first timer- lee progressive 100 223 good buy?

[dtrump]

I have been looking at the lee progressive 100 kit it seems like a good buy. Right now all I need to load is 223 but in a few months ill be getting my scar 17 and will need to be able to also load 308. Is this a good idea for a low cost kit? http://www.midwayusa.com/product/347...ProductFinding
thanks.

[Spaceghost]

I would tell you to really consider a Dillon 550/650 or a hornady lock n load.

A good press is a step investment that pays off in the long run. If you have to save your pennies, get a good quality single stage press, if you don't have one all ready. Do you currently reload?

Honestly, if you have the coin for a scar, get a better press and thank me later.

[eclipse2000]

If you want to do 223 & 308 on the same progressive machine the Lee 1000 wont do 308's. the cartridge height of the 308 is too tall for this press.

[roadglide2003]

I have a lee pro 1000 and use it for 223. If you have no experience in reloading its best you start with a single stage press first. Most of us started there to get base knowledge of reloading first.


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[IntoForever]

The pro 1000 is tall enough to feed the .308 however I think you're going to have fun modifying the case feeder so the brass isn't flung all over the place and goes into the shell plate properly. I'd start off with a simpler reloading press to learn on (emphasis on learning), one that will hold its value so you can sell it for no loss when you are ready for more or decide reloading isn't for you. I do have the Lee Pro 1000 in .223 and if you want, we can meet up and you can check it out.
I do own many Lee presses (at least 11) and with minimal maintenance they run great.

[dtrump]

I just cant spend the money on basic and better a lil later. Yes im buying a scar paying it off over 6 months though so its not like I have the coin to just drop 3000 whenever. Im paying more than half my paycheck towards it each time. I guess ill get a single stage but not just to learn it and drop more on a progressive later. The description made it seem easy to switch it over to another caliber and I bet I can figure out a progressive pretty easily but if its not a good buy for what I need I wont get it. Thanks.

[dtrump]

The pro 1000 is tall enough to feed the .308 however I think you're going to have fun modifying the case feeder so the brass isn't flung all over the place and goes into the shell plate properly. I'd start off with a simpler reloading press to learn on (emphasis on learning), one that will hold its value so you can sell it for no loss when you are ready for more or decide reloading isn't for you. I do have the Lee Pro 1000 in .223 and if you want, we can meet up and you can check it out.
I do own many Lee presses (at least 11) and with minimal maintenance they run great.

That would be cool. I livw in ventura county where you located?

[eclipse2000]

The pro 1000 is tall enough to feed the .308 however I think you're going to have fun modifying the case feeder so the brass isn't flung all over the place and goes into the shell plate properly. I'd start off with a simpler reloading press to learn on (emphasis on learning), one that will hold its value so you can sell it for no loss when you are ready for more or decide reloading isn't for you. I do have the Lee Pro 1000 in .223 and if you want, we can meet up and you can check it out.
I do own many Lee presses (at least 11) and with minimal maintenance they run great.

Looking at mine I didn't see any 308 kits for the 1000 so just assumed it was like my 30-06 cartridges and just too tall for that press. ( I do my 30-06 in a single stage setup) If the press has the capacity to handle 308 cartridges you can just manually load the casings, this would be fine if only loading say under 200 shells at any given time. The pro 1000 is touchy with auto-loading 223 casings so unless I'm needing to do over 100 223 shells at a time I just manually load the shells.

If just starting out I'd get a single stage setup and then grow into a progressive machine. Get a good feel of how to load in a single stage setup and it will pay you back in dividends in troubleshooting and setting-up your future progressive machine.

[roc_my_tims]

get the lee classic turret press you can use it as a single stage with ease.

[Hallx7]

^this

[MrElectric03]

Have you read up on loading rifle rounds? There is a lot more equipment you are going to need to start loading .223 than what comes in that kit. Mostly all for case prep. I went big when I started and got an xl650 dillon and love it. If I were in your shoes I'd get a single stage and the necessary prep tooling and later move to a progressive, I'd go for either a Hornady lock n load or a 550B Dillon, XL650 if you can swing the extra coin(you won't regret it).

[sghart]

Lee Classic Turret Kit all the way.

[HPBrowningMK3]

Lee Classic Turret.

[bearingar15]

Skip this kit (Lee Progressive) if you want to be able to load 223 AND 308. Lee Classic Turret should be in your price range. I'm assuming you've already got everything else.

[stilly]

Skip this kit (Lee Progressive) if you want to be able to load 223 AND 308. Lee Classic Turret should be in your price range. I'm assuming you've already got everything else.

Yeah I gotta plug one more for the Lee Classic Turret.

I aint even thought of doing .308 on it but it can take it...