Opinion of the Lee Load master

[bigcim]

I currently have a Lyman turret press that I use for my rifle rounds and 45acp. I was considering using the loadmaster for the 45 acp and 9 mm and was wondering what your general experience was. I was also wondering were the cheapest place to get one would be and what options or accessories to also purchase.

 

[Shadow500]

I have a loadmaster and found that Midway usually has good prices on the press and components. In addition you can return things if you dont like them.

Since you already load I would reccomend that you start out just getting the press set up for one of the calibers that you want to load. Then get an extra turret, shellplate, dies, and priming system for the other caliber.

This assumes that you already have calipers and a scale already.

The bullet feed does not save much time since you have to manually put the bullets in the feed tubes.

The press has a steep learning curve but once you make it through the learning curve you will be fine.

Hope this helps,

Chris

 

[jfh]

...and to Chris's comments, I would add:

Use Chris's videos on YouTube to get you setup. Here's a link to find them, and others.

Review them several times, and apply what he shows you. (Especially the STP case slider lube tip--its flawless.

BTW, Chris, I just tried STP on the Chassis indexer contact--appears to work fine, but I do wonder about long-term impact of that sticky lube out in the open....

Jim H.

 

[Rustynuts]

I use my regular gun grease there, not as sticky. Tetra brand with teflon! Muti-tasking at its best.

 

[TheFrenchCanadian]

Hi Bigcim,

I got a loadmaster last March (set up for 9mm), and after some initial growing pains, it's working very well.

I had no previous experience in reloading, but I'm quite mechanically inclined and fairly patient when it comes to figuring out why a given piece of mahcinery is misbehaving. As mentioned earlier, have a look at the videos, they're a HUGE help (thanks chris!)! The first 1500 rounds or so were a learning experience, and I ended up taking apart various stages and resetting the Loadmaster on a few occasions, each time learning a little something more. Often the problems were with the operator more than with the machine, due to my lack of experience though. All this was accomplished without breaking anything I might add, it was just a question of re-adjustment/resetting things.

I last took it completely apart and reset everything about 2000 rounds ago, and apart from restocking it, brushing/blowing it off to clean it and re-lubing key parts, I haven't touched it. It's been churning out good usable ammo at a more than acceptable rate.

I've just recently had my first & only bad round since I started using it 3500 rounds ago (wouldn't chamber - too big near the case head, no big deal).

Obviously, you're starting out much further ahead than I did reloading-wise. If you're at all handy, you shouldn't have any problems getting a Loadmaster up and running in fairly short order.

Take care,
TFC

 

[bigcim]

Thanks guys any more advise good or bad will be a great help
How about the speed

 

[CBS220]

It's as fast as you are. Watch some of the Youtube vids and you will see that they can really crank out the rounds.

 

[.38 Special]

In my limited experience with Lee, I have come to have a very negative opinion. I've found the general quality to be extremely poor, the designs to be silly, and the customer service laughably bad.

Others disagree, of course, but unless I could afford absolutely nothing else, I would not go with Lee.

Let the flaming begin! Lol.

 

[Idano]

bigcim,

If you're getting it to reload only pistol it should work great. I had one that I used for 9mm and .223 and once I would get it setup it would work great. However, the problems I encountered were with V-block after switching from rifle to pistol would be a PITA to get it repeatable other then that it was a good press. One other suggestion, I would recommend picking up either a RCBS (preferred) or Hornady powder measure and either a RCBS (preferred) or Hornady Case Activated Linkage, I had the Lee Perfect Powder Measure and it is a piece of sh*t, however, I have heard the Pro Auto-Disk Powder Measure is really a nice powder measure. Unfortunately, if you order your press set up for rifle as I did you get the Perfect Powder Measure and that was the reason I added the case activated linkage to my existing RCBS Uniflow Powder Measure.

 

[Javelin]

Ok it is official. After watching Utube reloaders doing it I think I am going to start reloading with a progressive as well.

 

[jfh]

as for speed:

"It depends," of course. For pistol rounds--say 10mm, or .45ACP:

If I preload extra trays of primers, have the extra cases nearby to dump in the collator, and the cartridge components are a good combination (esp. the bullet size and case), then I have loaded well over 500 rounds in an hour.

But, my typical needs might be to build up to 250 rounds--e.g., one pint-sized Tupperware 'square round' for example, or maybe two. They take about 250 rounds each--and I can usually leisurely built one up in 40 minutes. So, the realistic number for me is about 350 rounds an hour. To do that, all I do is prefill primer trays, refill the powder and use the collator carefully. The key to maintaining the output is to make sure the primer feed does not run too low.

I make a point of doing a cleanup and relube about every 1200-1500 rounds. And, like others, I tend to avoid changing the primer subsystems until the demand is there.

Jim H.

 

[bigcim]

So for pistol rounds I should be good

 

[TheFrenchCanadian]

Like the others said, it'll go as fast as you decide.

Myself, I find I can load 400 an hour very comfortably. By that I mean that I can take the time to look inside each and every case before placing a bullet on it to verify the powder charge. As well as keeping a general eye on the press while I'm working it. I'm careful to use slow, even strokes each time and keep a steady rythm while I'm working.

One thing that helps speed things up when re-stocking the press is the addition of a case collator. For fifteen bucks you can't go wrong, just dump in your cases and it tops the case feeder up in about 5 seconds or so. Just be careful not to dump 'em directly into the holes, or you may get the odd one in upside down.

To me, being absolutely confident in the safety/quality of my reloads is what makes me feel "comfortable", and like I said, I can easily acheive 400/hour that way.

I'm sure if I rushed I could get quite a bit more out of if, but I wouldn't feel as confident in my reloads...

Take care,
TFC

 

[bigcim]

Wow thats a lot I think I was doing about 100 an hour with my Lyman turret reloading 45acp's

 

[Groundhog92614]

LoadMaster Auto-Disk Pro Powder Measure Problems

post relocated

 

[Atlasx]

I will have to admit I have ruined many a Sunday school lesson cussing the darned primer feed system the real weak spot in the loadmaster design. I told a friend my intent was to load ammo not work on the infernal machine! My Dillon 550B runs fine. Does anyone wanna buy my Load master?????? I would not give it to a friend.

Atlasx

 

[aerod1]

I am a fan of Lee reloading equipment. PM me with the amount you want for your LM? I bet can make it sing!!!

 

[Griz44]

I am at 15K+ and counting on my Loadmaster for 45acp. Works fine, makes good consistent ammo. The primer can be a bit frustrating but watch the videos and get it set up properly. I have maybe one primer misfeed per 800-1000 rounds, usually because I let the tray feeder get too low. I like it because it was not excessively expensive, adding extra calibers does not break the bank, and kicking out my required 300-500 a week takes an hour or two at the most. I liked it so much after I got it cooking that I started selling them and do training in my shop to help folks get past the learning curve. Yes they can be finicky, but once set up properly, will drop a make a lot of rounds. It has been my experience (from helping others) that those who have issues with the Loadmaster never got the press set up correctly.
AUCTION at GUNBROKER

 

[Hazzard]

I'm careful to use slow, even strokes each time and keep a steady rythm while I'm working.

This is extremely important with the LM. All the way up and all the way down with even pressure and a deliberate stroke. The LM does not like for one to jerk the handle. The primer feed is the week point and jerking around on it will cause primer misfeeds. I would love for Lee to adopt a primer feed similar to the pro1000 on the LM. I've loaded thousands of rounds on my P1000 and can only remember a few primer misfeeds. The LM is a good press for the money though and I am happy with mine.

 

[darwin-t]

I'm a very big fan of the Load Master, but to be fair it's also the only progressive I've ever tried. My web page (see signature) many videos and it's own forum.

I've had my troubles with mine in the past but it's all smooth sailing now. I certainly have no regrets wit my purchase.

 

[Luis Leon]

Down on the Loadmaster

I just finished returning a Loadmaster, for me it was a really, really bad press. I have been reloading on a Lee Classic Cast Turret press for two years. I have loaded thousands of trouble-free rounds on it. I assumed the Loadmaster would be the same. But it wasn't

I really didn't like that the priming took place when all the cases where in the dies, making it very difficult to feel the primer seating. Also, it seemed like I couldn't get through 25 cases without some sort of problem. I would get rounds with no primers, crush primers, etc. Varying overall lengths of the cartridges. I was setting the length of my 9mm cartridges to 1.150. But when loading progressively I would get variances up to 1.170 for me the press did not work as advertised. I like to reload, not tinker around after every few rounds to see what went wrong this time! I created more bad rounds in 1 day than I did in 2 years of reloading on the turret press.

Yes, I saw the video of the guy cranking out 100 rounds in 6 minutes on Youtube. But the question I should have asked myself before buying, was what is the quality of those rounds? I felt like I gave it a fair chance, I tried various fixes, watched the videos, (sorting cases by head stamp), etc.

I let visions of cranking out 100s of rounds per hour impair my judgement. I love my Lee Classic Cast Turret Press. I have learned my lesson. That said, I have another turret press on the way to load rifle. I got use to the fact that I have loaded thousands of rounds with no problems whatsoever, and the Loadmaster couldn't deliver.

best regards,

Luis Leon

P.S. My reloading rate on the turret press is 150-200 rounds per hour depending on my speed and mood. I've come to realize that is enough for me.

 

[Griz44]

Darwin,
I just finished reading the long and fascinating story of your ordeal. Thank you sincerely for sharing this very personal experience with us. It has certainly heightened my awareness of some of the not so good habits I have gotten into over the last 40+ years. We all need a wake up call from time to time. This was that wake up call for me. It is more than just a reminder that these things are VERY dangerous and need to be handled with RESPECT!

Sorry to get off topic, but please, EVERYBODY please follow Darwin's links and read this.

 

[krs]

The work done by Darwin and Chris or Shadow should be recognized and appreciated by everyone who ever suffers the misfortune of encountering a Lee Load Master, whether through purchase or otherwise. Those two guys have put together a body of work that makes the press possible to use at all, although I've never seen anyone using the entire system with both case and bullet feeders operating. When viewing their videos take note of their remarkable patience........if they didn't speak so clearly I'd swear that they were drugged.

The Lee Load Master defines the "infernal machine" more completely than anything I've encountered in life. I'd rather own and operate a Yugo car, or a Polish moon lander than try to make reloads with this contraption of misguided mechanical ineptitude made of plastic in all of it's important parts.

If one thing works for a while it won't be long before it stops.

The indexing system is just plain dumb. It will destroy it's little lever over and over no matter how it's adjusted - you can't adjust out soft working parts.

The primer feeding eats as many of it's own little plastic parts than a Great Dane eats dog chow.

One look at the silly chain pull operated powder measure should tell half a brain to stay far away - and they supply the world's cheapest crummy chain on top of it. That chain would not last long turning a lamp on and off much less do what's required of it in this Lee system of insanity.

Smooth even stroke you say? Ya, then you mustn't try full length sizing of .45 acp cases. If you do and one takes a little more pull to get out of the die it's goodbye to the primer tray or hello to a little pile of well tossed gunpowder.

Nothing on the machine will stay in adjustment because either the plastic is soft or the big bolt won't hold tight.

I use mine to gang size and deprime cases. After that it's back to my Redding turret to start reloading.One die and a lot of strokes

If someone came wanting to take the Lee monster away......

 

[MMCSRET]

I bought my Loadmaster in 1997, long before there were any videos on the net. I have successfully loaded well over 110,000 rounds and probably 1,000 unsuccessful rounds due to all the reasons ever mentioned. The one component I have not destroyed is the index system. I have never replaced a single component, plastic or steel. I ruined a lot of primer sliders, usually due to contamination by media or berdan cases. IMO the mast difficult and troubling round to load on the LM is 9MM luger(9x19). I called the factory at lunch time back in '98 and the only help there was John Lee, He talked me thru my problem, sent me replacement parts and made me a satisfied customer. One thing that keeps coming thru in these threads is that people are afraid of or do not understand machinery. With a LM I can witness each and every move it makes and catch problems before the become catastrophies. Most machines are not like that, IE: your car or this d--m computer. I found that if I paid attention, kept it clean and properly adjusted and in time it functioned as expected. What it boils down to is that it needs wearin time and it requires attention to detail, sorta like driving in rush hour traffic in North Central Montana.

 

[Griz44]

This is specifically for KRS....

READ THIS ABOUT RESTRAINT AND COURTESY

Your rant is out of line, unproductive, uninformative and uncalled for.

Read the post by Luis Leon, he does not share the enthusiasm for red equipment like some others here either, but he fully explained his point of view, did it civilly and even though I do not agree with him, I completely respect his post and comments and enjoyed reading his comments.

Your post was an unintelligent mis-mash of emotion. What a mess. Seems that many others in this thread have experienced very good results from their equipment.

Me personally, I have tens of thousands of reloads on mine, I regularly resize cases up to and including full length resizing of 30.06 rifle, and have never had to replace an indexer bar or the plastic head, never broke that silly little chain, or any other major part for that fact. I have never had the carriage out of line or had any mis-alignment of anything. I did replace the slider a few times, but Lee sent me new ones at no charge even though it was my fault they got mashed. I bought some extras to have on hand, a big whopping 1 dollar each... Reading the instructions does help. Please try to be informative, we really do want to get everyone's comments, but conducting personal attacks on other very well respected members is really not very High Road of you.

And anytime you decide to divulge yourself of your Loadmaster, I'll pay the freight - please send it to me...