Just setup a Lee Loadmaster

JAK1981

JAK1981

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Hey Folks!

I've been reloading for less than a year and wanted to share my recent experience selecting a progressive press and then the set up of the Lee Loadmaster.

First off I did my homework. I was initially intrigued by the Dilon 650 in action. I could afford a 650 but it is a good chunk of money.

So after I read up on the three manufacturers I decided on the Loadmaster. Why? Well lets just say it made the most sense. I agree with Lee's philosophy.

Most research will tell you that you must tinker with and spend pottencially a lot of time fixing this "low end" press.

Well after the setup and prodiction of about 300 9mm, I have to say, tinker? No I wouldn't call it that. I'd say you should have a basic understanding of how the press works, and to then make sure you calibrate it.

Did I have hangups, yes. I didn't pay attention to the case feeder. I had not set it up to push the new cases in all the way. I ended up breaking the universal Decapping pin. I emailed Lee and they sent me a new one the next day, no questions asked.

Out of 300 rounds I had one not seat a primer. Maybe I has not stroked the ram all the way up I suppose. Otherwise, all production was smooth. Well, I did have some 9mm cases go in upside down, maybe 3 out of 300. The Lee case coilater is $10. That's good enough for me.

I feel like they've engineered things to be low cost for sure but "crap" I don't think so.

I've been loading on a Lee Classic Turret Press (pictured middle bench) for a year and thought to myself that I want to learn to setup a progressive.

Some reasons I went with the Lee. It is smaller than the Dillon and Hornady. I wanted something small. I also didn't want the constant noise of a case coilater turning all the time. Secondly, our friend Henry at BudgetShooterSupply had them for sale @ $280.

Here are a few pics of the setup. I spun off 300 rounds of 9mm 124gr copper plated with 4.5gr of HP-38 1.14 OAL. They were very accurate out of a G34.

Cheers!

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bushwhacker said:
Were you able to buy the riser for the Lee Classic Turret or make it yourself? PITA taking the press off to get rid of the primers building up underneath.
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My Turret Press drops the spent primers through a tube. No issues with them building up beneath.
 
Thanks for posting the write-up! Some years back, I bought Lee 1000's in .38/357, 9mm, 44Mag, and .45ACP. The 44Mag didn't get much use, but the other three sure did. I often toyed with the idea of buying one Loadmaster and using quick change die holders (forget the proper name) to cut down a bit on the space required.

I may just go ahead and scoop a Loadmaster anyway. We are restarting our old gun club and I can see the need. :p

I use an old Lyman Spar-T and a new Lyman Turret for rifle, and have a couple of Lee LoadAll for shotgun, as well as a progressive Lee shotgun loader.

I have just more or less finished my little office at my shop and use the desk (free from the Co-op next door!) as my loading bench. I clamp it on and bolt the back side through a hole. We sturdied it up underside with a 2x6. I tried it out last evening - works like a charm!

Keep us posted on any little tips and tricks you might learn!

As a matter of interest, when I set up the 1000 for 45acp, I didn't have to adjust anything! Rolled out loads with no difficulty. Much the same with the Lee shotgun progressive.

Thanks again for sharing. :)
 
My first progressive was a Loadmaster and I used it very happily for the first year...it was a vast improvement over loading 3-5000 HG shells a year with my old single stage...then the novelty/speed factor became "old hat" and for the net two yrs reality and frustrations built up until, eventually, the "blue Paint" blowup point was reached...much happier now. Every Loadmaster should come with a rebound bullet puller as standard equipment right in the box.

don't get me wrong, Loadmaster's will make very good ammo and if you have the patience of Jobe it will do you fine...if you don't, a friendly advise is to start a "Blue Paint "savings account
 
Progressive presses are the way to go, I prefer the Dillon 650, the noise of the casing collator does not exist on a constant level. Also when you start throwing the handle the casing collator and the Mr Bullet feed noises all join together to make a harmonious sound, joined by the beat of the completed rounds hitting the storage container.
 
KellyP said:
Progressive presses are the way to go, I prefer the Dillon 650, the noise of the casing collator does not exist on a constant level. Also when you start throwing the handle the casing collator and the Mr Bullet feed noises all join together to make a harmonious sound, joined by the beat of the completed rounds hitting the storage container.
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Yes I can see how that is nice, like a bullet factory rock band. :)
 
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