Armory Sponsor
Posted: 5/20/2010 9:31:49 PM EDT
|
Like the title says. I came to grips with the fact that I can't afford to purchase a Dillon. That being said the Loadmaster seems to be an affordable alternative. I plan to load .45 ACP, 9mm, and .223. I have read mixed reviews on this press and decided that I am up to the challenge of trying to tinker with it and get it to work. I am hoping some Loadmaster owners can shed some light on if I should get one or if its a waste of my money. Thanks, Chris |
| Go to this forum, these guys know everything about a load master. http://loadmastervideos.com/ I am a new reloader and I had one for about 3mo. It never worked right, I just don't have the patients to sit down to reload and have to tinker with the press 80% of the time. I shout about 300rds./week, so I bought a Lee Classic Turret and it works, very easy to change calibers. I can load about 100rds./hour. I love it. |
|
I got a loadmaster for the same reason, I also have a old tuert press that I have used for many years. So far I like it, As far as the primer goes I don't use it I hand prime all of my brass. That gives me a chance to QC the brass. I have loaded about 1000 9mm, 500acp, getting ready to finish 900 40 S&W, getting ready to run 1000 (223). If you get one watch the vidieos for the setup book was no help for me. on my 9mm run I mashed about 20 cases on de-prime only, the 40 s&w was about 20-30 cases but got better toward the end, no real problem with 45acp. Over all I'm happy with it , I have never used a dillon but I here thier good. Good luck with what ever you Chose.
Jeff |
|
Quoted:
Go to this forum, these guys know everything about a load master. http://loadmastervideos.com/ I am a new reloader and I had one for about 3mo. It never worked right, I just don't have the patients to sit down to reload and have to tinker with the press 80% of the time. I shout about 300rds./week, so I bought a Lee Classic Turret and it works, very easy to change calibers. I can load about 100rds./hour. I love it. I think Midway had them on sale a few weeks ago ? Thought about it and decided against it . My volume of loading does not justify it either . And I have also heard the negative stories . But , I am prone to tinker , so , if I needed the volume , I would probably give one of the Lee progressives a try . No way I would shell out the price of a Dillion , unless I was loading commercially , which I am not . Not saying anything negative about the Dillion , I am just too cheap . I also have the Lee cast iron turret press and really like it . But , I will look at the videos and try to learn . God bless Wyr |
|
I looked at the Lee turret presses and didn't like the safety prime setup. I have heard some bad things about the priming systems on the Loadmaster and the Pro 1000, but other people say that you can make it work if you adjust it correctly. I'm not looking to buy a new Loadmaster, was kind of hoping that someone was sick of theirs and wanted to cut me a good deal on it. |
|
Quoted:
I looked at the Lee turret presses and didn't like the safety prime setup. I have heard some bad things about the priming systems on the Loadmaster and the Pro 1000, but other people say that you can make it work if you adjust it correctly. I'm not looking to buy a new Loadmaster, was kind of hoping that someone was sick of theirs and wanted to cut me a good deal on it. The Lee instructions for the primeing assemblies ( attachments for large and small primers ) leave a lot to be desired . :-( The biggest trick , I have found , to adjust the priming system is to adjust the de-priming / sizing die up or down so thet when the ram is all the way up , the primer assembly matches the correct " height " of the ram . And , also , the little black plastic bracket that bolts to the top of the press and supports the primer assembly , is rotated to correctly line up the primer assembly . After you get that adjusted correctly , it works pretty well . This is for the cast iron turret press . If you have a separate turret for each caliber , the die height for the sizing / de-primeing die has to only be done once . Likewise for the support for the primer assembly . If you elect to do the primer handling manually , then it is easy as punch . I really like my Lee cast iron turret press . :-) Shame Lee does not provide better instructions , they would probably eliminate a lot of negative comments ? I have no direct knowledge of any progressive press . God bless Wyr |
|
The priming system in the Lee LM leaves something to be desired. If you go for one, I'd stick to hand priming and finish the rounds on the LM.
If you can save about another $150, however, you can get a Hornady Lock N Load AP. Mine has required no tinkering at all. Auto indexing, optional case feeder, 5 stations, built like a brick shithouse. ETA: I got my Lock N Load AP here. |
|
Quoted:
The priming system in the Lee LM leaves something to be desired. If you go for one, I'd stick to hand priming and finish the rounds on the LM. If you can save about another $150, however, you can get a Hornady Lock N Load AP. Mine has required no tinkering at all. Auto indexing, optional case feeder, 5 stations, built like a brick shithouse. ETA: I got my Lock N Load AP here. Not having a progressive , I do not know ? But from what I read , the priming system is a weak point on many progressives ? God bless wyr |
|
Lee Loadmaster was what we bought over 15 years ago and built thousands of pistol rds. 380,9mm, 38 super, 40cal and 45ACP.
All makes and models have there own learning curve. I just broke out the Loadmaster after 10 years, dedicated it to load 223. Im using it as a single stage for decapping and bullet seating. I still have all of he parts to go full auto when I wish. I use a RCBS hend held primer. The Loadmaster is easy to go to single stage, just pull a pin. The only problem I have is the priming part, But have the patients to deal with it when I need to. That big chunk of alum looks a bit tough to break |
|
Quoted:
Go to this forum, these guys know everything about a load master. http://loadmastervideos.com/ I am a new reloader and I had one for about 3mo. It never worked right, I just don't have the patients to sit down to reload and have to tinker with the press 80% of the time. I shout about 300rds./week, so I bought a Lee Classic Turret and it works, very easy to change calibers. I can load about 100rds./hour. I love it. Please forgive me for hijacking the thread , but is there a similar place to find videos for the Pro 1000 ? God bless Wyr |
|
I love mine. It's very versatile, with five stations you can really cook. Mine loads .45 like a house on fire!!. There are sites on the net to tweek it. There are weak points. If you know this going in you'll be fine. I've had mine for years. Don't waste your money on the blue press. Of course I was an automation mechanic for years.
I love mine!!!!! |
Armory Sponsor