Lee Load Master vs. Lee Pro 1000

[Spawn-Inc]

EDIT; By the way one of my big beefs with the Pro1000 was the lack of any way to remove the cases outside of indexing them around to the ejector. The Loadmaster gets around that neatly with the retainer spring band. A rather slick method.

The pro1k's have the retainer spring band as well, you can remove and put back a case at any stage. Maybe it was different on really old Lee presses, but all of mine have it.

Btw....

$399
http://www.wholesalesports.com/stor...Reloading/Presses-&-Kits/Load-Master/p/53451B

$650
http://theshootingedge.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=5_131_123&products_id=1717

Must be a cheap ass gun.

Haha, what a joke. You pick the cheapest place for a 650 and the most expensive for the load master.....

I cant comment on the load master, but for my 3 lee pro1k's I've never broken anything on them accept the chain for the powder measure. Each press was used and about $150. I may trade them in for a Dillion or just buy a Dillion in addition but for now they work great. If you actually are a mechanic and fabricator then you should have had no problem getting a Lee press going, just saying.

 

[Snakehunter]

I have the Pro1000 set up for 9mm. I absolutely hated it when I first got it. It took me several attempts to get it going and that was with a couple of seasoned vets helping out.
Once I got it set right I proceeded to reload in excess of 2,000 rounds before it had to be torn down and cleaned/recalibrated. I've reloaded probably 5,000 rounds with it and other than a broken chain on the powder dropper I haven't had any real issues. I keep pipe cleaners on the stand and a can of compressed air to keep it clean - that is crucial to keeping this thing running. It shuts down with the slightest of dirt from spilled powder. The primer feed slide has to be filled at all times or it won't feed properly.
Would I buy another one - probably not. I will save my money to buy a Dillon. But I can't complain about the value of what I bought. I knew going in that I wasn't getting a Dillon and expecting it be like one is silly.
The old adage applies, you get what you pay for. In the end I got a great value.
I also own a Lee Challenger and Lee Turret. I would not trade them for anything.

 

[buckbrush]

TSE Dillon 650 is out of stock, with the dollar drop it will be $800+ when they come in.

 

[Hotwheels81]

The pro1k's have the retainer spring band as well, you can remove and put back a case at any stage. Maybe it was different on really old Lee presses, but all of mine have it.



Haha, what a joke. You pick the cheapest place for a 650 and the most expensive for the load master.....

I cant comment on the load master, but for my 3 lee pro1k's I've never broken anything on them accept the chain for the powder measure. Each press was used and about $150. I may trade them in for a Dillion or just buy a Dillion in addition but for now they work great. If you actually are a mechanic and fabricator then you should have had no problem getting a Lee press going, just saying.

What do you mean by "if you actually are"?

I am, and I'm saying this product is junk, and that's my professional opinion



This machine





Uses this piece, and if this piece breaks, bends, jambs, gets a spec of fairy dust on it the primer dosent get seated, the primer gets crushed, the primer will go in sideways resulting in powder all thruout the carousel jamming everything or better yet if your heavy handed you could even have the primer go off (note Richard Lee speaks on this in MR2 and his solution is the flat primer tray instead if the tube magazine controlled feed units have).






Dillon uses controlled feed, there is nothing the primer can do but fall into the carousel and be directed to the seating punch, simple easy effective metal pieces, if you find a crimped pocket while trying to seat a primer you can feel it instantly thru the handle, the station has a steel reed to quickly remove the case as well.

 

[Hotwheels81]

TSE Dillon 650 is out of stock, with the dollar drop it will be $800+ when they come in.

MD Gardner and P&D or Order straight thru Dillon would be my next options... The calgary IPSC club will have leads on good deals as well, they had a forum of there own a while back with some good deals... May want to try looking for them.

 

[Mark-II]

Just a random note. If your primers are getting sucked back into the casing at the decapping stage you might have too much protrusion on your decapping rod.

I was using very bad language for a few thousand rounds before I figured out that more pin wasn't better

 

[Smcx]

Just a random note. If your primers are getting sucked back into the casing at the decapping stage you might have too much protrusion on your decapping rod.

I was using very bad language for a few thousand rounds before I figured out that more pin wasn't better

That's what she said...

 

[buckbrush]

What do you mean by "if you actually are"?

I am, and I'm saying this product is junk, and that's my professional opinion



This machine





Uses this piece, and if this piece breaks, bends, jambs, gets a spec of fairy dust on it the primer dosent get seated, the primer gets crushed, the primer will go in sideways resulting in powder all thruout the carousel jamming everything or better yet if your heavy handed you could even have the primer go off (note Richard Lee speaks on this in MR2 and his solution is the flat primer tray instead if the tube magazine controlled feed units have).






Dillon uses controlled feed, there is nothing the primer can do but fall into the carousel and be directed to the seating punch, simple easy effective metal pieces, if you find a crimped pocket while trying to seat a primer you can feel it instantly thru the handle, the station has a steel reed to quickly remove the case as well.

Dillons primer feeds are problematic at times as well, in fact most progressive press primer feeds are in need of care and maintenance or they will malfunction.

 

[BCRider]

Just a random note. If your primers are getting sucked back into the casing at the decapping stage you might have too much protrusion on your decapping rod.

I was using very bad language for a few thousand rounds before I figured out that more pin wasn't better

Trust me, I've tried a little, some, some more and a lot to try getting it to all work. I also tried various shapes on the end of the pin from almost squared off to ball shaped. The optimum shape so far seems to be a slightly angled flat end with a nice radius on the edge. At this point I only get about 1:300 that sticks now.

I'm back to the "some" so the pin sticks out below the head roughly 3/16 inch or so. Enough that with a primer on it I get the cup clear of the head by about 1/16 inch before reversing on the down stroke. And you're right, more than that just doesn't do anything.

The idea behind the 10 to 15 degree angle is that hopefully it presses the primer out and if it grabs the pin it does so on an angle. And then when it tries to go back in the angle means it gets flicked off instead of re-seating itself. That really did help a lot. But it's still not a 100% sort of thing. I tried more angle but then it's too pointy and it tended to stick to more primers because the point sticks down in the little three leg star anvil.

I think the optimum solution is the spring loaded decapping pin style method. That way it compresses on the down stroke and as the primer comes out it snaps down and kicks the cup off the end. Combined with the slight angled flat nose on the pin I should finally achieve 100% reliability. Finding a way to fit spring loaded pins in my Lee dies is high on the "To Do" list now that my machine shop is on the verge of being up and running.

It's also only been small pistol primers where I've had this issue. All my large pistol decapping goes just wonderfully with a fixed pin. I haven't even had to reshape them to the angled tip format at all.

 

[Plinky]

Btw....

$399
http://www.wholesalesports.com/stor...Reloading/Presses-&-Kits/Load-Master/p/53451B

$650
http://theshootingedge.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=5_131_123&products_id=1717

Must be a cheap ass gun.

I can do the same biased linking and find the highest XL650, and the cheapest Loadmaster as well, not to mention the huge difference in pricing for components that don't come in those prices, but many reloaders use such as the case feeder. All you need to add with the Loadmaster is the sorting tray for $12. Or $250 with Dillon for the XL 650 since no case feeder comes with it. And being fair with my linking unlike you were, here's pricing from Brian Enos, whom many reloaders know and respect for their reloading supplies. So now you're talking $775 vs $275 ish. So it's still triple the price. I got my Loadmaster for about $225-250 when it was on $50 off on sale at Cabelas less than a year ago.

$775 for the 650 with the case feeder
http://www.brianenos.com/store/dillon.650.html

Here it is at Cabelas, not on sale, for about $275 with the case feeder.
http://www.cabelas.com/catalog/sear...ter&x=10&y=6&WTz_l=Header;Search-All+Products

 

[Hotwheels81]

Hahahaha
....ok fella, you win, your wrong about needing the case feeder as Dillon has a single tube you can drop cases in that's actually faster than clearing the upside down cases from that Tupperware bowl Lee sells.... But you obviously know all about both presses because you have owned both? Haha... No? Oh... You should try a Dillon some time, you really.... REALLY... Don't know what your missing you poor unfortunate bastid

 

[Mark-II]

Actually the only cases that have anything close to a habit of inverting on the Lee are 9mm. I load several pistol ctgs on mine.

Everything else is maybe 1 per fill of the 4 tubes, or less. The longer the case or the heavier the bottom is in proportion to the length is what does it, I think.

9mm is usually 3 - 5 per fill, which is still over 100 rounds, since I overfill.

That bit of Tupperware bowl is very much a time saver, because I loaded for years without it. Clearing an inverted case is nothing next to the time it takes to individually fill the tubes.

 

[Plinky]

Hahahaha
....ok fella, you win, your wrong about needing the case feeder as Dillon has a single tube you can drop cases in that's actually faster than clearing the upside down cases from that Tupperware bowl Lee sells.... But you obviously know all about both presses because you have owned both? Haha... No? Oh... You should try a Dillon some time, you really.... REALLY... Don't know what your missing you poor unfortunate bastid

Actually I have reloaded thousands of rounds on a 550, and that's still more than double a Loadmaster, and the 650 is triple even if you're trying to be deceptive to skew the facts otherwise. Let's see a $250 Dillon compete with a Lee. Oh that's right, Dillon doesn't compete. So until you're comparing presses of similar cost, let's get real. It's like saying a Miata sucks compared to a 911. Sure but when you can get 3 for the price of 1 of the other?

 

[Hotwheels81]

.....sounds like quality gear rite there at only 1 case per tube per fill x4 tubes...

I'm sure you don't want to know how many upside down cases I have to deal with on my 650... I don't think I can count em... Nope I can't cause it's been ZERO so far... Dump 250 cases in my case feeder and pull the handle till it's time to add more... Dump in another coffee can scoop full an keep cranking...

Sounds like nothing on the LM has changed, spend as much time tinkering with it as you do pulling the handle.

 

[woodenpigeon]

I have a pro 1000 setup for 9mm with the case collator and the first night I tried it, I was ready to shoot it with the shotgun. Once I took a break and came back to it the next day, I instantly spotted the 2 problems I had and corrected them. I have made 1470 rounds since without too many issues. Primer system works better the fuller it is and if you have a powder spill for any reason, you have to shut down until every spec is blown out. If you can problem solve and have some mechanical aptitude, then the pro 1000 will serve you just fine I think. There is little doubt that Dillon makes a superior product and I'd love to own one someday. You just can't compare a k-car to a Cadillac.

 

[Hotwheels81]

Actually I have reloaded thousands of rounds on a 550, and that's still more than double a Loadmaster, and the 650 is triple even if you're trying to be deceptive to skew the facts otherwise. Let's see a $250 Dillon compete with a Lee. Oh that's right, Dillon doesn't compete. So until you're comparing presses of similar cost, let's get real. It's like saying a Miata sucks compared to a 911. Sure but when you can get 3 for the price of 1 of the other?

If I bought a new economy car off the lot with warranty and ended up having to fix it before I could even drive it and then again every half a tank of fuel while being ignored by the dealer what would think of my economy car? I'm betting you wouldent buy it for yourself unless you really liked the colour.

 

[Plinky]

Actually the only cases that have anything close to a habit of inverting on the Lee are 9mm. I load several pistol ctgs on mine.

Everything else is maybe 1 per fill of the 4 tubes, or less. The longer the case or the heavier the bottom is in proportion to the length is what does it, I think.

9mm is usually 3 - 5 per fill, which is still over 100 rounds, since I overfill.

That bit of Tupperware bowl is very much a time saver, because I loaded for years without it. Clearing an inverted case is nothing next to the time it takes to individually fill the tubes.

I have heard of this issue with the 9mm. I mostly load .40 and I have only ever had 1 inverted case, in what is well into 5 digits of reloaded rounds. However, if I reloaded 9mm and had this issue, I have seen people filling, and making the 4 holes slightly smaller by filling with filler material. Cost him like $3-5 in plastic epoxy and 10 minutes of his time to fill it, let it cure, and then filed smooth. That user reported a significant reduction in inverted cases. However I cannot speak from personal experience regarding this, just some tip I have seen regarding the Loadmaster.

 

[Plinky]

If I bought a new economy car off the lot with warranty and ended up having to fix it before I could even drive it and then again every half a tank of fuel while being ignored by the dealer what would think of my economy car? I'm betting you wouldent but it for yourself unless you really liked the colour.

I'd gladly buy a car for 1/3 the price that I can easily run smoothly than get scammed for a car that costs 3 times the price because I'm too lazy and ignorant to learn how to work on cars. Not saying that you are, but honestly, if you can't handle a little tinkering with a press, maybe you shouldn't be reloading.

 

[Hotwheels81]

Actually I have reloaded thousands of rounds on a 550, and that's still more than double a Loadmaster, and the 650 is triple even if you're trying to be deceptive to skew the facts otherwise. Let's see a $250 Dillon compete with a Lee. Oh that's right, Dillon doesn't compete. So until you're comparing presses of similar cost, let's get real. It's like saying a Miata sucks compared to a 911. Sure but when you can get 3 for the price of 1 of the other?

Hmmmm I'm betting a SDB would kick the LM ass in every respect except the additional station so it kinda gives the LM an edge if it will cycle long enough to get the case under it :snicker:

 

[Hotwheels81]

I'd gladly buy a car for 1/3 the price that I can easily run smoothly than get scammed for a car that costs 3 times the price because I'm too lazy and ignorant to learn how to work on cars. Not saying that you are, but honestly, if you can't handle a little tinkering with a press, maybe you shouldn't be reloading.

I'm glad your willing to be a victim and think it's perfectly acceptable to spend your money on something brand new you need to constantly fix...

GIVE YOUR HEAD A SHAKE MAN!

If people bought a new gun that required as much tinkering as a LM the forums would be flooded with complaint threads