Lee Pro 1000... comments?

S391 · April 13, 2009, 11:43 AM

First off, thank you to everyone who responded to my thread about the Lee Classic Turret. Since this is such a great resource I figured I might as well take advantage of it and ask another question; what do you folks think of the Lee Pro 1000?

I don’t plan on using my reloader for anything other than loading 9mm ammo so that I have enough on hand to be able to shoot when I want to shoot. The Pro 1000 seems to be a slick little rig for someone like me but I understand that it can be fickle unless you have it set up properly.

I would be interested in your comments and thoughts.

Thanks.

rwilson452 · April 13, 2009, 12:15 PM

from what I understand, the biggest problem with the 1000 is the primer feeder if it is anything like the primer feeder on the loadmaster the best thing is to take it apart and make sure there are no rough spots or flashings in the channel for the primers. Yes you must spend a great deal of attention to detail when setting up the 1000. I don't think it would be a great deal faster than the Turret in auto indexing mode. perhaps someone that has one will chime in here.

ilbob · April 13, 2009, 01:02 PM

I have one setup in 38 special.

I have not found it to be especially difficult to keep running as long as you keep it clean and don't let the primer supply run out.

McClintock · April 13, 2009, 01:10 PM

I have a Lee Pro 1000 that I use for 9mm, and while I don't have a great deal of experience with it yet (loaded about 2100 rounds), I do have a couple of tips to offer:

- The instructions aren't the greatest, but the setup videos on Lee's site do help, and there is a wealth of setup and maintenance information available on the web.

- Initial setup takes a little bit of time and tinkering, calibrating your dies, but the only adjustments I've done after initial setup is for the bullet seating die, as messy lead bullets can cause a buildup inside the die, causing your bullets to get shorter and shorter (I measure about every 20th one with a caliper). My seating die needs to be cleaned occasionally as a result.

- Keep the primer tray full. The primer feed is a gravity ramp that the primers slide down to the primer seating pin, so as soon as the tray is empty, you'd best fill it, or you'll get tipped primers, mis-feeding primers, etc.

- Keep it clean and lubricated. RWilson gives good advice, make sure there are no burrs in the plastic primer feed ramp. You will probably need to disassemble it every so often ( I usually do mine every 500 rounds or so) and clean and relube it. The entire disassembly/cleaning/reassembly) process takes maybe 15 minutes once you've done it the first time.

I have the case feeder attachment (with the case feeder funnel fix - search YouTube for "Lee pro1000 9mm case collator mod" for details), and it works pretty slick. I don't use the bullet feeder, I prefer to place them in the case by hand. Keeps me from going too fast and screwing something up.

I don't go very fast with it, about 200 rounds an hour (it's relaxing, "me" time), but if you take care of it, it will provide you with reasonable quality ammo. I don't want to mislead you, it is not a Dillon or a Hornady press by any stretch of the imagination, it is a cheaper press, but I do enjoy using mine, and it provides me with decent ammunition at an affordable price point. I may move on to a Dillon/Hornady later on in life, but for now, the Pro 1000 has paid for itself several times over already (I paid $200 CDN for it new).

Hope that helps. If you have any other questions, etc. feel free to send me a private message.

Cheers!
McClintock

RickV · April 13, 2009, 03:29 PM

I agree with McClintock. When I start seeing no primers in the feed ramp it is time to add more primers in the tray. I also use powdered graphite in the primer tray and feed ramp. For lubrication I use Synthetic rearend gear oil to lube mine. I load 38spl, 9mm, 40 S&W and 45acp. I have a turret for each set of dies and shell carriers for each caliber once you get everything adjusted the first time it is a breeze. Lee's website videos help much more than tne instructions. The hardest thing to get used to for me was "feeling" the primer seat once I got a feel for that everything went smooth.

Scorch · April 13, 2009, 05:08 PM

I have used my Lee Pro1000 for 23 years now, and I have no complaints with it. Zero. I load 45 ACP, 44 Mag, 357 Mag, 223, 22-250, and I used to load 9mm on it, all worked beautifluuy once I figured out the press. Like others have said, keep the primer chute clean (I use a long cotton swab), and if you spil powder into the primer feed area, stop and clean it out. Give the gears under the shellplate and the cam rod a few drops of synthetic grease every now and then, and you're good to go.

darkgael · April 13, 2009, 05:45 PM

I have two Lee Pro 1000s. One was given to me and the other I bought. They are good machines (I also own two Dillons). One is set up for .45ACP and has loaded at least 50K rounds of that. The only thing that ever broke was a little plastic drive gear. It broke once. Lee replaced it for free and sent a spare.
The other, the one that was a gift, came with spare shell plates, etc. for .44 Mag, .38 spl. and 9mm. It is easy enough to change from one to the other. It works without complaint for those cartridges.
Pete

S391 · April 13, 2009, 05:50 PM

Thank you for the info. Lee is about 50 miles from my house so I like the idea of buying something "close to home" in case I ever need to have any service / repairs done on the equipment.

I just found a good deal on a Lee Load Master that I'm going to check out.......

April 13, 2009, 11:43 AM	#1
S391 Member Join Date: November 20, 2008 Posts: 51	Lee Pro 1000... comments? First off, thank you to everyone who responded to my thread about the Lee Classic Turret. Since this is such a great resource I figured I might as well take advantage of it and ask another question; what do you folks think of the Lee Pro 1000? I don’t plan on using my reloader for anything other than loading 9mm ammo so that I have enough on hand to be able to shoot when I want to shoot. The Pro 1000 seems to be a slick little rig for someone like me but I understand that it can be fickle unless you have it set up properly. I would be interested in your comments and thoughts. Thanks.

April 13, 2009, 12:15 PM	#2
rwilson452 Senior Member Join Date: June 10, 2004 Location: Tioga co. PA Posts: 2,647	from what I understand, the biggest problem with the 1000 is the primer feeder if it is anything like the primer feeder on the loadmaster the best thing is to take it apart and make sure there are no rough spots or flashings in the channel for the primers. Yes you must spend a great deal of attention to detail when setting up the 1000. I don't think it would be a great deal faster than the Turret in auto indexing mode. perhaps someone that has one will chime in here. __________________ USNRET '61-'81

April 13, 2009, 03:29 PM	#5
RickV Senior Member Join Date: November 7, 2008 Location: North Florida Posts: 172	I agree with McClintock. When I start seeing no primers in the feed ramp it is time to add more primers in the tray. I also use powdered graphite in the primer tray and feed ramp. For lubrication I use Synthetic rearend gear oil to lube mine. I load 38spl, 9mm, 40 S&W and 45acp. I have a turret for each set of dies and shell carriers for each caliber once you get everything adjusted the first time it is a breeze. Lee's website videos help much more than tne instructions. The hardest thing to get used to for me was "feeling" the primer seat once I got a feel for that everything went smooth. Last edited by RickV; April 13, 2009 at 03:37 PM.

April 13, 2009, 05:08 PM	#6
Scorch Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2006 Location: Washington state Posts: 15,249	I have used my Lee Pro1000 for 23 years now, and I have no complaints with it. Zero. I load 45 ACP, 44 Mag, 357 Mag, 223, 22-250, and I used to load 9mm on it, all worked beautifluuy once I figured out the press. Like others have said, keep the primer chute clean (I use a long cotton swab), and if you spil powder into the primer feed area, stop and clean it out. Give the gears under the shellplate and the cam rod a few drops of synthetic grease every now and then, and you're good to go. __________________ Never try to educate someone who resists knowledge at all costs. But what do I know? Summit Arms Services

April 13, 2009, 05:45 PM	#7
darkgael Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2006 Location: Homes in Brooklyn, NY and in Pennsylvania. Posts: 5,473	1000 I have two Lee Pro 1000s. One was given to me and the other I bought. They are good machines (I also own two Dillons). One is set up for .45ACP and has loaded at least 50K rounds of that. The only thing that ever broke was a little plastic drive gear. It broke once. Lee replaced it for free and sent a spare. The other, the one that was a gift, came with spare shell plates, etc. for .44 Mag, .38 spl. and 9mm. It is easy enough to change from one to the other. It works without complaint for those cartridges. Pete __________________ “Auto racing, bull fighting, and mountain climbing are the only real sports ... all others are games.” Ernest Hemingway ... NRA Life Member

April 13, 2009, 01:02 PM	#3
ilbob Senior Member Join Date: November 29, 2006 Location: Northern Illinois Posts: 515	I have one setup in 38 special. I have not found it to be especially difficult to keep running as long as you keep it clean and don't let the primer supply run out.

April 13, 2009, 01:10 PM	#4
McClintock Senior Member Join Date: December 5, 2008 Location: The Bald Prairie of Southern Saskatchewan, Canada Posts: 305	I have a Lee Pro 1000 that I use for 9mm, and while I don't have a great deal of experience with it yet (loaded about 2100 rounds), I do have a couple of tips to offer: - The instructions aren't the greatest, but the setup videos on Lee's site do help, and there is a wealth of setup and maintenance information available on the web. - Initial setup takes a little bit of time and tinkering, calibrating your dies, but the only adjustments I've done after initial setup is for the bullet seating die, as messy lead bullets can cause a buildup inside the die, causing your bullets to get shorter and shorter (I measure about every 20th one with a caliper). My seating die needs to be cleaned occasionally as a result. - Keep the primer tray full. The primer feed is a gravity ramp that the primers slide down to the primer seating pin, so as soon as the tray is empty, you'd best fill it, or you'll get tipped primers, mis-feeding primers, etc. - Keep it clean and lubricated. RWilson gives good advice, make sure there are no burrs in the plastic primer feed ramp. You will probably need to disassemble it every so often ( I usually do mine every 500 rounds or so) and clean and relube it. The entire disassembly/cleaning/reassembly) process takes maybe 15 minutes once you've done it the first time. I have the case feeder attachment (with the case feeder funnel fix - search YouTube for "Lee pro1000 9mm case collator mod" for details), and it works pretty slick. I don't use the bullet feeder, I prefer to place them in the case by hand. Keeps me from going too fast and screwing something up. I don't go very fast with it, about 200 rounds an hour (it's relaxing, "me" time), but if you take care of it, it will provide you with reasonable quality ammo. I don't want to mislead you, it is not a Dillon or a Hornady press by any stretch of the imagination, it is a cheaper press, but I do enjoy using mine, and it provides me with decent ammunition at an affordable price point. I may move on to a Dillon/Hornady later on in life, but for now, the Pro 1000 has paid for itself several times over already (I paid $200 CDN for it new). Hope that helps. If you have any other questions, etc. feel free to send me a private message. Cheers! McClintock

April 13, 2009, 05:50 PM	#8
S391 Member Join Date: November 20, 2008 Posts: 51	Thank you for the info. Lee is about 50 miles from my house so I like the idea of buying something "close to home" in case I ever need to have any service / repairs done on the equipment. I just found a good deal on a Lee Load Master that I'm going to check out.......