Moving up to Lee Loadmaster, any tips or tricks?

[Lennyjoe]

I finally wore out an old Lee 4 hole turret press I purchased used from someone on TFL years ago and decided to move up to the Loadmaster. Considered the Hornady Lock and Load and am not ready to sell a kidney for a Dillion so I opted for the Loadmaster. I have quite a bit of Lee stuff so thought that the Loadmaster was the better choice.

So, anyone want to share experiences on set up and what to watch while using? I’ve loaded several thousands of rounds over the last 19 years so I’m relatively experienced in the art of reloading....

 

[Tilos]

I finally wore out an old Lee 4 hole turret press I purchased used from someone on TFL years ago and decided to move up to the Loadmaster. Considered the Hornady Lock and Load and am not ready to sell a kidney for a Dillion so I opted for the Loadmaster. I have quite a bit of Lee stuff so thought that the Loadmaster was the better choice.

So, anyone want to share experiences on set up and what to watch while using? I’ve loaded several thousands of rounds over the last 19 years so I’m relatively experienced in the art of reloading....

Lots of Loadmaster fanboys here, and threads about running/tuning it.
I bought one but haven't used it much so I can't offer any experiences running it.
As priming is the short coming of most progressives, pre-priming might be the way to start out to become familiar with any quirks about the press.
Understand that the priming operation/design on the Loadmaster uses up one station, so the press is actually 4 usable stations...unless you pre-prime
Good luck and post-up any questions you might have and/or search this forum for tips.

Edit: here's an old thread: https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/lee-loadmaster-feedback.745505/#post-9373741

a search: https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...+Loadmaster&o=date&c[title_only]=1&c[node]=15

 

[tightgroup tiger]

Not to try to deter you from buying the Loadmaster, but the new Auto Breech lock pro is out there now also and your accessories will fit it also.
I paid $105.00 for it because it comes with no accessories. You already have them.
It is a true 4 station, including priming, and is full progressive, I heard some good things about it. It uses the safety prime system so you need to watch some vids on it to see if that is what your looking for.
I have a new one sitting on my counter that just came today but I'm nursing my wife back to health from having the flue for 4 days so it will have to wait for a while.
It's another option to consider also.

 

[Wreck-n-Crew]

For Priming on the press I have my best success with 9mm running a sizing die with the decapping pin removed in station 2 and a universal decapping die in one if you don't deprime your brass before cleaning. I also lube the cases for smooth action where you can feel a lot more of what is going on.

Timing the press you might want to watch a YouTube videos on press timing linked in the thread above in Tilos" post.

 

[Lennyjoe]

I’ll be sending in my old 4 hole turret on their trade in offer and grabbing the breech lock pro as a back up press.

 

[jmorris]

Took me a few evenings to get the one I had figured out and setup. It’s the fastest Loadmaster I’ve seen at 100 rounds in under 4 min.



I won’t lie and say they are the best press out there but they may fit for you.

Set it up and post if you have any problems. Mine was “a box of parts” so I had to learn everything about them. A new one should have a much shorter learning curve.

What round(s) are you intending to load?

 

[Lennyjoe]

9MM, .38 Special, 40 and .45 for pistol, .223, .300 Blackout and 7.62x39 for rifle.

I’ll leave the .243, 6.5 Grendel, .308, 30-06, 45-70 and .50 Beowulf to the single stage press.

 

[jmorris]

On the 9mm get an extra die for the priming station to ensure the case is centered, I used an extra powder die I had sitting around.

For whatever reason Lee uses the same shell plate for 9mm that they do for 40, so the 9mm case may or may not be centered over the primer. That means you may or may not have priming problems, a die to ensure its centered fixes that.

I would also suggest starting with the pistol rounds until you’ve got it figured out.

It’s also a press that only likes full, complete strokes even during setup.

 

[Jeff H]

I’ll be sending in my old 4 hole turret on their trade in offer and grabbing the breech lock pro as a back up press.

If 1/2 of what I've read about the Auto Breech Lock Pro is accurate, it will be your main press soon and the Loadmaster will be the backup. It will be the next press I buy if I ever feel like I need more than one progressive. Cheap enough to have one permanently set up in a caliber.

 

[Tilos]

If 1/2 of what I've read about the Auto Breech Lock Pro is accurate, it will be your main press soon and the Loadmaster will be the backup. It will be the next press I buy if I ever feel like I need more than one progressive. Cheap enough to have one permanently set up in a caliber.

I have read a lot about the ABLP too, done additional research, and have decided NOT to buy one.

I have come to believe the ABLP is marketed as an upgrade for turret users, sold/marketed as needing NO ADJUSTMENTS, is sold bare bones and accepts the dies/pm/etc used on a Lee turret press.
You will maybe need to buy some different priming stuff, I'm not clear on that, and a shell plate for sure.

Turret operators are used to a lot of user input during the loading process, so adding a case and a primer when the ram it up, then a bullet (way in the back reach-around) when the ram is down on the ABLP is not as foreign to them as it would be to a current progressive user(me).
Yes you can add a bullet feeder and/or a case feeder to the ABLP, but it will cost something.
There is no alterative to the onesie pez dispenser priming, the step that's often skipped/missed.
Well, there's always pre-priming off the press.

Most but not all true progressives require both a case and bullet be placed when the ram is down, but with the addition of a bullet feeder/bullet tubes, a cheaper/less complex option than adding a case feeder on some presses, the input is reduced to adding just the case.
I consider those 3 steps to be too much input for operation by me, and the ABLP press would be a step backwards for me, a current progressive user.
If the press is proven to produce "better/more consistent" ammo I'd be all for it, if that was what I was looking for.
it's not,

 

[tightgroup tiger]

I have not tried to load on my ABLP yet, (wife had the flu). I do have it set up and will try to load on it this weekend to try it out. I watched one video that showed someone reaching all the around the back to set a bullet and made it look very clumsy. After setting this press up and checking that, there seems to be lots of room to set a bullet and the video didn't really represent the press in it's correct light.

I have no illusions to this press ever competing with my LNL-AP or a Dillon but I will know much more after this weekend.

It is a tiny press, it's smaller than a pro1000 but it is a 4 station press. It also needs to have complete strokes like JMorris said, due to the turning rod having the twist in it clear at the bottom.
I stopped it half ways up and brought it back down while depriming and I had to turn the shell plate to the next station to get it to come down the whole way.

All progressives are like this in one way or another. My Hornady AP will just auto advance to the next station when I do this.

With any progressive incomplete stroking is a signal to stop and clear the shell plate. Even with my Hornady AP with the control panal installed the powder die will catch the empty round but nothing will catch a case with no primer in it.

I'll know more about the ABLP after this weekend when I load on it.
I'll report back on how it is doing after I get to load on it.

 

[Jeff H]

I have read a lot about the ABLP too, done additional research, and have decided NOT to buy one.

I have come to believe the ABLP is marketed as an upgrade for turret users, sold/marketed as needing NO ADJUSTMENTS, is sold bare bones and accepts the dies/pm/etc used on a Lee turret press.
You will maybe need to buy some different priming stuff, I'm not clear on that, and a shell plate for sure.

Turret operators are used to a lot of user input during the loading process, so adding a case and a primer when the ram it up, then a bullet (way in the back reach-around) when the ram is down on the ABLP is not as foreign to them as it would be to a current progressive user(me).
Yes you can add a bullet feeder and/or a case feeder to the ABLP, but it will cost something.
There is no alterative to the onesie pez dispenser priming, the step that's often skipped/missed.
Well, there's always pre-priming off the press.

Most but not all true progressives require both a case and bullet be placed when the ram is down, but with the addition of a bullet feeder/bullet tubes, a cheaper/less complex option than adding a case feeder on some presses, the input is reduced to adding just the case.
I consider those 3 steps to be too much input for operation by me, and the ABLP press would be a step backwards for me, a current progressive user.
If the press is proven to produce "better/more consistent" ammo I'd be all for it, if that was what I was looking for.
it's not,

To be fair, I haven't bought one either. I did really like my Lee turret when I had one and if I ever think I want a cheap caliber dedicated press, the ABLP is high on my list. I love my L-n-L and have no thoughts that this Lee press is an equal. Just an alternative.

 

[Lennyjoe]

Finally received the Loadmaster and it took about an hour of set up to get .45 ACP rounds rolling. Had to tweak the case feeder just a bit but other than that, it’s all set up. Built a new bench before it arrived so now to fully populate the bench with the accessories.

 

[tightgroup tiger]

Once you get into full production let us know how its working.

 

[Lennyjoe]

Took a bit to get everything fine tuned. Primer depth, bullet depth and crimp. Think it’s ready to start production now.

 

[jmorris]

Nice. I wouldn’t load up a whole bunch right out of the gate. I wouldn’t load more than 100, lot less actually. Just to make sure the load is good and runs in the gun.

The only thing less fun than getting a progressive all set up is pulling a bunch of bullets from a load that doesn’t work.

 

[Lennyjoe]

The 5.0 gr of HP-38 under 230 gr Berry’s is my go to range load set at 1.275 OAL. I doubled and triple checked the first 60 rounds as they came off the press. So far so good.

 

[jeeptim]

Canned air to blow out the priming unit of leaked powder

 

[JamieC]

When loading, I learned to watch the primer system, every time a case passes, make SURE the primers move down. The priming system has a rep for being a pain sometimes, watching it will catch problems quick. You'll also know if it is near empty and/or the primers are jammed up and not feeding down into the 'chute'.

 

[Lennyjoe]

Primer system is running ok. I noticed some primers are fully seating while others need a little bump in. Using mixed brass so that may be adding to the issue.

Also, OAL seems a bit inconsistent. Going from 1.275 to 1.269. Majority hovering around 1.275-1.272 but get an occasional 1.269. I’m making sure I’m fully stroking the ram all the way up and am taking my time to ensure powder drop is in the case before positioning a bullet.

 

[tightgroup tiger]

Does the profile of the seating die stem match the profile of the bullet. That will cause problems every time with no matter whose press you are using.
Also make sure your shell plate is tight.

 

[Lennyjoe]

It does.

I think it may be the shell plate. Has the o-ring under the nut and am wondering how tight it needs to be. Finger tight, sinched down snug or smoked down....

 

[cornfused]

It does.

I think it may be the shell plate. Has the o-ring under the nut and am wondering how tight it needs to be. Finger tight, sinched down snug or smoked down....

I snug the o-ring up by hand every time I rotate the case feeder to a new tube. Works for me

 

[Lennyjoe]

Status update:

Grabbed a few extra 5 hole turrets, a 19S shell plate and a small primer feed and converted from .45 ACP to 9MM in just over 20 minutes after primer swap and die set up. Now to start rolling 1K of 9MM.

Will move to .223 after 9MM and see how it handles small rifle loads.

So far I like it.

 

[jmorris]

Sounds like smooth sailing, always a bonus!