If Lee presses are junk, why are used ones so hard to find?

[jcwit]

You simply trade $$$$$ for speed and features.

And bragging rights.

 

[GLOOB]

Come to think of it, I wonder why the OP would even pose such a question. Wait, I think I know...

????
I asked because I've had an eye out for a used Pro1000 for awhile now, and all I see are "other" presses coming up for sale. I keep reading how the Pro 1000's have to be constantly fiddled with to keep them running. And that anyone serious about reloading will eventually buy something better. Or "upgrade" to a turret. So I thought they would be pretty common on the secondhand market. I want to try my hand at all the "fiddling, adjusting, and the sleepless nights filled with buyer's remorse" for cheap.

 

[LiveLife]

I keep reading how the Pro 1000's have to be constantly fiddled with to keep them running. And that anyone serious about reloading will eventually buy something better.

I guess I am the exception to the rule - and believe me, I am dead serious about reloading.

I started out reloading match ammo with Pro 1000 some 16 years ago and still reload on one. I seriously thought about buying a Hornady AP LNL but still trying to counter my wife's question of, "But will it load more accurate match ammo?"

I'll be honest and say Pro 1000 is not for everyone. One should have the patience and desire to understand how the press operations work and STOP when any problem is encountered instead of forcing the press to cycle. If you are impatient and don't want to investigate things, then Pro 1000 is not for you. I shoot with many other reloaders who use various brand progressive presses and there is not a press that does not require the routine cleaning, lubing, and minor adjustments to keep it operating properly.


For me, the extent of my "tinkering" for each reloading session is as follows:

- Clean and lube (I use leftover motor oil - any weight) all metal contact surfaces (applicable to any press)
- Attach correct shell plate and check shell plate timing (applicable to all progressive press)
- Drop in the dies/turret for the caliber I will be loading for (I don't need to adjust individual dies as they are preset in the 3 hole turret already)
- Attach Pro Auto Disk and add powder (applicable to all progressive with attached powder measure)
- Select powder disk hole referencing my load notes (default or custom disk holes) and turn on powder hopper then cycle 3-4 times and dump powder back in the hopper. Weigh powder drops until consistent (applicable to any progressive with attached powder measure)
- Ensure the ram lever goes up and down fully for each cycle
- Verify OAL of first few rounds (applicable to any press)
- Attach case feeder and fill with cases (applicable to any progressive with attached case feeder)
- If press priming, fill tray with primers and attach - keep on eye on the primer feed ramp and tap tray to keep it full
- Refill components when they run low (case, primers, powder - applicable to any progressive press)
- Clean and oil center hex rod if it requires more lube (up and down movement gets less smooth)

That's the extent of my "tinkering" with my Pro 1000. Apparently, other people's experience vary from my routine with the Pro 1000. When other reloaders use my Pro 1000, they comment that it is surprisingly smoother than what they remember. There is no "jerky" movements when I use primed cases for loading match ammo with primer feed ramp removed.

My feeling is that many started out using Pro 1000 when they were new to reloading/unfamiliar with progressive press and made many mistakes and blamed the press for frustration/damage caused. As they became more knowledgeable and moved on to other presses, this sentiment may have continued on, burning in their memories.

I tell new reloaders not to reload if they are distracted, rushed or otherwise can't focus on reloading, especially on the Pro 1000. I reload on the Pro 1000 in the quiet of early morning well rested and while everyone is sleeping so I can focus on the reloading steps (whether using primed cases or not) and reload leisurely. If I run into any issues, I stop and investigate. Most of the times, my reloading session of 500-1000+ rounds involve occasional cleaning and lubing of center hex rod that actuates the auto index.

 

[orionengnr]

Otto:
Worth four thousand words.

 

[HOWARD J]

I have owned a Rockchucker, 5 Lee presses, 2 Dillons.
Today I reload all my rifle & pistol ammo on A Lee Classic Turret Press.
Lee makes a fine product for the price.

 

[LiveLife]

Otto, this is THR.

Not sure if the pictures are of your equipment, but for breakages shown in the pictures to occur, I would guess they involved extreme/improper usage.

To be objective and fair, more explanation would help describe under what circumstances those breakages occurred.

 

[1SOW]

The Lee Turret press functions perfectly well for straight wall pistol cases including/especially priming. Mine has loaded somewhere over 10,000 rds and works better now than it did new. I've had a "tiny" spring break in the primer feeder AFTER the warranty period that Lee replaced free in 3 days. I made one that worked until the new spring arrived.

This press paid for itself in just a few months, but it does take some know-how to get the best out of them..

If I shot much more than my 200+ rds/week, I'd go progressive to save 'time'.

 

[jon_in_wv]

If all you need is a $100 press to more than satisfy your realistic reloading needs, seems to me anyway that one would be a boob to spend over $600?

DING DING DING!!!! You win the prize! Finally somebody gets it.

 

[jmorris]

The reason you don't see used ones as much is that they are already priced low and don't retain value like a Dillon does, for example. When you sell one and it costs more to ship than selling price, why?

After years of service I gave one of mine to a friend so he could learn to reload, the others I just dig through the change jar if that's all the money I need.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I have my Lee turret press for over 6 years now and it's working perfectly fine. I load a lot of ammo every year on it too from 38 S&W to .357 Magnum to .45 Colt and rifle ammo up to 30-06 and 45-70.

 

[rondog]

Otto:
Worth four thousand words.

Nope, only worth an explanation....which there was none of. That kind of damage surely is the result of misuse.

 

[WyrTwister]

This is in reply to all those photos of broken Lee parts .

Are Lee machines indestructible ? No .

I have broken a few Lee parts , myself . 95% of the time , it was because I dumbed up and did something I should not have done .

I have had very good luck with Lee customer service . Send the parts back . Sometimes they charge me for them , sometime they replace them free , even though it is usually my fault I broke it . Some times they do not even ask me to ship the parts back .

Keep in mind some people can break an anvil with a feather . I fall into that catagory , sometimes . :-(

Some people are not very mechanically inclined . I like to think I do not fall into that category , most of the time ? Same comment about short or violent tempers .

I hate Lee presses so much I have the hand perss , the little C-Frame press , the old Challenger press , the cast iron turret press and Saturday I ordered the LoadMaster ( Fathers Day gift from my wife ) .

Plus a whole cabinet full of Lee dies & other stuff .

I gave some Lee stuff away to a cousin who was just getting started . Can not think of any I have thrown away ?

I could go on , but you get the idea .

I do not hate the other brands . If I had a ton of $$$ , I might buy them . But Lee ,though not perfect works for me . Also , my wife does not drive a Caddy , Lincoln , Lexus, etc. . She drives a Buick , bought used . Before that , used Chevy Luminas .

God bless
Wyr

PS If you have the older Challenger press with die cast linkage , email or PM me and I can pass along a modification for that .

 

[WyrTwister]

I used the little C-Frame press for years , solely to operate the Lee disk powder measure . It is obvious , looking at it that it was never intended to be used for high stress operations . So I did not . Now , I often use it to size home cast bullets .

God bless
Wyr

 

[WyrTwister]

Check out all the videos on " fixing " the Lee progressives .Lots of great info . Would never have ordered a LM with out them . ( Lee documentation is often lacking , but the internet is a fantastic resource . )

I will soon find out if I am a good enough DIY'er to get it to work ?

But if you are a " plug and play " person , Lee may not be for you .

Oh , another thing . Some people get into reloading & find out it is not for them . If they bought Lee stuff , they have 1/2 to 1/3 as much $$$ setting in the closet gathering dust .

God bless
Wyr

 

[WyrTwister]

And bragging rights.

Probably true , some people seem to " have " to have the most $$$ product in its category ?

God bless
Wyr

 

[jmorris]

Probably true , some people seem to " have " to have the most $$$ product in its category ?

I still have a few Lee's but went with others not for bragging rights. I must be getting picky as I get older and I don't load to relax, most of the time.

If I could load 200 rounds for tomorrows match in 10 minutes or less on any Lee machine I would. Never came close with the ones I had so I went with something that could.

Lee machines are good for those types that like to tinker (as I am) but everyone has their breaking point.

 

[ranger335v]

"I've never read such nonsense as I have in this thread"

Ditto. I get amused at the pompously stated that Lee's presses are "junk" and "throw aways." Most of such comments seem to come from two camps; those who read what's been posted and repeat it to sound knowledgable without having used it and those who have abused it and blame the tools for their own failures.

It's silly to expect even an excellant light alum alloy press to be equal in total strength to a cast iron press. Broken frames and turret heads as shown in the photo above have obvioulsy been greatly over-stressed, probably by trying to jam a case further into an FL die than it could possibly go. The broken lever toggle blocks is usually caused by failure to keep the bolt that ties the toggle block halves together sufficently tight.

The pictured broken lever on the Lee priming tool typically comes from trying to seat in GI cases in which the crimp has not been properly removed OR the primer didn't enter squarely. (I have two 20 year old Lee AutoPrime tools that have never broken but then I stop to find out why a primer isn't seating properly rather than just pushing harder.)

Some people REALLY need cast iron tools! For them Lee makes the Classic Cast press but it's really overly big and strong for common reloading tasks. I've also seen web photos of broken top straps on RC presses too so even cast iron isn't strong enough to stop those people from abusing their reloading tools to destruction! Abuse and/or neglect can kill anything but few reloaders will ever actually wear out any press if it's given just a modest amount of intelligent care and lube.

Bottom line, alum alloy presses from Lee, Hornady or RCBS are not make for high volumes for a lifetime nor for wildcat case reforming but they will make a LOT of ammo quite nicely with reasonable use and care.

 

[Cosmoline]

I love my Lee hand press. It's loaded many many thousands of rounds without any issues at all, including some really weird ones like 1895 Nagant rounds with the long cases. It gives me the power I need and precise control as well. I can't speak to Lee's progressive presses.

 

[MrOldLude]

If anyone doesn't like their Lee Turret, I'll gladly take if off their hands for the cost of shipping. I'm very discrete.

 

[mokin]

I bought a Challanger kit six years ago just to get started. It has loaded several thousand rounds by now and traveld the country north-south twice with lots of side trips. I've broken two Autoprime handles and a link on the press. The Autoprime pieces were inexpensive to replace and I fixed the link with JB Weld. I admit, I'll probably buy a RCBS priming tool just because I've heard good things about them. Someday I figure something will break and I wont be able to repair it. As has been stated above, everything breaks. For the money, I think I'll go with another Lee.

 

[cougar1717]

The starting price for lee presses are so cheap compared to others that it doesn't make much sense to sell it if you buy a more expensive press. It always seems like having that extra press ready to go is very convenient.

 

[morrow]

Lee presses are hard to find used because most people just throw them in the trash.

 

[jon_in_wv]

I've read enough about the the Lee progressive's I would rather spend the extra cash on a better press BUT I have a LEE Challenger single stage that is a serious hunk of cast iron. You would have to be mentally challenged to break that. I've loaded thousands of rounds of great ammo with it and it cost a fraction of what other presses cost. I hunted around for an upgrade and the LEE Cast Turret was what I bought. Its, once again, a fraction of the cost of a progressive but still lets me load a lot quicker than a single stage. NO ONE on this thread that spent a ton more on your press is loading any better ammo than I am with my LEE. That is the cold fact of it. You may do it faster, but SPEED isn't my goal with the LEE. I like the set up and it lets me do what I want without spending a small fortune for the same end result.

 

[rondog]

Lee presses are hard to find used because most people just throw them in the trash.

There we go, now THAT'S a High Road comment......

 

[Nushif]

I'm not selling mine because it keeps making me delicious bullets. Dunno a better reason not to sell it. 8)