I have a Lee Loadmaster. Bought from Midway back in the early '90s. It works OK as long as you don't try to go too fast. The primer feeder mechanism, at least on mine, was the weak link. I've loaded countless thousands of 9mm and 45acp's. I have Dillion dies on mine. I mainly use Winchester 231 powder, 4.9 gr's, Win primers, and Win 115 gr JHP on the 9's. I mic around 1 per 20 loaded rds just so I don't have to use my well-used bullet puller so often. I have a 15" piece of railroad track for the bullet puller. A friend of mine had to outdo me and bought a Dillon 650. My Loadmaster is junk by comparison but that's OK. I take my time and enjoy reloading. I also use a swivel barstool with a back for comfort. The guy with the Dillon press and I does all the reloading for our group. We all pitch in to buy the components. We have several places online and local stores for our components but Midway gets around 50% of our business. My friends and I have access to 330-acre area where we have a very small section of that land just for our pistols. Bought some swinging steel targets and a dueling tree and one of my friends welded some round knockdown steel plates. The person shooting stands on a large white tarp and all the brass is easily found. One thing is for certain, reloading and shooting ain't as cheap as it used to be.
LEDShooter - 3 dies are all that are required but 5 work slightly better. With a separate decapper die in station one you can use the decapper/resizer that came with your press without the decapping pin in station 2 to perfectly locate the cartridge for priming. In station 5 he's added a "Lee Factory Crimp Die" to separate the bullet seating and final case crimp. The separation of functions makes for slightly higher quality bullets. Check out Loadmaster zone or gavintoobes video on .45 ACP
Looking to get in to reloading, both pistol (9, 40, and 10) and rifle (5.56, 270, various .30s, and 350) cases. For rifle, I am thinking of doing two press set-up assembly. First would be a single stage to decap, then tumble, then back to the single stage to neck size, following with a trimmer. Changing neck sizing dies to match caliber. Second press would be a progressive set up to prime, charge, seat bullet, and crimp neck. Changing the turret with dedicated dies mounted for each particular caliber. Buying a new caliber components and turret set up each year until I have what I need to load for the rifles I have. Would Lee's loadmaster progressive be acceptable for a budget minded, able to grow set-up?
I have this press and am sorely dissapointed with it! After struggling with it for 3 months I finally gave up and it resides on the shelf and I pulled out my Lee Turrant press again. Most issues concerned the inconsistent proper seating of primers due to the resistance encountered by all stations adding their individual resistance with each pull. After many stoppages and having to go back and use my single stage press to seat primers properly, I just gave up on repeated adjustments to get it working right.
Before I ever even used mine. I cleaned it. Sanded all ruff castings to make smooth and slick. Greased and lubed all moving parts. made all adjustments. Mine works flawlessly. I am so please with it. Yes, I spent hours getting it ready and it was so worth doing.
Quick question: I have watched a couple of your Lee Loadmaster videos and cannot for the life of me figure out where the primers fall in the de-priming station. Is there something that catches them?
The spent primers fall into the center of the main ram (it's hollow). There is a sliding cover on the bottom to empty them when full. It probably holds at least 3000 spent primers.
i really like your videos ,very informative and i think i will get this lee press,i have the classic single stage,its great,but very slow, rifle its good,but pistol,i would rather step it up.thank you tref ps your camera is what type?super clean video!
I’m thinking about getting this press as a starter.. it looks like your setup differs from what comes with the initial package. Could you explain what is different? Your set up looks very easy to follow.
Great video. Have you ever noticed much difference in primers? I loaded some 9mm (3.6 grains of Win231) and the CCI and Winchester primers were working well. When I tried Remington primers, I started getting some that failed to eject in my Springfield XD. Has anyone noticed if the Remingtons don't "burn as hot?" I'll probably work my way up with the powder, but wanted to see if anyone noticed this issue, or if Rem. is known for this. Thanks.
No sir you may not, there are three different 9mm loads and sizes, your standard 9mm Luger, 9x18 which is referred to as 9mm Makarov and 9x17 parabellum most commonly called .380 acp. Please do not attempt to fire anything but 9mm luger in your firearm as it may kill/harm you and anyone nearby
Seem ridiculous to me. I could not see myself running my press and doing extra things manual. Theat I I bought the press is to make it smooth and easy and as few steps as possible.
Regarding defense loads, please use factory ammo for carry. If you ever have to defend yourself with a firearm and you have home made ammo. The "victims" attorney would use that against you suggesting home made ammo with extra killing power or some other nonsense.
I have a Dillon XL 650 press. The problem with that one is that you will have to cut the spring underneath the shell plate, to make the shells rotate less fast. If you don't, the powder will spill and run out over the shell plate. Does this happen with the Lee Loadmaster as well? I have been using Vihtavuori N320. Perhaps there are other powders that would work with less volume loads.
No, the Loadmaster has a unique system without a ball detent arrangement- so it spills powder probably the least compared to other progressives with auto-indexing.
XL 650 has a weakness in the priming system. Lots of jam ups, and the priming disk system is weak if your not careful you will bend the arm that indexes the priming disk and you are screwed. I finally got rid of it and bought a 550 . Less problems in the long run.
I have a Lee Loadmaster. Bought from Midway back in the early '90s. It works OK as long as you don't try to go too fast. The primer feeder mechanism, at least on mine, was the weak link. I've loaded countless thousands of 9mm and 45acp's. I have Dillion dies on mine. I mainly use Winchester 231 powder, 4.9 gr's, Win primers, and Win 115 gr JHP on the 9's. I mic around 1 per 20 loaded rds just so I don't have to use my well-used bullet puller so often. I have a 15" piece of railroad track for the bullet puller.
A friend of mine had to outdo me and bought a Dillon 650. My Loadmaster is junk by comparison but that's OK. I take my time and enjoy reloading. I also use a swivel barstool with a back for comfort. The guy with the Dillon press and I does all the reloading for our group. We all pitch in to buy the components. We have several places online and local stores for our components but Midway gets around 50% of our business.
My friends and I have access to 330-acre area where we have a very small section of that land just for our pistols. Bought some swinging steel targets and a dueling tree and one of my friends welded some round knockdown steel plates. The person shooting stands on a large white tarp and all the brass is easily found.
One thing is for certain, reloading and shooting ain't as cheap as it used to be.
Compared to your new videos this one seemed like it was made in the 90s. Still good info.
2009? My God the internet is becoming an old place.
LEDShooter - 3 dies are all that are required but 5 work slightly better. With a separate decapper die in station one you can use the decapper/resizer that came with your press without the decapping pin in station 2 to perfectly locate the cartridge for priming. In station 5 he's added a "Lee Factory Crimp Die" to separate the bullet seating and final case crimp. The separation of functions makes for slightly higher quality bullets. Check out Loadmaster zone or gavintoobes video on .45 ACP
I also lube all my cases. Lubing makes everything run smoother regardless if you have Carbide dies or Steel dies.
Looking to get in to reloading, both pistol (9, 40, and 10) and rifle (5.56, 270, various .30s, and 350) cases. For rifle, I am thinking of doing two press set-up assembly. First would be a single stage to decap, then tumble, then back to the single stage to neck size, following with a trimmer. Changing neck sizing dies to match caliber.
Second press would be a progressive set up to prime, charge, seat bullet, and crimp neck. Changing the turret with dedicated dies mounted for each particular caliber. Buying a new caliber components and turret set up each year until I have what I need to load for the rifles I have.
Would Lee's loadmaster progressive be acceptable for a budget minded, able to grow set-up?
I have this press and am sorely dissapointed with it! After struggling with it for 3 months I finally gave up and it resides on the shelf and I pulled out my Lee Turrant press again. Most issues concerned the inconsistent proper seating of primers due to the resistance encountered by all stations adding their individual resistance with each pull. After many stoppages and having to go back and use my single stage press to seat primers properly, I just gave up on repeated adjustments to get it working right.
Before I ever even used mine. I cleaned it. Sanded all ruff castings to make smooth and slick. Greased and lubed all moving parts. made all adjustments. Mine works flawlessly. I am so please with it. Yes, I spent hours getting it ready and it was so worth doing.
lubing cases in carbide dies also relieves the stress on everything...from the machine to the case itself to the operators arm
Quick question: I have watched a couple of your Lee Loadmaster videos and cannot for the life of me figure out where the primers fall in the de-priming station. Is there something that catches them?
You make your own little collection tray - and empty it now and again -
The spent primers fall into the center of the main ram (it's hollow).
There is a sliding cover on the bottom to empty them when full.
It probably holds at least 3000 spent primers.
Very helpful video. Thank you.
Had one of these presses, nearly had a divorce
leath4m 😂
i really like your videos ,very informative and i think i will get this lee press,i have the classic single stage,its great,but very slow, rifle its good,but pistol,i would rather step it up.thank you tref
ps your camera is what type?super clean video!
Loading 45acp I never lubed cases but used mostly once fired and new brass though... maybe that's why it didn't seem to matter
I’m thinking about getting this press as a starter.. it looks like your setup differs from what comes with the initial package. Could you explain what is different? Your set up looks very easy to follow.
Great video. Have you ever noticed much difference in primers? I loaded some 9mm (3.6 grains of Win231) and the CCI and Winchester primers were working well. When I tried Remington primers, I started getting some that failed to eject in my Springfield XD. Has anyone noticed if the Remingtons don't "burn as hot?" I'll probably work my way up with the powder, but wanted to see if anyone noticed this issue, or if Rem. is known for this. Thanks.
No sir you may not, there are three different 9mm loads and sizes, your standard 9mm Luger, 9x18 which is referred to as 9mm Makarov and 9x17 parabellum most commonly called .380 acp. Please do not attempt to fire anything but 9mm luger in your firearm as it may kill/harm you and anyone nearby
Why does the voiceover sound like you’re on a rural AM radio call-in show
teknokracy 😂 i thought the same thing. then i checked and saw it’s 10 years old and understood a little more
teknokracy bud it was 2009 looks and sounds good for 2009
Why didn't you use the case feeder in this reloading session
Seem ridiculous to me. I could not see myself running my press and doing extra things manual. Theat I I bought the press is to make it smooth and easy and as few steps as possible.
What would you consider to be a good multipurpose powder for target, home defense, and competition loads? 9mm, 40 s&w, 357 mag.
Accurate #2 or Bullseye. Works well for all pistol calibers.
Regarding defense loads, please use factory ammo for carry. If you ever have to defend yourself with a firearm and you have home made ammo. The "victims" attorney would use that against you suggesting home made ammo with extra killing power or some other nonsense.
I have a Dillon XL 650 press. The problem with that one is that you will have to cut the spring underneath the shell plate, to make the shells rotate less fast. If you don't, the powder will spill and run out over the shell plate.
Does this happen with the Lee Loadmaster as well?
I have been using Vihtavuori N320. Perhaps there are other powders that would work with less volume loads.
No, the Loadmaster has a unique system without a ball detent arrangement- so it spills powder probably the least compared to other progressives with auto-indexing.
XL 650 has a weakness in the priming system. Lots of jam ups, and the priming disk system is weak if your not careful you will bend the arm that indexes the priming disk and you are screwed. I finally got rid of it and bought a 550 . Less problems in the long run.
WHY ARE YOU LUBING THE CASES THAT DOES NOT NEED TO BE DONE WITH CARBIDE DIES?????
MATTER767 it runs smoother
Why did you change up the dies. Why not all Lee dies?
Why the universal decapping die in station 1 and the 9mm decapping/ sizing in station 2 ? Do you need to use all 5 stations?
Gavin, would it be possible to run a powder check/cop die on this press?
Yes, for 9mm, you could run: 1: Decapper, 2: Sizer only, 3: Expand/charge, 4: powder check, 5: Seat/Crimp
Whats your take on the Lee Pro 1000 VS Lee Loadmaster for 9mm ?
Is it worth spending the extra cash for the Loadmaster and performance wise ?
How much is this press kit with dies and what needed for 45 9mm and 380 please message me the prices with freight to royce city tx 75189
Why would you not use the case feeder? is there a problem with it and 9mm?
I could never get the case feeder on mine to function with any caliber.
Is it possible to use Hornady dies in this press?
How accurate is powder mesure? How much difference does it make from case to case?
Still running that press?
What is the press mounted on?
How does it do on say, 30/06 or a 7MM Mag for instance?
Where do you recommend me to buy my reloaded and all the supplies from?
Tyler _www Titan
midway.com
Mid South Shooters Supply
They are one and the same.
what is the difference between 9mm luger and 9mm parabelm can i shoot 9mm luger out of my 9mm parabelm gun ?
ty ronky same round