Lee Loadmaster finally setup!

[JNunez23]

Hello everyone,

Just finished installing my Lee Loadmaster Press for my personal reloads. Mostly 9mm and some .223 down the line.

Anyway, so far so good. Did have to make a bunch of adjustments as I expected. With plenty of wax/lube, machine runs super smooth,

Some things I do not like are the angle of the chain for the powder drop, or the chain in general. Get's in the way, has a tendency to get stuck, then "snap".

Also, tried the Lee charge bar to no avail. Had to go back and install the disk Lee provided. I only have one in by the way, and it's giving me perfect charges. Do I need to have a double disk?? Or am I good to go with one if the throws are consistent?

Lastly, some pics of my humble setup. It's a work in progress, but it's a start

[john16443]

Congrats on the set up, let us know how it runs once you start. I wouldn't give up on the charge bar just yet. What issues were you experiencing with it? I'm sure you've found this site in your searches, but there's a good video on the powder measure set up here: http://www.loadmastervideos.com/ This may help with your sticking and snapping issue.

There should be no reason to use more than a single disk for pistol caliber reloading. The double disks may be useful when you get to rifle loads that exceed the capacity of the largest single disk hole size.

[JNunez23]

What issues were you experiencing with it?

Thank you sir. Well, the charge was not dropping at all. I'm not sure if I just might have set it wrong, or if the powder (Win 231) was just clogging it. As soon as I installed the single disk, all was well. I wouldn't mind trying it once more, after all I did pay $13 for it!

[CalTeacher]

Are you using a sizing die with the decapping pin removed in station 2? It's supposed to help center the case to make priming more reliable. Also, make sure your chain is t too tight or too loose. Find the perfect length that allows you to move the disk back and forb completely without putting any undo strain on he chain. Enjoy the press!

[JNunez23]

Are you using a sizing die with the decapping pin removed in station 2? It's supposed to help center the case to make priming more reliable. Also, make sure your chain is t too tight or too loose. Find the perfect length that allows you to move the disk back and forb completely without putting any undo strain on he chain. Enjoy the press!

I actually ordered a Lee Universal Decapper that I will install in station 1, so I will have the sizing die with no decapper in station 2 to stabalize the primer just like you mentioned. Though it sets the primer pretty well now, but I can only see the sizing die improving the priming process. Without it, you can smash the primers and kind of "moon shape" them.. like a crescent moon.

[stand125]

Thank you sir. Well, the charge was not dropping at all. I'm not sure if I just might have set it wrong, or if the powder (Win 231) was just clogging it. As soon as I installed the single disk, all was well. I wouldn't mind trying it once more, after all I did pay $13 for it!

I noticed that the charge bar does not like small charges. I tried 3.0gr of Titegroup and it metered horrible untill I got up to about 4.5gr.

[john16443]

I've noticed that if I didn't have the expanding die set at the correct height, the insert in the sizing die didn't fully activate or lift the arm enought to move the disk fully forward. You might want to run an empty case through that station and look where the hole ends up when the handle is at the bottom of the stroke. If you can't see the hole, it's short stroking. Like the video I referenced indicates, make sure the flat end of the hopper is at the front. W231 should have no trouble dropping consistent charges for 9mm rounds.

Try raising a case into the die that drops your powder and leave it there. If you can manually increase the travel distance of the disk with a case fully in the die, you're not set up correctly.

[sd_fox_racer]

i have the loadmaster, set up for 9mm and 45acp. when i loaded 9mm i did about 1,300 rounds and had about 10 rounds that the primers were in sideways or no primers at all. when i started 45 loads with the large primer i had alot more primer feed problems about 1 in 5. went ant tried all the troubleshooting and still had problems. saw the videos, and still had them. so im going to start priming off the press and modify/set it up as follows
1)powder charge/expander
2)RCBS lock out die (powder check)
3)RCBS bullet feed die
4)seating die
5)factory crimp die
i will be sizing and de-priming before hand.

[Cowboy T]

I use the disks and get great results. Frankly, I don't see the need for the adjustable charge bar, given how well the disks work. And you only need the double-disk kit if you're doing larger charges--for example, 22+ grains of 2400 or 25 grains of H335.

For the chain, that's a common complaint. One solution is to use the spring-actuated lever that's typically used with the Classic Turret Press. The other way to handle that is to replace the chain with a small bungee cord. Both methods work very well. I use the chain on the Pro 1000 without any problem, but the angle might be better on the Pro 1K vs. the LM.

Be sure to visit "The Loadmaster Zone" over at www.loadmastervideos.net. They show you how to make your LM purr like a kitten.

[JNunez23]

I've noticed that if I didn't have the expanding die set at the correct height, the insert in the sizing die didn't fully activate or lift the arm enought to move the disk fully forward. You might want to run an empty case through that station and look where the hole ends up when the handle is at the bottom of the stroke. If you can't see the hole, it's short stroking. Like the video I referenced indicates, make sure the flat end of the hopper is at the front. W231 should have no trouble dropping consistent charges for 9mm rounds.

Try raising a case into the die that drops your powder and leave it there. If you can manually increase the travel distance of the disk with a case fully in the die, you're not set up correctly.

Good point, I'll give the charge bar another shot today.

[JNunez23]

I use the disks and get great results. Frankly, I don't see the need for the adjustable charge bar, given how well the disks work. And you only need the double-disk kit if you're doing larger charges--for example, 22+ grains of 2400 or 25 grains of H335.

For the chain, that's a common complaint. One solution is to use the spring-actuated lever that's typically used with the Classic Turret Press. The other way to handle that is to replace the chain with a small bungee cord. Both methods work very well. I use the chain on the Pro 1000 without any problem, but the angle might be better on the Pro 1K vs. the LM.

Be sure to visit "The Loadmaster Zone" over at www.loadmastervideos.net. They show you how to make your LM purr like a kitten.

Thanks. I have some spare bungee cord, might be able to put it to use today. My ONLY major issue now is the Lee seating die is not very consistent, ranges from 1.127 to 1.147 in OAL, is that normal or is something loose?

[CalTeacher]

Thanks. I have some spare bungee cord, might be able to put it to use today. My ONLY major issue now is the Lee seating die is not very consistent, ranges from 1.127 to 1.147 in OAL, is that normal or is something loose?

Something is loose or you're doing something wrong. Make sure your dies are tightened to the turret and that you are making complete and consistent strokes.

[Cowboy T]

Agreed. My OAL's are very consistent with several Lee seating dies (.38/357, .44, and .45LC). A common mistake is to slightly short-stroke, easy to do since you're only flattening out the flare and not actually crimping like w/ a revolver case.

[ns3v3n]

Nice, awesome dog too.

[JNunez23]

Nice, awesome dog too.

Thanks. His name is Carter, 2 year old lab. My best friend