few hundred rounds through it, so almost new condition.
 
GunfighterAlpha said:
I have a Dillon 650. Only regret is not buying the 1050. I'm reloading .223 for $0.28/rd right now I think
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$0.28?! wow see thats why im asking these questions...right now im buying factory brass .223 for just under that and although i think i would like reloading i wouldnt consider it if i was only breaking even. Is that just for regular FMJ or are you loading something that would normally cost a lot more then 28 cents?
 
Get the Lee it's cheap enough. It's a piece of :bigHug::bigHug::bigHug::bigHug: but it will work and get the job done.
I still have my Lee's and use it all the time. I want to upgrade but I rather buy another gun than another press. My upgrading project does not happen to fast if you know what i mean, I will have to upgrade my safe first
My lee relation is love - hate. I love the price I hate debugging the freaking think every 100 rounds.

I know my .223 reload are more in $0.50 range, but I fire only match grade bullets. The only reason why I reload 223 is for the precision I get, and cannot get with factory ammo.
Prepping the brass is time consuming and not fun, just get this in mind.
 
If the press comes with dies, powder measure, discs, etc. I'd say it is a fair price. Do you shoot any pistols? If so, then between the .223 and pistol loading you do it would certainly pay for itself. I have that press and up till now have only used it for 9mm and 45. I have .223 dies, shell plate, etc. on their way to me and will be trying my hand at reloading 223 on a Lee 1000.

From my research, loading 223 on a Lee 1000 isn't exactly easy so I would keep that in mind. Don't even think about putting your brass in the washing machine, a simple tumbler won't set you back much.

Bulk 223 can be had pretty cheap so if that is the only thing you are going to reload then I'm not sure it makes a lot of sense from a cost standpoint. If you save 20 cents/round and shoot 2000 rounds/year that means you will save $400 per year. However, at a conservative estimate of being able to load .223 at a rate of 150/hour on a Lee 1000 it will take you more than 13 hours. Food for thought!
 
KNO3- said:
$0.28?! wow see thats why im asking these questions...right now im buying factory brass .223 for just under that and although i think i would like reloading i wouldnt consider it if i was only breaking even. Is that just for regular FMJ or are you loading something that would normally cost a lot more then 28 cents?
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Where and what are you buying for less than $280/1000?


Mark
 
If you possess a reasonable mechanical aptitude, hands like a surgeon, eyes like a hawk and the patience of Job, both the Lee Pro 1000 and the Loadmaster can be persuaded to run quite reliably. If you don't possess these attributes, both of these high-maintenance presses will drive you to drink. Not a bad alternative, but very soon you will end up selling the Lee and buying a real progressive press.
They are a challenge, but they can be made to work.
 
volks_r_us said:
Get the Lee it's cheap enough. It's a piece of :bigHug::bigHug::bigHug::bigHug: but it will work and get the job done.
I still have my Lee's and use it all the time. I want to upgrade but I rather buy another gun than another press. My upgrading project does not happen to fast if you know what i mean, I will have to upgrade my safe first
My lee relation is love - hate. I love the price I hate debugging the freaking think every 100 rounds.

I know my .223 reload are more in $0.50 range, but I fire only match grade bullets. The only reason why I reload 223 is for the precision I get, and cannot get with factory ammo.
Prepping the brass is time consuming and not fun, just get this in mind.
Click to expand...

Thats about what i figured with that press...wow $.50...i guess if your loading high end stuff. Im looking at bullets for $0.12, primers for $.035 and a few cents for powder...i was thinking around 19 cents a round.
 
mmattockx said:
Where and what are you buying for less than $280/1000?


Mark
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Canam...8000rnds for $1,996...with tax ($2235.52) it works out to $0.279...haha i really meant "just" under 28 cents. Not sure when i next time they will do this though. good time to buy 10 or so crates.

Oh and its the norinco...brass and reloadable.
 
Runningfool said:
If the press comes with dies, powder measure, discs, etc. I'd say it is a fair price. Do you shoot any pistols? If so, then between the .223 and pistol loading you do it would certainly pay for itself. I have that press and up till now have only used it for 9mm and 45. I have .223 dies, shell plate, etc. on their way to me and will be trying my hand at reloading 223 on a Lee 1000.

From my research, loading 223 on a Lee 1000 isn't exactly easy so I would keep that in mind. Don't even think about putting your brass in the washing machine, a simple tumbler won't set you back much.

Bulk 223 can be had pretty cheap so if that is the only thing you are going to reload then I'm not sure it makes a lot of sense from a cost standpoint. If you save 20 cents/round and shoot 2000 rounds/year that means you will save $400 per year. However, at a conservative estimate of being able to load .223 at a rate of 150/hour on a Lee 1000 it will take you more than 13 hours. Food for thought!
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good info, Thanks! 30 seconds for 1 round? thats pretty bad.

No pistols right now, i really like to shoot in the bush so i have held off, maybe hoping the laws would change? but i dont think i can much longer. Theres a 9mm i really want, thinking it will be next. I was even thinking of getting an antique revolver so i could take it in the bush but anything i liked was at least 5k.
 
$400 for 13 hours of work? Sign me up! FAST! It would take me, at my current job, about 36.4 regular hours (before income tax deductions) to make. Spending my Saturday to make that much savings? Sure!
 
Wantabe_ Warrior said:
$400 for 13 hours of work? Sign me up! FAST! It would take me, at my current job, about 36.4 regular hours (before income tax deductions) to make. Spending my Saturday to make that much savings? Sure!
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This was something iv been tossing around since id make more at work for the 13 hours so why not just work a day and buy the ammo. But to me it would still be worth it to learn how to reload and load my own ammo...im still cheap though and dont want to buy an expensive press...and between all my expensive hobbies and expensive wife i still have to save where i can ;)
 
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