Willee Posted August 7, 2012 Share Posted August 7, 2012 I am considering buying a Lee Bullet Feeder for my new Pro 1000 press. I shoot 45LC pistols and use 454424 Keith Bullets. I see the bullet feeder is limited to .67 inches, the Keith bullet is .695 inches. Has anyone successfully used the feeder with this bullet. Was it necessary to modify the feeder? Thanks Ahead of time. Willee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noylj Posted August 8, 2012 Share Posted August 8, 2012 You would have to open up the bullet feed "die" to take such a long bullet. As an aside, the bullet feeder does not work well with hollow base bullets. I like the using the bullet feeder manually, as I find that in my old age, my left hand shakes when I try to do small detail work like place a bullet square on the case. I think that I would be happiest cutting the bullet tubes down to hold maybe 10 bullets, as trying the fill the tube full means standing up (and having my back go into spasm) as I try to fill the long tube. Obviously any bullet feeder without a collator is really a manual operation anyway, so I am happier still sitting down and feeding the bullets in one at a time (that is not a find motor function and I can do that fairly quickly). The same goes for the RCBS and Hornady bullet feeder dies, as I don't have the money or need for a collator. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willee Posted August 8, 2012 Author Share Posted August 8, 2012 You would have to open up the bullet feed "die" to take such a long bullet. As an aside, the bullet feeder does not work well with hollow base bullets. I like the using the bullet feeder manually, as I find that in my old age, my left hand shakes when I try to do small detail work like place a bullet square on the case. I think that I would be happiest cutting the bullet tubes down to hold maybe 10 bullets, as trying the fill the tube full means standing up (and having my back go into spasm) as I try to fill the long tube. Obviously any bullet feeder without a collator is really a manual operation anyway, so I am happier still sitting down and feeding the bullets in one at a time (that is not a find motor function and I can do that fairly quickly). The same goes for the RCBS and Hornady bullet feeder dies, as I don't have the money or need for a collator. Not sure what yu mean, open up the bullet feed "die", I have only seen pictures of the feeder. I think that if I can get my hands on one I could figure out something. I could do without the feeder but I just love automation and machines. Ha Ha. Thanks for the quick response. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evil5826 Posted August 9, 2012 Share Posted August 9, 2012 I am considering buying a Lee Bullet Feeder for my new Pro 1000 press. I shoot 45LC pistols and use 454424 Keith Bullets. I see the bullet feeder is limited to .67 inches, the Keith bullet is .695 inches. Has anyone successfully used the feeder with this bullet. Was it necessary to modify the feeder? Thanks Ahead of time. Willee Its trash. Broke one too many times. I ended up getting pissed off sold my Lee and bought a Dillon XL650. My Mr.Bullet Feeder arrives tomorrow. If you got some cash go with a GSI or Mr. Bullet Feeder and stay away from the Lee Fingers of DOOM. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmorris Posted August 9, 2012 Share Posted August 9, 2012 I didn't have much luck with the one I had with ANY bullet. In fact I would say setting the $25 bucks it cost on fire would have been a better use of the money. Some products I give the "thumbs down" to but this one gets the middle finger. OK, I just hate not being able to get things to work and if the instructions say to "boil" to make it right...well I should have known. Scharch or MA Systems made a feeder that worked on the same concept that works but cost more than any "good" feeder on the market does today and it needed compressed air. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noylj Posted August 9, 2012 Share Posted August 9, 2012 Ahh, the standard "I hate anything but the expensive stuff" brigade has arrived. The bullet feed die is the "die" that the bullets drop through and the "slider" picks up the bullet from the opening in the "die" body. If you want a longer bullet to go through the hole, you would need to open up the hole--if there is enough material to open up the die that far. The ONLY problem I have with the Lee bullet feeder (and remember, I am only putting about 5-6 bullets at a time in the bullet feeder die) is if the bullet isn't fed onto a case, it will be dropped out of the slider when the slider retracts to pick up a new bullet. Since I operate the bullet entirely by hand, I don't operate it when there is no case. It does what it was designed to do quite well. It isn't a Mr. Bullet Feed or even a Hornady bullet collator and feeder. It does what Lee says it will do. There is a big difference in what to expect from a $30 bullet feeder tube, die, and slide feed and a $300 bullet collator and feeder die. If you were expecting them to be the same, it isn't Lee's fault. jmorris: if I didn't have the Lee Bullet Feeders I need or want, I would offer a home for yours. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmorris Posted August 9, 2012 Share Posted August 9, 2012 Ahh, the standard "I hate anything but the expensive stuff" brigade has arrived. Actually I like cheap stuff, that works and have built many things "low buck" that work quite well. I also have a lot of Lee products that I am happy with but the bullet feeder isn't one of them. I read your post and as a one round feed, if it meets your needs thats great. Put in use as you describe I would call it a bullet assist. If someone looks at a video of a bullet feeder that really works and thinks they can do that with a Lee, once they get it they will be disappointed and $25 further away from a decent product. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willee Posted August 9, 2012 Author Share Posted August 9, 2012 Ahh, the standard "I hate anything but the expensive stuff" brigade has arrived. The bullet feed die is the "die" that the bullets drop through and the "slider" picks up the bullet from the opening in the "die" body. If you want a longer bullet to go through the hole, you would need to open up the hole--if there is enough material to open up the die that far. The ONLY problem I have with the Lee bullet feeder (and remember, I am only putting about 5-6 bullets at a time in the bullet feeder die) is if the bullet isn't fed onto a case, it will be dropped out of the slider when the slider retracts to pick up a new bullet. Since I operate the bullet entirely by hand, I don't operate it when there is no case. It does what it was designed to do quite well. It isn't a Mr. Bullet Feed or even a Hornady bullet collator and feeder. It does what Lee says it will do. There is a big difference in what to expect from a $30 bullet feeder tube, die, and slide feed and a $300 bullet collator and feeder die. If you were expecting them to be the same, it isn't Lee's fault. jmorris: if I didn't have the Lee Bullet Feeders I need or want, I would offer a home for yours. I like cheap stuff, even more if I can make it work. I have watched all the Youtubes, and several people have only good things to say about Lee, and the videos prove this out. I think taking a few thousandths of an inch off the feed die should be do-able. I have a little gambling spirit in me and I think I can risk a few dollars. Besides it will give me something to do. Ain't retirement great... Willee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willee Posted August 14, 2012 Author Share Posted August 14, 2012 Well I bit the bullet, and ordered the bullet feeder. Should be here in a couple of days. Now I need to go out and shoot up some ammo so that I will have something to load. Will let you know how it turns out. Willee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willee Posted August 17, 2012 Author Share Posted August 17, 2012 I received my bullet feeder and have modified it for the longer bullet. Works great when it works, something tricky going on and it seems to be something about the buffer and the action rod. With the handle down and one and a quarter inch of the action rod below the buffer it seems to work ok. I saw nothing about adjustments in the instruction sheet. Every once in a while the crank rod will jump out of its hole. Seems like a jew nut would be in order to keep it in it's hole. I am thinking this will be a welcome addition to my reloading equipment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willee Posted August 20, 2012 Author Share Posted August 20, 2012 When I followed the directions under initial testing of the Lee Manual for the bullet feeder, it works great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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