New to reloading with Lee Pro 4000

[kydave19]

Hello from an old fart, long time shooter, just taking up reloading though.

Couldn't afford the Dillon and read some good (and bad) things about the Pro 4000. On sale at Midway so I took the jump.

I'm not casting (yet) myself, but I've been shooting my kind friend's cast reloads in my Glock 34 for a couple of years now & figured I could buy cast bullets for now and start reloading.

Big question, as so many folks sell cast bullets, but reloading data doesn't seem to specifically keep up.

SO: Is anyone using a Pro 4000, Winchester 244, and Summit City Bullets in either 9mm 124 Gr NLG BB or 9mm 147 Gr NLG BB?

If so, please give me details on powder charge and overall cartridge length for the respective bullet with 244.

If not - who has information on the closest thing to my planned loads?

PS - I've been shooting a 155gr cast bullet over various powders load by my friend, but since reloading to cut expenses, I see (obviously) that lighter cast bullets cost less (makes sense - less lead to buy).

My carry Glock (G19) likes 124 grain JHP, so I wanted to see if the G34 would like a 125/124 in a cast bullet as well. If not, I'll go to the 145/147 commercially cast bullets & work up a load.

The Winchester 244 Winclean, although relatively new, seems like something worth trying & I'm hoping that with hi-tek coating and this powder those hanging clouds of smoke on a still day will stop obscuring the steel plates! LOL!!

Thanks for welcoming me to this forum.

Kentucky Dave (who has been living in far Northern California for many years now)

P.P.S. Should I bother adding a factory crimp die into the empty station 4?

[GasGuzzler]

I used the FCD in the 4th hole, especially with cast bullets.

[MoMan]

You can never go wrong with the FCD!

[kydave19]

Thanks! I ordered it.

[kydave19]

Off & running! I made 10 cartridges each of low charge, mid charge, and full charge and shot them today with my buddy doing the chrono work!!

First off, everything went bang at the proper moments. Functioned my Glock 34 just fine!

I loaded HSM 125g cast RN bullets into new Sig 9mm brass, with Fed primers, and Win 244 powder. The powder was at 3.6+/-. 3.8+/-, & 4.1+/-; 10 each.

The hottest charge was the most accurate and it didn't feel all that hot. But it averaged 1129fps (the lowest load averaged 1005fps).

All in all, I'm ready to slowly start using the press to its full capacity, bit by bit. It now has the factory crimp die in place.

My first bullet and best group!

First cartridge small.jpg

First reloading session results 031224 small.jpg

[kydave19]

Ooops! Here's the Pro 4000.