Question for those who own a Lee loadmaster

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VinnyQC

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Hi guys
I own a little single stage press with 9mm dies, and I want to buy a progressive. I decided to get a Lee Loadmaster. So I bought a used set of shellplate (had a good deal) that contains plates for 9mm, 45acp, 357 magnum, pretty much every caliber pistol I own and ever will own. Now I have to buy the press, and it comes in kit. The best price I can get is from one of CGN sponsor, but they only offer the 9mm kit or the 223Rem kit (I would totally have bought the 357magum kit, but other vendors are a lot more expensive). If I buy the 9mm kit, I end up with an extra shellplate (19S) and an extra set of dies. Not the end of the world, I can sell those on the EE, but if I buy the 223, I end up with a shellplate and a set of dies that I don't have but might very well use in the future, so I'm leaning toward that option.

If someone buys the 223 and wants to reload 9mm, what does he need to buy in extra?

-One extra 5 hole turret;
-Shellplate 19S (which I already own);
-9mm dies (which I already own);
-small pistol case feeder.

Is that it? All I would need would be the extra turret and the small pistol case feeder? Anything else? Are the powder measure and primer feeder the same in both presses? Anything I'm forgetting or don't know about?

Thanks to anyone who can help me out here.

Vinny
 
Also you should Google for issues with the 19s shell plate. Because it is also sized to fit the 357 sig, it actually is oversized slightly for 9mm. Many people who have had problems with priming on the Loadmaster have had the issue with 9mm because of this. There are a few fixes though.
 
Go on the Lee Precision website and you can see the difference. I use the auto disk for all my pistol loading, and the auto drum for all the rifle.
 
On the dealer's description page for the 223 kit, it says the kit contains an auto-disk with double disk kit, but on Lee's website, it says the kit contains the auto-drum. After reading both instruction manuals, the drum seems like it's "built smarter", so I'd buy the drum if the auto-disk is provided.

Anyone has bought that actual 223 kit? Not in separate parts? If so, can you tell which powder dispenser came with it?
 
My advise to you as it seems you have made up your mind that the "loadmaster" is "the one" is to buy a die holder for every caliber you will be loading for right off the bat. When I bought my loadmaster back quite a # of yrs ago it came with both primer feed apparatuses and the case feeder didn't have any "large or small" case designation, it was just an adjustment required too the tubes to go from one to another...now the most important advice... once you have all that bought up start saving for the press most all of us bought after the "Lee Loadmaster frustrations" got the better of us. LOL
 
fingers284 said:
My advise to you as it seems you have made up your mind that the "loadmaster" is "the one" is to buy a die holder for every caliber you will be loading for right off the bat. When I bought my loadmaster back quite a # of yrs ago it came with both primer feed apparatuses and the case feeder didn't have any "large or small" case designation, it was just an adjustment required too the tubes to go from one to another...now the most important advice... once you have all that bought up start saving for the press most all of us bought after the "Lee Loadmaster frustrations" got the better of us. LOL
Click to expand...

:)
I knew the "Buy a dillon" thing would eventually come up. But I like tinkering with stuff, like doing my own renos and car maintenance. I would buy a Dillon if both presses were the same price, but I think I'm the kind of person who can take enough aggravation to live with a Lee. Time will tell...
 
One of the most important operation tips I can give is to bolt it to something (stand, desk etc) that is SOLID. You don't want any flex or movement. Things will go much more smoothly and you're less likely to break stuff.
 
Love my Loadmaster, although I've only had it a week. I loaded 150 rounds of 30-06 the first day, took 25 minutes because I was going slow and watching everything carefully. Next day did 110 rounds of 308. And day three did 100 rounds of 303. Now to move on to 6.5 x 55.
 
VinnyQC said:
:)
I knew the "Buy a dillon" thing would eventually come up. But I like tinkering with stuff, like doing my own renos and car maintenance. I would buy a Dillon if both presses were the same price, but I think I'm the kind of person who can take enough aggravation to live with a Lee. Time will tell...
Click to expand...
The whole point of progressive reloading is to manufacture the greatest amount of ammunition in the least amount of time safely and accurately.

The problem with doing it on the loadmaster is that it takes a while to make all the adjustments required to get it running perfectly.
Once it is adjusted you don't want to change calibers and start all over.
I know someone who has 3 loadmasters setup for different calibers and doesn't ever change them.
He is a 2nd generation gun shop owner and gunsmith with over 50 years experience.

I load on a Hornady LnL AP Progressive myself.
I try to load at least 1,000 rounds before switching calibers.
 
I've seen enough thread about dillon vs hornady vs Lee to be 100% convinced that dillon presses are a gazilion times better, without ever seeing any of the 3. My intent was absolutely not to launch a 10000th thread about which press is better, but mostly to ask what exactly is in the box of a 223 kit and what else do I need to reload 9mm with that particular kit, given that I already own the 9mm dies and shellplate. I'm still not 100% positive on wheter the 223 kit comes with a drum or a disk powder measure given conflicting infos between Lee and vendor of the Lee kit. I can totally buy the drum and/or the disk powder measure (depending on which one isn't in the kit), but I'd like to order at the same time as the press in order to save on shipping costs, that's why I'd like to know beforehand.

I do appreciate all the non-requested infos and tips (like bolt t to something sturdy, get the extra turret for each calibre, etc...); if someone has anything to add, I'm all ears. I'm also all ears if someone can point me to a vendor with good prices on those kits (currently, 390$+shipping is the lowest price I've found for either de 223 or the 9mm kit).
 
Well, you can order it with the auto disk or the auto drum. Best advice is to pick a vendor and contact them to see which they have in stock.
 
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