Like most reloaders I have a bunch of different reloading brands present on my bench, but the two most common brands are RCBS and Lee. Lee is known for making low cost reloading tools, and it has been said that Lee has gotten more people into reloading than all the others combined. Based on cost alone, I think this is likely a true statement but I can't prove it one way or another.
I've been using the Lee Pro1000 to reload 223 ammunition for the last couple months, and my decision to go with a ball powder (Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR) may not have been necessary. I haven't had a chance to compare with a stick powder like my favorite 4064, but the ball powder kind of ends up everywhere. On the flip side of that, the Auto Disk Pro dispenser works fine once I swapped over from return chain to spring. The return chain was screwing up my feel for the primer seating step, so going to a spring return fixed that. The return spring also makes tool head swaps much easier as everything is a self contained unit ready for detachment and replacement.
Other things I did wrong? I lubed the squeak out of it, but that also caused the auto indexing rod to come unscrewed from the shell plate. Nothing like having your press come undone midstroke to make you scratch your head.
The priming system is working ok with the Wolf primers, but I've been debating making a few more notches in the post to rattle the feed tray even more with each stroke as there is the occasional failure to get enough pressure behind the priming tube to advance another primer. But now that seating the primer is the only operation on the upstroke, it is easy to feel a missed primer and correct it.
Would I go with a Pro1000 again? Yes, but not for 223. The Pro1000 is just fine for 9x19 or 45ACP or any other pistol cartridge you care to load in quantity. For 223 I would get something a little higher end that could handle other rifle cartridges such as 308 or 30-06 which would make more sense for me as I shoot a lot more rifle than pistol.
Now, am I going to get rid of my Pro1000? Definitely not. It does what is was advertised to do, and that is load plenty of ammo in a pretty short time. I'm not to worried about inconsistent COAL measurements because it is too easy for me to seat long on the Lee and do a final seating on my RCBS Jr. single stage press if I wanted to. Right now I'm not a good enough shooter to know the difference, but maybe down the road.
The number one thing that having a progressive press have taught me? Case prep is a beast, I just ordered a Possum Hollow power trimmer to speed up my prep process. Trimming to length 2000 once fired milsurp 5.56 brass isn't something you really want to spend the rest of your life on...
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4 comments:
Thanks for the write up. I am still new to reloading and considering getting a progressive press...
I like my Pro1000. It took a little tinkering at first and now it runs like a champ. I keep a close eye on the primer feed to make sure it feeds every time. Things like 44mag and 45 Colt I still load on my Rock Chucker. At one time I even had a Lee load all for 12 gauge. It's been replaced by a MEC sizemaster. The only Lee product I have never cared for is their scales. I'll stick with my old 505 RCBS. My very first loader for metallic was the original Lee loader. The one you use a mallet with in 38/357. Those were the days, sitting in the living room floor loading 38's one at a time.
Make sure you never get low on primers....once it goes below the visible point on the primer tray, stop and reload more primers. The weight of the primers is the only thing that pushes them into the slide, and into the primer cup.
(and never, never, NEVER try out a Dillon press....you'll cry when you start using the Pro1000 again)
Amen, Millerized. I started out many, many years ago on RCBS equipment, but once I discovered Dillon, I never looked back. Great presses, great company, great customer service. Well worth the extra money.
I started out with the Square Deal for .45, .44, .357 and 9mm, then got a 550B. I've loaded close to 100K rounds in various calibers on my old 550B press. One of these days in the not too distant future I'll spring for a 650.
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