Henry Rifle Forums

I just found out about the new Lee progressive press, the Lee Breech Lock Pro.

I've toyed with the idea of a progressive press, but between the initial expensive and the problems with mass primer detonations, I could never decide on pulling the trigger on one.

The initial reviews on it seem rather positive. To me the down sides are the linkage doesn't look as beefy as I might like. As a plus, the casting is cast steel. It does not have an automatic primer system, but since I am used the system on the Lee Classic Turret, I should be comfortable with it.

The most attractive thing about it is the price. It can be had for a little over $100. I would have to add a shellplate, and use my existing powder measure. I'm tempted to get one, and if I like it, perhaps buy a second to leave two set up for the calibers I load most of my rounds for.

Case and bullet feeders are available, and are quite affordable, if I want to go that route.

Here's a link.

https://www.titanreloading.com/lee-prec ... h-lock-pro

Save up and get a Dillon 550. I loaded on a single stage Rock Chucker for years before I bought a Dillon. I would NEVER go back to single stage. P.S. I still use the Chucker to load rifle.

Among other things, the Dillons have a reputation for mass detonation of primers. The usual response when someone reports this on a forum is how great Dillon CS is, rather than ask why Dillon hasn't redesigned their primer system to address a known safety issue. Yes, they have an outer steel tube to direct the blast at the ceiling. Not a suitable solution in my book. For some reason, the Hornadys, which have a similar system, don't have the same reputation for blasting a bunch of primers through the ceiling. It might just be the number of Hornadys in use, rather than a safer system. If I were going to spend a lot on a progressive press, I would probably get a Hornady. I don't mind spending the money on a more expensive press, but I'm just not sure I would be happy with either of the big two on the market.

Primer loading seems to be the main bugaboo of progressives. The primer system on the new Lee isn't as fast as on others, but it looks like it should be very reliable, due to it's simplicity, and it is extremely unlikely that more than one primer could go off at any given time. It is basically the same system that is in place on my turret.

Yikes. Think I'll stick with factory ammo...

RanchRoper wrote:Yikes. Think I'll stick with factory ammo...

Well, the mass detonations rarely result in serious injury. The issue is that if a primer ignites at the bottom of the tube, the rest of the primers in the tube will likely go off. The steel tube surrounding the brass primer tube usually does it's job and directs the blast upward. A lot of progressive owners talk about having a hole in the ceiling over their loading bench. I think one issue is that the Dillon primes on the upstroke. There are several operations going on at once and it is much more difficult to feel that something is wrong when a primer is not in proper position/orientation. I believe the Hornady primes on the downstroke, I know the Lee does, and this makes it the only operation going on and makes it easier to feel what is happening.

Reloading is much safer than driving.

You probably should factor in the price of a new pair of underwear after a mass detonation though.

a Lee Loader was the first I ever used, still have it .... over the years I've used several Lee products and can't remember one not performing OK .... as far as progressive presses go, we chose to go with a Hornady Lock-n-Load .... so long as we do our part, it has performed flawlessly .... we just completed a run of 1,275 rounds of 44 Mag .... among other runs last year it loaded 4,000+ 9mm's, 1,000+ 357's, 1,000+ 44 Mags .... absolutely no safety concerns .... if for some reason we were to need another progressive press, we wouldn't hesitate to get another Hornady

Yikes. Think I'll stick with factory ammo...

Don't let the reports of primer detonation scare you off. IF you do start reloading You will most likely do so with a single stage press which will never have this problem - and based on the number of rounds you shoot from your range reports you will most likely never need a progressive. Most don't.

Mistered wrote: Don't let the reports of primer detonation scare you off. IF you do start reloading You will most likely do so with a single stage press which will never have this problem - and based on the number of rounds you shoot from your range reports you will most likely never need a progressive. Most don't.

I agree. I may never outgrow my Lee single stage press. I mostly use it for .357 caliber cases and usually I only shoot one or two hundred rounds per week, so I can easily meet my needs in no time - and enjoy it.

I do tumble, decap, and prime them as soon as I get back from the range, though, and I use a Lee hand priming tool, so priming doesn't factor into the final reloading process for me.

clovishound wrote:For some reason, the Hornadys, which have a similar system, don't have the same reputation for blasting a bunch of primers through the ceiling.

right up front, I know next to nothing or even less about a Dillon ... consequently, I know nothing about the mechanics of their primer seating operation .... with a Hornady, the seating location for the primer is separated from the primers in the holding tube .... as noted above, the primer is seated on a down stroke .... even if the primer was to ignite, I don't see any way that it could detonate the primers in the tube ....

Have a hornady and cant fault it, prior to it I used a pro1000 for all my bulk loading.
The quality of the ammo loaded on the lee was every bit as good as that with the hornady but it need constant tweeking to keep it running reliably.

My 550b has been running flawlessly since 1992. As with any progressive press, setup and maintenance is important.
I clean my primer tube (s) every 3000 rounds, no explosions.

220 wrote:Have a hornady and cant fault it, prior to it I used a pro1000 for all my bulk loading.
The quality of the ammo loaded on the lee was every bit as good as that with the hornady but it need constant tweeking to keep it running reliably.

Yeah, the pro 1000 and the Loadmaster have a reputation for being finicky.

Loaded thousands of rounds on my Dillon 650.
No primer problems.
Dont know where that came from.
Where the primer is seated in the case is 2 inches away from the primer tube.

Hitman wrote:Loaded thousands of rounds on my Dillon 650.
No primer problems.
Dont know where that came from.
Where the primer is seated in the case is 2 inches away from the primer tube.

I have been on a number of different forums over the years, and I routinely see threads about mass detonations on Dillons. In the discussion there are always a handful of other Dillon users that report having had the same issue. It certainly isn't an everyday occurrence, but neither is it rare.

Here's one that shows the results.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTmtJj-mick

Here's one with a possible explanation of how it could happen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wN2ZCRKUrNE

Some people just dont like Dillons.
I do. Never had a problem

Some people are dangerous and shouldn't be reloading anyway.
Would not matter what name was on the equipment.

Hitman wrote:Some people are dangerous and shouldn't be reloading anyway.
Would not matter what name was on the equipment.

This is the category I might just be in. As I mentioned in another thread, I am not only un-mechanical but uninterested in mechanical stuff, hence a quite possible lack of attention to details for reloading.

Factory ammo for me at least for the short term until I have to choose between ammo & food, then we'll see how it takes to starve at the range....

RanchRoper wrote: Factory ammo for me at least for the short term until I have to choose between ammo & food, then we'll see how it takes to starve at the range....

Ah, but with ammo you can get your own food.

https://recipeland.com/recipe/v/squirrel-pot-pie-34376

True enuff.

I have been reloading on a Lee turret press for many years, I did do a price check on the items I would need to get started with the Lee Breach progressive press. For about $390 I could be up and running for 9mm, 40 cal. 38spl & 357, 45 acp , 44 SPl &44 Mag, 45 colt 7.62 X 39, 380 & 5.56. the plates can be used for several caliber in most cases. I have the powder measure, all the dies stated above. But I am still thinking about it. I know nothing about the other mentioned.