Lee Loadmaster press
- Thread starter Handyguy
- Start date
Decent value - made quite a few rounds on mine. Can be fussy to setup, but just runs after that. For details: http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=127691&highlight=dillon+lee+hornady
Only regret about buying the pro 1000... I have three that I need to upgrade because I now want to run a crimper and powder check die too. they only have three stations... get a five station machine even if you dont use the other two stations in the future you may change your mind and want to use more dies then just 3. I think you will be more then happy with your loadmaster !
They run great for the money. Takes a bit of setup so they don't munch primers. Once they are set just right, you'll run out of bullets, powder and/or ammo boxes real fast! 
Seriously... they are high enough to do .308, 8mm Mauser and .223. They also have enough holes to size, bell, powder, seat and factory crimp all on the same machine. I put the bell/expander die in the empty hole over the primer feeder.
Pistol rounds go real fast on the thing. Plan on getting 3 more eventually so I can leave them set at Small & Large Pistol and Small and Large Rifle and just change turrets and plates.
Unlike the Pro1000, you just have to change the shell plate, not the whole carrier so they are a bit cheaper that way.
Seriously... they are high enough to do .308, 8mm Mauser and .223. They also have enough holes to size, bell, powder, seat and factory crimp all on the same machine. I put the bell/expander die in the empty hole over the primer feeder.
Pistol rounds go real fast on the thing. Plan on getting 3 more eventually so I can leave them set at Small & Large Pistol and Small and Large Rifle and just change turrets and plates.
Unlike the Pro1000, you just have to change the shell plate, not the whole carrier so they are a bit cheaper that way.
Thanks for all the feedback. I have a 650 but am looking for another to do small batches and to load .45 without changing the complete set-up.(large /small primers) I really like the adjustability of the Lee dies as opposed to the Dillon set-up. Not to get the wrong impression but once the dillon is all set it is the cadillac for doing large batches of the same caliber and load.
The Loadmaster will take some tuning and fiddling but once you get it running it does a pretty good job. A couple of tips, keep the primer feed really clean and free of grease/oil otherwise the primers don't slide well, polish the area on the handle where the shell plate advance makes contact, makes for a smoother running press, get the case collator (the funnel thing on top of the case storage tubes).
tow things i found with the loadmaster- 1 always have an extra primer assy ready- you never know when these things are going to fowl up- and 2 get a bullet feeder with extra feed fingers- when i did get going, it was asking for bullets faster than i could feed by hand, and sometimes the timing was off and the fingers would get munched- both pieces are like 20 bucks worth of spares- just in case- i've got mine in 44 mag, and everything else is on the 1000- 9mm, 45, 223- the 308on a dillon 550 and the 338 on a old stule turret press with the auto index removed- granted the 223 should be in a loadmaster so i don't have to lube( decapper/lube die) but i have to lube for the dillon by hand anyway, and the 338
