I have a lee classic 4 hole turret with all the dies and turrets to load 380,9,38,45,223 I have the pro powder charger. I am wondering if I change to the loadmaster how much more is involved I can reuse my dies I see were I can buy just the press then I have to buy primer feeds and brass feeders and bullet plates for each caliber. Can I just buy the bullet plates and turrets and buy primer feeds and brass feeds down the road. Am I even on track or am I way of on trying to do this. I just want to make sure I can change between calibers fairly easy.
lee classic 4 hole changing to loadmaster
- Thread starter badbowtie
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God this is going to be a long answer. The Load Master comes with almost everything you need for a single caliber. (dies, powder measure, case feed, plate, primer feed, etc..) the only thing it does not come with is a bullet feed, that is purchased seperately.
You can use the same parts for calibers that are simular, but when you change from cases that are different like 9mm to 45 ACP you will need to get base plates, primer feeds to the correct size of primers, cases etc.
I also continplated the change over from my Lee Classic Turret press to the Load Master, but I am having enough trouble finding components to load as it is. Do I need a press that will use 5 times the number of components in the same amount of time? I don't think it would be a wise investment at the present time. Future, maybe, but i would buy it for loading a single caliber, that is the beauty of them they make a lot of bullets in a short (relitive) time. Changing over from caliber to caliber is time comsuming and is better done with a turret press or purchasing a Load Master for each caliber that I need a lot of.
Jim
You can use the same parts for calibers that are simular, but when you change from cases that are different like 9mm to 45 ACP you will need to get base plates, primer feeds to the correct size of primers, cases etc.
I also continplated the change over from my Lee Classic Turret press to the Load Master, but I am having enough trouble finding components to load as it is. Do I need a press that will use 5 times the number of components in the same amount of time? I don't think it would be a wise investment at the present time. Future, maybe, but i would buy it for loading a single caliber, that is the beauty of them they make a lot of bullets in a short (relitive) time. Changing over from caliber to caliber is time comsuming and is better done with a turret press or purchasing a Load Master for each caliber that I need a lot of.
Jim
I was thinking of buying just the base press no dies or anything with it. Then buying couple base plates and both primer feeds. I can sell my 4 hole turret right know with the 5 extra turrets I have with nothing extra for a nice chunk since nobody has them. Figured I could up grade for little cost out of pocket. I know it will take longer to change calibers but if I can change in 10 minutes I could make up for it real quick. I am aware of reloading supplies being really hard to find but figured it will change some day.
I'll acknowledge that there are some who actually like the loadmaster. I'm not one of them. I love my LCT though along with the LNL and the Rock Chucker (stone ax simplicity). Frankly I'd rather shoot myself in the foot than to drag the lm out for yet another session of frustration and cursing. Even my wife recently learned to hate the thing. I'm thinking it may make a pretty good nut cracker though.
Do yourself a favor, save your money until you can get ANYTHING other than a loadmaster.
Do yourself a favor, save your money until you can get ANYTHING other than a loadmaster.
10 min will not cut it, it will take a full day to set it up so it runs smoothly. If you are doing 500 to 1,000 or more then it would be worth while. If I ever get back into IDPA I will own a LM in 9mm. But you need to leave it set up so you do not need to re-set it each time.
Right now I can change out my LCT in 15 min for a new caliber.
Just my view of it, my buddy has two of them and he is always cursing each time he changes calibers on them. And he loves them.
Jim
Right now I can change out my LCT in 15 min for a new caliber.
Just my view of it, my buddy has two of them and he is always cursing each time he changes calibers on them. And he loves them.
Jim
Lennyjoe
Member
If you decide to sell the 4 hole, let me know.....
What a bunch of whiners.
I own a load master, It was my first, and only press.
There is a learning curve. It gets real steep for those who don't bother to read the instructions.
I purchased plates and dies for three different calibers.
I'll do at least 1000 rounds per change.
A change takes 15 minutes or less.
If you cannot keep your eye on a couple of simple things at a time, you will have problems. Once you get it down, it's a breeze.
I've never used anything else, so maybe I don't know any better, but I paid for this thing inside of the first day making bullets.
Me, I'd say sell your press for good money if you want, and get the loader. Or get the loader and keep your other press, sell the LM if you don't like it.
I'm betting you'll love it.
I own a load master, It was my first, and only press.
There is a learning curve. It gets real steep for those who don't bother to read the instructions.
I purchased plates and dies for three different calibers.
I'll do at least 1000 rounds per change.
A change takes 15 minutes or less.
If you cannot keep your eye on a couple of simple things at a time, you will have problems. Once you get it down, it's a breeze.
I've never used anything else, so maybe I don't know any better, but I paid for this thing inside of the first day making bullets.
Me, I'd say sell your press for good money if you want, and get the loader. Or get the loader and keep your other press, sell the LM if you don't like it.
I'm betting you'll love it.
greyling22
Member
Jim, 15 minutes to change to a new caliber on a turret? Was that a typo? I can do it in about 15 seconds if I have everything ready to go and am racing a watch. more like 1:15 normally.
But: a loadmaster is a nice press that has some issues with priming. Lee's made some improvements and it's a lot better now, but still not 100% for me with 9mm. It does better with other calibers. I think it has to do with the mix and match nature of range brass 9mm primer pockets; some have nice beveled edges, some are squared off, some are crimped. Not a big issues on a turret, but the LM is for particular.
It took me about 2 hours to get it set up and running mostly right the first time, and about 8 minutes to do a complete caliber switch that involves changing the shell plate, large to small primers feed, large to small case feed, and swap and filling the tubes with brass. (case feed takes the longest, and 9mm needs a small mod to the collator before it works right. It and the 380 are so short they can fall in the big holes upside down, so you need to make the holes smaller. {it involves a coffee can lid, a small screw, and a 45 cal case. instructions abound online})
good luck finding anything reloading related these days.
But: a loadmaster is a nice press that has some issues with priming. Lee's made some improvements and it's a lot better now, but still not 100% for me with 9mm. It does better with other calibers. I think it has to do with the mix and match nature of range brass 9mm primer pockets; some have nice beveled edges, some are squared off, some are crimped. Not a big issues on a turret, but the LM is for particular.
It took me about 2 hours to get it set up and running mostly right the first time, and about 8 minutes to do a complete caliber switch that involves changing the shell plate, large to small primers feed, large to small case feed, and swap and filling the tubes with brass. (case feed takes the longest, and 9mm needs a small mod to the collator before it works right. It and the 380 are so short they can fall in the big holes upside down, so you need to make the holes smaller. {it involves a coffee can lid, a small screw, and a 45 cal case. instructions abound online})
good luck finding anything reloading related these days.
mikeglass1969
Member
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- May 10, 2012
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I have and like the Load Master as well except for the priming. I gave up trying and now just hand prime my cases.
Well just a update I have a loadmaster on order should be here Wednesday. I have everything I need to start with for 223. I will have to order somemore turrets and shell plates for the calibers I load. I also have read more bad reviews about the primer setup which I understand was the older setup primer feeder I have the new one. I also am working a deal with a buddy of mine for my old press and everything to get him started in loading also. well I was just watching some more youtube videos and I forgot to get the bin for the side to discharge live rounds into so will have to figure something out for know.
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greyling22
Member
I like the coffee can lid because it works. For whatever reason the 22 case and the penny didn't work for me. Had it worked I wold have stuck with that method. I cut the rim off the lid off a small can of coffee, drove a screw through the center, marked where the holes should be, then laid the plastic disk flat on a block of wood and used the 45 case to punch out smaller holes.
I also saw where a guy had put clear plastic tubing in the holes of the collator and it looked slick and he said it worked great, just not as easily removable and I forget what size tubing he used.
I also saw where a guy had put clear plastic tubing in the holes of the collator and it looked slick and he said it worked great, just not as easily removable and I forget what size tubing he used.
It's really no big deal. If you're paying attention, you'll see the one in a hundred that come up upside down.
You just turn it over, no biggy.
For something so almost perfect as the lee loadmaster system, you can hardly complain about a little inconvenient bump in the road now and then.
If you don't see the occasional upside down round, turn off the TV, don't drink when reloading, slow down, and pay attention.
Or else buy a reloading factory that will do it perfectly.
You just turn it over, no biggy.
For something so almost perfect as the lee loadmaster system, you can hardly complain about a little inconvenient bump in the road now and then.
If you don't see the occasional upside down round, turn off the TV, don't drink when reloading, slow down, and pay attention.
Or else buy a reloading factory that will do it perfectly.
greyling22
Member
true, a flipped case isn't the end of the world, but if you can do a quick, non-permanent mod and resolve an issue, why not go for it?
For you guys that have the pro disk I have been doing some more reading and see were it looks like some guys are using spring setup on the powder charger like I have on the turret press others use the chain on the loadmaster. How many use the spring verse the chain and why you decided that one.
greyling22
Member
I'm a springer. Easier to move it from die set to die set that way.
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