Lee Loadmaster question
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- Streetstar
- Advanced Levergunner
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Lee Loadmaster question
Fellow locally has a Loadmaster progressive he is trying to offload
Any of you fellas have any experience with these? -- I had told myself i just wanted a Dillon if i ever got a progressive , -- but i just never have and this setup used is a a quarter the price (it has some extras it to load 9mm, and some components, but i'm primarily interested in loading some .45's to feed the new Blackhawk )
Part of me thinks - "Buy once, cry one - just save more cash and get a 550C and a couple of different heads for it"
Another part of the brain thinks -- " ehhh - for $200 , can't hurt to try it "
My interest in reloading is an on again/off again thing. Historically, i'll just spend a weekend or two stocking up on rifle ammo with my Rockchucker but have rarely loaded pistol ammo
Any of you fellas have any experience with these? -- I had told myself i just wanted a Dillon if i ever got a progressive , -- but i just never have and this setup used is a a quarter the price (it has some extras it to load 9mm, and some components, but i'm primarily interested in loading some .45's to feed the new Blackhawk )
Part of me thinks - "Buy once, cry one - just save more cash and get a 550C and a couple of different heads for it"
Another part of the brain thinks -- " ehhh - for $200 , can't hurt to try it "
My interest in reloading is an on again/off again thing. Historically, i'll just spend a weekend or two stocking up on rifle ammo with my Rockchucker but have rarely loaded pistol ammo
----- Doug
- marlinman93
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Re: Lee Loadmaster question
Well at one time I owned one setup for .45 colt, and then a buddy wanted to sell his in .223 cheap so I bought it also. Honestly I had too many issues with cartridge feeding, and powder dropping when it shouldn't that they annoyed me. I sold both of them and went back to just loading with my Rockchucker.
Pre WWI Marlins and Singleshot rifles!
http://members.tripod.com/~OregonArmsCollectors/
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- Streetstar
- Advanced Levergunner
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Re: Lee Loadmaster question
Thank you sir. Could be why the other gentleman in my area is selling too.marlinman93 wrote: ↑Thu Dec 12, 2024 11:51 pm Well at one time I owned one setup for .45 colt, and then a buddy wanted to sell his in .223 cheap so I bought it also. Honestly I had too many issues with cartridge feeding, and powder dropping when it shouldn't that they annoyed me. I sold both of them and went back to just loading with my Rockchucker.
----- Doug
Re: Lee Loadmaster question
I have one and I reload .45 Colt on it. I do have a setup for .45 ACP but haven't tried it yet. I did have a fair amount of reworking to do to the primer feed/seating area but it works reliably now. I had to modify one piece in the linkage and primer seating depth was somewhat of an issue till I got it sorted out. It's been a significant number of years since I put it into operation but they are somewhat finicky and it took quite a bit if adjusting and a learning curve to get it to run well. I wish I could tell you what it was that I did to it but it's been so many years now that I don't remember. I don't push it to anywhere its limits so I can't say how well it would run if pushed to the max. I leave the fingers loose, visually check each round by removing and then reinserting after the powder dump. I also check every 10th. round for OAL and primer seating depth so you can see I'm not too concerned about speed but it's faster than a single stage and the rounds are consistently within tolerances. I am using the Lee 5 die set and possibly that may shorten my case life some but it doesn't really concern me and the end product functions in my guns chambered for the cartridge. I have a background in engineering and years of working as a mechanic so I really didn't have much of an issue with getting it set up but your mileage may vary, I know folks who have trouble adding cream to their coffee.
- Streetstar
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- GunnyMack
- Advanced Levergunner
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Re: Lee Loadmaster question
I had one many moons ago, it worked ok but a Dillon is by far the Cadillac of progressive presses.
Ok we really need to stop using the term progressive, especially if used with firearms. That word just doesn't play well with guns!
I started with a Dillon Square Deal in 40. Sold that and got a 550. Best" semi auto press" I'm my opinion.
Ok we really need to stop using the term progressive, especially if used with firearms. That word just doesn't play well with guns!
I started with a Dillon Square Deal in 40. Sold that and got a 550. Best" semi auto press" I'm my opinion.
BROWN LABS MATTER !!
- marlinman93
- Advanced Levergunner
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- Location: Oregon
Re: Lee Loadmaster question
Better tell Lee to stop Gunny. They list all of them under the heading "Progressive Presses" at their web site.GunnyMack wrote: ↑Sat Dec 14, 2024 9:49 am I had one many moons ago, it worked ok but a Dillon is by far the Cadillac of progressive presses.
Ok we really need to stop using the term progressive, especially if used with firearms. That word just doesn't play well with guns!
I started with a Dillon Square Deal in 40. Sold that and got a 550. Best" semi auto press" I'm my opinion.
https://leeprecision.com/reloading-pres ... s-pro-1000
Pre WWI Marlins and Singleshot rifles!
http://members.tripod.com/~OregonArmsCollectors/
http://members.tripod.com/~OregonArmsCollectors/
- Ysabel Kid
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Re: Lee Loadmaster question
Re: Lee Loadmaster question
There's a reason that the Lee is ¼ of the price of a Dillon. You get what you pay for.
Steve
Retired and Living the Good Life
No Matter Where You Go, There You Are
Retired and Living the Good Life
No Matter Where You Go, There You Are
Re: Lee Loadmaster question
I e got two of them one set up for 45 ACP and the other for 10mm . They both worked well enough once I got them set up . But I no longer use them ! The 10mm because I no longer own one and the 45 ACP because I rarely shoot the thing anymore and what little I do I e got plenty loaded both handloads and factory . I had a Lee 1000 thirty years ago setup for 38 Special when I called myself shooting PPC matches , but that ones gone as well . I’ve got another 1000 that’s set up for 357 and 9mm but I’ve never used it . Have an RCBS 4x4 that I bought used several years ago and have yet to use .
Parkers , Mannlicher Schoenauer’s , 6.5mm's and my family in the Philippines !
- Streetstar
- Advanced Levergunner
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- Joined: Sun Jan 11, 2009 5:58 am
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Re: Lee Loadmaster question
Yep
like everything else. STopped by a shop that was a bit out of my way yesterday , but one that usually has (or had) a good supply of components -- and they had a 550C on the shelf ready to go
-- I remember you posting pics of your very nice setups long ago - winter is slow in my line of work, so i may just re-aquaint myself with my Rockchucker as i need to stack back some .300 Weatherby -- and rate of production would probably be fine to keep up with how much i will actually shoot my new Blackhawk
----- Doug
-
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Re: Lee Loadmaster question
just don't handle your pole after using icyhot, first it swells when it gets hot then it shrinks when it gets cold. don't ask me how I know

Rossi 92 .357 lever , and a cz pcr 9mm
Henry .22 lever, Remington speedmaster 552 .22 lr
Marlin Glenfield .22 boltaction
gforce 12ga semi
Taylor's Tactical 1911 A1 FS in .45acp
ruger vaquero, 357 magnum
Marlin 336W .30.30
beeman sportsman rs2 dual caliber pellet rifle
henry .22 magnum pumpaction/octagon barrel
stag 5.56 m4 with reddot
Henry .22 lever, Remington speedmaster 552 .22 lr
Marlin Glenfield .22 boltaction
gforce 12ga semi
Taylor's Tactical 1911 A1 FS in .45acp
ruger vaquero, 357 magnum
Marlin 336W .30.30
beeman sportsman rs2 dual caliber pellet rifle
henry .22 magnum pumpaction/octagon barrel
stag 5.56 m4 with reddot