Guys with Lee Breech lock pro

[9mmepiphany]

It is no replacement for a Dillon 750 or maybe not even the 550 but it seems to be a serviceable progressive press for those on a tight budget.

I believe the ABLP is targeted at the Dillon Square Deal end of the market, with the added bonus of being designed to use a case feeder

[EricT71]

I picked one up to upgrade from my turretAs well. Had issues with primers flipping upside down, and Got rid of it and went back to my trusty turret. I now have a Dillon SDB for 9mm and use the turret for all other calibers.

So you failed to check the powder, then you blew up a gun rapid firing, and you blame it on the press?

[steelholder]

Guys with the 4000 lee, any regrets?

[cg&p]

I just checked out the pro4k and I like it. I had a Loadmaster about 10 years ago. I spent many days tweaking and making Magic Mike Mods and fabricating my own parts and couldn't get it to work. I also had 3 pro1k's and they all were awesome. I still have one or two pro1k's and will still bolt one down to squish some ammo once in a while. I have Dillons, Lyman, RCBS, Redding, Forster, and PW in my collection as well.

So back to the topic, I didn't have a good time with the Loadmaster and although I know people that use it successfully I would go another route. The pro4k looks pretty interesting. Let us know what you get!

i have one and would have gone another route. i still use it today for pistol rounds, it works well for that after lots time tweaking and giving up on using the press's priming system. If you want to make rifle rounds seriously look into something not Lee. I know money is an object (i have very limited funds) but in the long run it will be worth it.

[steelholder]

i have one and would have gone another route. i still use it today for pistol rounds, it works well for that after lots time tweaking and giving up on using the press's priming system. If you want to make rifle rounds seriously look into something not Lee. I know money is an object (i have very limited funds) but in the long run it will be worth it.

What issue did you have with the prining system?

[BajaJames83]

You should really look at a 550 they can be found used pretty cheap and are great machines

[jyc]

Hey all, I'm looking to upgrade from a classic turret to a loadmaster, what do you guys think about them? I'm not willing to do the whole dillon thing just yet so no blue for now.

Seems like youtube vids are mostly good but reviews online are down the middle. Would you buy again? Do you like it? Hate it?

Started with a Lee Loadmaster about a 1 1/2 years ago. I load 9mm, .38/.357, and .45acp.

Pros: cheap turrets and shell plates, quick caliber changes, case collater and case feeder worked surprisingly well. Could load around 500rds/hr if there were no hiccups (would rarely happen).

Cons: It was just........finicky. I tended to always have a problem somewhere during my reloading session. Mostly with the primer arm, primer feed, and the case riser unattaching when feeding cases. Also, adjusting the case feeder for different cartridges was time consuming and tedious to set up correctly (still worked wonderfully).

Advice: About a couple of months ago, I became fed up with the priming system. Consistent failures to feed properly and started to have tipped, crushed primers. Overall, I was frustrated with the build quality of the press and decided to upgrade to a used Dillon 550B. Worth EVERY penny.

Cost: The Loadmaster (new) with 3 shell plates, 3 turrets, and 2 powder measures cost me ~$400. I sold my Loadmaster w/ accessories and the lee reloading stand to a calgunner for $300.

The Dillon 550B (used) cost me $750 for 3 Dillon quick change kits, 3 caliber conversion kits, 6 primer tubes; strong mount with bullet tray, cartridge bin, and roller handle.

Summary: the Loadmaster is the faster press with the automatic indexing and case feeder; however, my Dillon 550 is a lifelong investment that I intend to use for both pistol and rifle - which is the advantage of manual indexing. The downside is I can load 350 rounds at a comfortable pace - maybe 450 rounds if I rush - but I find the output more than surpasses my shooting needs. The upside? No more fiddling with the damn press.

Drink the blue kool aid and get the 550. You don't need a 750/1050 unless you're an action shooter and need >15k rounds a year.

[stilly]

I will be honest. The Lee Loadmaster is NOT the greatest and not foolproof, but it DOES work and it will work well as long as it is mounted on a ROCK SOLID location. Any play or vibration from pulling the handles and you can kiss your priming goodbye. You will get flipped, smileys and missing primers once it starts moving around. You will have about an 87% success rate on priming then. I know Lee was making a new press but I got tired of waiting and I just got a Pro Chucker 5. Still have to complete it though.

Here is a really good thing about the Lee Loadmaster. The only weak spot in my opinion is the priming. SO if you can prime off press then just resize (without decapping) charge and drop boolits then it will work excellent and can pump out to about 850+ rds per hour. But that is with the collator and placing a bullet by hand.

After I discovered that I can prime fast with the RCBS universal APS primer I primed most of my shells off the press and then I had about a 97% success rate on running just primed brass through the press. Everything worked fine with an occasional round on the floor and the occasional round falling down and stumbling onto the shell plate from the black pusher thingy.

I used to hate Dillion, but they are not so bad. I get it sometimes you just want a press that goes. But you can put an RCBS Quick change powder drop on the Loadmaster with a powder funnel flare and move rather fast.

I bought my Loadmaster for $150 I think from a calgunner that was tired of messing with it.

[steelholder]

Thanks all, i went with the breech lock pro for now. Only had to spend a couple hundred bucks for everything I need, plus I already have dies and powder drums for it.

[Whiterabbit]

I run everything on my loadmaster now, including precision rifle. Excellent, excellent press.

The secret to trouble free operation is keep it clean. Maybe the dillon will run like a top after you spill powder all over it, but for those of us who prefer not to spill powder to begin with, no issues priming on a loadmaster.

[Cowboy T]

Getting a Loadmaster to prime properly requires enlarging the primer hole in the priming arm. I put a post up on this a few years ago, with diagram. Then it primed pretty reliably. But it was tougher to feel the priming action on a Loadmaster vs., say, a Pro 1000 or a Classic Turret Press.

Unless you want to do a fair amount of tinkering, I wouldn't go with the Loadmaster. I haven't used the Pro 4000 yet, because I have twin Pro 1000's for my progressive reloading needs. They do work well, as long as you clean the primer chute every 5,000 rounds or so.

A Lee Classic Turret Press is another very good, all-around choice. It isn't as fast as a progressive, but boy, is it rock-solid.

[steelholder]

Getting a Loadmaster to prime properly requires enlarging the primer hole in the priming arm. I put a post up on this a few years ago, with diagram. Then it primed pretty reliably. But it was tougher to feel the priming action on a Loadmaster vs., say, a Pro 1000 or a Classic Turret Press.

Unless you want to do a fair amount of tinkering, I wouldn't go with the Loadmaster. I haven't used the Pro 4000 yet, because I have twin Pro 1000's for my progressive reloading needs. They do work well, as long as you clean the primer chute every 5,000 rounds or so.

A Lee Classic Turret Press is another very good, all-around choice. It isn't as fast as a progressive, but boy, is it rock-solid.

I started with the classic turret and recently purchased the breech lock pro, thank you.

[tigerpan]

For that price I will get Hornady

[newbie1234]

Thanks all, i went with the breech lock pro for now. Only had to spend a couple hundred bucks for everything I need, plus I already have dies and powder drums for it.

Same here, I plan to upgrade from Lee Turret to Breech Lock Pro 4000 also. It seems like BLPro 4000 out of stock (Brownell and Lee Precision web site). I will have two presses and a small loading area so I will get "Lee press plates" same time with the press so I can swap them around.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-DbSW2OV4A

[Cowboy T]

I started with the classic turret and recently purchased the breech lock pro, thank you.

Ah, I'd missed that--sorry. Could you let us know how the Breech Lock Pro does for you once you get some experience with it? As a Pro 1000 user, I'd be interested in your evaluation.