Lee Pro 1000 - Where To Buy In Canada?????

Six Star said:
It's not so much the "commercial grade strength" as ease of use. The Pro 1000 can and will drive you to distraction as it tends to not "hold" its adjustments. The Lee Loadmaster can also be somewhat problematic in this regard. I would caution you that if you do not have a measure of mechanical aptitude, don't jump right into getting a Lee Progressive press before learning the reloading ropes on a simpler press, like a single stage or the excellent Lee Turret Press. If you don't understand the basics of reloading, you will get yourself into all kinds of frustrating trouble with a Progressive, particularly the ones from Lee Precision.
I've been reloading for about 25 years and recently bought a Loadmaster. It was (and still is) a "challenge" to operate and keep operating, as there is so much to monitor that shouldn't really require monitoring. Richard Lee's approach to engineering seems to be "Well...it SORT of works...we'll let the user figure the rest out". :rolleyes:
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6 star - with the loadmaster, do you have to pull the lever 5 times for a cartridge because it has a 5 slot plate? I know it delivers one per pull, but if you don't need to use all 5 slots, to you still have to cycle through them (wasted pulls)?
 
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Compared to the PRO 1000 with it's 3 positions and the LOAD MASTER with it's 5 positions, there would only be 2 more movements of the handle before a finished cartridge slid out of the machine and from then on with every movement of the handle a cartridge would slide out. The Load master just gives you the option of separate bullet seating and crimping if needed. I am not trying to put you down or discourage you but it sounds like you don't fully understand how a progressive reloader works. May I suggest you maybe visit OMA RELOADING out on east HASTINGS in BURNABY ,in the past they have had a few reloading machines set up for people to try, give them a phone call. It wouldn't hurt to see one in operation, to understand how they operate.
 
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avsecb2: A Progressive reloader can be very daunting at first...there is a great deal to understand regardless of the basic simplicity of the machine itself. I would say that most reloaders on this forum "cut their teeth" on reloading the same way that I did. Starting out by sitting on the floor in the basement/garage with a Lee Handloader and a hammer and a prayer. :rolleyes: ..then on to a single stage press, and then on to a Turret and/or a Progressive. It took me 20 years to get from A to B. to C. The basics of handloading are easily learned but can never be compromised.
You sound like you have reloaded in the past, so I would say that you understand the basics of cartridge reloading. However, starting out "again" with a progressive may be a whole new ball game for you.
I would take "Bearman"s advice and find someone who can demonstrate Progressive reloading to you.
I understand your confusion over the number of 'stations' causing "empty strokes" with a progressive. Again, Bearman has explained this. The only time the "empty" strokes matter is when you first start up the press. Once the first finished round falls out of the shellplate, there is another finished round with every cycle of the press handle. As long as you keep the supply of brass, primers, powder and bullets topped up, you could continue to produce finished ammunition forever. After about 500 rounds with my Loadmaster, I'm ready for a break. ;) Just watching a Progressive operating without any reloading components will give you a good idea of how it works.
 
Six Star said:
avsecb2: A Progressive reloader can be very daunting at first...there is a great deal to understand regardless of the basic simplicity of the machine itself. I would say that most reloaders on this forum "cut their teeth" on reloading the same way that I did. Starting out by sitting on the floor in the basement/garage with a Lee Handloader and a hammer and a prayer. :rolleyes: ..then on to a single stage press, and then on to a Turret and/or a Progressive. It took me 20 years to get from A to B. to C. The basics of handloading are easily learned but can never be compromised.
You sound like you have reloaded in the past, so I would say that you understand the basics of cartridge reloading. However, starting out "again" with a progressive may be a whole new ball game for you.
I would take "Bearman"s advice and find someone who can demonstrate Progressive reloading to you.
I understand your confusion over the number of 'stations' causing "empty strokes" with a progressive. Again, Bearman has explained this. The only time the "empty" strokes matter is when you first start up the press. Once the first finished round falls out of the shellplate, there is another finished round with every cycle of the press handle. As long as you keep the supply of brass, primers, powder and bullets topped up, you could continue to produce finished ammunition forever. After about 500 rounds with my Loadmaster, I'm ready for a break. ;) Just watching a Progressive operating without any reloading components will give you a good idea of how it works.
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Thanks 6, I'm guessing how the loadmaster works, and maybe the confusion comes from this - do all the stations have to perform a task for 45 auto? If any stations have no die, then a pull is still needed to pass that station. I guess I'm going back to the pro 1000 that does all jobs in 3 strokes, and I have heard online that some stations are optional.
 
BEARMAN said:
Compared to the PRO 1000 with it's 3 positions and the LOAD MASTER with it's 5 positions, there would only be 2 more movements of the handle before a finished cartridge slid out of the machine and from then on with every movement of the handle a cartridge would slide out. The Load master just gives you the option of separate bullet seating and crimping if needed. I am not trying to put you down or discourage you but it sounds like you don't fully understand how a progressive reloader works. May I suggest you maybe visit OMA RELOADING out on east HASTINGS in BURNABY ,in the past they have had a few reloading machines set up for people to try, give them a phone call. It wouldn't hurt to see one in operation, to understand how they operate.
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Thanks Bearman, look at my answer to 6 star. Also, where is OMA now, I drove out there yesterday, and it was not where I remember years ago.
 
avsecb2 said:
do all the stations have to perform a task for 45 auto? If any stations have no die, then a pull is still needed to pass that station. I guess I'm going back to the pro 1000 that does all jobs in 3 strokes, and I have heard online that some stations are optional.
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Every stroke produces a finished round. If one of the stations on a loadmaster doesn't do 'anything', it really has no effect on your output speed. it will take one extra stroker to fill the shellplate, then you can do a few hundred before it takes one extra stroke to empty the shell plate.

The pro1000 has three stations: size/deprime, re-primer/powder, and size/crimp. The Loadmaster has five: size/deprime, re-prime, powder, size, crimp. Separate sizing and crimping operations create more accurate ammo. Or, you can put a powder check die in the fourth and do size/crimp in the 5th.
 
avsecb2 said:
OK, so now you have me looking at Dillons. It appears that the bottom 2 or 3 models require handfeeding the cases and the bullets - is that right?
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Yes, the lower models don't have a case collator, but compared to that hand shaken, 4-tube collator that Lee provides, you'll feed cases by hand almost as fast. You will easily break even in time due to the fact that instead of resolving stoppages on the loadmaster, you'll be outputting ammo on the 550.

If you still must get a Lee, get the Loadmaster, not for the speed, but so you get adjustable primer depth and so you can crimp separate from the bullet seat.

Buy a dozen extra primer sliders, (you'll crush them as you go)

A couple extra primer ramps, (when you crush the slider, the primer will eat the edge of the ramp)

Get the adjustable charge bar for the powder measure and a scale, forget the disks and Lee's chart.

Buy a couple of decapping pins (unless you are only reloading new brass)

Buy that primer blast shield. (It should NOT be an option - no matter what primers you use)

RUN from the Bullet Feed Kit - it's junk.
 
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For $500 go Blue. You won't look back. Ask commercial reloaders if they use Lee press? Dillons can often be found on ebay at great prices and ready to go.
 
go for a Dillon 550B

Years ago I started with a single stage Rockchucker, non carbide dies with lube and a single stage press, thought it was great. I could load 50 rounds in about 2 hours. Had a sweet trickle powder loader to measure every load.
Then i bought a Lee Turret Press still have it, in the closet but it still works great. Had a Lee Pro 1000, what a nightmare. My bench wasn't the most solid, but everything was constantly coming loose. If powder ever spilled onto the turret it was hooped. Take it all apart clean it then do it again 10 rounds later. I spent more time screwing around with that Lee 1000 than I'll admit. Determined to get it to work, finally sold it back to the fella I bought it from.
My current press is a Dillon 550B, on a stable solid bench. I just love it. I shoot IPSC and reload alot. I'm taking my time when I load and can pump out 500 rounds in about 1.5hrs. I ordered a few extra small primer tubes so having them loaded before hand will make it even faster.
It's a simple press but runs great. Thinking about picking up a second Dillon 550B, having one dedicated to small and the other to large primers. Very easy to switch tool heads and change calibers.
I order parts and dies directly from Dillon over the phone and shipping is usually within 3 weeks.
Good luck with your choice, lots to pick from. Xray
 
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