Can't decide on progressive press
- Thread starter cmcgehee
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I'm not sure what you're calling the breakaway wire, but if it's the angled wire/rod that guides the primer slide mine was attached to the press already. But after watching videos I saw that one end is threaded and attaches under the press with a nut. The other end goes into the black thingy at the top of the press. Is that it?
Paddy
member
The sharpened end goes into the spring loaded cup thing on the base. It's designed to pop out if there is a problem.
Thanks...I have been having problems with mine popping out of the base. The length of the leg on each end is different so I thought maybe I was putting it in wrong. Nothing is hanging but just the primer slider wheel just rubbing lightly against it will pop it out. It has been a real pain.
mstreddy
Member
If you're having problems with that, adjust the top plastic cap either towards the front or back as needed. It's there to keep from breaking too many things.
Olympus
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Oh for crying out loud, stay away from the Lee Loadmaster or Pro-1000 unless you have plenty of time to tinker and don't mind wasting time troubleshooting. And for sure stay away from them if you've never used a progressive press at all.
My first reloading press was a Loadmaster and that was the worst mistake I could have made. I spent more time troubleshooting and trying to get the press to run correctly than I did actually producing ammunition. It was incredibly frustrating. I practically gave the dang thing away and bought a Lee Classic Turret press instead and was cranking out ammo on that thing WAY faster than I ever was on the Loadmaster when you count all the "down time" and troubleshooting time.
If you're buying a progressive press, seriously save your money and buy a Dillon 550 or 650 or a Hornady LnL AP. People told me the same thing, but I thought I knew better or thought surely it wasn't as bad as people were saying. I wasted a lot of time and money on that Loadmaster when I should have bought a Dillon or Hornady to begin with. But the Lee Classic Turret served me well for many years. I would spend crappy weekends in the winter time just cranking out rounds and storing them in ammo cans and in the summers I would shoot up everything I reloaded over the winter. Then the next winter I would do it all over again. I just recently bought a Dillon 550 and it's crazy how much better made and operating the Dillon is compared to the Lee Loadmaster I had. But Dillon is not cheap, so that the trade off. If you're looking to save money, buy the Lee Classic Turret. If you've got the money to spend, do it right and go with Dillon or Hornady.
My first reloading press was a Loadmaster and that was the worst mistake I could have made. I spent more time troubleshooting and trying to get the press to run correctly than I did actually producing ammunition. It was incredibly frustrating. I practically gave the dang thing away and bought a Lee Classic Turret press instead and was cranking out ammo on that thing WAY faster than I ever was on the Loadmaster when you count all the "down time" and troubleshooting time.
If you're buying a progressive press, seriously save your money and buy a Dillon 550 or 650 or a Hornady LnL AP. People told me the same thing, but I thought I knew better or thought surely it wasn't as bad as people were saying. I wasted a lot of time and money on that Loadmaster when I should have bought a Dillon or Hornady to begin with. But the Lee Classic Turret served me well for many years. I would spend crappy weekends in the winter time just cranking out rounds and storing them in ammo cans and in the summers I would shoot up everything I reloaded over the winter. Then the next winter I would do it all over again. I just recently bought a Dillon 550 and it's crazy how much better made and operating the Dillon is compared to the Lee Loadmaster I had. But Dillon is not cheap, so that the trade off. If you're looking to save money, buy the Lee Classic Turret. If you've got the money to spend, do it right and go with Dillon or Hornady.
The threaded primer shuttle guide wire was the former design...it is what I have.
The changed to the current break away design to save continually breaking the plastic retention bracket when folks forced the handle while priming.
How the guide wire is strongly retained before releasing is a function of the angle of the wire as it bears against the spring tension. That angle is adjusted by sliding the upper bracket in and out..
You can also polish the wire and checking the wheel for burrs. I hit them each with some 400 grit paper and run some synthetic lube on them...a drop on a finger and then running that finger over the surfaces. I also polished the underside of the shuttle. the shuttle track, and the orifice for the primer
The changed to the current break away design to save continually breaking the plastic retention bracket when folks forced the handle while priming.
How the guide wire is strongly retained before releasing is a function of the angle of the wire as it bears against the spring tension. That angle is adjusted by sliding the upper bracket in and out..
You can also polish the wire and checking the wheel for burrs. I hit them each with some 400 grit paper and run some synthetic lube on them...a drop on a finger and then running that finger over the surfaces. I also polished the underside of the shuttle. the shuttle track, and the orifice for the primer
The OP made his decision 25 post prior to yoursOlympus said:
Olympus
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Doesn't mean someone else reading this thread in the future can't benefit. Thanks though.
Since we're concerned about future readers.....
The Lee Loadmaster is not the demon possessed mechanical nightmare some may say it is. I bought a Loadmaster couple years ago. Mine has been easily manageable. Priming system...trouble free (yep). My Lee dies....trouble free. Consistant COL...you have to set it up carefully and have all stations in play and do your part. COL is not strong point but is acceptable. Plinking ammo in 9mm, .223 Rem, .45 ACP...cranked them out by the thousands. Without going in to a long review; mount press solid (SOLID), align and tune understanding that one adjustment over here can negatively adjust something over there, everything has to be aligned in harmony with everything else, check for things loosening up, clean periodically, complete rhythmic strokes. If any of that scares you then stay away from progressive.
Get a Lee Classic Cast Breechlock Single Stage for precision loading and you will have a nice, ECONOMICAL reloading setup.
If your pockets are really deep and/or you're mechanically challenged then try something else.
If you do buy a Loadmaster, buy it new. It seems the new equipment has some of the bugs worked out.
My Loadmaster set up for 9mm was, IIRC, $230. That's with a case feeder. Do the penny mod on the case feeder and...99% trouble free.
Whichever press you buy you will have to put some effort into learning that press. From reading here on THR it seems they all have their little quirks.
My two cents.
The Lee Loadmaster is not the demon possessed mechanical nightmare some may say it is. I bought a Loadmaster couple years ago. Mine has been easily manageable. Priming system...trouble free (yep). My Lee dies....trouble free. Consistant COL...you have to set it up carefully and have all stations in play and do your part. COL is not strong point but is acceptable. Plinking ammo in 9mm, .223 Rem, .45 ACP...cranked them out by the thousands. Without going in to a long review; mount press solid (SOLID), align and tune understanding that one adjustment over here can negatively adjust something over there, everything has to be aligned in harmony with everything else, check for things loosening up, clean periodically, complete rhythmic strokes. If any of that scares you then stay away from progressive.
Get a Lee Classic Cast Breechlock Single Stage for precision loading and you will have a nice, ECONOMICAL reloading setup.
If your pockets are really deep and/or you're mechanically challenged then try something else.
If you do buy a Loadmaster, buy it new. It seems the new equipment has some of the bugs worked out.
My Loadmaster set up for 9mm was, IIRC, $230. That's with a case feeder. Do the penny mod on the case feeder and...99% trouble free.
Whichever press you buy you will have to put some effort into learning that press. From reading here on THR it seems they all have their little quirks.
My two cents.
newrugersafan
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For those that have not read the complete thread, he did buy the Hornady Lock n Load. Mine is an earlier one and does not have the break away assembly. I've not had any problems not.sure why they changed it.
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