first time reloader - Lee Loadmaster

[frenzy731]

Hey guys, so i just got a lee loadmaster press for my girlfriend and mines one year... got it all set up and---deleted--... i got it finally all functional except the primers are getting jammed/flipped in the auto primer arm... It caused one to blow up as i was putting powder into a casing (which sadly was missing the primer >_< ) any tips or advice to make sure the primers do not flip or get jammed in the feeder? i already took it apart once to remove all the jammed ones out.

 

[rcmodel]

What caliber are you loading?

And what size primers are you using??

So many questions remain unanswered before your question can be answered.

Rc

 

[frenzy731]

oh yeah sorry. .223 and small rifle primers

 

[dave333]

It caused one to blow up as i was putting powder into a casing (which sadly was missing the primer >_< ) .

Maybe I'm miss reading this but, you dont have your powder drop in station 2 do you? The loadmaster is designed to leave that station empty while priming is going on. Please dont do that.

There are a few things you can do to help the priming function better. Take the primer slider apart and make sure there are no burrs in the ramp anywhere. Also make sure the press is as solid as possible. Since everything takes place on the downstroke I have found putting a spreader bar under my press as close to the ram as possible takes out virtually all the movement while reloading.

The most important thing you can do to ensure perfect priming everytime is slow the handle down on the downstroke. I bought a used loadmaster press just to see if I could make it run, and had pretty good luck with it. I did develop the priming problems to the point of priming off press for a bit, but one day I decided if I couldnt make it prime while reloading it was going to leave my reloading room. I put my safety glasses on, stood above the press and worked the handle with my left hand so I could watch what was going on and see what needed to be adjusted. As the shell plate came up slowly I watched the wedge bar ease a primer into the cup, and as it reached the top of the stroke the priming lever pushed the primer in perfectly. I did this again, slowly, watching the process and saying to myself what can I possibly adjust and then I had my "A HA" moment. Work the press handle slow and smooth and have trouble free priming.

The problems occur when you start going too fast. It will prime much of the time, but the wedge bar that pushes the primer feed into the primer cup has a pretty steep angle and the faster you go the more the primer gets slung instead of gently pushed, and it results in primers getting slung out of the cup and going down the ram with the rest of the spent primers, or getting into the cup crooked and resulting in a crushed sideways primer.

Its actually pretty easy to induce primer failure by working the handle too fast, you can watch it happen from above the press. Slow that handle down and it will prime perfectly.

 

[IlikeSA]

Since you are new to reloading, I would suggest taking it one step at a time, then adding different steps. Case size and prime....do a few, get an idea of what it should look and feel like. Then add the next step. A progressive is not best to learn to reload on.

 

[jmorris]

You might look at "tuning" videos on youtube.

Also, loading .223 make sure your not trying to prime crimped primer pockets. If they look like the case on the right, you need to cut or swage the pocket so it looks like the one on the left.

 

[frenzy731]

Hey guys, so i got the press all good and lined up, dispensing correct amount of grains and what not... however i noticed i made 2 errors... first being i found a couple of the bullets i loaded have the primers not entirely flat in the pocket, and 2nd i seated the bullet too far in... advice on what to do or if they would be okay to shoot? im using imr4320 - 23 grains of it - with 69gr bullets the load says 2.260 but i have a couple that are 2.19 and up..should i pull the bullets and reload ?

 

[joem1945]

I believe for a first time reloader it's best to start on a single stage press. Learn and prefect each step before you go progressive. JMHO.

 

[dave333]

I believe for a first time reloader it's best to start on a single stage press. Learn and prefect each step before you go progressive. JMHO.

I agree to a point, but if you dont use the casefeeder and only run a single piece of brass through the stations its like a single stage press. You can also take the plastic slider off the indexing bar and that will lock the shellplate and make the Loadmaster a single stage press as well.

Frenzy, if you have not already go to the lee precision website and watch all the videos on die setup, should take care of all your questions. The videos are pretty short and straight to the point.

Once you understand the basic setup of the dies, do your final adjustments with brass in all the stations as that will balance the torque the shellplate has under a single piece of brass.

Dont ever fire a round where the bullet is seated too deep, that can cause pressure spikes and things to blow up. If you dont have a kinetic bullet puller yet get one, or be prepared to throw a lot of components away.

 

[Schwing]

Hey guys, so i got the press all good and lined up, dispensing correct amount of grains and what not... however i noticed i made 2 errors... first being i found a couple of the bullets i loaded have the primers not entirely flat in the pocket, and 2nd i seated the bullet too far in... advice on what to do or if they would be okay to shoot? im using imr4320 - 23 grains of it - with 69gr bullets the load says 2.260 but i have a couple that are 2.19 and up..should i pull the bullets and reload ?

Primers not seated completely usually cause light strikes. The hammer or striker will hit it and not go off. Putting it back in the gun and firing it again almost always works since the first firing seats the primer the rest of the way.

As far as bullets being seated too deeply, that can cause excessive pressures which is dangerous.

For both problems, I would recommend purchasing a bullet puller and taking the loads apart. Once the bullet and powder are removed, you can place the shells with the shallow primers back in the press and seat them the rest of the way. I know some loaders just put the entire round back into the press and seat the primer but I am not comfortable, nor would I recommend, doing this.

I don't reload for .223 but I know on my handgun caliber reloads I use the "Plunk test" to determine my OAL. There are tons of youtube videos on how to do it. Once you find the best OAL for your particular firearm, you start at the BOTTOM of the load data and work up, watching for pressure signs along the way.

 

[carbine85]

I couldn't agree more. Use it one step at a time. Progressive reloading is best left to experienced reloaders and high volume shooters. Figure out and work through all the problems and then move up.
I pretty much stopped progressive reloading and when I do use my progressive press I typically resize 1st and prime, charge and seat as the next operation.

 

[mdi]

I believe for a first time reloader it's best to start on a single stage press. Learn and prefect each step before you go progressive. JMHO.

I agree. It's easier to learn just reloading alone (on a single stage or turret press) rather than learning how to operate a multi-function machine that reloads.

If I found any "bad" ammo when inspecting the finished product, I wouldn't shoot it. High primers can be the cause of slam fires and misfires and seating depth, if off far enough can cause changes in chamber pressure (smaller case capacity for a short OAL, or if a bullet jams in the rifling, long OAL).

 

[Olympus]

Sell it and buy a Lee Clasic Turret. Then if your shooting volume exceeds your capacity on the Classic Turret, upgrade to a Dillon 550.