Lee Load Master

H

hartcreek

Moderator
It looks like I am going to have to make the jump to a progressive sooner then I thought. The Dillion and Hornady machines are out of my price range but the Lee Load Master looks like it will fill the need.

I plan on only loading .223, 9mm and .40 on the Load Master.
My RCBS handles everything else but it looks like I will be needing to crank out more volume and I probably will be turning out 9mm for some group members. I belong to a group of people with neurological injuries and two guys in my group that were shooting Tuesday have the same problem use of one arm so both of them need ammunition that they can use in their 9mms that they can be danged certain that it will go boom because they would have problems with FTF issues clearing problems under fire.

The nice thing about modern semi autos is that they lock open when the last round is fired so in practice one guy just had to stand his loaded mags up on the shelf across the shooting lane. With one arm he could shoot up his mag and the drop it and slide in a fresh mag by simply sliding the gun down over the mag until it clicked in place.

He was just burning up aluminum cased CCIs for practice but understood the need for something better for real deal time.

Yes I never thought I would wind up with an AR but the pieces except for the lower were dropped in my lap so that means that I will need to churn them out in regular basis.

I did a search and found the threads going all over so what I specifically want to hear is peoples experiences good and bad running the Lee Load Master.

I already have decided that the 1000 is simply not enough press.
 
The good, I recently spend quite a bit of time playing with one and wound up with the worlds fastest loadmaster (that I have ever seen).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9pjmuHAkBU

The bad is that it took hours of work to get the machine where it would do that and not sure how long it will stay running like that.

If you like to tinker and are good at it it might be right for you. If you want to "crank out more volume" without issues save up some more and buy a Dillon.
 
I've owned Lee singles, Lee Turret presses, Recently got a Lee Load Master.
Can't recommend the turret presses enough, caliber changes are a snap, live for years & years, and take some abuse without folding,

As for the Load Master,
Worked on it for nearly a month before it cranked out rounds that would fire and still having issues with it.
The fitment isn't what it should be, needs constant adjustments & lubrication to keep it cranking out consistant rounds.
I can't recommed it.

Once you buy case feeders, bullet feeders, dies that work, primer conversions, and mess with everything to get it working (like the double charge kit for the powder dropper for .223) I personally believe you would be better off with a Dillon or Hornady Lock N Load in the long run.
You actually aren't looking at that much of a difference in price over time with upgrades all of us do...

By far, the smoothest running progressive is the Dillon.
Once set up and tuned, it runs nearly flawlessly and keeps adjustment.
EVERYTHING is expensive for the Dillon, but they have a NO BS warranty on everything, you only buy it ONCE...

Since this is for disabled folks, can I help with this project? Maybe cut down on the costs a little?
 
I used my buddy's Loadmaster a few times. It would run great for a hundred rounds or so, and then something would break. The primers would jam up, or the primer punch would have some sort of malfunction, or the indexing would go off the rails, or something else would go awry.
My buddy (who had a lot of experience on the press) was pretty good at chasing down and fixing all the problems (until the spare parts would run out), but I got fed up with the Loadmaster pretty quickly.
To add my two cents, I was in the position where you are. I couldn't afford a better press from a different manufacturer so I was thinking about getting a Loadmaster. A few experiences with my buddy's Loadmaster made me wait until I could afford a better and less frustrating press.
 
The biggest issue with a Load Master that I've run into is the priming system. The easiest tune to running smoothly is using a sizer die in the priming position without the decapper of course.

Also ive found some bad pockets in some of my brass. Ive put 25-30 in the recycle bin out of 2800 9mm brass. After two to 3 tries they would not prime and crushed the primer. Since then pretty smooth so sort the problem brass and keep them that way for a much smoother process.

Looking at some other priming systems they are flawed in some way too. Overall time spent dealing with problems goes down as you tune your process. I've found that i spend less time in the overall process that with popular system I've spent a lot of time on.

Another hitch with the priming system is when reloading the next 100. The primer tray needs to have the primers held back in order to slide the tray in to prevent primers from clogging up at the connection. Something with a bend like a paint can opener works okay but I've found that a thin piece of plastic from a milk jug works well. Cut narrow enough to make a fold at the end and shape it like a paint can opener. It slides rite in with the primer tray and once in, slides back out.

Looking at other priming systems they all have their flaws but time is money and if you do it right you save more time than if you just throw it together and jam them through so as already suggested take your time setting up and get the priming system down because it is the only real drawback from the load Master as far as speed and time spent reloading.



Instead of fighting with the whole mess I split the process in 2 until i got the priming process smooted out. I would prime, size,deprime, in one and flare, charge, seat and crimp in other. I integrate case cleaning to cut time and my overall time spent cleaning and reloading. This might be a great option for you.

The upside to the priming system is it has had an upgrade to it and it runs smoother and loading 100 primers up is fast.

The biggest downside is figuring out that you have to cull one ore two brass here and there to prevent reciprocating priming issues caused by pockets that aren't forgiving or out of whack.

The best powder charge bar is the adjustable ones is you plan on using one for multiple load charges.

Learn the case colater if you use one and think centrifugal force. The way you shake and load will make the process smooth too. I realize it takes no effort to pull one off of the case feeder but it will get on your nerves if you find yourself picking 5 or 6 out of every refill of the tubes.

Plenty of videos on how to keep the press running smooth online but if its not about the priming process then its really not a big deal. Again the priming will cause you more headaches to learn than anything else.
 
Bought one of the very first loadmasters . After 6 months I got tired of the fixing and replacing of parts . Bottom line it is what it is a cheap piece of junk .
 
I have a Lee Classic Turret, Lee classic cast and added a
Loadmaster to the collection in December. I did the research, read all the bad reviews, watched the videos and decided to give it a go. My experience has been very different than most I read about, in that I have been very pleased with it. Granted, I haven't put a lot of "miles" on it yet, but I have loaded about 1000 9mm and 750 45acp with it. I believe there is a learning curve to using any progressive. There is just more going on and more to go wrong than with even a turret press. Once I got up the learning curve and found my groove with this new piece of equipment, loading went quickly and smoothly.
 
Thanks for the links g wilikers BUT doing that at a public range will get you tossed which is why he stood his mags up.

Going blue is not an option. I think all the bad press about this press is from the earlier versions with the bad priming system and a powder measure that does not allow for adjustment. Those problems seem to be solved on the newer models.

Somewhere I saw an offer of help. I aint broke the guys that I will be loading for aint broke they just need more dependable ammunition. I barter chiropractic services for reloads tree removal or what ever I can with the chiropractor I have been with for 26 years now. He has shot mine and prefers them over factory. In 20 some years off reloading I have never had one of my reloads FTF. I already have all the dies except 5.56 which is why I am thinking about the Loadmaster in 5.56 which comes with the case feed tube and collimater in addition to the primer and powder measure and shipping for just under $300

The Hornady Lock N Load looks good too but the bullet and case droppers are so expensive. Even the blue machine looks good but the accessories is what kills the deal.
 
Last edited:
Sounds like your sold on the LM. I say get one on the way and while your waiting get on YouTube and watch all the "fix" videos you can.

Report back once you get it setup and running.
 
comes with the case feed tube and collimater in addition to the primer and powder measure and shipping for just under $300
Click to expand...

If you are referring to the case collator, I don't think it works with .233 cases. I believe it is for pistol cases only. I use it for 9mm and 45acp and it works very well.
 
My Load Master was junk...10-15 years ago...priming problems and the powder measure with no adjustment. Were I you, I'd save the extra hundred that a Dillon 550B would cost you and save the aggravation. YMMV...Rod
 
rodfac

Your comparison is like comparing your current computer to a 486......just not the same machine no more and I can make that comparison cuz I still have two 486 computers which work fine for word processing but internet......not so much

For you car guys like comparing a Model T to_________
 
I just got one of the current generation Loadmasters for Christmas and love it. I've loaded over 2000 rounds on it in .38 Special and .357 Mag and it's worked pretty good. Pretty much any problems have been user error, a learning curve if you will. I'd say after the first 400 rounds I've learned how to watch for problems, such as basically not running out of primers, bullets brass, etc. Once you learn how to get it adjusted properly and running smoothly it's been pretty carefree. Can't vouch for how well it works on rifle yet, but some day I'll eventually try it on .223 once I use up my current supply. But this will be a while down the road.
 
I didnt read every reply to your post

If your are mechanically inclined then maybe the the loadmaster
might work for you. I got tired of the priming system for the
loadmaster and resigned myself to hand priming all the cases that
would be reloaded. The Lee case feeder is a great low cost
solution and should be commended. The priming system is junk.
Lee has had a decades, to upgrade and improve the loadmaster,
in all that time it has not made the effort to improve the
loadmaster to a acceptable level to compare any other of the
progressive presses available to the reloading public. There are
dozens of videos that speak to the fixes and workarounds to
help improve the loadmaster, these fixes are for people who
enjoy tinkering with their press and improving the loadmasters
deficiencies. The only other experience with a progressive
reloader I have is with a RCBS pro 2000. Is it much better than
a Lee Loadmaster? The APS Priming system has its share of
faults, but RCBS stands behind its products and that is
a trait that lee doesn't share.
 
The priming system has been redesigned and works great, this is why I finally bought mine. As far as Lee standing behind their products, for me they have always taken care of any problems I've had in a very prompt and courteous manner. When I first was setting up my Loadmaster I had the prime ram set up wrong and broke the lever arm, totally my brainfart, after contacting Lee I sent them a picture of the broken part and three days later received a replacement in the mail. Even though I told them it was my fault it broke and I offered to pay for the part, they sent it free of charge. To me you can't get better service than that.
 
Your comparison is like comparing your current computer to a 486...
Click to expand...

Not exactly, a 10-15 year old Loadmaster he might get $150 for. A 10-15 year old 550 would sell today for more than he paid new.

Dillon presses hold (and gain) value like nothing else.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top