OAL consistency problem with Lee Pro 1000

DarthNul · December 21, 2010, 03:16 PM

I got a new Lee Pro 1000 a couple of weeks ago. I have not had the kinds of issues many of the Midway and Cabela's web site reviewers have had.

I am seeing one issue though: During initial setup I'm just doing one round at a time until I get the powder drop and bullet seating where I want them. When everything looks good, I go into "progressive mode" and my OAL shifts .020. If I adjust from there things stay consistent through the run except for the last two rounds which shift back .020.

So it seems the OAL varies .020 depending on whether or not there's brass in the resizing die. I'm using Lee dies (.40 S&W and 9mm) which are screwed in just enough to touch the shellplate. I'm thinking this may be a matter of either screwing the resizing dies in more (or maybe less?) in order to get a more consistent stopping point for the stroke. I'm thinking the shell carrier assembly of the Pro 1000 isn't going to be as indestructible as the bottom end of my LnL single stage press so I'm looking for advice before cranking it down.

jvnova67 · December 21, 2010, 04:01 PM

Darth,
the Pro 1000 can be finicky, I think you may find your variable OAL may go away when progressivley loading. Tons of things happen at the same time! The shell plate may be dipping to one side when ther is no case being sized. Make sure your shell plate carrier is tight on the ram. Hope this helps...

Jeff

steeps09 · December 21, 2010, 04:58 PM

I too have a lee pro 1000 and seem to have had relatively good luck with producing good rounds. The most consistant problem, which really isnt a problem, more just an issue is the varying OAL. I was having variations from almost round to round. Im reloading 40 S&W for my 4th gen glock. Ive read and talked to several guys and they say as long ask your not going over the max and keeping the OAL at what works best for your gun, dont worry yourself sick over the deal. Your have to remember that every piece of brass is different and make sure that your primer is seated all the way in because that can add a lil. Just make sure that your making full complete strokes and watching each step and you can feel when something isnot right. Let me kmow if your haber anything other issues that I might be able to help with. I actually had posted a similar thread about my issue with OAL.

http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=428314

DarthNul · December 21, 2010, 05:15 PM

The rounds are very consistent within either mode (progressive or one-off), it's just that I have to re-adjust OAL once I start prog mode, and then the last two rounds of a run end up short.

I noticed that the turret plate that the dies mount on has quite a bit of "float" to it so I cut some shims out of an old feeler gauge set and stuck three of them between the top of the press and the turret plate. That gives me much better OAL consistency within a run (+-.001 for better than 95% of the rounds) but the last two still go short.

I'm not overly concerned with OAL consistency for my Sig or XD, but when I'm loading HAPs for my witness match there are measurable benefits to keeping OAL as close as possible to 1.085.

farmall · December 22, 2010, 11:34 AM

I run 4 of these presses, and have noticed the same thing on all of them, when not running with the shellplate full. I can live with it, since I tend to load large quantities at a time, but I did see somwhere on the 'net where a guy had drilled and tapped the top of the press for allen headed setscrews, that indexed with dimples drilled in the die holder. These could be tightened to lock the die plate in place to eliminate any looseness.

Pretty slick idea, but not one I have gotten around to trying yet.

Andy

Scorch · December 22, 2010, 03:26 PM

One of the issues I found with OAL is the powder measure. You can only compress the plunger a certain amount. Try backing it out half a turn.

**Unclenick** · December 22, 2010, 04:05 PM

This is inherent in progressive loading. Even for the beefier Dillons, you hear people say to cull any rounds from your match loads that were not made when every station on the press was occupied. The more stations you fill, the more force you need to raise the ram, so the more the press stretches. Rounds made with partially full stations always tend to be at least a few thousandths shorter. This is just part of the overhead in progressive reloading, along with the occasional crushed components and so on. You make up your losses with speed.

December 21, 2010, 03:16 PM	#1
DarthNul Senior Member Join Date: December 21, 2010 Location: Minnesota Posts: 288	OAL consistency problem with Lee Pro 1000 I got a new Lee Pro 1000 a couple of weeks ago. I have not had the kinds of issues many of the Midway and Cabela's web site reviewers have had. I am seeing one issue though: During initial setup I'm just doing one round at a time until I get the powder drop and bullet seating where I want them. When everything looks good, I go into "progressive mode" and my OAL shifts .020. If I adjust from there things stay consistent through the run except for the last two rounds which shift back .020. So it seems the OAL varies .020 depending on whether or not there's brass in the resizing die. I'm using Lee dies (.40 S&W and 9mm) which are screwed in just enough to touch the shellplate. I'm thinking this may be a matter of either screwing the resizing dies in more (or maybe less?) in order to get a more consistent stopping point for the stroke. I'm thinking the shell carrier assembly of the Pro 1000 isn't going to be as indestructible as the bottom end of my LnL single stage press so I'm looking for advice before cranking it down.

December 22, 2010, 03:26 PM	#6
Scorch Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2006 Location: Washington state Posts: 15,249	One of the issues I found with OAL is the powder measure. You can only compress the plunger a certain amount. Try backing it out half a turn. __________________ Never try to educate someone who resists knowledge at all costs. But what do I know? Summit Arms Services

December 22, 2010, 04:05 PM	#7
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,738	This is inherent in progressive loading. Even for the beefier Dillons, you hear people say to cull any rounds from your match loads that were not made when every station on the press was occupied. The more stations you fill, the more force you need to raise the ram, so the more the press stretches. Rounds made with partially full stations always tend to be at least a few thousandths shorter. This is just part of the overhead in progressive reloading, along with the occasional crushed components and so on. You make up your losses with speed. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

December 21, 2010, 04:01 PM	#2
jvnova67 Junior Member Join Date: September 28, 2010 Posts: 12	Darth, the Pro 1000 can be finicky, I think you may find your variable OAL may go away when progressivley loading. Tons of things happen at the same time! The shell plate may be dipping to one side when ther is no case being sized. Make sure your shell plate carrier is tight on the ram. Hope this helps... Jeff

December 21, 2010, 04:58 PM	#3
steeps09 Member Join Date: October 14, 2010 Location: Illinois Posts: 56	I too have a lee pro 1000 and seem to have had relatively good luck with producing good rounds. The most consistant problem, which really isnt a problem, more just an issue is the varying OAL. I was having variations from almost round to round. Im reloading 40 S&W for my 4th gen glock. Ive read and talked to several guys and they say as long ask your not going over the max and keeping the OAL at what works best for your gun, dont worry yourself sick over the deal. Your have to remember that every piece of brass is different and make sure that your primer is seated all the way in because that can add a lil. Just make sure that your making full complete strokes and watching each step and you can feel when something isnot right. Let me kmow if your haber anything other issues that I might be able to help with. I actually had posted a similar thread about my issue with OAL. http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=428314

December 21, 2010, 05:15 PM	#4
DarthNul Senior Member Join Date: December 21, 2010 Location: Minnesota Posts: 288	The rounds are very consistent within either mode (progressive or one-off), it's just that I have to re-adjust OAL once I start prog mode, and then the last two rounds of a run end up short. I noticed that the turret plate that the dies mount on has quite a bit of "float" to it so I cut some shims out of an old feeler gauge set and stuck three of them between the top of the press and the turret plate. That gives me much better OAL consistency within a run (+-.001 for better than 95% of the rounds) but the last two still go short. I'm not overly concerned with OAL consistency for my Sig or XD, but when I'm loading HAPs for my witness match there are measurable benefits to keeping OAL as close as possible to 1.085.

December 22, 2010, 11:34 AM	#5
farmall Senior Member Join Date: December 7, 2004 Location: Beatrice Nebraska Posts: 613	I run 4 of these presses, and have noticed the same thing on all of them, when not running with the shellplate full. I can live with it, since I tend to load large quantities at a time, but I did see somwhere on the 'net where a guy had drilled and tapped the top of the press for allen headed setscrews, that indexed with dimples drilled in the die holder. These could be tightened to lock the die plate in place to eliminate any looseness. Pretty slick idea, but not one I have gotten around to trying yet. Andy