I'm thinking of getting into competitive centerfire pistol shooting, and will need to reload 9mm and .45ACP, and a lot of each. Anybody use the Lee Pro 1000 progressive reloader? It is a lot cheaper than the Dillon or Hornady loaders, and supposedly can turn out a large a volume of reloaded cartridges. Looking for bad as well as good comments. Regards, Bill.

I have 3 of them 500 rounds a hour is about right for them. Some times more some times less. I use them for 40s@w 44mag 38spl and 9mm

The primer feed is the biggest pain with them. If one has trouble with the 1000 it well be with seating primers.

I like them over all and at 500 rounds per hr is a fairly decent rate.

I have to agree with p dog. The primer feed can be a pain, for sure. That is the station I watch the most. Be sure the primer drops into place and is right side up and all is good. Let the primer not drop, like with less than 30 primers, and the powder going through the primer pocket will require a clean out before you start again.

I use mine for 9mm and 40S&W all the time.

If someone gave me one I would sell it! My local shooting club use the Dillon 550 and did use the Hornady.

The Dillon is now all that they use. He used to get a lot of powder dropping problems with the Hornady.

I would like to reinforce what has been said about the primer feeder. It is a real pain. It jams easily and there is no easy way to clear it, especially with an upside down or sideways primer. I mistrust the primer feed so much I only load another piece of brass on every second stroke so I do not mess up as many rounds on a malfunction. I still love it since I feed three family members with 38's and cannot justify the cost of the Dillon vs the $140 something on sale pro 1000. I just could not keep up with my single stage and they were buying too much factory ammo. I now use the dies on my single stage for 357's.

Mounting the lee very soild helps the primer feed issue as does keeping the primer feed slide full.

Keeping it very clean is a big help. When I start getting miss feed primers Normally its because I let the amount of primers get low.

Or some powder has fouled it.

there's a reason for being cheap. I can't think of very many people who after trying most progressives didn't end up with a dillon

For cheap, relaible handgun round production it is very hard to beat the dillion square deal- We have used 3 at the club for 22 years set up for members to use- not had a problem yet.

Occasionally with the dillion 550's somebody manages a double charge in .357 or, quite commonly, no charge. Have stopped letting arbitary club members use the 550's and only reloading 'team' members who sort of know what they are doing.

For volume rely on the 650 with case feeder, bullet feeder etc.

Club has bought Lee 1000's on and off over the years...never been satisfactory. The RCBS is ok, but we have never made an effort to get another. It is set up for 32 S&W wadcutter and if you are carefull it makes good ammo.

NB- In Zimbabwe it is almost impossible to buy any Factory ammo so the only source of practice or match ammo is from the reloading teams at the two big clubs. We make alot of reloads

I am more than pleased with my Hornady.

I've been using a dillon 650 for about a year now and I really like it.

The only other progressive I've used is an old Hornady that started to have problem over time, but it is over 20 years old now and Hornady has changed quite a bit on the new ones.

I know several people that use the Dillon machines and they like them.

I reload on a Star Progressive loader.

They are no longer make, but you can find them used once in a while.
They work perfect.

CH are very good too. for their time

I'm still using a CH I bought over 30 yrs. ago for 38's, .357's,.41 mag, 45acp and 9mm. Don't know if parts or service are even available anymore...but come to think of it...have never needed either..!!

There's a reason, aside from the "Forever" NO BS warranty Dillon offers to buy Big Blue.

1. Made in America.
2. Quality.

Rich

I have seven SDB's and two 550's. The only thing to improve on a Dillon is the primer swap from small to large and back. It's why I own two.

quote:

Originally posted by Idaho Sharpshooter:
There's a reason, aside from the "Forever" NO BS warranty Dillon offers to buy Big Blue.

1. Made in America.
2. Quality.

Rich

I have seven SDB's and two 550's. The only thing to improve on a Dillon is the primer swap from small to large and back. It's why I own two.

+1

I have 4 Dillons, two 550s, a 450, and a 300. Not one of them has ever failed me in any way.

I bought a 550 used last year.No problems.Should have bought one years ago.

Primer fed and primer change from large to small and vice versa are the biggest issues with progressives. Solved the problem....now have two Dillon 550s, one for each primer size.

And Dillon cannot be beat for customer service.

Love my Dillon presses.Besides why drive a hyundi when you can drive a cadillac?

I don't have the 1000 but have the LoadMaster in which I load both the 9mm and .45 ACP and have had good luck with it.

The others who push the Dillon (which is a good, but expensive press) don't want to feel foolish about the money that they paid for the "lifetime replacement" policy. (It's like Glock guys pushing Glocks.) Plus w/the Lee you'll get auto-indexing and auto case feed which is something you'll pay extra for in the Dillon.

Compare the price difference for a Dillon and Lee when it comes to caliber conversion. For the price of one Dillon "forever" press, you can get one each for the 9mm and .45 ACP.

Dillons work (two buddies have them) but I don't think that they're worth the extra cash.

I have been reloading pistol with the dillion square deal since 1987 same machine..
380,38spl,357mag,9mm,38 super,45acp,44mag..
only pistol calibre i cannot load with it is the 41AE i do that with a single stage press..
The dillion has been the best piece of equipment i have ever purchased..
you cannot go wrong with a Blue press..

I like my Dillons, they are quality built and Dillons customer service is great. I have a Square Deal B and a 550B, for IDPA type cartridges you just can't beat the Square Deal B.

I' going to stick with my RL 550B's. I have 2 of them. One for small primers and the other for the large primers. They work just fine for me.

Check out the RCBS PRO2000 indexed progressive press.