Lee Pro 1000

PaulS · Posted: Sun May 14, 2006 10:43 pm Post subject: Re: Lee Pro 1000

George,

I accept that it won't make any difference in your reloading - and it shouldn't as long as you are getting the accuracy that you want. All shell holders have slop - they have to in order to slide the case in and out, The dies have some play until you get it all pushed into place. Once you get it pushed all the way up if there is any mis-alignment it can bend things that count. That is why I have the presses that I do - no play - no flex - no bent ammo. On the topic of single stage presses, My 550 is the only press that I have ever operated in a multistage use. My Lyman turret and RCBS both are used single stage only. I get good results and have a system that can turn out loaded ammo faster than I need to have for shooting. I actually spend very little time loading these days - I don't compete anymore so I shoot for fun and to kill now. The killing is a kind of sacred act for meas I view my prey as a gift from God and I take the animal with a great deal of respect - which is why I am an accuracy nut.

george20042007 · Posted: Sun May 14, 2006 11:00 pm Post subject: Re: Lee Pro 1000

Amen PaulS. I view game animals in the same way as you. That usually explains why I'm reluctant to take a shot if it's less than perfect. When I call a coyote in, I like to observe him. It's fascinating to watch.
Keep it coming...

PaulS · Posted: Sun May 14, 2006 11:33 pm Post subject: Re: Lee Pro 1000

George,

What calibers do you reload for - What are the ones that you use most?
I have my reloading down to my favorites now and load for these:
357 Magnum
357 Maximum
45 Colt
30-30 Win
30-06
358 Win
I have to work to get enough shooting in on these so I don't shoot the others much. I am affraid that the next to go will be my 358 Win. I am recoil sensitive and with my back injuries I can't shoot it much but it is a custom rifle that I made for me and probably the most accurate of all my guns. I shoot it less than I like but I just don't want to let go of it. Of the pistols my 14 inch Maximum is the hardest for me to handle - it hurts my hand to shoot more than twenty rounds. It's not really a necessary gun though - I shoot it for fun and don't hunt with a handgun anymore. The maximum carbine that I built is a good deer gun but its not as comfortable as my 06 or 358. Those are my favorites. the 06 was my dad's while he was alive and I learned how to shoot a rifle with it. I have changed it a bit since then with a turned bolt handle, scope, Timney trigger and safety. I did away with the magazine catch and free floated the custom stock my dad finished for it. I think he'd like it if he was still around. My 357 magnum is the first revolver I ever owned. It shoots better now than it did when I was competing with it and I like shooting targets and plinking with it when I can. I used to shoot ground squirrels with it but we got rid of all the little critters that kept getting into the garden. The ones that are left are content to hunt the wild bushes for food and stay clear of the garden. As long as they stay on their side of the border there is no reason to kill the little critters.

So what about you and your guns?

george20042007 · Posted: Mon May 15, 2006 9:45 pm Post subject: Re: Lee Pro 1000

PaulS, I load the following:
.223 Remington
.243 Winchester
30-06
45-70
300 Weathwerby Mag
44 Mag
45 ACP
45 LC
454 Casull
460 S&W
As of late, I shoot .223 & .243 a lot & the 460 S&W. Next in line would be the 45 LC as I head to the desert packing 2 45 colt replicas & a 45 cal Marlin 1894 Cowboy.
I'm also into Trap & skeet shooting, s, I load 12 ga. a lot as well. I shoot a lot, but, don't count anymore, I just budget about $100.00 a month on loading supplies, and that's pretty much what I use up. The 300 Weatherby Mag is new and plan to spend some time with it as I hope to get some Elk hunting in this coming season.
Keep it coming...

Baldy · Rookie Member Joined: Jul 05, 2006 Posts: 5

Well I have both a Lee Pro 1000 and a Dillon SDB. Seems to me I got to keep a real sharp eye on the 1000 at all points but the case loader. The Dillon I just watch my powder and crank them out. The Dillon is a far better press, a lot easier to use. For some reason there is always something you have to adjust to get the Lee up and going. At the end of a box with the Lee I have to run about 10 of my 45's back through my Dillon to recrimp them. I have set the Lee die up and down. Some times it wants to work and sometimes it don't. Powder will bounce up and down the scale sometimes. I have to weight every load.

Crackshot · Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2006 7:31 am Post subject: Re: Lee Pro 1000

I would take iff the same bench with my Dillon. :):)

george20042007 · Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2006 8:42 am Post subject: Re: Lee Pro 1000

And I was thinking about getting one of those LEE presses. Thanks for the heads up. I will probably go for a single stage unit. That seems to fit into my style of reloading better.
Keep it coming...

P.S. Welcome to the forum Wave

Baldy · Rookie Member Joined: Jul 05, 2006 Posts: 5

Well Crackshot I haven't had it that long and I am still working with it. I got it at a price I couldn't refuse. My idea was to set it up for 45 only and use the Dillon for other cal's.

george20042007 · Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2006 1:38 pm Post subject: Re: Lee Pro 1000

Hey Baldy, did you ever hear the phrase "you only get what you pay for"?
Seems to me the early warning signal was there Very Happy

Keep it coming...

Crackshot · Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2006 2:42 pm Post subject: Re: Lee Pro 1000

Thats true george, how true.

Baldy · Rookie Member Joined: Jul 05, 2006 Posts: 5

Now george why would you be worried about my spending? I got it used and I have already run 2 boxes of shooters through it. That was just playing with it. I think I'll have every dime I got in it out of it in three months. These things last for 20/30 years or more from what I understand. I admit my time is short but I do think I'll see a return on this investment. Have a good evening. Laughing

george20042007 · Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2006 8:58 pm Post subject: Re: Lee Pro 1000

Baldy, my main press is a LEE turret, the first generation where there are 3 holes for the dies. I've had mine since 1982 and still have no play in it, so they do last a long time. PaulS didn't agree with me when I said I had no play in the turret, he claims if there is moving parts involved thre must be some play. But, the lugs that lock the turret in position holds it firmly in place. I guessif it doesn't come from RCBS or REDDING it just couldn't be that good. Wrong Fencing

I'm sure if you play with it, you'll make it work right. Read Book

Keep it coming...

Baldy · Rookie Member Joined: Jul 05, 2006 Posts: 5

The Press it's self is sloid enough to get the job done that's for sure. I am haveing more trouble with the powder throw than anything. I am going to call them tomorrow and get one of them fine adjusting charge bars. They list for $10.00. I think that will take care of the problem. I think someone wanting to get into reloading on a limited budget or someone like myself who is going to decate it to one caliber, it'll do OK. I would not recomed it for rifle loads. I would want a single stage for that anyway. I'll wear out before it does and my children can fight over it. See you later george. Very Happy

PaulS · Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2006 1:02 am Post subject: Re: Lee Pro 1000

Now George, I do recall saying that the Lee turret presses had play, but not because it had moving parts - My turret press has moving parts too but it is supported by tapered bearings and has a reaction point opposite the ram that keeps play to a measured zero. (undetectable even with a dial indicator that reads in 1/100 mm [0.0003"])
The Lee press drops in place and turns freely in the receiver with only a spring loaded detent to align the bore of the rotor and the ram. There is nothing to take up the play between the rotor and the receiver. Another user of the Lee turret measured his play with feeler gauges at over .020 at which time you said that yours had no play and didn't need to measure it.
I did accept that you could produce accurate ammo and shrugged at how you could because my brother and I had bent cases from loading 6mm TCU rounds with the press. They were bending as the rotor tipped under load causing a misalignment between the die and the ram. I would like to put a dial indicator on your press and be proven wrong but it is totally counter intuitive to think that there is no play in a device that requires play in it to move from one rotor to another in the manner that Lee does.

Crackshot · Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2006 7:37 am Post subject: Re: Lee Pro 1000

There has to be play in it, or it could not move!
Nothing in the world wrong with Lee products if you like them. I dont like their presses, but use their dies and priming tool's and other odd's and end's.
OH..... I have been to over 200 shooting matches and have seen lots of guys loading at their tailgates or where ever....and never seen a Lee press being used once