Lee Loadmaster

I started reloading on a LLM a few years ago. My initial research kept pointing to weaknesses in the priming system. I was not that crazy about pushing fresh primers into dirty primer pockets while reloading, so I decided to eliminate the primer guts from the press altogether from day one. Did this YT video on my LLM mods:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=csDyS-Abz1o

Slightly more time consuming than with a standard LLM stock setup because I add hand priming, but still way faster than single stage, plus I get totally clean brass before reloading.

Note: The only real flaw I did find with my kit was the shell plate for 9mm was warped like .004"s and was messing with my OAL's on finished ammo. Midway replaced it in less than a week. Now OAL's are consistent. I also had some trouble with the case feed, but a simple magnet cured that. I like my LLM.
 
Tell ya what...you guys that love the Lee presses...can have them.

I suffered through years of using them...went BLUE...and have NEVER looked back.

However, I do give thanks to Lee for starting me in reloading...AND, showing me every possible problem that could ever arise with a progressive press. But, I have not had to use the past press experience with the Dillon...thankfully...I guess I had paid my dues.
 
Flysubcompact...nothing wrong with that...as long as it was Hornady.

For those wanting to upgrade....check craigslist as there are some smoking deals that come up there, just have to be ready to act. That is where I got my Dillon and enough extra stuff that I did not need, that I sold it off and recovered the full price that I paid for everything. Left me with a NEW Dillon press and a ton of extras for NOTHING.
 
My Lee Loadmaster works great. Tens of thousands of rounds through it. But I will admit, I do not use the priming system, and here's why...

It's the one part of the reloading process where I can't perform a visual check. I DID make it work, and it seemed to work fine, but I never got comfy with it.

I love using the Lee Auto prime, though it can make your hands sore. I just ordered the Lyman hand priming system to see if it offers more comfort.

The reason I prefer to hand prime before loading into the case feeder... I can visually inspect every case. I can prime 6-8 cases per minute with the hand primer, look at each case for issues (cracks, damaged ejection grooves/rim, excessive bulge on .40 cal, etc...). Plus, I can do this particular process almost anywhere... not stuck at the bench.

I've removed the de-capping pins from my sizing dies and now the rest of the loading process in the Loadmaster runs very smooth and considerably faster.

So, for the money and for someone new to reloading, Lee products are more than adequate. As with any loading system, a ROCK SOLID bench is the biggest part of making your press work well. Any system that jiggles and bounces will cause powder to splash, as well as a list of other problems. I honestly think a fair number of people who complain about their Lee products have handicapped themselves from the start due to a bench that's flimsy. My $.02.
 
I loaded for 20 years with a single stage press. Mostly rifle so it was working up loads three at a time and then mostly boxes of 20.
I did dabble with pistol loads but never in quantity.

Then I bought some 9 mm semi autos and my world changed.

I went with the Lee Classic Turret press and personally I doubt I will ever
need a progressive. Honestly the Lee took some tweaking and modifications to get set up initially but cranks out ammo fast enough to keep me supplied.
I like the way I can speed up my loading but still monitor the action at each stage as the round is being processed.

Btw I have been very impressed how well the companies that manufacture reloading equipment back up their products even when I do something stupid.
 
I have a Loadmaster, Classic Turrret, Original Turret, Dillon (dad's), Single stage Pacific (Dad's), and an old single stage RCBS RC.

They all work great. The Loadmaster takes some attention to get setup, but works great once you get it. I was going to quote a few differnt guys here that said that you need to view a lot of the online videos for the Loadmaster, have a good mechanical aptitude and "LOOK" to see what is causing the issue and you WILL be successful.

Is the blue better than red? Maybe...there are pro's and con's to both. My dad's Dillon is a 650 and no where near as automated as my Loadmaster. I / we've had as many issues or more setting his Dillon up as we have with my Loadmaster.

The Loadmaster is a bit of a Rube Goldberg setup, and once you understand it and get to know it, it'll be your favorite.
 
I have a Loadmaster. I'm not sure that I would recommend it. Depends on the person. I load .38 special, .45 Colt and 357 sig with it. I also load .225 Win and .308 on a single stage press. It is the the only progressive that I own so I don't have anything to compare it to.
The Loadmaster takes a good deal of fiddling to set up and get running well. The priming is definitely the weak link in the system. Case feeding can also be a pain to get running reliably. There are occasions that I've gotten frustrated and just abandoned the priming stage altogether and primed on the single stage. I would fill the case feeders and just resize, then hand prime and re-feed the feeder to charge and bell, seat and crimp. This takes at least twice as long. There have been other times that I've run 500 primers without a problem. I've been quite happy with the disk powder measure.
 
I have owned Dillon's for 30 years but was given a "basket case" Loadmaster last month (the fellow had switched to a 450). Lots of plastic parts and less than ideal instructions to go by but with a few hours tweaking a few mods, I was able to load 100 rounds in under 4 minutes with it.

Here is the video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9pjmuHAkBU

Won't be selling any of my Dillon's though.
 
If you reload for competition and need 1000 rounds quick(1 session) then starting on a progressive might not be a terrible idea.

500rds a month? A lee turret will do that in 2-3 hrs easy with less frustration(ie none).


I have a lee pro 1000 progressive that runs well but won't crank out 500 rounds without any hold up or issue. I have nodded mine heavily btw.

Are you prepared to reengineer certain aspects of the loadmaster? If not then you will be disappointed. If you are prepared and need a small ammo factory then its a great bargain.
 
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