Grahhh! I haven’t handloaded any ammo in ages. Now I remember why. While the Lee Anniversary single stage press is one of the best values in the handloading business and what I recommend to anybody looking to load precision target and hunting ammo. For high-volume shooting a single-stage is far too time consuming to get large volumes of ammo for extensive range time or practical shooting competition a progressive press is a MUST.
I have a Lee Pro 1000 for my progressive press. The price was very hard to beat. Saddly while the $100 Challenger kit that comes with damn near everything you need to start with (the only additions you need are calipers, and a bullet puller IMHO) the $150 progressive press is hoping a bit much for a bargain.
Its cheap. Needs adjustment far too much, has some mechanical problems that can totally throw off your rhythm, and general cheap construction make this press a joy when it works well, unfortunately it constantly breaks down.
This session I loaded a whopping 50 rounds in an hour. Including my near-anal-retentive weighing of charges (I do about every 10 charges) I can load about 100 cartridges an hour. This was cut in half in a huge part by a spent primer that got lodged in the ram. A few primers that failed to properly seat, one primer that was fed sideways….and something that isn’t the fault of Lee, the fact that unbeknownst to me, Speer Lawman, and Blazer Brass .45 ACP use small pistol primers!
I don’t tumble my brass, I originally thought it was because I was cheap, and didn’t care how grungy my handloads looked. NO! Its so the once-fired brass that I have picked up from the range buckets stand out like a sore thumb, and I can inspect the headstamp for the “Speer” and nickle primer, or “Blazer” headstamp!
I really should save my pennies to buy a Dillion 650 like Mr. Completely recommends. They really are a vastly better press, and you’ll save money in the long run!
I thought that was when you ran out of components at the same time as you ran out of paycheck…
The two biggest helps to running a P-1000 successfully are to tap the primer tray every few rounds, and to keep a rubber squeeze bulb around to blow the powder off the press when it skips a primer. I’ve also heard of someone who taped a Doc Johnson vibrator to the press to keep everything running well….
Say Uncle had a picture posted of somebody who had a pocket-rocket vibe taped to the powder hopper to keep the charges more consistent.
I imagine that would work.
Come try out my 550 with case feeder. 500 rounds an hour at a relaxed pace. You’ll never go back to the lee.
That is a creative way to shake the primer tray!
I may take you up on that. Still I think I’m just going to save my pennies and go 650 and be done with it. Especially since Mr. Completely says its faster to switch calibers, and I’d probably load .45, .38/.357, and .308….and there’s always a grave danger of me adding a 9x19mm to the stables!
Certainly the 650 looked like the one to me as I was coating the Dillion Booth with a fine sheen of drool at the NRA conventions.
Dillon’s 550, 650, and 1050 are like Goldilock’s porridge.
550 too slow, 1050 too expensive (and hard to change caliber), 650 JUST RIGHT.
Good to hear consistent reviews. I think that’s the press for me.
I too started with an Anniversary kit. Moved up to a Pro1000. Fortunately, my new bride saw the frustration that doubled as I was having to load for her as well. My first anniversary present from her was a Dillon 650 with 5 caliber conversions. Never looked back.
I went with the Hornady AP and enjoy it greatly. If only I could afford to purchase the food that feeds it. 🙁
I stopped in to my parents’ house on Tuesday. Dad wanted some instruction on how to use his Dillon 650. We ran up about 500 rounds to make sure he had all the procedures correct. He’ll be handling the remaining 1500 himself.
Get the Dillon. Get the casefeeder. Also get several extra primer tubes and the spare parts kit. As you learn, you stand a good chance of breaking parts. It sucks having to sit and wait for the free replacement parts to arrive. If you have the parts kit, you can replace it while the support tech on the phone explains how. Then he’ll sent you a free replacement part to put back in the parts kit.