Lee 1000 auto prime blew up about an hour ago *PICS*

easyrider604 said:
Funny how this thread about someone's misfortune, albeit admittedly partly due to his own fault, has turned somehow leached out Lee Bashers.

To the LB's, if Lee equipment is that bad, don't you think that they would have gone out of business long ago, and the owners bankrupt 20 times over from lawsuits?

Please be reminded that not every shooter/reloader is made of money that we can afford a Dillon 1050, much less three of them.

Don't you think that if we had the same resources as you, we would be buying 1050s too? Well, speaking for myself, I wouldn't.

Well, let me re-phrase that...I could if I wanted too. My food and bills take precedence over my shooting hobby, but if I really wanted to, I could conceivably buy 3 1050s. I could also buy three (3) or more Wilson's TOTL 1911s or Noveske ARs and WHY, but I shoot cheap Ruger and Norincos and SKSs and Savage/Marlin 22LRs because I am perfectly happy doing that. It is just my nature, yes I am what people would call cheap (and proud of it). I spend for what I need and like and for what works well enough for me.

Lee equipment, while not the best quality, is not junk. Their equipment has worked fine, even the evil Pro1000 that is the "villain" in this thread. 21 years ago, my first reloader ever was the Pro1000 and it worked well enough. But my reloading needs changed quickly when I shot competitively and fired an average of 500 rounds a day, 3 times a week. So I got two Dillon 550Bs (sold those and got another one) and a Hornady Projector because they were obviously built better and easier to use. I was never a top shooter, but that was more a function of my abilities than my equipment/ammo. I shot full custom Colt 1911s then, but I could have used Norincos and the competition results would've been the same, cause I am sadly not that great a shot, period.

Times and needs changed and and am now equipped with all-Lee products: Classic Cast Single, Class Turret and Loadmaster, Pro-Melter 20 lbs, various pistol caliber molds, etc. All working fine, thank you. Yes, I read the warning about using Federal Primers and I still use them very carefully. I did have a primer explosion in my Lee Pro1000 back then, and thankfully escaped completely unscathed using CCI.

To the OP, once again, I want to say that I'm really happy you are fine although a little banged up, physically and emotionally. Thank you for sharing and risking the ridicule that you've been dealt with. It takes a real man to take that. You came out and let all of us know so that we can be more careful.

Sorry for the hi-jack but rant is over.
Click to expand...

I am merely relating my experience with Dillon and Lee products over the years and as such are entirely my own opinions, and you know what they say about them.

As you may have guessed my experience with anything Lee has been very poor. I could have started out with the original Lee loader, you know the one where you HIT THE PRIMER WITH A ROD AND A HAMMER, but I did not, choosing instead a Lyman 310 tool for my .22 hornet.

My first press was a Lyman Comet C press, still have it, works like new.

Next came the PW P200, sold it when I got my first Dillon.

Along the way I traded for a Hornady pro-jector, heard they wee really nice. It is nice, very heavy. The primer feed is a POS, so it sits on the shop floor.

Never tried Lee presses of any sort, too light and flimsy.

I tried several Lee pistol and rifle moulds, they are all junk compared to Lyman, RCBS, etc. They don't get used.

The most recent Lee purchase was an undersize full length size die from EGW in .38 super, nobody else has these. The first time the bushing was backed out to adjust the decapping pin the threads stripped! A $US 27.00 POS, brand new.

I was never rich, I went without a lot of things to acquire my Dillons, had seven at one time. But they work and they are safe to use. I still have the 1050 in .45 acp mentioned above, in the midst of converting it to .38 super, this after some 400K rounds of .45.

I guess I am spoiled but I really enjoy the ease and efficiency and safety of using quality equipment, whether it be Dillon, Lyman, RCBS, Saeco, Hensley and Gibbs, etc.
You buy quality once and use it for the rest of your life.

Have fun with your Lee junk and be safe with it.

Caveat emptor, let the buyer beware.

Cheers, Bryan
 
easyrider604 said:
Funny how this thread about someone's misfortune, albeit admittedly partly due to his own fault, has turned somehow leached out Lee Bashers.

To the LB's, if Lee equipment is that bad, don't you think that they would have gone out of business long ago, and the owners bankrupt 20 times over from lawsuits?

Please be reminded that not every shooter/reloader is made of money that we can afford a Dillon 1050, much less three of them.

Don't you think that if we had the same resources as you, we would be buying 1050s too? Well, speaking for myself, I wouldn't.

Well, let me re-phrase that...I could if I wanted too. My food and bills take precedence over my shooting hobby, but if I really wanted to, I could conceivably buy 3 1050s. I could also buy three (3) or more Wilson's TOTL 1911s or Noveske ARs and WHY, but I shoot cheap Ruger and Norincos and SKSs and Savage/Marlin 22LRs because I am perfectly happy doing that. It is just my nature, yes I am what people would call cheap (and proud of it). I spend for what I need and like and for what works well enough for me.

Lee equipment, while not the best quality, is not junk. Their equipment has worked fine, even the evil Pro1000 that is the "villain" in this thread. 21 years ago, my first reloader ever was the Pro1000 and it worked well enough. But my reloading needs changed quickly when I shot competitively and fired an average of 500 rounds a day, 3 times a week. So I got two Dillon 550Bs (sold those and got another one) and a Hornady Projector because they were obviously built better and easier to use. I was never a top shooter, but that was more a function of my abilities than my equipment/ammo. I shot full custom Colt 1911s then, but I could have used Norincos and the competition results would've been the same, cause I am sadly not that great a shot, period.

Times and needs changed and and am now equipped with all-Lee products: Classic Cast Single, Class Turret and Loadmaster, Pro-Melter 20 lbs, various pistol caliber molds, etc. All working fine, thank you. Yes, I read the warning about using Federal Primers and I still use them very carefully. I did have a primer explosion in my Lee Pro1000 back then, and thankfully escaped completely unscathed using CCI.

To the OP, once again, I want to say that I'm really happy you are fine although a little banged up, physically and emotionally. Thank you for sharing and risking the ridicule that you've been dealt with. It takes a real man to take that. You came out and let all of us know so that we can be more careful.

Sorry for the hi-jack but rant is over.
Click to expand...

I am merely relating my experience with Dillon and Lee products over the years and as such are entirely my own opinions, and you know what they say about them.

As you may have guessed my experience with anything Lee has been very poor. I could have started out with the original Lee loader, you know the one where you HIT THE PRIMER WITH A ROD AND A HAMMER, but I did not, choosing instead a Lyman 310 tool for my .22 hornet.

My first press was a Lyman Comet C press, still have it, works like new.

Next came the PW P200, sold it when I got my first Dillon.

Along the way I traded for a Hornady pro-jector, heard they wee really nice. It is nice, very heavy. The primer feed is a POS, so it sits on the shop floor.

Never tried Lee presses of any sort, too light and flimsy.

I tried several Lee pistol and rifle moulds, they are all junk compared to Lyman, RCBS, etc. They don't get used.

The most recent Lee purchase was an undersize full length size die from EGW in .38 super, nobody else has these. The first time the bushing was backed out to adjust the decapping pin the threads stripped! A $US 27.00 POS, brand new.

I was never rich, I went without a lot of things to acquire my Dillons, had seven at one time. But they work and they are safe to use. I still have the 1050 in .45 acp mentioned above, in the midst of converting it to .38 super, this after some 400K rounds of .45.

I guess I am spoiled but I really enjoy the ease and efficiency and safety of using quality equipment, whether it be Dillon, Lyman, RCBS, Saeco, Hensley and Gibbs, etc.
You buy quality once and use it for the rest of your life.

Have fun with your Lee junk and be safe with it.

Caveat emptor, let the buye beware.

Cheers, Bryan
 
There is nothing like being told to buy quality by a guy who just arrived at the range in a rusted out pickup while he looks disdainfully at my Norinco's.

If Lee's cost as much as a Dillion, they would likely be just as good. By the time you get everything for a Dillion so it will do the same function as a Loadmaster, you are looking at 3 times the price. Yes the dillion is an excellent machine, but that price differance may mean that someone does not shoot for 3-4 months because they used their budget to buy a machine that they can't afford to feed. My presses stand idle for about 90% of the time. It's the case prep is the time consumer for me.
 
I believe Lee has a warning about this. They advise not to fill the tray with to many primers. I have a pro 1000. It serves its purpose but it has pissed me off many times and it always has to do with the Primer feed. I wear safety glasses and keep the primers to a minimum in the tray.
 
Colin said:
There is nothing like being told to buy quality by a guy who just arrived at the range in a rusted out pickup while he looks disdainfully at my Norinco's.

If Lee's cost as much as a Dillion, they would likely be just as good. By the time you get everything for a Dillion so it will do the same function as a Loadmaster, you are looking at 3 times the price. Yes the dillion is an excellent machine, but that price differance may mean that someone does not shoot for 3-4 months because they used their budget to buy a machine that they can't afford to feed. My presses stand idle for about 90% of the time. It's the case prep is the time consumer for me.
Click to expand...

Going to try a Norinco one day but then I'll just have something else to berate!

I drive a Hyundai, used the money saved to buy Dillons !! :slap:

:popCorn:
 
I am glad to hear that you are not seriously injured. If it happened to me I would flinch for quite a while when seating a primer.

I talked to a guy once who had a primer go off in something, I am not sure what, and the primer wound up lodged in his hand. He had to see a surgeon to get it removed. The doctor told him he had to report it as a gunshot wound. He talked the doctor out of it, but it was a struggle. I prime with a Lee auto prime, and I have had good luck with it. I am very careful, and spin the cases until I feel it start to press in. The only thing I have done wrong with it is pressed them in upside down. To the guy who said that everything Lee is junk, just wanted to let you know that I have good success with Lee dies in a few calibers, and their crimp dies and collet dies are excellent. I cast bullets in a Lee mold with a Lee melter, and size them in a Lee die, and use Lee Lube. Your standards must be much higher than mine, as they work well for me.
 
As soon as I saw the title I knew that Federal Primers would be involved.

My Lee 1000 did exactly the same thing about 4 years ago...........

The LAST time I used it.

I was NOT wearing safety glasses but came away with only bruises.

Now I wear glasses and use a Hornady LNL>
 
Glad you are okay, somewhat, hopefully it doesn't put you off re-loading altogether.
Have been worried about something like this for 15 years with using a press to reload, and I only use the hand primer, thankfully never had a blow up.
Have used plenty of pistol and rifle primers by Federal and have yet to have a problem, I hope it's because I am using the hand primer though.
My new Lee cast iron press takes no pressure at all to seat a primer and that worries me as I can't get the proper "feel" for when it's seated like the hand primer
 
Lee product number 90363
name: Lee primer explosion shield
price: under $5


LEE90363.jpg



Read the warning sign how they avoid using the word "Federal Primer":D
 
Opcx6 said:
I I could have started out with the original Lee loader, you know the one where you HIT THE PRIMER WITH A ROD AND A HAMMER, but I did not, choosing instead a Lyman 310 tool for my .22 hornet.
Click to expand...

Actually, you do not hit the primer with a hammer and rod, you place the rod inside the case, and the case head inside a completely safe metal priming device. Designed so that you cannot over seat the primer.
I still have my first Lee hand tool, still use it on occasion, never had a mishap of any sort. I've even used it to decap live primers.

Dies, I have four or five brands. No doubt the Lee dies are not quite up to the fit and finish of the more expensive dies, but in many cases they are half the price, and they do work fine, or they have for me.

Send me your useless Lee equipment, I'll pay shipping. :)
 
Tak said:
Is it also dangerous to use lee safety prime system in a single stage press ? With wich ever primers
Click to expand...

Sorry about that but I'm gonna repeat myself, I really wanna find out for safety reasons, safety glasses or not :p
 
acrashb said:
Separate purchase - recommended for people using Federals.
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Come on now. That's NOT the recommendation. The sticker on the part says: "Other than CCI and Winchester." That would include ALL the other primers out there, Remington, Fiocci, etc

Do you work for CBC?:D;)
 
Tak said:
Is it also dangerous to use lee safety prime system in a single stage press ?
Click to expand...

The Lee Safety Primer Feed tool used on the Lee Single Stage and Turret presses is a different design from the priming system on the Pro1000.

The LSPF tool is only used to feed the priming arm/lever (the Lever Priming System as the factory calls it), that is mounted inside the top of the ram, under the shell holder. The priming arm/lever swings out to accept a new primer from the LSPF trigger, which is the part that the operator pushes to release a fresh primer onto the priming bar's cup.

The instruction sheet does not have a specific warning against use of Federal or any brand of primers. It does say to "place no more than 100 primers in tray". FYI, that is a direct quote from the instruction sheet.

Going back to the OP's incident, I can conclude that the explosion occurred while he was trying to seat a primer. That primer detonated and caused a chain reaction that spread to all the primers lined up in the tube and inside the tray, apparently detonated many if not all of them, in the process destroyed the primer feed mechanism completely.

Back to your question: In a Single Stage or Turret, the primer that is being seated is isolated in the cup of the priming arm. The LSPF with the rest of the primers, is a few inches away. IMO, there is little risk of a chain reaction in case a primer detonated while being pressed/seated into a brass case.

Yes there will always be a risk of any primer detonating while seated, but that detonation will be contained in the ram and the brass case. The hot gases will be directed upward. These gases are not likely to hit the LSPF tool and the fresh primers within it. A catastrophic chain reaction is not likely at all....but what do I know?

Conclusion:
1. With regard to the LSPF, Lee does not warn against the use of Federal or any other brand of primer. So Federals should be good to go.
2. Place no more than 100 primers in the primer tray.
3. IMO, best advice is to ALWAYS WEAR SAFETY GLASSES WHEN RELOADING, REGARDLESS OF THE BRAND/MAKE/MODEL OF RELOADER AND PRIMERS USED.
 
This is somewhat related to the topic.

I was watching Channel 44 the other night and the show was about this re-enactment of the attempt on Hitler's life where the plotters placed a bomb a few feet away from Hitler.

What saved Hitler was a wooden table leg that deflected the force of the blast, which was probably 10 million times greater than a primer detonation.

So that explosion shield mentioned a few posts up should adequately protect the reloader/operator.

I seriously doubt it will protect me from the ensuing blast from the wife:D
 
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