Lee Pro1000 vs. Lee Loadmaster

sf340flyer

I'm new to reloading, and am considering buying either the Lee Pro1000 or the Lee Loadmaster. It looks to me that the loadmaster will offer more flexability to load both handgun ammo (mostly 40S&W for me) and also rifle loads (I'll be doing some, but for now mostly handgun). I've read that there was some trouble with the loadmaster when it first came out, but apparently these difficulties have been fixed. I'd appreciate any input from those of you that have used either or both of these presses before I make the purchase. Thanks!

HAEDPULLER

I have used my pro1000 for over ten years and have had very good luck with mine. Never broke anything and is easy to switch calibers (I load six). Works great as long as I keep it clean. I heard the same thing about problems with the loadmaster but don't know anyone that has one.

l-girl

I got into reloading 15 years ago a bought a Lee 1000 to start. After the initial set up, I was cranking out .45 ACP very efficiently. It is a pain to change the shell plate holders so I bought a second Lee 1000 in 9MM so I could also do .40 with the same shell plate holder.Later, I bought a Lee Loadmaster. It drove me nuts. The centrifugal force from the turning of the shell plate holder would spill powder out a case. Then, the cheap plastic priming arm kept jamming and I destroyed several of them. I complained and sent it back to Lee. It came back and soon was malfunctioning just like before. They told me it was operator error and I told them after 10 years and several thousand rounds on the Lee 1000 I didn't think it was user error but design flaw. Anyhow, I ended up sending it back for good.You can make good ammo on the 1000 if you are careful, methodical and keep the main shaft well lubricated. I don't think the Loadmaster can make more than 50 rounds before fouling up, so what good is it as a progressive reloader?Lee makes a decent product. Dillon makes a better product. If I were starting out again, I would go with the Dillon. I just don't shoot enough now to justify buying another press.

sf340flyer

Thanks for the good info on the Loadmaster, I guess I'm leaning a lot more towards the 1000 now.

fergusonmorse392

my two cents, have both used the 1000 for several years,was a pain. careful & methodical, was an understanment, went to the loadmaster mostly because of the extra die station (wanted to use the taper crimp, this machine worked like a dream, after making a few rounds getting use to it, it was like getting out of a model A ford, into a new lincoln, never had any of the problems in the above post, never pulled the handle on the 1000 again.

sf340flyer

Thanks for the additional input, still trying to make my decision. (It was hard enough to convince my wife for one toy, much less two!!!)

hudakwv

I have used my Lee Loadmaster for the past 2 years and have to agree that it is an inferior design. I have broke more primer fingers than I care to talk about as a matter of fact I now size on my single stage (rock chucker) and prime using RCBS's excellant hand priming tool only then do I switch to the loadmaster for progerrive action. Also stay away from the model with the "perfect powder measure". If adjusted to work smooth it spills powder all over the sheel plate creating more complications if you tighten it up so it wont spill powder it take way to much effort to work and will bind and break the pull back chain. I swithed to the disk powder measure and quit fooling with the presses auto priming system and have increased its reliability to almost 99%. However it does not do what it is supposed to do out of the box.