Sagetown
Member
I own a Pro 1000. After set-up they need tweaking. It is a teadous task for the inexperineced reloader, but knowledge and experience will improve with time. Changing calibers is like starting all over again.
Lee pro 1000 reloader issues
- Thread starter HTreinen
- Start date
papajohn428
Member
I got tired paying for the postage to ship broken parts back to Lee so I could get my replacement parts for free. One of my local gunshops had the Hornady unit on clearance, so I snagged it. It has features I like better than the Lee system (Bigger tray, standard shellholders, more ergonomic design, STEEL components) but I've been using the Lee for decades and know it pretty well. I now tend to use the Lee for my 45ACP brass (far fewer tight primer pockets) and the Hornady for anything that needs a little extra force used, like S&B brass.
"Time to look at other brands I guess- Lee seems to be the Harbor Freight of reloading these days-Cheap and poor quality"
Lee has been bashed for years for making cheap equipment. I have yet to see an actual problem with the presses themselves, they're plenty sturdy. I've done case-forming on my antique 3-hole turret press, and the weakest link that day was the 150-pound bench it was bolted to, the press worked fine. The problem is usually the stuff they attach to their presses, either poorly designed or poorly executed. At this point I'm pretty well convinced that for batch-loading, Lee is the way to go, on the cheap. If you want a true Progressive, get a Dillon. There are few "in-between" solutions that work very well.
I just like batch loading because I don't trust anything mechanical to work 100% of the time, especially when it's doing things like seating primers perfectly or dropping the correct amount of powder. When you batch load, you KNOW those things are perfect, because you took a moment and checked it. I shoot with too many Dillon users to believe all their ammo is perfect, I've seen the issues they've had. I might someday get a Dillon, but it will be for ONE caliber only, and I will have every safeguard available installed. I learned a long time ago that as soon as you trust a machine, and turn your back on it, that's when it slips a cog or jumps the tracks, and it can take several headaches and a lot of backtracking to put things right. I am not a fan of breaking down ammo, either. By batch loading, I no longer have to worry about things like that.
Lee isn't anything close to Harbor Freight.
I hear a lot of people say that people don't like Lee because they are lower priced. I've never heard anyone say that, I'm not saying it's never happened, just never seen it. But at the same time, giving an honest opinion on a product that isn't favorable is not "bashing". Lee products are lower priced for a reason and they are making a profit just like anyone else in the business. I've used several Lee presses and if you want a Lee press that will equal anyone elses it will cost you about as much.
When my son decided to get into reloading he said he researched it online and found that Lee products were just as good as anyone elses, so he was going to buy Lee because they were cheaper. I took him into my reloading room and had him load 10 rounds of .38 special on Lee equipment, press, dies, priming and powder dispenser. Then I had him load 10 more rounds on RCBS equipment, press, dies, priming and powder dispenser. He changed his mind and said he wanted RCBS instead. There's a lot more too it than price. I gave him the Lee equipment and told him to use it until he found some better stuff used, which he did.
I hear a lot of people say that people don't like Lee because they are lower priced. I've never heard anyone say that, I'm not saying it's never happened, just never seen it. But at the same time, giving an honest opinion on a product that isn't favorable is not "bashing". Lee products are lower priced for a reason and they are making a profit just like anyone else in the business. I've used several Lee presses and if you want a Lee press that will equal anyone elses it will cost you about as much.
When my son decided to get into reloading he said he researched it online and found that Lee products were just as good as anyone elses, so he was going to buy Lee because they were cheaper. I took him into my reloading room and had him load 10 rounds of .38 special on Lee equipment, press, dies, priming and powder dispenser. Then I had him load 10 more rounds on RCBS equipment, press, dies, priming and powder dispenser. He changed his mind and said he wanted RCBS instead. There's a lot more too it than price. I gave him the Lee equipment and told him to use it until he found some better stuff used, which he did.
Skip Sackett
US Veteran
I have to agree here. Harbor Freight is better! NO, I'M JUST KIDDING!
Don't anyone take that seriously! I have tons of Lee stuff.
You do have to look at what you buy from an engineering point of vie though. If it looks rinky dink, it probably is.
Someone had a thread on one of the forums about: "What was the worst press you have ever bought." I remember I chimed back: "I never bought a bad press because I could see the way they were designed and left them on the shelf at the store!" (One of those was the Lee progressive!
)There is nothing wrong with their other stuff though. It works as designed. I have almost nothing other than Lee dies and my 45ACP ones have loaded thousands and thousands of rounds with no fault nor failure. My Lee Classic Cast Turret Press has loaded several thousand rounds and is dedicated to my accuracy rifle rounds now. The domaflatchy that makes it auto advance gave out. I have another one but..............It works fine as is.
FWIW
I wasn't, that was what I was saying. Harbor Freight has lower prices on tools that come off the exact same assembly line as sold by "American" companies. I have tons of Lee dies, plus a lot of their other equipment, and tons of tools too. And you are right, if you use stuff enough and become familiar with it, you can tell the difference. If not by looking at it then surely by feel.
Model19man
Member
I have been using Lee 1000 presses for 20 years or more. I have perhaps 10 calibers of different dies, finally bought a Lee turret press and a second Pro 1000. Now I keep one just for 45ACP, another just for 38 / 357 and load other calibers on the turret press. Can't say anything bad about the Lee stuff, it has always worked perfectly when the operator did his part.
