First look! Lee Pro 6000 Six Pack Progressive Press

[@SBR300]

Abe I have a Lock N Load that I’ve been successfully running a Mr. Bullet Feeder, as well as a Dillon Powder Check in a station modified to allow its use so you have an audible on a low/high charge. You must run a seat/crimp combination, but it’s well worth it to run at the higher load rates.

[@chrisgeddes26]

I have one of these. I wanted "One press to rule them all!" I.E. do everything from 9mm to 30-06. Breaks my heart to write this. When loading .308, station one likes to leave the shell in the die and tear off only 2 bits of brass. I don't think it is seating all the way in the plate or the plate has poor grip. Either way, I gave up and pulled the die loading only decapped pre-sized brass. That little grey plastic ring thing? (cannot see from thin angle) A. makes partial through shell removal (weight check or other problems) VERY difficult or impossible. B. pops partially out and screws things up. It would have been really nice if Lee had made eh plate carrier and the plate actually FIT each other. The primer pin is only one diameter, small, so it dents and distorts the large primers. Mine came damaged in shipping. the two long extesions for primer and case feeders were bent/cracked. LEE WAS GREAT IN SENDING A NEW PLATE CARRIER FAST AND FREE. The replacement zinc shell plate holders to not come with the screw holders threaded. So if you need one make sure to use either self tapping screws or tap the screw hold first otherwise, the screws can snap upon first installation. I am still trying to make this thing work. As of now, I would NOT recommend this press, at least not for any rifle ammo. I would avoid buying this press for anything, except (perhaps) pistol ammo.

[@diaperjoeisaped1723]

I agree with you. I own a gun shop and am also a class 6 licensee. The 6000 is still just a budget reloader. No where near the quality of the Hornady LnL. The 6000 will not make it to 10,000 rounds. (I do my class 6 loading on the Lyman Apex and the Dillon 1050. The large call on the 750. You did a good review sir.

[@chrisgeddes26]

Thank You@@diaperjoeisaped1723

[@stevealoia]

I have the Lee loadmaster . And it runs my 9mm very smooth. And no problem . I just got the Lee six pack . To run 223/556 rounds and I just love The six pack . And order some upgraded parts from Lee . At no charge .

[@echohunter4199]

Been reloading for quite a few years now, I started out with an older RCBS Rock Chucker I bought second hand then later picked up a Lee single stage press which I use as a companion press. I don’t often load bulk amounts, I do long range shooting primarily. I’ve always liked the Hornady LNL AP but as we know, they aren’t cheap so, I found one on TGT and did a horse trade for the complete press, the Hornady case feeder, all the case feeder plates and 12 sets of dies all with the LNL bushings installed and tons of other precision parts and accessories for it. So I have about $700 total into the press that would retail for over $1,300 easy (press and everything it came with, the press alone is around $550, case feeder is $490, each of the 4 plates is $45 each, etc.). Loading .308 and 5.56 can be troublesome with lower end presses and I prefer a more solid design but I didn’t want to pay retail and I finally reached my goal. We can all see that press wobbling around like a cheap Chinese toy but I agree that it’s a fine first press and in a pinch, it will crank out loads as long as it’s not abused. This Lee press is a lot lighter than higher quality progressive presses which is a plus, and slightly smaller in overall size.

[@iShootFast]

Looks like an evolution of the lee APP. Same case feeding mechanism. Nice price point , and I could see using it for small sessions of 1-300 rounds per session. But for those 2000, 3000 round sessions - Dillon 750 or 1100. Different price points, but different use cases

[@noneya135]

I'd say more of an evolution of the Lee Turret Press. Uses the same frame and rotation mechanism. I'm really glad to see Lee bring this to market.

[@NU-io4rs]

Thank you for sharing. It was very informative. How high is the bullet feeder tube from the base of the press?

[@richpalmisano1740]

An improvement over the AP 4000. I do not like the offset ram. The shell plate isnt supported well and can cantilever leading to inaccurate seating. I've experienced this on the 4000. Wish they could have solved that...but hey it has 6 stations...right?

[@nvkulk]

Thanks

[@pozog8987]

What do you do with the spent primers? Where's the tube at the bottom?

[@calculusentropy]

Lee is built on cut rate prices on low end builds for old Yankees scrimping clams.

[@Spruce-Bug]

I just bought one online. Did you have to polish the powder measure much? I have an old Lee precise measured and had to just give it an ol rub with some emery cloth to meter consistently.

[@abee.s.corpus2455]

This is not my press in the video but I have a Lee Auto Drum powder measure that I use on my LNL-AP for certain applications. I have not polished mine and I get good results with it. It has the reputation of leaking very fine powder (mine does when I use H110); some people lap or polish to make this better.

[@bobgasm1471]

How's the primer feed? that seems to be an issue on nearly every press out there, my Hornady AP took quite a bit of tweaking , polishing, and cussing to get the primer feed to run reliably.

[@abee.s.corpus2455]

The owner prefers to prime off of the press. I also have an LNL-AP and had been forewarned that I needed to polish the primer shuttle out of the box. The priming system works well after a little break-in period.

[@julianlaustsen1991]

can u tell me why u would use the factory crimp die when u have bullet seating die's with crimp in it?

[@abee.s.corpus2455]

@@julianlaustsen1991 many people prefer to seat and crimp in separate operations. I do this with autopistol ammo but with revolver ammo I seat and crimp in one operation.

[@julianlaustsen1991]

@@abee.s.corpus2455 why do it different on revolver and acp?

[@abee.s.corpus2455]

@@julianlaustsen1991 my .45 ACP and 9mm dies have a taper crimp die that is separate from the seating die. Dies for revolver cartridges usually impart a roll crimp. It’s personal preference at the end of the day.

[@wesleyconklin6874]

Where did you find it for that price? Cannot find it for that cheap with all the add ons

[@abee.s.corpus2455]

www.midwayusa.com/product/1025594889?pid=750514 Here's the kit for $340, free shipping.

[@PastaLaVista.]

I saw you have a LnL ap. Would love to see a comparison and review of those two. Maybe make a few rifle rounds and check concentricity. How many rounds per hour. How smooth the operation is…

[@abee.s.corpus2455]

I’m hoping Ultimate Reloader will evaluate the Pro 6000 soon. Gavin does a great job with reviews and comparisons. I load very little rifle ammunition and some of that I do on my Rockchucker. I don’t own a device to measure concentricity. I’ve only had a quick look at the Lee. I loaded a handful of rounds just before this video was made. My Hornady seems a little smoother but it is a well used press. It runs better now than when new so the Lee may do the same. I have a couple of videos on my channel showing the LNL-AP running if you want to look at them. You might see some examples of cases not feeding into the shellplate without a little nudge. The Lee seems to do well there. I like the Hornady primer magazine (a vertical tube) better than Lee’s folding plastic tray but that’s a nitpick. Some people complain about the Hornady priming system so my preference here is not universal. The Lee casefeeder does not have a motorized hopper and collator like the Hornady or Dillon. You can add a $12-15 manual collator to speed up the loading of the four casefeeder tubes. This is one of the “apples and oranges” items. The Hornady casefeeder probably gives you more speedy and automated case feeding but it’s expensive, costing more than the Lee press kit. It’s somewhat loud and takes up a lot of vertical space. I fiddle with the casefeeder more than I do the press. Lee’s six station can be a real boon depending on what you want to run on the press. For some handloaders it’s irrelevant.

[@PastaLaVista.]

@@abee.s.corpus2455 good info thank you. I have a lee turret but have been planning on a LnL for a while. Will still probably go that direction when I can. I’m a fan of lees primer system on the turret. I like the tray that turns them all upright and funnels them in. So I think I might like that on the 6000 more than the LnL. Also just learned that lees bushing system is all aluminum and Hornady is all steel. That’s probably the deciding factor for me because I will not be happy if aluminum deformation causes me to start chasing headspace or seating depth. The 6000 does seem great if you’re only loading pistol or maybe .223. I’d worry about anything bigger until there’s lots of user reports. Funny you bring up Gavin. You can see what I, and many others, think of his progressive comparison video by looking at the top comment lol. Used to love his stuff too.

[@abee.s.corpus2455]

@@PastaLaVista. if you like the ease of loading primers into the Lee press you might like the Vibra Prime device for loading primers into the LNL/Dillon type priming system. Let me know if you are interested in seeing that in action.

[@PastaLaVista.]

@@abee.s.corpus2455 thanks I know what that is. I just hate having to buy a bunch of extra accessories

[@abrampl]

Ah .. bullet feeder s*ck with bullets lubed with black powder lube :( Have rcbs, was tryning to use something printed ... So full metal jacket or painted bullets they works, with lubed black powder - they s*cks ... Probably I'm doing something wrong on my side when doin 38spec black powder ones.

[@woodybear8298]

That's not true. The Hornady LNL does not cost $1000.00 for a single caliber setup unless you add all their automated equipment.

[@abee.s.corpus2455]

Current online pricing for the LNL-AP press plus the casefeeder plus one shellplate (without dies) is just over $1100. The Hornady casefeeder has an electric collator so it's not the same as the casefeeder on the Lee press.

[@rogervanvarick3499]

How easy is it to change dies for different calibers

[@abee.s.corpus2455]

The press takes bushings into which you set the dies. Switching out dies then takes a second or two. It’s similar to Hornady’s “Lock n Load” die bushing system.

[@rogervanvarick3499]

@@abee.s.corpus2455 thanks

[@chrisl1636]

Does primer tools come with it, or is it sold separately?

[@nicksouthwell9393]

Yes. It has on press priming. I just had a bunch of pre-primed cases already made up when the press came in.

[@rogervanvarick3499]

Does this have a primer tube for the tool head? And can you change tool heads

[@abee.s.corpus2455]

It does not have a tool head. Primers feed from a folding plastic tray similar to Lee’s Safety Prime system.

[@rogervanvarick3499]

Thank you

[@abrampl]

Question: powder jumps out when table is rotating? I saw this in lee 1000 or 4000. Case jumps when plate was rotating and some powder goes outside case ... Maybe softer spring under lock mechanism? Which won't 'hit' too much when it is rotating?

[@nicksouthwell9393]

I haven’t seen that. However the powder I’m using is very fine and in such a deep case like 45 colt, That would be very difficult. The full charge is only about 1/8” to 3/16” deep.

[@santo101979]

I noticed that your DAA Magnetic Powder Check beeps and flashes every time you run the press. I've got the same setup on my Pro 6000 and my powder check does the same thing. It's driving me nuts and I've adjusted it a 100 times. Yours is the first video I've seen that does this like mine. Is this normal with the DAA Magnetic Powder Check?

[@nicksouthwell9393]

I’m still tweaking the powder check. What I think is happening is I’m using such a fine powder at such a low charge that it isn’t sensitive enough to tell the difference between the low, normal, and over charge. Like you I’ve adjusted so many times. Still working on it. Thinking about reaching out to double alpha about it. The first version of the powder check had a sensitivity setting. I. The new version they’ve done away with it. I really wish hadn’t.

[@jamesa5720]

This is an amazing press at any price but around $300 (kit price), it is a steal. I have used almost all the multi-station presses on the market, and many of them for tons more money and a whole lot more complexity (that I struggled with) do not allow you to do what this one will: station #1 case feed, sizing & de-priming #2 triple function of primer insertion, case expansion and powder drop #3 powder check #4 bullet feed #5 bullet seat #6 bullet crimp. No, it does not have a case collator but the four-tube gravity feed system it comes with will allow you to do batches of about 100 which matches my testing trays. It does come with three dies, but does not include the crimp die unfortunately. It does come with the shell plate in the caliber you originally purchased and additional shell plates are about $25. It does include the sizing/de-priming die, the expansion die that inserts into the powder system and the seating die. You will have to buy a bullet feed die and system which you could do for as little as $50 or just manually insert bullets to start. The powder check is a must regardless of your experience in my opinion. I use the RCBS lockout die and I test it frequently. I am going to add the Inline Fab ergo handle and the quick attach system in the future as I wanted to make sure I liked this first and I more than like it, I love it. It looks like you may want to add a little spring door attachment to the case feed system for about $10 or build one yourself, although I have not experienced problems with case-feeding using 45 ACP brass, which is all that I have loaded so far. There are also more automated collator case feed systems and bullet feeder systems that will work with this press. I am all in for around $500 not counting the quick attach system and ergo handle that I may add. I hope this dissertation helps someone considering this purchase. This baby is just fun to play with.

[@jamesa5720]

Midway has the Lee Inline Bullet Feeder Kit available for $55. There are three sizes I think, so you have to match the bullet size to the die, but the kit comes with a 4-tube system and the die, so you can't beat that. I have been using a Hornady bullet feeder for 45 ACP, and tubes I designed, but I went ahead and bought the Lee Inline kit for both 45 and 9mm "35 caliber group". So, for $55 you have a batch automated bullet feeder capability.

[@diaperjoeisaped1723]

This press is for the budget reloader.

[@jamesa5720]

I appreciate that heads up and I went and bought both the 35 and 45 caliber packages from Midway.

[@jamesa5720]

@@diaperjoeisaped1723 I agree. But, what I like about it vs others costing a lot more, is having four stations after powder drop so as to allow a powder check, bullet feed system and separate seat and crimp. The jury is out whether it will hold up with any kind of volume production.

[@haylspa]

thumb down because of the guy behind the camera, who refused to let the man in front of the camera use the press.. thats bad camera work!

[@abee.s.corpus2455]

We are docking his pay. 😊 Thanks for the feedback; we want to make every video better.

[@Edmondson_Avenue]

Lmmfao 🤣 ​@@abee.s.corpus2455

[@geezerp1982]

but the dillion is going be alot better qaulity and easier to set up and last longer

[@abee.s.corpus2455]

I’m all about choices. No question Dillon makes a quality product; I hear very few complaints from Dillon owners.

[@diaperjoeisaped1723]

This press is for the budget reloader. It is no where the quality of the Lyman Apex, Dillon 1050 or 750 or the Hornady LnL. It will not make it past the 10,000 round mark without failure.

[@MrShadow1995.]

Damn I was thinking of this or the hornday LnL lately. Originally wanted a dillon xl750 but it's beyond my budget atm