Do I need this for my Lee Loadmaster??

[JNunez23]

Hello again,

With my Lee Loadmaster spending the weekend in lock-up per UPS NOT delivering on Saturday, I've had some extra time to think about this thing having to be mounted securely onto my table. But, what's the best way??

Do I need a mounting bracket/bench plate kit? Something like this.

http://www.cabelas.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=1374285&categoryId=0&parentCategoryId=0&subCategoryId=0&indexId=0&itemGUID=f6688d19ac1084541978ef5318d1bd20&destination=/checkout/basket.jsp

....Or am I good to go with cutting/drilling a piece of 2"x4" and mounting it on that?

Thanks for your suggestions, I have all day tomorrow to prepare the station as the press will be here Monday.

Thanks guys.

[Dark Mod]

You dont NEED a strongmount but it does sweeten the pot a bit. Ive played with the ones at fowlers and have been mulling over getting one myself

[darksands]

I bought an RCBS plate and was glad I did. 4 wood screws to mount the plate and both the press and the powder measure mounted to the plate. If ever I need to move my rig it's just 4 wood screws.

[Bill Steele]

I have one of the Lee plate style mounts. They actually work remarkably well when you are faced with multiple presses and limited space on the bench.

If you lived closer I would tell you to come on over and pick it up as I don't use mine anymore.

[NotEnufGarage]

A piece of 2x4 probably isn't going to cut it. Mine is mounted to a piece of 2x10, with a piece of plywood on top of it. Definitely not particle board or any countertop material.

Go slow setting it up and get each station/feature working one at a time until you can run a shell all the way through. The case feeder is probably the most challenging to get to work smoothly, followed by the primer feed.

[klewan]

Make sure the bench is stable and not bouncing around; even with the Lee mount. The primers are balancing on the primer punch and if the press starts moving around, the primers wiggle off center and you get primer problems. I have a lower shelf with bullets and lead ingots down there. Maybe 300 lbs. It doesn't move.


You also need to develop the Lee Tempo, it's a rhythmic operation of the handle. Not too slow, not too fast. And don't bang the handle at either extremity, nice soft click to let you know that's far enough.

LM is the best deal out there, I looked at the blue stuff back in '95, but the cost of the caliber changeover parts made it a no go. Plus not having case and bullet feeds. I had the original primer sliders in mine for 16 years, finally messed them up trying to prime uncrimped brass. If you get any military calibers, range pickup, ream all of them. You can't tell a lot of the crimped stuff just by looking at it.

[JNunez23]

Great info guys, much appreciated

[lpspinner]

Just curious, what's your bench like? Is it dedicated to reloading or is it mutli purpose?

[johnny1290]

Nah you don't *need* it, or at least I don't. I sure wouldn't mind it though!

Now a case collator for the case feeder, that should be standard, but ain't.

My piston or whatever that is hits my table a little bit. I live with it but its annoying. I take mine down after I reload my stash.

I've fabricated enough crap to know sometimes it's worth it just to buy something rather than 'saving' money by making it myself. Gotta pick your battles. For $25, I'd buy this one rather than making something myself, but that's just me.

A firm base is really important, and I just think fooling around with clamps and stuff would get old fast.

The previous poster is right. It really is all about the Lee Tempo(TM). I wouldn't have thought that, considering its just pulling a dang handle, but it really is the name of the game, seating primers especially. That caused most of my problems early on.

Good luck sir!

[JNunez23]

Thanks again guys. UPS will be dropping it off tomorrow, can't wait!

Anyway, bench will be dedicated to reloading. I will post some pics of it tomorrow once it looks a little more "put together"

Now that I'm typing, next question I have for you guys...lol

Lee Factory Crimp Die, do I need this?? From my understanding, this is not a necessity but more of a safety measure to insure the completed round is to factory specs? So...worth $20 to buy it??

[johnny1290]

I can only speak for 9mm. I was concerned about that, but nah, never needed it Congrats!

[lpspinner]

If you have a dedicated bench, then just mount the press directly. If the benchtop is strong and stable, then what I did is buy some T-nuts and inserted those underneath and bolt on the press. If your bolts aren't long enough, run to Home Depot and buy some 1/4" bolts with the T-nuts and you're good to go.

Later on, if you get some kind of strong mount, you can use T-nuts to mount those as well.

[JNunez23]

If you have a dedicated bench, then just mount the press directly. If the benchtop is strong and stable, then what I did is buy some T-nuts and inserted those underneath and bolt on the press. If your bolts aren't long enough, run to Home Depot and buy some 1/4" bolts with the T-nuts and you're good to go.

Later on, if you get some kind of strong mount, you can use T-nuts to mount those as well.

Thank you sir, on to Home Depot I go