New for 2018: Auto Breech Lock PRO

[kens]

Our site sponsor Titan has them instock, $124.
Somebody order one !!!!

[Boogedy_Man]

There are a few awesome products, for sure. I love the six cavity molds...even though I was hesitant to buy. I also like the classic turret, classic cast, auto drum, bench prime, bullet sizing dies, factory crimp dies (collet style) and I could probably think of a fee others. Hell, the aluminum o-frame is dang good for the price.

[1bluehorse]

Auto drum is $37, and auto prime is $22...the leap to 230 was a big'n.

ahh, forgot the 35 dollar universal case feeder....

[Boogedy_Man]

Natchez is 10% off reloading gear tonight...with the press listed at $106.

Not in stock

[farmerjim]

Just got the email from Midsouth. Mine is in the mail and will arrive Monday.

[usbp379]

Just got the email from Midsouth. Mine is in the mail and will arrive Monday.

That's interesting. I've had the Auto Breech on "stock watch" at Midsouth for weeks. I never got a notification that these were in stock.

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[farmerjim]

That's interesting. I've had the Auto Breech on "stock watch" at Midsouth for weeks. I never got a notification that these were in stock.

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They probably only got enough to fill some of their backorders so they never had them in stock for present orders. I had mine on backorder for 6 weeks.

[usbp379]

They probably only got enough to fill some of their backorders so they never had them in stock for present orders. I had mine on backorder for 6 weeks.

Yeah, maybe.

In stock still with Titan. But I can save $20 elsewhere and use that to buy a shell plate.

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[Kenstone]

Yeah, maybe.

In stock still with Titan. But I can save $20 elsewhere and use that to buy a shell plate.

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Titan sells them for $106 too...when they don't have any

[JBinMN]

Even though i seem to be a bit "press heavy" with 6 presses, IMO, and only limited room to use them ( I am sure there are others who have many more though, I am just talking about me), I am planning on getting one of these new Lee presses and would certainly appreciate someone who gets one to take the time to post up a decent review about them.

I don't put much trust in magazine reviews, but prefer to have some "non biased" accurate & truthful "average joe/jane" (like I consider all of us here with the same passion & generally helpful attitude to be) to offer up a review about the actual observed Pros & Cons of a product.

Please consider doing it to help out everyone in deciding on whether to get one or not.

[flashhole]

+1 on JBinMN - I want to know if the red pieces are plastic or metal.

[kens]

why would there be a need for this new progressive Lee press, when Lee already offers a progressive?
what is different about it?

[JBinMN]

My guess is less expensive progressive for potential progressive buyers need a type of "entry level" progressive to "get ones feet wet", as well as the $$ from accessories, etc..

Right now I cannot afford a more expensive progressive style press, but I might be able to drum up enough to try one of these out & if I do not like it I can either give it to one of my sons, sell it to someone else, etc..

Still leaves me with the option to upgrade to something more expensive should I decide to do so after trying it.

That is "my" answer(s) to the question(s) anyway.

Others might have a different "take" on it, of course.

[usbp379]

My guess is less expensive progressive for potential progressive buyers need a type of "entry level" progressive to "get ones feet wet", as well as the $$ from accessories, etc..

Right now I cannot afford a more expensive progressive style press, but I might be able to drum up enough to try one of these out & if I do not like it I can either give it to one of my sons, sell it to someone else, etc..

Still leaves me with the option to upgrade to something more expensive should I decide to do so after trying it.

That is "my" answer(s) to the question(s) anyway.

Others might have a different "take" on it, of course.

For me, the lack of anything better than picking primers up with fingers or using the dreadful Safety Prime is a deal killer. Might as well stick with the Turret.

I understand what you're saying about a cheap press to get your feet wet. Something you can sell later. But you can already do that with the Pro 1000, Turret Press or something else. Buy a Hornady Lock N Load for a bit more if you can. It will certainly hold a better resale value than this new press.

LEE already has several "entry level" presses so the new Auto Breech doesn't seem to make any sense. When I first saw mention of the press I thought it was an updated Pro 1000. Maybe something with a little longer stroke to allow more room for rifle loading and a 4th die station to allow for a separate crimp die. Nope. It appears to be some sort of hybrid. More of a turret press with a rotating shell plate rather than die plate.

Personally I'd rather have a new Pro 1000 and I'm hoping the new base and shell plate index will mean the old Pro will be less finicky when priming. If that's the case the Pro 1000 will be simply one of the best values on the market.

With all that said, I suppose there is some value to the new Auto Breech for those who want a press for processing brass. Maybe it will be sturdy enough to support a motorized case trimmer. Or maybe Lee has a progressive swage system in the works not unlike what Hornady makes for the LNL.

If you want to size, process and prime on a single stage and/or some type of hand press, the Auto Breech will probably be a better handy machine for loading sized and primed cases.

Anyway, the primer system is still a killer and I doubt I'll be buying one.

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[flashhole]

This guy received his press and did a pretty good review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbWBdYJuQ2E

He answered my question regarding the red parts, they're plastic. Looks like there are lots of man-in-the-loop interactions required.

[JBinMN]

This guy received his press and did a pretty good review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbWBdYJuQ2E

He answered my question regarding the red parts, they're plastic. Looks like there are lots of man-in-the-loop interactions required.

Thanks for sharing that video. It answered some of my questions as well. I still think I am going to get one...

I do not just go out & buy something impulsively, but take my time. I am getting used to using my 4 month old or so 4 hole turret & am up to close to 100+ plus rounds an hour (if I have no issues with cases or something that makes me have to check something.), and that with weighing each round & checking with a case gauge.
I have developed a "system/method" to it & am happy with that quantity & quality. So, I will ponder on if I think I will need to speed things up or not in the future. I like the idea of having basically up to 3-4 times the quantity in the same time though, if all things go right & I figure out a rhythm.

I guess I will now go down & reload some more rounds & ponder on this as well. LOL

[sghart3578]

I ordered mine today, along with a 9 mm shellplate. In all of my latest shooting I realize that I am about 200 rounds behind in keeping up. I thought that I would try to catch up with a new press.

I am a Lee fan. I have loaded thousands and thousands of rounds in 10-12 different calibers on my Lee Classic Turret press. But I also don't shy away from criticizing Lee if I think they deserve it.

So when my new press gets here I will set it up for cast bullets in 9 mm and give it a workout.

I will share my opinions, warts and all.


Steve in N CA

[Drydock]

As for why: Lee has converted all their single stage presses to breechlock. So now if a lee user wants to move up to a progressive press, he can still use his dies as set up, as opposed to removing the breechlocks and installing in a turret. It also allows him to go back and forth to his single stages as he wants. The current Lee turrets do not have room for the Breechlocks. It made more sense to go to a new system, than to redesign the turret presses.

[1bluehorse]

This guy received his press and did a pretty good review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbWBdYJuQ2E

He answered my question regarding the red parts, they're plastic. Looks like there are lots of man-in-the-loop interactions required.

A lot of questions answered there. It appears to be an O.K. set up. The small die area doesn't enthuse me much (one of the things I've never cared for with the SBD) nor the polymer shell plate carrier. However it may prove to be durable enough though. Not a lot of "hand" room there either with the index rod, seems to me like setting a bullet would be "cumbersome" at best. Even though $250 bucks (or there abouts) for a "complete" setup for a 4 station progressive press WITH a casefeeder is very reasonable I don't think I'll be interested in one.

[usbp379]

As for why: Lee has converted all their single stage presses to breechlock. So now if a lee user wants to move up to a progressive press, he can still use his dies as set up, as opposed to removing the breechlocks and installing in a turret. It also allows him to go back and forth to his single stages as he wants. The current Lee turrets do not have room for the Breechlocks. It made more sense to go to a new system, than to redesign the turret presses.

You're saying the distance from the shell plate to the bottom of the die(s) is consistent across the various press platforms? Can I pop a seating die out of a Hand Press and stick it into the Auto Breech without making any adjustments?

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