Lee Loadmaster Priming / Powder Charge issues

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Azul69

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So, thanks to a lot of good advice I have solved my case issues. Now I can get onto asking about the annoying things that happen once in a while.

First, every so often I will get a primer that doesn't seat right, it goes in cockeyed and causes the shell plate to not rotate. This is annoying because i have to disassemble the shell plate and remove all the shells to free it.

Second, With the Lee Auto Drum powder measure. Every once in a while, i get a partial charge or no charge. This is annoying because i don't always catch it before seating a bullet and have had to start weighing my rounds after they are loaded to see if any are too light.

Third, the plastic clip on the Auto Drum, that prevents a double charge broke. Does anyone know if i can get a replacement, i'm sure i can get a stock one, that is stronger? And any tips to set it up so it works properly?

BTW if I had found the instructions helpful, i wouldn't have these problems! lol
 
I don't have a Load Master so I can only comment on the Auto Drum. I have used a marker on the body of the unit to indicate the start and end of full travel. It's one more thing to watch but it will keep you aware of any issues.

Dave
 
In order to be able to answer your questions accurately we need to know the details.

Could be time for another primer trough assembly or you could be loading something like 9mm that has other problems.

For whatever reason Lee doesn’t make a shell plate that fits 9mm very well. This is because the 19s will work for the larger diameter 40 s&w too. This allows the case to not be centered over the primer and can cause the issues you describe. I fixed mine by putting an extra powder die I had in station 2, to center the case in the shell plate as it was being primed.

Check here for your auto drum parts.
https://www.titanreloading.com/lee-am3041-auto-drum-mold-parts
 
Even once a progressive press is setup you need to watch and watch carefully every step. Three to four eyes would help. Since that is not about to happen following each pull of the handle you need to look at every station. Weighing loaded cartridges is not a good way to check powder charges. Getting things right takes careful setup and watching closely as each round progresses. Glad you came away from your last thread with a few problems solved. Primers need watched closely making sure all the primers are loaded correctly and travel down correctly. Slow constant uniform strokes on the handle will result in accurate powder charges.

Ron
 
Lee is less expensive for a reason. Use of less sturdy materials and not as comprehensive instructions are two reasons why.

On the other hand I'm sure Lee can supply any parts you need. And there are scores of how to videos on Lee gear.
 
jmorris said:
In order to be able to answer your questions accurately we need to know the details.

Could be time for another primer trough assembly or you could be loading something like 9mm that has other problems.

For whatever reason Lee doesn’t make a shell plate that fits 9mm very well. This is because the 19s will work for the larger diameter 40 s&w too. This allows the case to not be centered over the primer and can cause the issues you describe. I fixed mine by putting an extra powder die I had in station 2, to center the case in the shell plate as it was being primed.

Check here for your auto drum parts.
https://www.titanreloading.com/lee-am3041-auto-drum-mold-parts
Click to expand...
I'm reloading .223 on a brand new Load Master with all new components. Using CCI 400 primers.
 
Flip some of your cases over and take a look at the primer pockets.

A32A234F-0A16-4A43-A97E-573D677628A1.jpeg

If they look like the one on the right, you have to swage or cut the crimp out of the pocket so it looks like the one on the left.
 
jmorris said:
Flip some of your cases over and take a look at the primer pockets.

If they look like the one on the right, you have to swage or cut the crimp out of the pocket so it looks like the one on the left.
Click to expand...

I do swage them but a good thing to keep an eye on!
 
The 4s is the correct one for .223/.380 and such, not sure what’s on your machine, thus the question. If it’s not, it wouldn’t be the first time something was shipped with the wrong parts installed. Just trying to figure out how swaged primer pockets can’t accept a primer, must be off center or you have debris occasionally on the primer punch that starts the primer into the pocket crooked.

If the shell plate is the correct one, that really only leaves improper indexing left, hard to see as the LM is a handle down stroke priming press so all the other dies should have the shell plate where it needs to be.

At that point the only thing I could think of is to put another size die in #2, without the decap pin/expander and have it slightly backed off so it’s not further sizing the case but just making sure it is in fact perfectly centered as the primer is pushed in.
 
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