OK, now's your chance to say I told you so. After only a month or so of loading for JUST ONE 40 S&W I'm about tired of it.

What are you guy's thoughts on a Lee Pro 1000. ($140 at Midway, set up to load 40 S&W's) I'm not all that keen on a progressive press of any kind but the way the youngest goes through ammo practicing, I can't keep up anymore. Even he's getting tired of pulling the handle four times to get one round.

RJ

I havn't used one, but Lee sure sells a bunch of them. I've used an old Star I bought from the Lewiston Police department and a Dillon and both of those worked great. Near all the equipment on my bench is Lee. I've thought about the Pro-1000 every time I start putting out 38's and 40's also and they sure seem a bargain for a progressive press.

Perhaps some folks using them can help us out here.

Sounds like you're loading one case at a time. After the first loaded round comes off on the upstroke after three down pulls, a loaded round comes with each down pull of the handle. Could you please describe your loading procedure?

I have two Lee Pro 1000s. One is for 9mm and one is for .45 ACP.
They are fine presses. Reliable. Durable. The .45 set up has loaded at least 50K rounds and the only problem was that once a small plastic sprocket broke. Once.
I also have a Dillon Square Deal B and a Dillon 550B, so I have a basis for comparison.
Pete

cukrus, I only have a single stage press. From what I've been able to read about the Pro 1000, which is mostly advertising hype, they are the best for the price. I just wanted some feedback from somebody who had one and with Pete D. havign 2 of them with no complaints, I think I'm sold. Like olde Bob :D I've had excellant luck with Lee products.

RJ

I getcha now. I have 2 of 'em as well. One for 38 Super and 9mm, the other for 38 Special and 357 mag so I don't have to change shell plates - don't have time as my wife does more shooting than reloading. How old is your youngest? He may do better with the Lee 1000 than a lot of other folks. The Lee is compact and lots of stuff happens on the up and the down strokes. Pay attention to the primer feed and feel the primer seat. Make sure the shell plate carrier is secure so it doesn't move up and down on the ram. I wouldn't bother with another bullet feeder myself as we shoot cast and the lube is a bit of a mess with the bullet feeder. Case feeder and collator are worth it for sure. Get a light set up so you can see into the case at the last station to visually check your powder charge before seating a bullet. Don't run out of powder or primers (keep the primer chute clean and filled as high as the tray joint let's you see.) I twist a wire tie on the powder measure return chain just below the chain's connector link to flag for chain separations. Hope you have plenty of cases and bullets. No need to rush, adjust your pace to the press. Mine really sing when they're in tune.

Good review guys, thanks I think I might get one when more funds become available. How about it recoil, does that answer your question. I understand you can buy not only the shell plate to change around calibers but the whole head and set it up to just pop on with dies, powder measure and all ready to go.

I'm definately going to have to part with the funds and get one. Looking at Midway, they come in just about anything. I've got to get some more money put by so I can get a new revolver in 357 mag. Probably a Taurus tracker 8 shot but that will have to be another thread I s'pose. Then I'll have to get one for that too :o

For the $140 bucks a guy can get another one and just leave them set up or build an interchangable plate so they are not ALL mounted on the bench. Right now I can wheel from one spot to another in my gunroom and not have to get out of my chair. Now that's lazy :eek: If I have another press set-up I'll have to add more bench space which means I'll reall have to clean up the boar's nest.

RJ

When I got my first Lee 1000 - the .45 ACP setup - years ago, I was living in an apt. in NYC. I kept it mounted on a piece of plywood and stored behind the sofa in the LR. When I wanted to use it, I'd clamp it to the kitchen table with two woodworking clamps. Everything else was in a tool box in a closet. Only loaded two calibers then. Back in the day.
Pete

Well, I went and done it. I ordered one yesterday from Midway and it should be here midweek.

I'm sure I'll have a few questions when it comes to getting it all set up. If it's like the other Lee products I have it should be pretty simple.

RJ

be patient with the set up - you will be fustrated initially but these presses make a great round- i have .380 9mm and 45 - i do put the round through the lee post size and crimp though using my old rcbs

I bought one five years ago. Out of the box it was fine. I have heard the problems arise from CCI primers and that is where I was having my problems. Maybe I will try something else like a turret press. I only reload two rounds now. 45C and 30-30 Win.

Lee Pro 1000, best BANG for the buck. I've had mine for about 10 years. The only thing I would change is to make it a 4 die turret so that the semi autos, 9 and 45, can be factory crimped. Still, I get by without it. Buy it. You'll like it.
Bob

Hello all,
I've had one for about 15 years and have so many rounds through it I've had to replace parts.
I reload 9mm, 357mag. and 44mag. on it.
I'm really happy with it, but I just need to replace a few more warn out parts and it will be just like new.:D

Just my $0.02 worth.

Scott5

I've been using mine for 38/357 of close to 10 years now. Buy the bullet feeder too, worth the $$$ rather than dropping a bullet on the case for every round.

I plan on buying one for 45acp too, for the 1911, and that 325pd.

After near 1000 rounds of 40 S&W through mine since I bought it, I am pretty impressed. It did take some getting used to, but nothing that wasn't disasterous. Using CCI primers as recomended by Lee and so far evey round has gone bang.

The most important thing to remember? TURN THE POWDER ON!!!!!

RJ

I also use and like Lee products. Lee has enabled more people to get into reloading than any other company out there. It is refreshing to read a thread on Lee products with no bashing.:)
Cary

Have you thought about the Lee Classic turret press from cabela's for $269.00 for the whole set? Then you could buy other dies for $19.00 and load other calibers as well. The speed and quality is there.
Just a thought. Couldn't live without mine.

Good luck.
Marlinreloader.

I have 3 presses and a #45 Lyman lubersizer set up permanently and a Trueline Jr. that is removable, I don't have the room right now. That and the little Mrs. has put a "moritorium" on my guns and reloading stuff. This does not include components, luckily. Phew!

RJ