Lee Pro 1000 question / IDEA ??

B

BCboy

Moderator
Moderator
Rating - 100%
166   0   0
Location
Duncan BC
OK first off I know it is not a Dillon and no I dont want nor can I aford a dillion right now ,So please dont tell me get this or that ;) I just have an Idea that will work for me .

Now I know that the biggest complaint is the primmer feed on this thing and that it is only a 3 hole turret . I would like to use the factory crimp die as well . So my question is can anyone see a problem with this (except for the extra steps witch I dont mind).

On the pro 1000 I will take off the priming attachment and put it in a box and forget about it .

Then on the pro 1000 I will take out the sizing die and move the expanding/powder Die into the first station ,The seating Die into the second station and then put the factory crimp die into the third station
and this is how it would work
FIRST: I will set my sizing die on my rockchucker and size and deprime all my cases.
Second : handprime all my cases
Third : Now the first station on pro 1000 would expand/charge the case
Fourth : second station on the pro 1000 will seat the bullet
Fifth : the third and final station would use the factory srimp die

Waaa Laaa a loaded round

Like I said I dont mind the extra 2 steps and it gives me a chance to inspect the cases . It is still quicker than single stage ,I can use the case feader, dont have to worrey about the primer tray giving me problems and I can use the factory crimp to Post size the case . I beleive this make the Pro 1000 work with out any problems

Can any one see a problem with it?
Thanks for your input ,and Yes I know it is not a dillion,RCBS,hornady etc..... nor am I expectiong it to be ;)
 
Last edited:
I can't see why that wouldn't work....

I would also take the primer punch and feeder right off the press all together.

Let us know how it works for you...
 
I've loaded a couple of 1000 rounds of 45ACP with mine and no problems that were not my own. Lack of attention is the main cause of misfeeds and tipped primers.
1st die sizes and decaps, second flares and allows a powder charge and primer seating is done, third seats the bullet and taper crimps the case.
Keeping the auto primer working properly consists of refilling the tray once the primers have fallen to the level of 1/2 way down the chute. I've found using the silver colored primers such as CCI have less drag in the primer chute than Win. brass colored primers which will hang up easier than the CCI brand.
If you find something just doesn't feel right when pulling on the lever stop and pull the case out of the primer seating station as the primer isn't seated properly.
Above all keep a can of "Compressed Air" handy to clean up any spilled powder, burnt powder residue and primer residue from the operating shell plate. Just MHO and 2 cents worth! I'm pleased with the product enough to have ordered a 2nd press for my 40 S&W loading needs.
 
I think it would work. The only thing I'm wondering about is how would you get the powder feeder to cycle properly as the chain that causes it to 'close' is attached at the back. FWIW, I use two Pro 1000's, one for .45acp and one for .357 Magnum. They work pretty well but the odd time they require a little tinkering or adjustment. RC has it right when he says if use their priming setup, if it don't feel right, it isn't right. Anyhow, have you thought about using the Pro 1000 as is and using your Rockchucker as the final crimp stage? Or take the decapping pin out of the first station and use it for sizing, take the primer feed out and use the second station for expanding/charging and the final stage for seating. Still have the Rockchucker for final crimp. The only drawback is that you'd have to deprime and prime somehow.................ackkkk, what do I know?
 
Last edited:
What are you planning to reload? You don't need a factory crimp on any of the handgun ammo ,using Lee dies and most other dies. Adjusted properly and tapping the primer feed every couple of cases , the primer feed works okay as long as you don't run it until there is only a few primers in the chute. On the rifle cartridges you can load in a Pro 1000 doing the factory crimp in your RCBS would probably be the best. It doesn't sound like you have a Pro 1000 yet, I have 3 , you have to watch the primer feed and tap the feed mechanism once and a while with your finger, but other than that and only doing solid up and down movements on the handle ( no half assed movements,)they work great for the money they cost. I believe a large amount of the #####ing about Lee products , is snob thinking and/or brand name loyalty. Dillon stuff is good . But who cares, some people can't afford or justify the cost of a Dillon Progressive but still want to participate in reloading and shooting, this is where Lee Products fit.
 
you really need to look at what your time is worth, and whether or not you'd be better off waiting to get a better press (or selling this one), instead of all the extra time you are going to be putting into loading your ammo. a few hundred dollars more spent (if that) can get you a much better setup, without all the hassles. yeah yeah I know, you can't afford it. just wait longer IMHO.
 
I have the press ,but it dosent have the primmer attach on it (previous owner took it off and lost parts) ,I dont feel like buying the parts to put it back in and I dont want to put it all in and find out its a pain in the ass. Since I have the extra hole in the turret by useing the rockchucker I figered why not use the factory crimp die ?
 
I was thinking of doing the same thing as I already hand prime all my brass. What I have done is set up an extra turret with just the sizeer/deprimer die and run all my brass through it. I then hand prime and inspect my brass and then am going to set up the second turret the same way as you described. The only thing stopping me as I have to pick up the factory crimp die for my .45 and a set of .40 dies with the factory crimp. I don't see why it would not work.

Just funny how I thought this idea up a week or two ago and then someone posts on here about the same thing. Great minds think alike I guess.
 
Interesting: The most problems that I have with the priming system is not really it's fault, it is the powder measure that spills powder down onto the primer trough and plate/carrier and binds up the free flow of primers and jams the primer in sideways and spills powder everywhere. Then you have to take the whole thing apart and clean it out and start over again.

What about this, now I haven't physically tried this but just thinking in my head it would work and all you would need is an extra 3-hole turret and the spring for a stand alone powder measure.

First turret the regular decap and size die in station one and that is it. The shell gets decaped and sized goes into the second station and gets primed and that is it, moves to the third station and out of the press.

Second turret: Powder measure up front in station 1 with the spring on the measure for the return (like they used to do before the chain came out).
Station 2: Bullet seat die
Station 3: Factory crimp.

So the primed case gets sized and charged in the first station, then a bullet in the second station and finally crimped in the third.

The only thing that would prevent this is if you can get the bullet into station number two without to much headaches, in station 3 it is easy but 2 it might be hard because the handle might be in the way.

Just thinking off the top of my head at work.
 
misfire said:
I think it would work. The only thing I'm wondering about is how would you get the powder feeder to cycle properly as the chain that causes it to 'close' is attached at the back. ?
Click to expand...

mine dosent have a chain , I only have the Lee Auto-Disk Powder Measure
AUTODISK.jpg

I have to set up a bench hopefully this weekend and will let you know
 
What caliber are you reloading.

I had second thoughts about the lee as well when I Got 2 of mine.

for .40cal I left it as a std set up and it works well.

on a second press I set up 9mm. I changed the sizing die to RCBS and the seat die to rcbs and it works Great!

Yes the primer system stinks, You have to keep it full or it jams. And I lose on average 3 primers per 100 to jams or miss feeds. Lee needs to re-invent this

I would try it out stock and see what you think first.

I average 250-300 production per hour. I would not load rifle on this press. I have a RCBS rockchucker for back up.
 
Okay I own a Lee Pro 1000. I use this one press to do 44 mag. aquired a second carrier because of the larger primers and punch, .357, 38 special, 9mm and .32ACP. I would suggest you order the parts from Lee for the primer feed. I placed a credit card order with them by phone on a friday and recieved the parts the following friday.

Now to your issue .. as mentioned above .. for pistols there really isn't any reason to use a factory crimp die but hey if thats what floats your boat ..

You can set it up like you suggested because of the chainless Auto disk you use ( I have 4) however, personally if I had my heart set on using the factory crimp die, I would set up the press the way its supposed to be and use my single stage press for the factory crimp die stage .. much faster and way more efficient.

The primer seating stage on the Lee Pro happens at the top stroke it takes a bit to get used to the feel of it and some primers slip in easier than others .. but I feel this is the way to go. Lee recommends CCI or Winchester primers only. I prefer Winchester.

One more thing if you are ordering the primer feeder parts .. also order the swivel adapter for the auto disk .. I just got two and switching it from die to die or switching disks is now a breeze

My two cents
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom