Lee Pro 1000 for single calibre?

[Racingsnake]

I'm considering a Pro 1000 because I already have dies and an Auto Disk. I have also been very happy with my Lee items for 20 years+ of reloading.

However, I don't see much positive feedback on the press when progressives are discussed. I only load 38 special, but in high volume.

What are your opinions of the press for this kind of use? I'd be most appreciative of your opinions.

Regards, Racingsnake

[Trey45]

I had one for a few years that I used as a dedicated 45 Colt machine. After being frustrated for several years by its performance (leaving high primers, not feeding primers, going out of time, jamming & just plain not working right) I unbolted it from the bench and replaced it with a Dillon Square Deal B in 45 Colt.
There are pages of tweeks and tune up tips that you can do to supposedly get these piles of bovine excrement working correctly. I'm under the conviction that I shouldn't have to repair, rebuild or tune up a brand new press to make it reliable.

I have had NO problems with my Dillon SDB.

[spuddicus]

Preach it Trey, I had one for 6 months and all it did was convince me to buy a Dillon550b

I guess it was a good deal as I now own a Dillon lol.

so, we'll go with the 1000 is a good gateway drug

[Gliden07]

There not as bad as some say. They do require some tweaking to get them set up. Biggest problem I've had with mine is the primer feed. This seems to be the biggest problem with most of them. I'm a new reloader/caster and was givin one. It was set up for .357/.38 I bought all the parts to convert it to 45ACP. As a dedicated press its fine, but I will not convert it back to 357/38. I go slow and confirm all cases get powder and primers and can load 250-300 per hour. If you get one thru FS Reloading I think there around $155ish plus shipping with dies for the caliber of your choice (how can you beat that)!!

Check out You Tube: Cowboy T, San Fransisco Liberial with a Gun! He has some GREAT vids with good information about the Pro 1000. Including trouble shooting problems, how to avoid them and how to fix them if they happen.

Are there better reloaders YES, are they more expensive YES. I've done a lot of research and when I buy my next progressive machine it will probably be the Hornady Lock N Load. Dillons press's are also nice but they seem to cost more "Set Up". I'm not trying to rile anyone up just passing on what I've found in my research (I would love a 1050 ready to rock but that aint happenin in the near future!!).

Your gonna get a lot of opinions Blues better than Red, Reds better than Blue Pro 1000's are terrible, my Dad can beat up your Dad etc... Bottem line is you need to decide whats best for you and how much its worth to you!!

[RetAFSF]

I have a 1000, but I end up using it as a semi-progressive to an extent. I'll size prime & flare the case. I save the dumping of powder and bullet seating for a later time. I just like to ensure the powder charge before adding the bullet.

[geargnasher]

Since the Pro-1000 comes new with a powder measure, die plate, and dies/shellplate of your choosing for one caliber, you won't be any ahead with what you have. I'd recommend the CLASSIC 4-hole turret press for a nice upgrade over batch loading, unless you really shoot a lot. The Lee Classic Turret is a fine press, on par with any of the other brands as far as quality goes, and second-to-none as far as turret presses go due to the outside support of the turret plate.

The Lee Pro-1000 requires some patience and mechanical ability to set up, and if you aren't willing to take the time to learn how it all works and how to tweak every adustment, it might not be the press for you. Not that any of the progressive brands will jump out of the box and start loading ammo for you without you reading and understanding the instructions, but the Lee is a little more finicky than some. If you DO buy one, don't forget the case collator and powder measure riser, I'm not sure if they come with the riser now but they used to not. The collator is extra and you WILL want one, they work really, really well.

Gear

[Racingsnake]

Guys thank you for the advice. I just realised I posted in the wrong section.

Perhaps the Classic Cast Turret is the best option for me because I'm partial to using stainless media for cleaning followed by hand priming.

The turret with re-sizing die (pin removed), powder drop, seat and crimp could work well?

[geargnasher]

Yes, that would work very well having the four stations for a separate crimp in the revolver cartridges. With .44 Magnum, I run them all throught the Pro-1000 and roll-crimp by feel (NOT by linkage stop) in a single-stage press afterward.

Gear

[Four Fingers of Death]

Most shooters will not hesitate to frag the Lee1000, but I have had a lot of the big ones Projector7, Dillon 550 (sold my Dillon to feed kids many moons ago and I got by on a Lee1000,one for each calibre for many years). I currently have an RCBS Progressive and a Hornady LnL AP. Even though I have these two, I still retain two Lee1000s and have one set up for large primers and one for small (I don't use the small one much). I use one for 44/40 and 45 Colt and replace the turret with a Lee factory Crimp die and run them through once again to crimp and end up wiith fine ammo this way. They are a finicky press sometimes and need to be kept clean to operate effectively. I think I will set up my Roockchucker again to use for this crimping job with the case kicker.

I am loading a lot of 25/20 and 32/20 and am thinking of getting a shellplate for them.

The Lee1000s are a very inexpensive press and it is a bit unfait to compare them to something costing twice as much or more.



I also have the Lee Classic Turret nice press, but the indexing thingo is a bit dinky.

[161]

I get along fine with the 1000 might not be a Dillon but I didn't pay for a Dillon either.
161

[kullas]

I use mine for 45 APC and i love it i got it used and when i got it i took it apart and cleaned it. Put it back together and have not had any problems with it. after every 1000 rounds i take it apart and clean it no problems.

If anyone wants to get rid of theirs because its junk i will pay shipping to give it a good home :)

[1bluehorse]

Not sure why all the "mechanical ability" inferences being made, if you can read directions and know what a phillips head screwdriver is and have a cheap set of wrenches you can have the press completely disassembled in about 10 minutes. Very simple design. Clean it, a little grease judiciously placed, keep an eye on the primers, (don't you do that with any press?) and they work just fine. If you can't do these simple things then by all means spend 500 bucks and buy a dillon. Got rid of mine because I thought that seperate crimping was a better idea. If they had been four holers (see above) they would likely still be on my bench.

P.S. the spent primer setup is not cool at all, but there are easy remedies for that.

[357shooter]

The Lee Turret that gear brought up is an excellent press. The dies and the autodisk that you have will work on any press that takes standard size dies. That's almost all of them, the SDB being one that doesn't.

I missed my Lee Turret when I went to the 1000. After all the primer jams I got tired of messing with the 1000, it took way to much time to keep it running. I think I'm one of the few that doesn't like the Lee Auto Disk, YMMV.

Cowboy's video's are great if you decide to take the dive. However, I moved on to a Dillon SDB and have since replaced that with a 550b. Wow, I love using that press. Wish I skipped over all the others. The SDB was pretty awesome too.

I have some Dillon dies, and in some calibers have Lee dies, they all work.

[Racingsnake]

Some very useful info guys, thank you

[Philngruvy]

If anyone wants to get rid of theirs because its junk i will pay shipping to give it a good home :)

I agree. I use my pro1000 for 38spl and 9mm and yes, you do have to pay attention to the primer feed but basically, on my low budget, I am very happy with the Pro1000.

[Ken TN]

I have had a Pro 1000 since they came out. For the money it is a hard press to beat. Yes you must keep it clean and adjusted. At the price they sell for I would say keep it set for one caliber and get a second for others you load for in high volume...

When it comes to reloading I'm color blind. I have Red, Blue, and 2 shades Green equipment and each is special in it's own way. Kind of like our kids.

Lee Classis Cast Turret a step up from a single stage. Not a big fan of the priming system.
RCBS Rockchucker always a great first press to learn on.
Redding T7- I call it the ultimate Turret, Solid and well made.
Dillon 450, Old solid reliable, will upgrade it to a 550 sometime for the $100 they want for the new updated frame. You can find these cheap sometimes and pay for the upgrade to the newer 550 frame with removeable die blocks. Could be the cheapest way to get a Dillon...

[Recluse]

If you're only looking to load one caliber and want a progressive, I'd go with the Square Deal B.

:coffee:

[crabo]

If you're only looking to load one caliber and want a progressive, I'd go with the Square Deal B.

:coffee:

I've got two. One for large primers and one for small primers. I am really happy with them.

[Gliden07]

I'll take a couple for shipping too!! I'd start loading 38/357 and 9MM!!! LOL!!

[Four Fingers of Death]

Incidentally, the first Lee1000 that I bought, I picked up as part of a trade. I used it for awhile and as I had a Dillon 550 at the time, I didn't have much use for it. I gave it to a friend who was down on his luck, he gave it to someone else when he moved interstate, it ended upgettign passed on through several friends, all correctional officers and I got it back when one of my men, (a reservist) was shipping out to Afghanastan, along with a box of 1000 7.62F4 ammo. :D He is back,but is not shooting pistol anymore and told me to keep it.

It was 1991 when I forst got it and the presshas been in regular use until about 2 years ago.

[zuke]

I use a LEE Loadmaster as a dedicated press for my 45 Win Mag ammo.

[rfp357]

I have a Pro 1000 that I got used. It had no instructions,was out of time/adjustment, and needed a good cleaning. I did a little research online and got mine going. I have only used it for small and large primer .45 but have loaded at least 500 rounds of varying bullets weights/styles. I'm not sure how the roll crimp would work out for .38. I use a friends RCBS for .38/.357 right now.

The reasons mine works for me are because I'm patient with it and I'm overly cautious when reloading. I've lost digits already (not a shooting/reloading accident) and don't want to go thru that again. For under $200 you'll be in business.

There is plenty of good info online regarding set up and operation. I just started reloading last month and I got mine to work just fine using the info I found online. I used mine as a semi-progressive until I was comfortable then I went to full progressive mode. That worked well for me and would recommend you do the same until you learn the machine.

Bottom line is I'm rambling because I haven't had my coffee yet. Get the Pro 1000, be patient, learn the machine. Once you are comfortable with it you will find your rhythm and you'll be cranking out bullets like mad. Feel free to contact me with questions. If I can help you I will as I'm sure anyone here would. Good luck.

[geargnasher]

RFP, well said, coffee or not.

Gear

[Gliden07]

I have a Pro 1000 that I got used. It had no instructions,was out of time/adjustment, and needed a good cleaning. I did a little research online and got mine going. I have only used it for small and large primer .45 but have loaded at least 500 rounds of varying bullets weights/styles. I'm not sure how the roll crimp would work out for .38. I use a friends RCBS for .38/.357 right now.

The reasons mine works for me are because I'm patient with it and I'm overly cautious when reloading. I've lost digits already (not a shooting/reloading accident) and don't want to go thru that again. For under $200 you'll be in business.

There is plenty of good info online regarding set up and operation. I just started reloading last month and I got mine to work just fine using the info I found online. I used mine as a semi-progressive until I was comfortable then I went to full progressive mode. That worked well for me and would recommend you do the same until you learn the machine.

Bottom line is I'm rambling because I haven't had my coffee yet. Get the Pro 1000, be patient, learn the machine. Once you are comfortable with it you will find your rhythm and you'll be cranking out bullets like mad. Feel free to contact me with questions. If I can help you I will as I'm sure anyone here would. Good luck.

What he said!! For the money its a GREAT loader!! Anything that will do what this machine will do is at least 2 times the cost!!

[TheDoctor]

Have a 1000, but I like to have more than three stations. Never primed on mine, so did not experience the priming issues that some profess to have. I used to use my SDB as a dedicated .45 Colt machine, but not really anymore. I bought a Loadmaster about 6 months ago, and after getting it set up, am happy as a clam. I just wish it had at least one more station. Thought about using my 1000 as a dedicated recapping machine, but the shellplate is just so much easier to change on the Loadmaster.

Decapping, not recapping. I hate autocorrect.

[shastaboat]

I also have two. One for small primers and one for large. Once you get the feel of the operation of the press they work well.

[Four Fingers of Death]

I sort of remember saying this before and I hope it wasn't on this thread, but we used to be impressed by three stations, then four and all of a sudden we required five. Now efficent bullet feeders are freely available and the dies can be adapted without resorting to buying the whole shooting match, we are lusting after six stations so that we can size, decap, expand and charge, have a powder cop or similar die, boolit feeder, seat that boolit and then crimp it in a separate operation, lol. Six stations would be perfect.

No doubt, in years to come there will be other desirable dies/tools/whatever and we will be lusting after extra stations. Where will it end?? :D

I used to seat and crimp in the same operation, but I have seen the error of my ways and now prefer to crimp as a separate operation. I think my Lee1000s will end up as my 44/40 and 45Colt black powder reloaders using sticky Big Lube Boolits fed manually. The crimps will be applied by running them through the press again or maybe my RCBS Rockchucker with case kicker attached .

The Lee1000s will probably also see a bit of rifle reloading as three stations are generally adequate for that. 25/20, 32/20 and maybe 222 and some 223 stuff. We will see how we go.

In a fit of folly, I saw a magnum shellplate for my old RCBS Ammomaster Progressive Press. I can't wait to crankout 375H&H rounds on it. There is a shellplate available for the 416Rigby, but that is a bit of overkill, I only own 60 cases, HaHa!

[13Echo]

What I dislike about reloading on a progressive press,any progressive, is the primer pockets do not get cleaned and inspected. I know that is how it is done but it does bother me as a high primer can lead to a slam fire. So, for me and my Lee 1000, I first size and deprime and them tumble the cases and I inspect each case and make certain the primer pockets are clean. Then, because the primer step is the real bugger on any progressive and the one that invariably causes stoppage and the one that can go boom, I'll use the press to prime. The shell feeder really makes it go fast. Finally I load with expander die and powder in station 1, bullet seater in 2, and crimp in 3. I will do this even if it had 5 stations because I'm anal about case inspection and primers. If I wasn't going to inspect pockets I'd tumble, then size on 1 and prime on 2, inspect and then load.

Jerry Liles

[Four Fingers of Death]

I have never cleaned a primer pocket on a pistol case in 40 years of reloading and have never had a slam fire (or any other problem),nor have I heard of anyone else having one and I have loaded plenty for myself and others over the years.

The only problem Iever had was when I first got a vibratory cleaner, I once deprimed before cleaning and had to clean the odd kernel out of the flash holes. Only fell for that one once.

I clean and inspect the primer pockets on most of my rifle loads though (not that I have noticed any difference mind you).

[13Echo]

Like I said I'm anal about it, probably because I also load for the M1 Garand where high primers from dirty pockets are known to cause slamfires. I also don't like wasting powder, shot and primers on a bad case or dealing with the jams and the mess primer seating can cause on any press.

Jerry Liles

[geargnasher]

Nothing wrong with either approach as long as you don't have problems. For what it's worth, I don't clean pistol primer pockets as a rule, either, and have never had problems with high primers. I've had trouble fully seating large rifle primers in dirty pockets, so those pockets usually get cleaned by me.

Using station one as a expand/charge station and seat in 2, crimp in 3 is an excellent example of just how versatile that machine can be. You can put an empty turret head in the machine just to support the auto-index rod at the top, dump your clean, sized brass in the collator and crank them through to prime in a jiffy. If I'm doing the priming only thing on the press, I usually have a universal decapper in station one to verify the flash holes are open. I also decap en masse using that same setup but with the priming station disabled. That case collator and case feeder setup really lets you crank stuff through in a hurry even doing only one or two precesses in "batches"; you don't necessarily have to go from A to Z in one trip like the machine is designed to do.

Gear

[TheDoctor]

I use different approaches, depending on what I am loading and why. For plinking and cowboy action loads, I run all my brass through with a universal decapper, then ultrasonic the brass. If I want it shiny, I will tumble it for a while, but normally don't. I will then resize on station 1, flare and prime on 2, powder on 3 ( I like the lee powder through die, but do not like the flare it makes), seat on 4, crimp on 5. Primer pockets get cleaned with the ultrasonic, and I do not have to worry about media getting stuck in the flash hole. Do have to let them dry however..... For rounds that HAVE to go bang, I will hand prime them individually, after cleaning of course, and will either single stage load them, or run them through the progressive, one at a time, paying close attention to each station, and inspecting each round very carefully. If a primer does not feel quite right, even if it seated properly, then that case gets tossed into the plinking batch. For rifle, however, I am definitely what some people call excessively anal retentive. But at least when I miss, I know I can't blame the ammo!

[Gliden07]

What I dislike about reloading on a progressive press,any progressive, is the primer pockets do not get cleaned and inspected. I know that is how it is done but it does bother me as a high primer can lead to a slam fire. So, for me and my Lee 1000, I first size and deprime and them tumble the cases and I inspect each case and make certain the primer pockets are clean. Then, because the primer step is the real bugger on any progressive and the one that invariably causes stoppage and the one that can go boom, I'll use the press to prime. The shell feeder really makes it go fast. Finally I load with expander die and powder in station 1, bullet seater in 2, and crimp in 3. I will do this even if it had 5 stations because I'm anal about case inspection and primers. If I wasn't going to inspect pockets I'd tumble, then size on 1 and prime on 2, inspect and then load.

Jerry Liles

If your worried about the Primer pockets why don't you go to SS Pins there suppose to clean the primer pockets as well as the inside of the cases. Everything I've read about them suggests it takes a little more time to do than Dry Media but with all the steps you do it would probably save you time!!

[357shooter]

Nothing wrong witth adding all the steps you want. I for one use the progressive as a progressive. I tumble everything with the old primers still there. When I hit the press it's time to produce some high quality great rounds using the four stations on my Dillon 550, from decapping and sizing to crimping. That includes the rounds that "have to go bang". They always do.

No problem with primer pockets for the calibers I load.

FYI, I load only handgun calibers. Even my rifle is a handgun caliber. If I loaded rifle calibers I might do them differently.

[13Echo]

See Reloading Equipment on this site under "Dillon Primer Tube Detonation" for another reason I prime separately. I really don't like the idea of a bunch of primers going kaboom with a measure full of powder just over head and maybe a bit of spilled powder on the shell plate.

Jerry Liles

[hermans]

For one handgun caliber, especially for something using Small Pistol primers, there is nothing like the Dillon Square Deal B, for large pistol primers the 550 is more suitable.

[merlin101]

I have a LEE Pro 1000 and use it a lot. I can't really compare to others as it's the only progressive press I've had. The primers can be a bit of a problem but it can be worked with. One thing I did was epoxy a feeler gauge strip on the body under the primer seat rod, that cured the proud primer problem.
For the $$ I think its a good product and would buy another.

[lead thrower]

The 1000 is a good machine for the money. As said you have to play nice with it to run good. They need a little bit of TLC. My 1000 is at least 20 yrs old and still works.

[tunnug]

I've had 2 set up different calibers for about 15 yrs, once I got them set up they've been pretty much trouble free, part of the trick is to get a rhythm going and stick with it, I found that when I would change calibers was when I had trouble but once I left them alone it's been great, I also have several single stage for other calibers so I don't have to mess with my 1000.

[Spawn-Inc]

i like them,
http://i386.photobucket.com/albums/oo304/Spawn-Inc/Reloading/IMG_20120118_210309.jpg
one is 9mm, 45acp and the first one (left) is for 38/357 mag.

i like them alot overall, especially for the price tag which is why i do not expect ultimate quality or reliability. most of the issues come with the priming system not feeding or flipping primers due to improper feeding. i've completely crushed primers flat when i realize it didn't feed right in anger. (knocks on wood) they have never gone off from being crushed, but it's always a slow crushing force, nothing fast. my other issue is the stupid chain it comes with, which i will be switching out for a straightened coat hanger wire and spring that i saw from someone on here. great idea!

i got them from $125 to $150 each, all used. my plan was to save up for a hornady LNL AP, but one came up and i could resist. eventually i will get one, but for now lee works. i doubt there would be as many reloaders without companies like lee.

[joec]

I actually liked mine also but it actually produced too much for my needs so I sold it and went for the Lee Classic Turret and Lee Classic Cast single stage. Now I made a few thousand rounds on my Lee Pro 1000 for 9mm, 45 acp and 45 colt but just was never comfortable with it though ever round seem to work fine and never had a problem with the press operation. Now I did spend some time watching videos and other sources of information on making it work properly which I followed. If I ever needed to put out large quanities of ammo in the future I would consider it again however at this time the speed difference between my Lee Turret and the Lee Pro isn't a great reason for me.

Now with that said if you decide to change calibers I highly recommend a new turret and powder measure as well as the full shell plate setup other wise it can be slow changing it unlike the Turret which takes a few seconds to convert from one to the other. Oh and I now load the same three pistol rounds but also a 45-70 rifle and the Classic cast handles bullet swagging and 12 ga black powder brass shot shell loading for my cowboy action events among other duties.

[13Echo]

I have a Lee 1000 set up for 45 ACP and get along with it quite well. It does have a learning curve and the "destructions" are less than clear but it does work. I use it a bit differently though since I prefer to inspect each case I will run the cases through to size and decap and then clean in the tumbler. The case feeder makes this no chore at all. Since I do not like seating live primers and powder in the same operation I use the press to prime all the cases, again insuring all are seated properly. I usually end up with a large supply of sized, cleaned and primed cases on hand. Finally I use the press to load with the powder through die and measure in station one, seater in two and factory crimp in three. I do not have stoppages for primer problems or spilled powder and everything works smoothly and, if I have a primer detonation or tray detonate it won't be anywhere near a measure full of powder. I would do the same with a 5 station press. It is slower than a Dillon but much faster than a turret without case feeder and suffices for my 45 needs. I use a Lee turret for other pistol cartridges a Redding turret for black powder rifles and single stage for rifle.

Jerry Liles

[Spawn-Inc]

i meant to show a picture of how much i've flattened primers before with the pro 1000. i use cci or Winchester primers.

as i said in my other post, i've yet to have one go off (knock on wood).

http://i386.photobucket.com/albums/oo304/Spawn-Inc/Reloading/primer.jpg

[Four Fingers of Death]

i meant to show a picture of how much i've flattened primers before with the pro 1000. i use cci or Winchester primers.

as i said in my other post, i've yet to have one go off (knock on wood).

http://i386.photobucket.com/albums/oo304/Spawn-Inc/primer.jpg

Dang! that looks familiar! haha! I've never had one go off either, turned them inside out with a Lee Auto Prime and RCBS Priming tools as well. I'm thinking you would not want to do it real quick like though. If I had five cents for everytime that has happened to me over the years, I could go out and buy a square meal, coffee and dessert at a reasonably priced cafe.

[Spawn-Inc]

Dang! that looks familiar! haha! I've never had one go off either, turned them inside out with a Lee Auto Prime and RCBS Priming tools as well. I'm thinking you would not want to do it real quick like though. If I had five cents for everytime that has happened to me over the years, I could go out and buy a square meal, coffee and dessert at a reasonably priced cafe.

correct, anytime they get crushed, it's always been slow, never a quick motion. which is why i didn't understand how people set them off. then i looked up all the primer tube detonations going on, and there seems to be some spring loaded ramp that is always the cause.

i've had 2 primers go off using the lee classic loader, which scare the **** out of you lol.

[Four Fingers of Death]

Ah! the Classic Lee Loader, I remember it well (actually, I still have a few). Like many others here I started with one of these kits, loading for my 44Mag. The only hammer my Dad owned was a carpenter's claw hammer, so I used that, (Duh!). I would tap it down to seat the primer soooooooo gently and was prepared for the odd detonation, but no matter how hard you tried to psych yourself up to relax, when they went off they would make you jump! Quiet safe as it was all well contained, etc. It never occured to me to try a different hammer (not that I was probably aware that there were more hammers than Carpenter's claw hammers and Engineer's Ball Peen hammers. A big piece of wood would have done the job well enough.

I did have a primer detonation on an old Texan 12Ga Shotshell press. I was loading the primer tube as I always did and a few primers in the bottom part of the tube detonated,blowing the side out of the tube, which then took off sideways, I was holding the top of the tube between my left thumb and index finger at the time, so it then pivoted about spraying my groin with flame and unfired primers, which took a bit of bark off my goolies while it shot unfired primers into the ceiling and hardwood beam above (these penetrated the hard fibreboard ceiling liner, but did not ignite the ones that hit the hardwood (and believe me, Aussie hardwood is plenty hard), even when they then fell back onto the concrete floor. The ultimate effect of the tube spinning around between my fingers was that it shot the last of the primers into my palm and tore it open, requiring four stitches.

How else do you load one of those tubes, except by holding it in one hand and placing the primers in one at a time. The modern tubes on the metallic cartridge reloaders have a restriction so that you force the tube inner down over the upturned primer, but I think the shotshell primer's shape would prevent this. I am happy to place one primer on the machine at a time now, but I have used that press with the primer feed tube from 1985-2009 and it was an old press when I bought it, so it probably had been in pretty regular use for some 35-40 years when the detonation occurred. Believe me a half dozen or so 209 primers going off, will get your attention!

[gunoil]

lee classic cast turret press. titianreloading.com,,, press by itself 92$ plus shippin. You already have some parts.

http://i1113.photobucket.com/albums/k511/putt2012/4272A627-B8FC-4CFF-B356-C568E245DD30-8635-0000094ADB456B95.mp4

[Four Fingers of Death]

I buy all of my Lee stuff off Titan, great service, good price. I like the homemade bullet feeder, looks like an RCBS bullet feeder die.

[Any Cal.]

Yep, more info on the boolit feeder please! The last guy trying to use an RCBS wasn't able to get it to work, so I quit considering it.

[Four Fingers of Death]

I have several Hornady ones, but they are set for jacketed bullets, which we hardly ever use in Australia. I have to open them up a bit. There is a good youtube video on this. The internals of the RCBS are nylon and may not lend them selves to being adapted to take cast boolits (boolits being a poofteenth of an inch bigger).

I can't say for sure, never having see one in the flesh, only ever laid eyes on them via youtube.

[HeadLead]

I have 2 Pro 1000's and a Classic 4 hole turret press.

Until I learned to keep the press clean and made the right adjustments I hated the 1000, now I use one for 45acp and the other for 9mm. I have several shell plates and can change out to another caliber quickly if I desire to do so.

For the money, they are ok, but you need to stay up on them.

Sure would love to own a Dillon, but I spread my money around an lots of other neat stuff.

[Four Fingers of Death]

HeadLead, I have found that the complete Lee shellplate carrier assembly is a pretty good buy from Titan Reloading. Sure simplifies things, just swapping them out, well worth the money. If I had a big ultrasonic cleaner I reckon you could dump the whole lot in there and clean it and then lubricate it. Sure would save a lot of hassle, but I can't afford one at this stage.

You are right, they are good, but you have to keep them clean and be vigilant.