[DesertRat]

Is anyone using or have used either a Lee Pro 1000 or a Lee Load Master?



I'm thinking about getting the Lee Load Master (5 stations instead of 3), I've read the good the bad and the ugly about them; mostly off of Midwayusa.com's comments. It sounds good for the price but also sounds like it could be finicky. I have been loading for years for both rifle and handgun on a single stage Hornady 007. I like the press but cannot put out enough rounds for handgun ammo. What appeals to me is the Load Master is less expensive compared to other brands and I feel confident in Lee’s products and have several dies and other Lee accessories.

 

[Dan Burwell]

The Load master was my first progressive. I thought I saved enough money that I could justify the occasional aggravation. Which at first I did. Then as time went on I just couldn't take it any longer everytime I went to use it I had stop and fix soemthing at least once if not several times.



One time after I got a whole batch of ammo that mysteriously had a OAL just enough that my gun would fail to go into battery every 10th round. I took it off my bench ordered a 650XL and gave the loadmaster away. I just couldn't bring myself to take money from sombody for that thing.



The 650 has been excelent. It is great to be able to just go out and start pulling the handel.

 

[raz-0]

You get what you pay for basically sums it up. Unless you want a roll crimp, don't go for the three station version.



i used a lee 4-station turret press for a while. I thought I had it running well, but once i got a decent progressive press, it became apparant how spotty and inconsistant a well running lee press still was. My main concern with their progressives are all the plastic parts. If you need a progressive, it's because you load a lot, which means those parts are going to cycle a lot. If you don't load a lot, you don't need the progressive and could make do with a turret.



Personally, i'd spend the extra $100 and go for a dillon 550 or square deal. MUCH better presses.

 

[G56]

Those comments reflect my personal experience as well, I almost quit reloading because of my bad experience with Lee, but I replaced the equipment with better quality and really got into reloading. Almost everyone has made the mistake of buying something cheap to save money, and ends up spending far more than if they had bought first quality the first time.



I worked my way up to a Dillon 550 about 21 years ago, that was the best investment I ever made in reloading equipment.

 

[SeaSoldier]

I have never reloaded before. Is it cost effective to reload 9MM? Or is it more to tailor your loads for a specific purpose?

 

[raz-0]

9mm still depends on how you value your time a fair bit.



per 1000 you'll drop about $19 on primers, $52 on bullets, and about $10-12 on powder.



So about $80-85 a thousand if you shop around for componants. At $7 a box for the cheap stuff, it's about a $50 savings.

 

[SeaSoldier]

Thanks raz-0

 

[G56]

I can load 9mm with jacketed hollow point bullets for about $80 per thousand, that's less than half the cost of the cheap 9mm FMJ ammo. The way it usually turns out, you don't end up saving much if any money on shooting, but you are able to shoot a lot more for about the same amount of money!

 

[raz-0]

I can load 9mm with jacketed hollow point bullets for about $80 per thousand, that's less than half the cost of the cheap 9mm FMJ ammo. The way it usually turns out, you don't end up saving much if any money on shooting, but you are able to shoot a lot more for about the same amount of money!

Whose hollow points are you shooting? Might be able to do plated hollow points for that neighborhood, but with the inccrease in the cost of bullets and primers these days, I'd be hard pressed to get close to $90 for hollow points.

 

[G56]

Well, prices have gone up some since I bought 9mm bullets, I was buying them for just under $50 per thousand, now they are running in the general area of $63 and up, that only adds about another penny per round, so at current prices it's going to get close to $90 per thousand.



Winchester 115 gr JHP 1,000 $62.99

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/...leitemid=208196



Remington 115 gr JHP 1,000 $64.99

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/...eitemid=278887R



Rainier 115 gr plated HP 1,000 $55.99

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/...leitemid=170487



Roze Distribution 115 gr JHP 1,000 $65.26 shipped

http://www.rozedist.com/ Roze has the best deal on 9mm JHP's since the price per 1,000 includes shipping. I've used Zero bullets from Roze before in 9mm and they are excellent, as a matter of fact, that's what I'm loading right now, but I'm getting low.



I'll probably be buying plated hollow points the next time I buy 9mm bullets.

 

[DesertRat]

Thanks DB, raz-0 & G56 for your comments and will keep them in mind when it comes time to buy another press. If I have anymore questions I'm sure I'll be asking.

Again . . . Thank you.

 

[ArnisAndyz]

I've been loading 9mm with a hand-me-down Pro1000. It works and it was free. First think I did was strip off the priming system which is where most of the headaches occur. I batch size/decap on a single stage press then use a hand priming tool to seat the primers before they go on the progressive. I have station 1 setup to bell and charge, 2 to seat and 3 for the factory Crimp Die. I also have a Dillon Square deal to load 45. If your on a budget and plan on only loading one pistol caliber the Square Deal might be a better way to go.

 

[G56]

I'll probably be buying plated hollow points the next time I buy 9mm bullets.

I ordered a box of 1,000 Rainier 9mm hollow points yesterday, now all I have to do is get some more primers!

 

[PPC'r]

I'm very thankful that I took the advice of my fellow shooters when I decided to start reloading. I too, was going to buy the Lee 1000 press. They all said, "NO DON'T DO IT, BUY A DILLON". I did and never looked back. If just pistol calibers the Square Deal B press is perfect. I now have four of them so I don't have to change dies or set-ups. They also stand 100% behind their products. Dillon and don't look back is my advice to you. Also, if you are looking for bullets, a good source is www.precisiondelta.com. I get their 124 gr fmj 9mm bullets for 51.00 per thousand shipped. These are true full metal jacketed bullets and not just plated.

 

[G56]

Precision Delta looks like a pretty good source for a lot of things, I used to shoot Star lead HBWC back when I was competing in PPC, I think those things would leave 5% of the bullet weight behind in leading the barrel and cylinder of my S&W Model 13 PPC revolver!

 

[PPC'r]

G56 do you still shoot PPC? If you do, or want to, Precision delta has excellent 148 gr hbwc bullets.

 

[sacshooter48]

getting divorced from Lee

I too am leaving my two Lee presses behind (Load master .223 & Pro 1K 9mm). See previous conversations in reloading forum. Dillon 650 on order.

 

[big maico]

I know what you guy's are saying about the Pro 1000.

But I've learned all the little tricks in 40 years of using one, you have to keep them clean & polish a few parts up. also keep an eye on the little plastic gears in the Shell carrier.

The main problem most guy's have is with the primer system, a little graphite in the primer slide & you should be good to go.

Also if you do a heavy session of reloading take apart the shell carrier & clean the heck out of it.

Lot's of YouTube Setup videos that can help you keep the little pro 100 working!

Is it as good as a Dillon? Nope not even close! But you can load a decent amount of good ammo on it. Just not nearly as fast a Dillon!

 

[Rick M]

I've had my Dillon RL 550 B for over 20 years now. It's paid for itself many times over, and I'm sure the lack of frustration in dealing with some of the Lee quirks y'all have mentioned is probably worth a good bit, too.

 

[Kandress]

I use a loadmaster for 9 and 45. I couldn't afford a 650 at the time so I got this. It can be frustrating at times however it works well enough. It's not in the same category as the Dillon in any case and if you can afford a 650 buy it. If not this press will get the job done.