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Lee 1000 progressive reloader

4K views 31 replies 24 participants last post by  Gray wolf 
#1 · (Edited)
Hi, I've been looking at upgrading my trusty old lee single stage press.
I want to buy a progressive press without spending a fortune. i will be reloading .357 mag for my GP100 for now and maybe 9mm down the track. I'm a casual shooter at my local range so I don't go through that much ammo. So whatever press I get , it will not get heavy use. Anyone use the lee 1000 as pictured ?. Any pros and cons about this model would be appreciated . Cheers gunna.
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#2 ·
Save your money and get a better press. If you gave me a lee progressive, I would turn around and give it away instead of using it. I know about 3-4 persons that bought that press and got rid of it within one year. too many complaints on powder system and priming system.
Yes some will come on here and praise it, but if you do a search you will find too many complaints to justify buying it.
 
#4 ·
I'm with HBK........I stated in another thread that I avoid anything with "Lee" attached to it. I purchased a Lee turret press back in the late 80's, I had it for six months......a total POS.

People who rant and rave about a Lee press haven't had their hand on a quality piece of equipment. Save your money and buy a Dillon if at all possible. You won't regret it.

There's a reason why they call the company Dillon Precision.


Here Kitty Kitty
 
#7 ·
I have two Lee presses I use all the time. I use Lee dies, powder measures, and the Auto Prime hand tools with total satisfaction. I bought Lee Pro 1000 progressive in .45acp for the same reasons the OP stated. It was the most frustrating, aggravating, piece of garbage I ever wasted my money on. This is the worst product Lee makes, and a major reason so many people bad-mouth Lee's quality. Nothing I could do would make the primer feed work. A case would leave the priming station without a primer, then be charged with powder which would spill into the press body making a big, flammable mess. Worse yet was when the Pro 1000 would tilt the primer 90 degrees before seating it, trashing the case and locking up the press. I unbolted it, stripped it of usable parts (dies, turret, powder-measure) and it sits in a box. Short version...DO NOT BUY.
 
#8 ·
I too bought the Pro 1000, just like others due to price. Yes it has a few quirks, but I have had acceptable results loading 9mm. I have loaded over 10,000 shells on this and when I run at an appropriate rate, it runs fine. Loading about 350 rds an hour. My measure drops accurately. Biggest problem is primer feed, but once figured out works well.

Yes, when it has problems it's a PITA until you figure it out.

Yes, If I was shooting IDPA, IPSC or any other game where I needed thousands of rounds a week/month, it would be Dillion!

I shot competitive 3 Gun NRA for about 30 years. Never trusted a progressive back then. Loaded over 1 million 45 acp and 38spl on a single stage. Had lots of brass and time. Cast my own bullets then also, 4 cavity die, and Star luber/sizer. Loaded all winter to shoot all year.
 
#9 ·
I had one years ago, but I spent more time tinkering with the thing trying to make it work than actually turning out ammo.

If you are just going to load pistol calibers, I'd look at the Dillon Square Deal B.
 
#10 ·
Thanks for the replies. Just watched a few utube vids on the lee 4 hole turret press . Might go with that I think.
 
#13 ·
Back in the day (late '60s) I had a RCBS Rock Chucker and RCBS dies. Then I quit reloading for about 15 years and sold all my good 'ol stuff. A few years ago I got the urge to reload again and looked at RCBS products. Man, the prices were sky high and the presses were said to made overseas. So, I got a Lee 4-hole turret press and it works perfectly after I disconnected the auto advance and primer setter. I turn the dies manually and use a Lee auto bench primer now and have about $150 in the whole setup including several Lee die sets.
 
#15 ·
Most Lee products are not only excellent, but are value priced. Lee has excellent customer service. While their progressive press may have issues, the Lee Classic turret press I use is reliable and durable (I have loaded many thousands of rounds using my press), and I would recommend it highly to the OP. I use it primarily to load .357 magnum, and I can do 100-150 rounds in an hour safely and precisely. The powder system delivers powder to my cases extremely consistently.
 
#23 ·
Thank you for this post. I have the same setup and have 3 turrets set up for .45 ACP, 9mm, and .223. I have no issues with it. A reloading friend has a Dillon for his pistol rounds. He loves it. When another friend asked what to buy, the one with the Dillon told him to come talk to me. Both were impressed with the Classic turret. I have not tried a 1000 so I can't comment on it. If Lee is low quality, I will take the low quality since it turns out identical rounds time after time.
 
#16 ·
I've used a variety of Lee products, other than there presses, and have never really had a bad experience. After better than 45 years of reloading I've used RCBS in there presses exclusively, in fact any problem I've ever had they were quick to replace at no cost, pretty much like Dillon, which is probably why there presses cost so much.
 
#17 ·
Try a Hornady lnl with the bullet rebate. I love mine great press great customer service.

Thewelshm
 
#18 ·
I have the Lee Loadmaster and never had any issues with it, yes there are a few minor adjustments to be made, but after that it has been running fine for 4 years now. I have loaded over 7000 rounds, including 357. 38 and 9mm and to this day it still running great would not change it for a more expensive one.
 
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#19 ·
I would go with the Lee classic Turret if you want a progressive on a budget. But then I'm happy with my Lee Classic cast single. I'm not in a hurry.
But I have 1k of 9mm and 4k of 5.56 in the cabinet as well as a pile of .357, ,45 AP and .308 Win. The .308 American get 1" at 200 yards so it's "Precision" enough for me. I also load .22-250 for my best friends Dad to keep his garden clear of vermin.(I don't own a .22-250 though, yet)
But as far as brand of reloading equipment I have Hornady, Lee, RCBS, Forster and Lyman on the bench and I'm happy with it all.
 
#20 ·
Well all this talk about the 1000 not worth it, I went down to the press and cranked out 1,000 9mm's today. I can load 100 shells in 11 minutes, then restock case feeder, primers, powder, takes about4 minutes(primer flipper not the best this is where most time is used). Keep going through the next 100 at another 11 minutes, and "feed" the press again.

As an average, without pressing for time, it will turn out 350-400 shells and hour. Good enough for me.

It does take time to get things "right", mainly keeping the primer trough CLEAN and Full, but once that is done it just cranks them out.
 
#24 ·
Well I couldn't wait and bought the lee 4 hole turret and auto disk powder thrower.
Havnt used it yet. Just ordered the adjustable charge bar and the expander die riser. So should be good to go soon. :D
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#28 ·
Congratulations. Once you get your process down pat, I think you will be pleased with the results.
Another tip--before actually loading, run about 10 shells through the powder dispensing step. I've seen it take up to that many for it to consistently drop the same amount of powder. It only takes a minute and is worth the trouble. I try to weigh the first 10 actual loadings and then 1 out of every 5 or 10 after that when I feel good about the powder drop. Maybe overkill, but it is just a little more time involved.
 
#29 ·
Thanks for the handy tips. I will be taking my time at first and double checking everything until I get to know this press for reliability and consistency . Cheers gunna.
 
#30 ·
Let us know how it works.

I've been using a Lee classic 4-hole turret for approx. 10 years. In fact I have 2 and both work flawlessly.

I don't use the auto-index or the auto-disk powder thing. I just use a funnel in the Powder-through die. The only trouble I've had is the triangle primer holder is kinda finicky. The older round style seemed to work better for me.

Have fun.
 
#31 ·
Lee LoadMaster

I have the 5 station Lee LoadMaster it has been trouble free and easy to use for a few hundred .45ACP per month.
Yes, I did some research and watched a few online videos that helped me avoid many of the issues others have had.
 
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