Worn out Load Master

[Black Snowman]

Well, I finally got sick of my Lee Load-Master giving me COL variations so I finally sprung for a replacement carrier (the big black thing on top of the ram). It ran reliably for about 10k rounds then started getting flakey on the seating depth.

Well, put the part in yesterday after I got my Midway USA order. Set up the press and proceded to break it in by cranking out 450 rounds of 10mm. The press is now better than new. COL is stable again and everything else is broken in so it runs really smooth

Sure I had to pay for the part, but I'm definately getting my money's worth out of the old girl. If I didn't already have a large-ish investment in turrets and shell plates I might have considered replacing it with a Dillion, but I guess I'll have to wait until I win the lottery for that. Much easier on my wallet to buy longevity a few parts at a time than all up front

 

[GooseGestapo]

You should have sent the old part back to Lee with a NICE letter. I've sent two back due to cracking in the primer arm area (shell plate carriers) and got two new ones in return, postage paid by Lee.

But then again, I also have two additional spares I've bought in case I break/crack another one, too.

Also have about a dozen small primer sliders too, all of 'em replacements for ones I buggered. All replaced by Lee for free. Lee's policy on parts replacement is really quite generous. I've probably sent back a dozen broken decapping pins (usually broke by debris in the cases). Even an improperly cut bullet mould was replaced with their apologies.

Besides, I have friends who have Blue, Red, and Orange, and whatever color the old Star's were- presses/loading machines, and they too break parts regularily.

Nothing man made is perfect; and eventually, even a 50lb vise will break, given a determined ape with a good supply of hammers!

(Don't ask me how I know!!! Any body need a "broken" 6" vise? -too late, I've already scrapped it!)

 

[Black Snowman]

Interesting you mention the vice. My brother welded his massive 6" vice back together after snapping the rear jaw complete off. He still uses it

I might bug Lee in the future about it but I've had the thing for a good 5 or 6 years of heathy use so I don't really have a lot of room to complain. Particularly since the Deluxe Auto-Disk and other, more complicated parts still are going strong. I did pick up an extra primer feeder after goobering up the one that came in the press, but that was a couple years ago.

I rarely break anything now that I know all the subtleties of how to make sure everything is adjusted correctly and my extra primer pushers have gone mostly untouched.