My intention are to reload PPC rounds for myself and girlfriend. The volumes we will be shooting we likely not exceed 250 rds per week. Im would like to stay on the cheap side ie. can't see myself shelling out for a Dillon. Preferably recommend an online store where I can purchase said press as well as I don't feel like driving all over tarnation. My father used to reload on the Lee Pro 1000 and had the usual finicky troubles such as primer feed. I remember him saying it was only troubling when using Federal primers. I will be sourcing most of my components likely from Lawry's in Caledonia as he seems to have the best prices around so I have the option of CCI primers if that will solve the problem on the Lee Pro. Question does anyone have experience with their DRG bullets? are they consistent? Lastly from what I can remember "the" load was around 3 grains of bullseye with a flush seated wadcutter. Does that sound about right for a .38 special case? Any advice would be appreciated. It seems reloading is the only way to make this sport affordable. By my calculations it should be around $7-8 per 50 rather then the 13+ you can spend on factory. Thanks again for your input.
Which would you recommend?? Lee Turret, Lee Pro 1000, something else ...
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I would avoid the Pro 1000 like the plague. If you need a Lee then go turret press. But honestly get a Dillon RL550 or Hornady. They are of infinitely better quality. Once you get the Dillon adjusted its a breeze to load up 3-400 rounds an hour at a leisurely pace. Been here done that, just about everything I shoot is now loaded on a Dillon RL550.
A Dillon RL550B will be a nice fit to your needs, while still being less expensive than a 650 with case feeder. You would probably find a turret press to be time consuming and the Lee progressives aren't very good.
In the long run, the cost difference between a Lee and Dillon press is small relative to components for 250 rounds/week.
In the long run, the cost difference between a Lee and Dillon press is small relative to components for 250 rounds/week.
I have a lee single stage, too slow. I have a lee load master, and it just doesnt work well to prime, really. I am changing it soon for a dillon.
You could get a lee quality turret with 4 holes and indexing, that would work, but it's a bit slow.
Want to reload just one single caliber for cheap? get a dillon square deal B if you cant afford the 550.
Personally, I don't like my loadmaster. too many issues. priming is a disaster.
I've heard even worse comments about the pro 1000
You could get a lee quality turret with 4 holes and indexing, that would work, but it's a bit slow.
Want to reload just one single caliber for cheap? get a dillon square deal B if you cant afford the 550.
Personally, I don't like my loadmaster. too many issues. priming is a disaster.
I've heard even worse comments about the pro 1000
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Hornady Lock N Load AP
I have a pro 1000 that we've been using for more than 25 years. Just this year alone I've put close on 10,000 rounds through it in .38, 9mm, 45ACP (it's really not tough to change calibres if you set yourself up right).
Not sure what the big hate-on for it is. I watch the primer feed to make sure the column drops when the shell plate turns, refill it when the tray is empty (it won't run to dry), and disassemble and clean the carrier whenever it starts having problems (or just blow out the priming station with compressed air when too much powder builds up in it). That's usually a few thousand rounds for .38 special, and I've not disassembled it yet after maybe 5000 9mm and 2000 45ACP (just blow out loose powder every several hundred rounds) - possibly because I use Bullseye for .38 and Titegroup for the others and perhaps more bullseye leaks into the mechanism than titegroup does. Not sure.
If you want something that you can just fling the handle on as you watch TV, then it's not for you. If you can pay attention to what you're doing, there's sweet eff-all wrong with the pro-1000, and you'll be buying components for a few thousand rounds with what you save.
I was getting conversion parts for mine from Natchez in the states. Decent prices. Wholesale stocks them, and with the dollar as it is now it might be just as good as going across the line.
Oh, and we've been using 3 grains bullseye under a 158SWC for decades in .38 special
Not sure what the big hate-on for it is. I watch the primer feed to make sure the column drops when the shell plate turns, refill it when the tray is empty (it won't run to dry), and disassemble and clean the carrier whenever it starts having problems (or just blow out the priming station with compressed air when too much powder builds up in it). That's usually a few thousand rounds for .38 special, and I've not disassembled it yet after maybe 5000 9mm and 2000 45ACP (just blow out loose powder every several hundred rounds) - possibly because I use Bullseye for .38 and Titegroup for the others and perhaps more bullseye leaks into the mechanism than titegroup does. Not sure.
If you want something that you can just fling the handle on as you watch TV, then it's not for you. If you can pay attention to what you're doing, there's sweet eff-all wrong with the pro-1000, and you'll be buying components for a few thousand rounds with what you save.
I was getting conversion parts for mine from Natchez in the states. Decent prices. Wholesale stocks them, and with the dollar as it is now it might be just as good as going across the line.
Oh, and we've been using 3 grains bullseye under a 158SWC for decades in .38 special
I've bought 2 used pro 1000's and will buy another if I decide I need to reload 9mm.
The newer style powder measure is a real improvement.
Just keep them clean and don't let the primer feed get empty.
Obviously the previous owners weren't thrilled, but I like em.
The newer style powder measure is a real improvement.
Just keep them clean and don't let the primer feed get empty.
Obviously the previous owners weren't thrilled, but I like em.
Classic Turret or Loadmaster. The Loadmaster is fine as long as it's kept clean and willing to tinker a bit. Or spend several times as much and get a Dillon or Hornady. Might want to avoid the Square Deal B, it uses specialty dies that are smaller than standard dies.
The biggest problem with the Lee as you mentioned is the primer feed. It needs to be kept absolutely clean and oil/grease free. Wipe it down with alcohol every thousand primers or so, and there won't be any problems.
As above, if you want something that works first time, every time, and only requires a bit of fiddling, go Dillion or Hornady, but you pay dearly. If you are mechanically inclined, and willing to tinker occasionally, the Lee works very well.
I use both a Loadmaster and a full Hornady LnL setup. You can get the Lee from the US for a fraction of what they cost in Canada.
Also try fsreloading.com and titanreloading.com shipping charges from the US are now much more than last year, if you can pick up from a US post box, there can be substantial savings.
Since it seems you are near Niagara Falls, there is a place on the US side, a couple blocks from the Rainbow Bridge, that receives packages for Canadians. Without an account, it costs about $6 for them to receive and hold a package until you can pick it up. CBIUSA.com
A great comparison of presses is in the first post, including a detailed writeup. http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?127691-dillon-lee-hornady-progressive-comparison
The biggest problem with the Lee as you mentioned is the primer feed. It needs to be kept absolutely clean and oil/grease free. Wipe it down with alcohol every thousand primers or so, and there won't be any problems.
As above, if you want something that works first time, every time, and only requires a bit of fiddling, go Dillion or Hornady, but you pay dearly. If you are mechanically inclined, and willing to tinker occasionally, the Lee works very well.
I use both a Loadmaster and a full Hornady LnL setup. You can get the Lee from the US for a fraction of what they cost in Canada.
Also try fsreloading.com and titanreloading.com shipping charges from the US are now much more than last year, if you can pick up from a US post box, there can be substantial savings.
Since it seems you are near Niagara Falls, there is a place on the US side, a couple blocks from the Rainbow Bridge, that receives packages for Canadians. Without an account, it costs about $6 for them to receive and hold a package until you can pick it up. CBIUSA.com
A great comparison of presses is in the first post, including a detailed writeup. http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?127691-dillon-lee-hornady-progressive-comparison
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I have 3 pro 1000s for 9mm,45acp, and 38/357. They are great for the money spent however, you need to tinker with them as far as the primer feed is concerned.
Lee's are for people who are mechanically inclined and enjoy tinkering. That's why they cost so little and Lee haters don't seem to grasp that idea....
Lee's are for people who are mechanically inclined and enjoy tinkering. That's why they cost so little and Lee haters don't seem to grasp that idea....
I had a Lee turret, works good, max I could get loaded in a hour would be around 150. That was if everything was going right. I found that the priming to be the most trouble on the press. I sold it and went to a Dillion 550. When I'm ready to reload I can do 100 in 20 minutes, that's with taking my time. Could go faster if needed.
Depends on how much spare time you have. I started with the lee, no wife or kids. Now with two little ones and a wife free time is hard to find. Dillion lets me do more in less time.
Depends on how much spare time you have. I started with the lee, no wife or kids. Now with two little ones and a wife free time is hard to find. Dillion lets me do more in less time.
I had an old RCBS 4x4 progressive press. They discontinued the line and all parts for it disappeared. Now have a Lee Load Master - I'm far more impressed with it than I was with the RCBS. It does an excellent job just take the time to set it up and learn how to use it. There are lots of videos online with help for this. Once you've gotten it - it works very well. Changing to a different caliber is a breeze .... takes less than 5 minutes ...
For tha t volume i would go with lee turret and the AUTO DISK PRO powder measure. With dies you will still be well under$200. Ive used thatcombo for 30 years in 20 plus different rifle and pistol cartridges. It's reliable and easy to setup and use.
I have two Loadmasters, one dedicated to small primer cases & one dedicated to large primer cases. As has been noted if you keep them clean & lubed they run very well. There are also a lot of very good videos online which will help you get the press running well. Good thing, too, as the factory instruction manual is next to useless.
I have owned Lee, RCBS, Dillon Square deal, and Dillon 550b. All have given problems priming anything but new cases. Shooting high volume I just deprime, clean, and sit in front of the TV with a handheld rcbs primer tool. From then on everything is painless.
