Loadmaster 9mm die setup. Inconsistent bullet seating depth?

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adrenaline681

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Hi, i just got my Lee Loadmaster and ive been trying to setup the dies, everything seems to be working fine but i find that i get an inconsistent bullet depth. im getting between 1.115 and 1.135 OAL for my 9mm cartriges.

When I use the press in single stage only the seating depth seems to be consistent but when i use it in conjuction with other dies its not very consistent.

I'm wondering if i have some die not setup correctly and this die is hitting the case mouth and since each time is hitting a different case (which might be slightly bigger or smaller) is preventing the ram to raise fully thus causing the bullet to not be seated all the way in.

This is my setup:

Station 1: Universal decapping die
Station 2: 9mm carbide sizing die/primer seating
Station 3: Powder through expander die with raiser and autodrum powder measure
Station 4: Bullet seating die
Station 5: Factory Crimp Die

I'm used to setting all these dies on my turret press but im not sure if im setting them up correctly in the Loadmaster.

Can anyone share their step by step die setup for 9mm?

Thanks!
 
I have this setup:
Station 1: 9mm carbide sizing die without decapping pin
Station 2: Powder through expander die with autodrum powder measure (no raiser)
Station 3: Powder Cop
Station 4: Bullet seating die
Station 5: Factory Crimp Die

The dies are set up according to Lee's instructions, starting from station 1.

Step 1 I would remove the raiser, you need it on the turret but not on the loadmaster.

Step 2 I would check how much the cases are expanded. I set the die to just expand enough to place the bullet in the case. Like, barely enough. I could expand 4-5 times as much as I do, so my guess would be that if one die is stopping the press, that would be the one. In your setup, it can only be the sizind die or the powder/expander, and I don't think the case mouth bumps into anything in the sizing die (like, you could size 9x21 in a 9x19 die). So if the case are expanding even just a bit too much, try backing up the expander die.

If the problem is your sizing die, then it's probably just not set tight enough and moves a bit on harder cases. Make sure the tighting nut is real tight.

The most likely explanation, however, is that you're just pressing harder on some strokes than on others, or that some cases are harder to resize than others, there's a little difference in the seating depth. You need more force on a progressive than on a turret, cause you're sizing, expanding, seating and crimping all at once. If you'Re used to a turret and apply the same force on the progressive it might do exactly what you'Re describing.
 
VinnyQC said:
I have this setup:
Station 1: 9mm carbide sizing die without decapping pin
Station 2: Powder through expander die with autodrum powder measure (no raiser)
Station 3: Powder Cop
Station 4: Bullet seating die
Station 5: Factory Crimp Die
Click to expand...

Where are you doing your priming?
 
There was no love lost between my loadmaster and I. I hated it and if it had a soul I am sure it hated me back. We parted ways about 3 years ago and I am sure it is sitting in a junk pile under someone's bench somewhere.

That being said, I did notice that the 9mm shellplate I had looked like it had been faced with a rasp on the underside.

Take a look under the shellplate and see if it is smooth and even. I had the luxury of being able to lathe turn that part of the shellplate that rode on the carrier to ensure it was even.

The other thing you might want to check is that your turret is secure and not moving during press operations.

I sincerely hope you have better luck with your loadmaster than I did with mine.

Good luck
 
If your decapping rod is too far down the decapping rod shoulder can bottom out some brands of brass and cause the ram to not go all the way down

Having the resizing die in station 2 is more likely to cause a primer to pop when (not if) the center of a primer pops out leaving the walls behind
 
Shape of bullet can impact seating. Double check seating die is set correctly. Make sure turret head is centered and TIGHT. Set seating depth with all stations being used to reduce shell plate flex. Become very consistent with ram speed and pressure and dwell.

Love my Loadmaster with thousands of rounds without troubles
 
I have the Lee Pro 1000 and after a bunch of loading sometimes the bullet seating die comes loose. This can cause seating depth changes. If I take out my bushing I can hear the die rattle. Make sure the internal seating die is tight to the die body and there is no play.
 
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