Lee pro 1000 issues.

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swar45

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I could probably scream right now I'm so frustrated. I'm new to reloading. Been reading up on it with a friend. We got a press and all that good stuff. We got the lee pro 1000 45acp kit. For some reason, unknown to me, I can't figure it out, the primers keep getting jammed. Their getting jammed at the shell plate. It looks like the corner of the bottom of the shell plate is catching the side of the primer and flipping it on its side. I tried zeroing the shell plate. They keep getting tangled up down there, turning sideways, and getting clogged up. Sometimes one won't even feed into the slot.

What am I doing wrong here?
 
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I can't say for sure, but I would steer you to the Lee website as they may have some trouble shooting videos there. Maybe youtube also. I used a Pro-1000 for several years to load .45, .38, and .44 Magnum, but it finally just became really rickety and I felt that I needed the 4th station. It was always very tempermental and I think that some brands of primers caused more trouble than others. I'm not going to bash Lee, I am a very satisfied user of a Lee Classic. I find that I can load all the ammo on need on it without the quirks of the Pro-1000. I realize that you are commited to the machine at this point so I wish you the best.
 
I have one ... I removed the primer system.
it is, as you have discovered, recycled McDonalds grumpy meal toys.

Ya didn't read half as much going in as you think ...
First press advice goes single stage turret, single stage O frame, single stage c frame, and single stage hand press in that order.

the common theme is single stage.
you have enough on your plate trying to use the dies correctly and learning your scale like a mistress to ultimately develop the ultimate in ammunition, without all the wrench flipping and tweak fest marathon imposed by a progressive of any type.
its just more complexity to mess up your squash.

supplement that press with a single stage and graduate to the progressive after you have your act together.
 
venomballistics said:
I have one ... I removed the primer system.
it is, as you have discovered, recycled McDonalds grumpy meal toys.

Ya didn't read half as much going in as you think ...
First press advice goes single stage turret, single stage O frame, single stage c frame, and single stage hand press in that order.

the common theme is single stage.
you have enough on your plate trying to use the dies correctly and learning your scale like a mistress to ultimately develop the ultimate in ammunition, without all the wrench flipping and tweak fest marathon imposed by a progressive of any type.
its just more complexity to mess up your squash.

supplement that press with a single stage and graduate to the progressive after you have your act together.
Click to expand...

Why thank you. That answers my question perfectly!!!

Yea I know they say to start with that. I didn't. I'm also not trying to crank out a million rounds an hour. I'm going nice and slow and measuring every round before I seat the bullet. I understand that single stage is better to start on. But I know that I eventually want a progressive so I got that and chose to take a turtle pace until i "get my act together".
 
swar45 said:
Why thank you. That answers my question perfectly!!!

Yea I know they say to start with that. I didn't. I'm also not trying to crank out a million rounds an hour. I'm going nice and slow and measuring every round before I seat the bullet. I understand that single stage is better to start on. But I know that I eventually want a progressive so I got that and chose to take a turtle pace until i "get my act together".
Click to expand...

I don't exactly run mine as directed ;)
my rounds take two trips through it.
I tumble the brass, load the tubes and just size and flare.
Priming is done off the press, which gives me a chance to give the brass another inspection before its committed.
next trip through its charged with powder at position 1, Bullet seated at position 2, then taper crimped to perfection at position 3.

While it's a bit of a debate, I prefer hand priming over letting the press do it. Its how I cut my teeth and I like the extra inspection step it provides.
 
Not a bad idea. Are reloading presses returnable though? Thinking that's my best bet honestly. I was able to get 3 rounds completed through it though. (That took about 2 hours lol)
 
swar45 said:
Not a bad idea. Are reloading presses returnable though? Thinking that's my best bet honestly. I was able to get 3 rounds completed through it though. (That took about 2 hours lol)
Click to expand...

generally .. yes they are returnable.
but then .. if ya stop and think about the advice I gave you, see and understand how I came to that method, it's really not that pressing of an issue.
Everything else about the press DOES work, and rather well.
its just that the priming system was designed under the influence of psychotropic drugs.

Autos get hungry which is why I have the experience to share with you;)
 
swar45 said:
I'm wondering if their returnable at this point lol.
Click to expand...

Guess that would depend on where you bought it-seriously. :rolleyes:

I still have my 1978 RCBS single stage press and use it constantly for several things. I still have my original Lee 3 hole turret press and still reload on it, even though the auto index gave out and I have to rotate the turret manually.

I finally upgraded to the Lee Classic Cast 4 hole turret press and use the 4 die deluxe pistol sets, Safety primer feed system and the Lee auto disk powder measures.

I did A LOT of research on the Lee Pro 1000 and the Loadmaster progressive. That's when I bought the Lee Classic turret press. I want to load ammo and have fun shooting; not be trying to get my press to work. There are several good videos on youtube that will help you and if you can get it tweaked, it should turn out decent enough ammo. If you keep it, you will spend more time tweaking than reloading, IMO. :(
It's not about speed, it's about being consistent, I can load 50 rounds in about 30 minutes, but that also includes checking every 10th round for powder drop, COL and checking in my Lyman Cartridge Gauge. I could go faster, but I choose not to.
Consistency at the bench + consistency at the range = :D
 
I would be happy with that outcome. 100 rounds an hour would be awesome. Fine by me. I'm not looking to reload a million rounds and hour. But more than 3 in 2 hours would be nice. I bought it at cabelas. I'm going to call them tomorrow and see if I can return it. I read about the issues with this press before I bought it but really didn't think it would be this bad.
 
The 4 hole classic turret is a great press for the money. Not a fussy machine at all. Can be easily used as a single stage during the educational phase. I even loaded some 500 S&W on mine and it worked very well. I wouldn't touch that Lee 1000 and I actually like to tinker with stuff. They hit a home run with the turret for the money IMOP. I usually do 75 to 100 rounds in an hour on the turret. The big time savings is in not having to reset dies every caliber change. Just change turrets:). Very consistent.
 
I used a Lee 1000 for years and the primer feed system took a lot of tweeking to get it to work, I had to add shims to get the feed angles to where it would work most of the time, it was generally a real pain. The powder disk measure was another problem as it would not properly meter out small quantities of Bullseye for my .38 wadcutter leading to inconsistent velocities a few squib loads. I retired it and now use a Dillon, no problems since I drank the blue koolaid. I would return it if possible and use a different press.
 
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Definitely head over to the Loadmaster Forum - lot's of people that can help you. Although I did not own a 1000 I do own a Lee Classic and have owned 2 Loadmasters. I just recently moved up to a Hornady LNL Ammo Plant but quite honestly I was happy with the Loadmasters. I had one setup for small primer rounds and one for large primer. Once you get them tuned up you can crank out lot's of rounds. I suspect you have your shell plate too loose or possibly it's just your technique? Please excuse my question but are you using 45 acp brass with small or large primer and are you starting out with clean brass?
 
Smith357 said:
I used a Lee 1000 for years and the primer feed system took a lot of tweeking to get it to work, I had to add shims to get the feed angles to where it would work most of the time, it was generally a real pain. The powder disk measure was another problem as it would not properly meter out small quantities of Bullseye for my .38 wadcutter leading to inconsistent velocities a few squib loads. I retired it and now use a Dillon, no problems since I drank the blue koolaid. I would return it if possible and use a different press.
Click to expand...


Like a Hornady right ??:

Thewelshm
 
ageingstudent said:
The 4 hole classic turret is a great press for the money. Not a fussy machine at all. Can be easily used as a single stage during the educational phase. I even loaded some 500 S&W on mine and it worked very well. I wouldn't touch that Lee 1000 and I actually like to tinker with stuff. They hit a home run with the turret for the money IMOP. I usually do 75 to 100 rounds in an hour on the turret. The big time savings is in not having to reset dies every caliber change. Just change turrets:). Very consistent.
Click to expand...

+1 on the above. :) IMO, the turret press is the best compromise between single stage and a progressive. All my dies are set up in their own turret and each pistol set has it's own Auto Disk powder measure installed. Takes very little time for change over to another caliber.

If you could take the Pro 1000 back and exchange for the Classic turret, you could definitely get more than 3 rounds in 2 hours! :rolleyes: Good luck, no matter what you do ;)
 
MyDads38 said:
+1 on the above. :) IMO, the turret press is the best compromise between single stage and a progressive. All my dies are set up in their own turret and each pistol set has it's own Auto Disk powder measure installed. Takes very little time for change over to another caliber.

This is how I have mine set up. I can load 50 or 60 rounds of .38 special and switch over and load some .380 without missing a beat.
Click to expand...
 
I have had both the pro 1000 and Roadmaster.

The priming system is a pain in the butt. I never loaded so many upside down or sideways primers. We had a chain reaction of primers go off in the pro 1000 with small pistol primers. This was before the shield was added.

I was in your position with the new load master when it first came out. It went back a couple times and I was having a lot of problems. I called this guy and talked to him for 1/2 hour getting pointers and tips on how to use it. When I got done and felt much better, I asked who i was talking to. He said my name is Richard. I said Richard who? He said LEE.

The phone call helped a ton. I have used other brands of presses. I ended up drinking the blue kool aid too.

Good luck, be patient with your machine and it will work. Keep a constant eye on the primer system.

David
 
Your target count is 100 rounds an hour?

If you get a decent single stage press, and a decent powder measure, once you get a rhythm going, you can get real close to 100/hour at about half the cost.
 
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