Advice: Lee Loadmaster vs Older Hornady lnl

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Buckeyeguy525

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Well, my short experiment with the Redding T7 has come to an end and my final decision: it is completely overpriced for what you get. I'm going to either sell or trade it and look into my first progressive. There is a guy that is willing to trade me his older hornady lnl (pre ezject, very very low serial number) with powder measure and a couple shell plates (although none that I need). Or I was considering selling it and buying a loadmaster and still having a few bucks left over. I have had 2 Lee Turret presses and their single stage and have been very pleased with all 3. I have all Lee pistol dies, and 2 pro auto disk powder measures. The Lee is definitely the smarter fiscal choice as I wouldn't need bushings, a new crimp die, and caliber conversions are much cheaper.

So my question, would an older model lock n load be that much better than a new Lee loadmaster? I understand the Lee has some quirks, but I have heard the same about the lnl. So what do you guys think?
 
Hmmm, how much of a tinkerer are you? LMs have a reputation for needing constant care/watching. LNLs aren't bad, they have issues when you add a casefeeder.

My choice? I'd get a Dillon... ;-)
 
I wondered how long it would take before the Dillon comments started rolling in, lol. If someone wants to trade a Dillon for my T7, I would be more than happy to entertain that!
 
I'm a Dillon owner, and I'll chime in. The question wasn't whether the OP should buy a Dillon,but should he buy a new Loadmaster or a used LNL. Having loaded tens of thousands of rounds on a Loadmaster before I came to my senses, I'd recommend ANY manufacturer's progressive over the Loadmaster. In my humble opinion, the Loadmaster isn't worth what it cost to ship one to a customer.
 
I've got a loadmaster. It's the only lee press I can't recommend. The priming system is just problematic. They released a new primer feed early this year that was supposed to fix all the problems, but mine are persisting. It worked fine for a while but has started skipping primers. I've talked to lee, the press is clean, but the primer system has just never worked right.

That said, it's a wonderful design, the primer tray reload quickly and easily, and the case feed system is brilliant.
 
I appreciate the opinions. I think I will pursue the lnl trade. I was a little hesitant because I don't know much about the earlier lnl models, but something about the pre-7000 series having some issue? Anyway, I doubt whatever issue that may be is as troublesome as everyone is making the Lee out to be
 
I would go with the Hornady. You can then get the upgrade kit to make it EZject.
 
Hey Buckeyeguy,

I have one of the "earlier" Hornady L&L AP presses you are talking about. The serial number is 1,525, and I purchased it as soon as Hornady released them for sale back in the summer of 1997. I can tell you that my press works perfectly, and it is still in its original configuration. I never upgraded to the EZ-Ject nor did I get the newer primer system. With nine shell plates, I loaded a whole bunch of different calibers since 1997.

I do not use a Powder Cop die, nor a case feeder, nor a bullet feeder. I visually inspect each case (straight as well as bottle neck cases) for powder level as I set the bullet in place for seating. I crimp only a few cartridges, but when I do crimp, I do it while seating the bullet. I was doing it that way for nearly 40 years before I bought the L&L progressive, and it still works fine for me that way.

The only part I ever had to replace was the shell plate spring which I kinked in the first few weeks I had the machine. The replacement spring has been in continuous use since the summer of 1997, so I would not consider it a real problem item.

Based on my experience, I would suggest you do not have to worry about buying an "earlier" model L&L, and I would not consider the EZ-Ject to be an "upgrade" for me.

Best wishes,
Dave Wile
 
I would take the early LNL over a dozen LEE products. Like Dave, I had an non EZ-ject model. I never had eject issues with any case, including 9mm, after I polished the shell plates and the ejection rod. I did upgrade to the EZ-ject and it works perfectly. I also own a Dillon SDB. I prefer the LNL.
 
I bought a lnl (pre ez-ject) after struggling with a Loadmaster for a couple years. It is so much better its not even a comparison. The priming system on the Lee is a joke, and mine would constantly go out of time and need to be adjusted. Caliber swaps are also a pain. I like a lot of Lee products, but the loadmaster is a lemon.
I have never seen a need to upgrade to the ez-ject, the only cases that don't eject completely smooth are .45 acp, so I just give the loaded round a little push as my hand is reaching for a bullet to put in the next charged case. I use mine to load .32S&W long up through 30-06 and have been very happy with it.
 
I bought a lnl (pre ez-ject) after struggling with a Loadmaster for a couple years. It is so much better its not even a comparison. The priming system on the Lee is a joke, and mine would constantly go out of time and need to be adjusted. Caliber swaps are also a pain. I like a lot of Lee products, but the loadmaster is a lemon.
I have never seen a need to upgrade to the ez-ject, the only cases that don't eject completely smooth are .45 acp, so I just give the loaded round a little push as my hand is reaching for a bullet to put in the next charged case. I use mine to load .32S&W long up through 30-06 and have been very happy with it.
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Take a Dremel tool with a felt "Bullet Point" polishing point, charge the point with green compound and polish each cutout on your shell plates where your cases sit. Take a little extra care on the curved section of the case cut out. Takes about 1 minute. Then polish your eject spring. After I did this to my LNL never had ejection hang-ups with ANY cartridge.:D
 
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My LNL AP is the pre ezject and I had a lot of skinny cases tossed across the room with the wire. 9mm and .223 were the worse but occasionally had issues with .40 too. I upgraded to the ezject and it is 100 times better and nothing is thrown around any more. Also the case feeder works just fine and really speeds up production. Yes you have to change out the feeder feet for the size case you are using but it works flawlessly.

I would say the only problem I have had with the case feeder is with .380. The cases are so short that sometimes they get hung in the top funnel. I just adjusted the drop so case dont bounce in funnel and now its 100%
 
Update: after talking to the fella futher, it turns out that the timing seems to be off and is causing some primer issues as well. He does not know what the problem is, and really doesnt have any interest in figuring it out. With that being said, I offered to give him an almost new Lee Classic Cast single stage, $100 cash, and some old brass and reloads I have lying around and he accepted. I pick it up tomorrow and will begin tearing it down to try and get her running. Im excited, seems like a heck of a deal if it only requires some tinkering
 
New Loadmaster or older LNL? I'd go with the older LNL AP.

If you want a case feeder now or in the future get a Dillon 650 and be done with it.
 
Hey folks,

I have never been a fan of Lee products in general. In fact, the only three Lee products I have owned and used for many years are their powder dipper sets, their old hand held auto-primer system, and the special set of Lee shell holders that must be used with the hand held auto-primer.

I find their plastic powder dippers very useful when I happen to be loading out in the field somewhere with my Lyman 310 "Nutcracker" tool, and my Lee plastic dipper set was quite inexpensive when I bought it maybe 50 years ago. Before someone questions the safety of my use of the dippers for charging cartridges, please be aware I do not use any powder/dipper chart. When loading cartridges with a Nutcracker hand tool and a powder dipper, I only use a specific dipper with a specific powder charge that I have already checked with a scale to insure it throws a charge that is at the bottom end of the charge weights for a particular bullet.

Sometime in the early 1980s I was persuaded to try priming on the Lee hand primer tool, and I have been using one ever since when loading single stage or with a hand tool. I broke the lever on one Lee hand prime tool, was really angry about it, and swore off the tool forever. Within a week or so, I bought another Lee hand primer simply because I liked the way it worked. I still think the tool is cheaply made, but I find I cannot do without it. I also bought an RCBS hand primer tool because it is much more solidly built than the Lee tool. The problem is that I just prefer using the Lee tool rather than the RCBS tool even though the Lee tool is more easily broken.

That is the extent of my favorable comments for the Lee house of reloading equipment. While I certainly have not seen all of their products, I have seen enough to conclude they simply are not made well enough to suit my preferences. Even having said that, it would seem that I am virtually a Lee fan compared to Legion.

Reading Legion's post above seems almost as bad as reading a Kafka story. It seems like his experience with Lee is one never ending trainwreck. Had I ever bought a Lee press and had the problems he had, I am sure I would have bailed out long before he did. I know lots of folks swear by Lee products, but I think there are a lot more who are likely to swear at Lee presses. Lee certainly does have a niche in the reloading market, however.

Best wishes,
Dave Wile
 
I'm the kind of guy who has done just about all the work on his vehicles and the vehicles of his progeny since he was an adult. My mechanical prowess is pretty good. I also can't fathom paying somebody to work on one of my firearms, as I'm competent to do most anything that needs to be done on any of my firearms.

I don't bash all Lee products, but I have loaded tens of thousands of rounds on a Loadmaster, and I think they're the worst progressive press ever made. Having suffered through all those hours of tedium with the Loadmaster, I feel entitled to express my opinion when asked on a forum like this.

I do like Lee dies. I don't own any Dillon dies, except their powder die.

I'm also smart enough to realize the folly of my ways. The "folly of my ways" was a crappy Lee Loadmaster!!! :eek:
 
I'm the kind of guy who has done just about all the work on his vehicles and the vehicles of his progeny since he was an adult. My mechanical prowess is pretty good. I also can't fathom paying somebody to work on one of my firearms, as I'm competent to do most anything that needs to be done on any of my firearms.

I don't bash all Lee products, but I have loaded tens of thousands of rounds on a Loadmaster, and I think they're the worst progressive press ever made. Having suffered through all those hours of tedium with the Loadmaster, I feel entitled to express my opinion when asked on a forum like this.

I do like Lee dies. I don't own any Dillon dies, except their powder die.

I'm also smart enough to realize the folly of my ways. The "folly of my ways" was a crappy Lee Loadmaster!!!
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This was a good post and you gave your opinion as you see it, but it was presented much better and with much more finesse than what others have said. JMO of course YMMV
 
I like the Load Master. Mine works well & I can met somewhere to help anyone learn to use it. I just don't like people at my house. I also have a Pro1000 & 3 Pro Auto Disk that all work perfect. Now with that said I sometimes make mistakes. I'm the person that has to know why something failed or went wrong. Most of the time I find out it was from me not knowing or just being stupid but I learn from looking into the problem.

I have had a few parts ware out & I broke a few Lee parts which Lee is quick to replace with a quick explanation. They always refuse payment even if I argue that I want to pay.

The warped press post lost all cradit with me also. How do you warp a press by heat treating it when it is cast from alumumin then cut?

OP
I own both the Load Master & the LNL. I like the Load Master better. I like the Pro1000 even more as long as your not doing something outside of what it was built to do. I have moded mine to even work with 30-06 tho. I may just prefer the Pro1000 because I have used it more. If I ever get the LNL to run as good as the Load Master then maybe I will forgive it for all the money I've dumped into it.
 
A post bashing Lee went away. The responses also went away. For the sake of the OP who would like real hands on unbiased opinions of the presses in question, lets please try to provide some good info.
 
Walkalong said:
A post bashing Lee went away. The responses also went away. For the sake of the OP who would like real hands on unbiased opinions of the presses in question, lets please try to provide some good info.
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Fair enough. Tried a Lee many years ago. Wanted something that worked properly and would stand up to many years of volume loading. Upgraded to a Hornady and later a couple of Dillons. Lee will get you in the game for a few bucks and it's proven to be his market niche.
 
Thanks for all the opinions. I am definitely going to shy away from the loadmaster. I have had a lee turret and cast iron single stage and both were great, but it sounds like the loadmaster isn't up to the same quality. As I mentioned, the guy decided not to trade me the older lnl. I am now figuring out how to cough up the cash to just go ahead and buy a new 550 like I had planned several months ago.I did graduate from college today, so I think that should be a good excuse to buy something in that price range....
 
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