lee load master

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Odinson

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So, I bought a new Lee Loadmaster a couple of days ago thinking that it would solve a lot of my headaches in the reload department. The problem is that it actually increased them!
Here is the situation ... I have a Lee pro 1000 that I use for 45 ACP and I bought a Loadmaster to do my 38 stuff. I was tired of the switch over time for caliber change.
The loadmaster ..... it works ok EXCEPT for the first step .... moving the case into the shell plate carrier for depriming. It moves it part way in to the shell plate and I have to push the case the rest of the way with my finger. I am so 'ticked' with this that I'm seriously looking at other hobbies even though I really enjoy target shooting. Realistically .... I can't take much more frustration. Any suggestions?
 
you need to adjust the feed bracket and the square rod on the right side - page 3 of the manual- it's a trial and error thing
 
Thanks for the advice folks. I'll go back at it later today.

I had thought about a Dillon 650 but somehow just couldn't justify the $$$
 
Well folks, I went back at it today. I can say without much doubt that LEE out did themselves in the garbage department with the loadmaster.Don't get me wrong, I'm a technical type of person, worked my entire life in the technical field and quite frankly, I've never seen such garbage. Sad part is ..... I'm likely stuck with it!

Best part of $400.00 down the toilet. Money that I should have spent on the Dillon 650. The extra $$$ would far offset the frustration and plain ordinary anger that I have towards this junk! How in the H**L does LEE get away with it?
 
Odinson said:
Well folks, I went back at it today. I can say without much doubt that LEE out did themselves in the garbage department with the loadmaster.Don't get me wrong, I'm a technical type of person, worked my entire life in the technical field and quite frankly, I've never seen such garbage. Sad part is ..... I'm likely stuck with it!

Best part of $400.00 down the toilet. Money that I should have spent on the Dillon 650. The extra $$$ would far offset the frustration and plain ordinary anger that I have towards this junk! How in the H**L does LEE get away with it?
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Lee`s are generally a hit or miss thing....With a Dillon, always a hit :nest:....
Only thing you can really do is try to sell it (on EE), then use to money to buy a Dillon, or if you`re tight with the money, try Hornady`s Lock `N Load....I`m surprised that people still buy Lee....I usually hear nothing but complaints about them....
 
Odinson said:
Well folks, I went back at it today. I can say without much doubt that LEE out did themselves in the garbage department with the loadmaster.Don't get me wrong, I'm a technical type of person, worked my entire life in the technical field and quite frankly, I've never seen such garbage. Sad part is ..... I'm likely stuck with it!

Best part of $400.00 down the toilet. Money that I should have spent on the Dillon 650. The extra $$$ would far offset the frustration and plain ordinary anger that I have towards this junk! How in the H**L does LEE get away with it?
Click to expand...

because it WORKS-you have to unscrew that big screw at the bottom right of the press and move it back and forth UNTIL the case feeder pushes the case over the hole- if i did it with the 44 mag, the 38 should be a breeze- i bought the "display" model of the one in the store and everybody and his dog had played with it- it was in terrible shape when i got it home- and now it runs perfectly - but i had a lot of help from the techs at lee and SENT THEM PHOTOS of what was wrong- i also have a dillon 550b sitting on the other bench, btw- but it's set up for 308 winchester and it's a pain without the auto index
 
Airwolf said:
I`m surprised that people still buy Lee....I usually hear nothing but complaints about them....
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My first reloader was a Lee Pro-1000.

Soon a Hornady Projector and two Dillon 550Bs found their way onto the bench.

Guess what? These four are all gone, the last was one of the 550Bs. I now have a Lee Loadmaster, Classic Turret and Classic Single Stage. My son-in-law has a Classic Turret as well. We are a loyal Lee family. Works for us.

While I never bothered to install the case feeder on the Loadmaster, the rest of it is just fine. A little patience setting it up is all. I am sure I can get that feeder to work if I put my mind into it.

I must say that with comments like that quoted above, Lee's are not for everybody. But for a lot of people, it is their reloader...and it works for them just fine.

Dillon's are fine machines, but I don't need one anymore.
 
I have the Lee Pro 1000 myself and I use it to reload my 38 super, 45acp, 38/357 and my 9mm. I also have the Lee single stage press for my .223. I have had zero issues with both of these and I may end up getting the Loadmaster. If your wanting to recoup your loot for your faulty one, PM me and lets haggle :D
 
t-star said:
because it WORKS-you have to unscrew that big screw at the bottom right of the press and move it back and forth UNTIL the case feeder pushes the case over the hole- if i did it with the 44 mag, the 38 should be a breeze- i bought the "display" model of the one in the store and everybody and his dog had played with it- it was in terrible shape when i got it home- and now it runs perfectly - but i had a lot of help from the techs at lee and SENT THEM PHOTOS of what was wrong- i also have a dillon 550b sitting on the other bench, btw- but it's set up for 308 winchester and it's a pain without the auto index
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I solved the problem .... I got rid of it! If I have to re-engineer the thing in order to make a few rounds, quite frankly, I don't need it.
Your luck is obviously a heck of a lot better than mine!
 
Odinson said:
If I have to re-engineer the thing in order to make a few rounds, quite frankly, I don't need it.
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no one is talking about re-engineering, just adjusting. Mine worked fine for many thousands of rounds. The Loadmaster has some quirks, all manageable, and none related to pushing a case into the shell plate.

http://www.comrace.ca/cmfiles/dillonLeeHornadyComparison.pdf

Every progressive press has adjustable bits. I'm the first to acknowledge the the LM is more finicky than others, but there's no silver bullet out their either.
 
I always get a chuckle when someone goes on a loadmaster rant. You get what you pay for. The loadmaster works great if you are willing to put in the time. I can load 150+ an hour without trying too hard. You need to keep it clean and be willing to do some troubleshooting that's all. There is lots of resources to get help. If you wait to the night before a shoot to load 400 rounds you may not make it. When you get it running smooth load all the cases you have!
 
I can load 200 rounds an hour on my Lee Classic Turret Press, Very strong and smooth cycling. I only shoot 2000 pistol rounds a year so for $120 it more that suits my needs.
 
Well now that we have gone through the "you are smarter than I am" rhetoric. Why would Lee offer such junk on the market? I made a huge mistake, yes .... I did! Won't do it again! The next one will be blue!!!
 
Odinson said:
Well now that we have gone through the "you are smarter than I am" rhetoric. Why would Lee offer such junk on the market? I made a huge mistake, yes .... I did! Won't do it again! The next one will be blue!!!
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Sorry you feel this way. You started the thread. People jumped in with suggestions, people who by the way have no problems running their LoadMasters or have had problems but worked them out. We gave sensible answers and suggestions. We thought you wanted answers.
 
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