New reloader with questions about dies + press

[04JRB]

I recieved a surprise gift from my wife, a Lee Load master with the .40s&w dies. I have been searching and reading a lot of posts here. It seems the Loadmaster has very mixed reviews. I got past the set up and it seems to be working just fine, so far.

My question about dies:
My wife got hte pacesetter dies for .223, .270 and 20-40 krag. 3 dies are in each set, The charging die apparently gets moved form turret to turret unless I buy 3 of the Lee Auto-Disk Rifle Powder Charging Die 22 to 30 cal, correct?

Also, All my rifles are bolt action. Is it worth it to send back the pacesetters for collet dies, at least for 2 of them? no 30-40 krag available in collet dies.

So far I have purchased:
shell plates for individual calibers
powders (different per calipers)
primers ( large rifle, small rifle and large pistol)
hand primer ( for rifle cartriges not being done progressively)
505 scale
powder trickler ( for rifle cartriges not being done progressively)
case lube kit (rcbs)
decapping tools ( for rifle cartriges not being done progressively)
loading blocks
bullets of my choice
finished round storage boxes
frankford aresanal tumble and strainer.

my second question is:
are the decapped primers supposed to be deposited into the inside of the ram on the loadmaster? seems odd that in order to empty it out I have to dis mount the press.

This is a great community with a wealth of knowledge, hopefully in the future with more experience, I can contribute back.
Thanks in advance,
Jim

 

[jfh]

As you have found, the Load-Master does inspire "mixed reviews." Since you are new to it, I will note that many of the mixed reviews do focus on the use of the press for (pistol) round production--e.g., where the press runs smoothly at rates of 400-600 or more per hour. With the rifle reloading you will be doing, I think that quirks will be less of an issue or you'll have different ones show up.

A quick question before I / we give more advice: Are you an experienced reloader already? What level of experience, and what type?

Now, to answer those questions directly:

1. You might want to consider getting & installing the Lee Perfect Powder measure on your most-used turret, and then buying extra PTEDs for it to move it easily from one turret (calibre) to another. This could work particularly well with one of your cartridges you shoot alot to just churn out "shooting ammo."

It isn't clear to me if you have separate turrets for each caliber. With the dies mounted in turrets, they remain set up, and it is just a minute to change calibers--e.g., die / turret exchange, and another shell plate if needed.

2. About emptying the primers--check the manual; there is a simple pop-off cap on the bottom of the ram. You don't need to dismount the press, just pop the cap.

The trouble is, the spent primers and related crud don't drop out easily, so have a bent coat hanger on hand to "work" them out. Be sure to close the cap again, or operating the ram arm will bend it.

I'll refrain from specific comments about rifle dies, simply because I'm a novice with rifle reloading. So far, I am just learning the process, and doing it single-stage on a standard Lee turret at this point--no indexing rod installed.

Jim H.

 

[04JRB]

Im completely new to reloading.

I do have individual turrets for each caliper. I can set up the powder measure on the 40 s&w that came with the press. I dont have the correct die for the rifles apparently. I ordered the Lee Auto-Disk Rifle Powder Charging Die 22 to 30 Calibers today, 3 of them actually. so I wont have to reset the dies, just change turrets and shellplates and attach the powder measure.

To start Im going to be doing many of the operations by hand. decapping and priming and powder cahrges, then use the press to seat and crip. I think Im going to work up to using it progressively. Rifle will be done more single stage like.

Thank you for your response, its making things clearer.

So far I like the press. like others, I wish more of the plastic parts were metal. But some of the plastic, I suppose, to give way and damage that part before something really bad happens. For the most part a single stage or manually indexing turret press would have been good for me. But, my wife, god bless her, thought bigger and more bells and whistles were better. In time I think I will be happy with my new press/hobby/additction, LoL.

 

[jfh]

Thank you for the thank you. If you haven't done it already, use the Load-Master Videos to review your setup. Here's a search link at YouTube for those videos.

I assume you've used Google to search this forum; there's lots of good Load-Master commentary, including a thread about Load-Master setup that will help you (IMO, a bit later on; use it for trouble-shooting now if you have to). Don't confuse equipment setup and hardware issues with learning the reloading process. 'nough said.

As you start out, I would recommend NOT using the case feeder. Add that in as you gain some familiarity.

You are correct about the right version of the PTED. (That's Powder-through-expanding Die). And, obviously, you are aware of doing manual indexing on the Load-Master, so that can be of help as you start learning.

However, I am going to make another suggestion--IMO, get a second press, right now: For your package it should be the simple Challenger Single stage, or the more-deluxe Classic Single stage. Set it up side by side--e.g., about two feet apart--and you can learn the (rifle) reloading process on the single stage and then transfer this knowledge and process over to the Load-Master.

There obviously may be marital harmony issues in adding this press--but IMO you can do it successfully (VBG). The trick to it is to always have the Load-Master setup; don't take it down.

The reason I suggest that SS press is simply because, since you are new to reloading, you don't need to be distracted by the inherent design of a progressive--e.g., the multiple operations that occur, even with the press in manual-indexing mode, even with processing one case at a time.

That's an opinion; you will get others. But, in the long run, a SS press is the logical companion to your Load-Master. You may even want to get it and install an auto-prime on it. It's easy for me to spend your money, but it appears setup cost right now is NOT a primary parameter--if it is, then I apologize.

There's one other thing I think you may need--be sure to buy the entire shell holder set for the hand primer; the ones in die sets don't fit in it. (Those die set shell holders will fit in the SS, however). Be sure you have good calipers, and I would also have an inertial hammer (de-loader) on hand--you'll want to break down your mistakes and re-use the components.

Next--If you haven't done it already, get at least one more manual. Personally, I'd recommend having three books: "The ABCs...," The Lee book, and Speer's current manual--Number 14. The Lyman book could be substituted for the Speer, IMO--but use The ABCs... and the Lee Book to just read, so to speak, to get more of a feel of the overall process and to begin to understand the issues / variables you want to deal with.

The only rifle tips I can offer are

1. work on resizing and bullet seating first, e.g., without a primer in place.
2. Then add in crimping--again, without a primer in place.

The reason I say this is because the default setting my .223 FCD arrived in put an ungodly 3/32" long crimp in my first three cases (primed, no powder), and I have been unable to pull the bullets...VBG.

Since I am going to focus on .223 "shooting ammo," I suspect my workflow is not the one you need, so I'll refrain from saying more.

Other people should along shortly, particularly those who use their (Lee) presses for rifle reloading, who can offer more / better advice than I can about workflow on rifles. Meanwhile, continue to post / ask questions; you'll get an answer.

Jim H.

 

[Grandpa Shooter]

Just a word on the universal rifle charging dies. When you set them up for powder charging a case remember that the mouth of the case is what is actually in contact with the inside of the die. You will only be able to screw the die in a short distance so that the powder measure is lifted at the end of the stroke. Otherwise you will crush the case mouth. It is worth it to go really slow in getting that die set properly.

 

[04JRB]

Thanks guys!

I have the newest speer book, the newest nosler book, ABC's and THe lee reloading bood are in the mail.

The progressive did come with an auto priming tray ( I think I need a different one for .223), explosion deflector and a case feeder. the case feeder is a true PITA, LoL.

I have done the whole google search (how I found this site) and watched all the youtube videos by shadow and darwin (excellent vids!).

a member on a car site I frequent is donating a single stage RCBS press and some various other equipment (another scale, boxes, and some dies) for 50 bucks as a token payment and shipping. Nice of him to do so.

Thank you to everybody kindly for your help.
Any other info and/or opinions and help is greatly welcomed and appreciated!

Im sure you guys/gals get so many of these threads it gets annoying. I know on the car site I frequent (GTO), it seems that its the same newb questions over and over. I just do my best and remember I was in their boat may years ago and offer as much help and knowledge as I can.

 

[RustyFN]

First of all welcome to THR and reloading. Sorry I don't have any experience with the Load Master. The videos that Shadow and Darwin made are great. I think they cover just about everything. Another LM guru is Uncle Don. All I can say is I know a lot of people that load on a LM and are very happy with the press. Good luck and I hope you enjoy the press.
Rusty

 

[ARGarrison]

While I have no first hand knowledge of the Lee loadmaster, I will throw my two cents in on rifle dies. You will need to, at sometime, full length resize your cartridge case. Also if you end up haveing more than one rifle useing the same ammunition you'll need to full length size or keep brass for rifle A seperate from brass for rifle B. I would keep your pacesetter dies and if you want get your collet dies down the road.

 

[rigmech]

check yard sales and estate sale for your single stage press and older manuals, I actually prefer my older manuals tto my newer ones when it comes to working up a load.