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New Lee Loadmaster for .45 ACP w/ bullet feeder attachment
bambambam
Member Posts: 4,818 ✭✭✭
I just bought my 1st .45 (RI M1911 Match) and decided that the ammo was more than I wanted to spend or available so I though I'd get one of these presses to knock out the ammo. I consider myself a pretty good tinkerer, and pretty patient disposition. However, I'm about at patience's end with this thing.
I've heard about the quality issues persistent with their products, but have heard that once you get it set it will put out some ammo. I'm pretty good at fixing stuff and figuring out how things work, but this press has definitely tested my patients.
The deprime/resize station die hole isn't concentric to the shell plate hole below and when i place a spent brass in the shell plate and raise it to the die the rim of the brass hits the end of the die instead of going inside it.
The rod or stud the pushes the primer up isn't pressing them in straight, the get crooked and lock the whole rotation up making me have to take the shell plate off the press to clear the jam.
The powder dispenser isn't cycling the powder plate all the way back and forth causing inconsistent charges.
The case feeder has nothing in the instructions about setting the length of the stud on the bottom that holds the square guide rod. I watched 5 videos, read the instructions about 6 times trying to find what I missed. I finally looked at the press in a demo video and say his part was about 3/8"-1/2" farther out than mine. It's working somewhat OK, but sometimes it pulls the brass back when it retreats.
I bought an accessory bullet feeder with the press to increase my production. It's a flimsy piece of forked plastic that i broke before i have loaded 1 cartridge.
I am really impressed at the engineering it took to make the parts of the press move like it does. It's pretty disappointing they would assemble it with such cheap plastic parts. The piece that forces the press to index is a metal rod fitted with a plastic flipper on the end. The plastic piece rubs and turns against the metal frame as part of it's job. Doesn't seem the like the piece will last very long.
I'm at a full stop right now waiting to hear back from LEE on the replacement part that i broke. BUT, I did go out and shoot 400rds through my new gun so that made me feel a lot better, lol.
I've heard about the quality issues persistent with their products, but have heard that once you get it set it will put out some ammo. I'm pretty good at fixing stuff and figuring out how things work, but this press has definitely tested my patients.
The deprime/resize station die hole isn't concentric to the shell plate hole below and when i place a spent brass in the shell plate and raise it to the die the rim of the brass hits the end of the die instead of going inside it.
The rod or stud the pushes the primer up isn't pressing them in straight, the get crooked and lock the whole rotation up making me have to take the shell plate off the press to clear the jam.
The powder dispenser isn't cycling the powder plate all the way back and forth causing inconsistent charges.
The case feeder has nothing in the instructions about setting the length of the stud on the bottom that holds the square guide rod. I watched 5 videos, read the instructions about 6 times trying to find what I missed. I finally looked at the press in a demo video and say his part was about 3/8"-1/2" farther out than mine. It's working somewhat OK, but sometimes it pulls the brass back when it retreats.
I bought an accessory bullet feeder with the press to increase my production. It's a flimsy piece of forked plastic that i broke before i have loaded 1 cartridge.
I am really impressed at the engineering it took to make the parts of the press move like it does. It's pretty disappointing they would assemble it with such cheap plastic parts. The piece that forces the press to index is a metal rod fitted with a plastic flipper on the end. The plastic piece rubs and turns against the metal frame as part of it's job. Doesn't seem the like the piece will last very long.
I'm at a full stop right now waiting to hear back from LEE on the replacement part that i broke. BUT, I did go out and shoot 400rds through my new gun so that made me feel a lot better, lol.
Comments
With all the current events going on I just received a phone call from Lee after reporting the issues with my press a while back. We exchanged a few emails up to now. A CS lady talked to me about replacing some parts that came damaged or I damaged. She also got a tech to speak to me about my st1 problem with the shell plate lining up with the turrent hole the die was in. The gentlemen that spoke to me about the technical aspects really pressed the point to manually feed cases through the press before using the automated case and bullet feeders.
The tech and I determined the turret is not manufactured correctly. The hole was so loose the die rocks in any direction. More than 1/10 times I have to poke my finger in the press to help the case find it's way in the die.
I'm waiting on a new case feeding tube, bullet feeding fingers, and now a new turret.
If you can send the lee back, do so. I have used a RCBS ammo master progressive for 12 years
and over 2 million rounds from it. it has broken some parts over the years, but not many.
Any parts I needed were at my door in side of a week, prepaid shipping.
Mike Circle
Combat Vet VN
D.A.V Life Member
I found one of the representatives to be VERY annoying. Lecturing me on running the press and giving me a guilt trip for asking for replacement parts. I also was on the phone with a "technician" about the bullet feeder and the piece of junk turrets for an hour going around and round over the same topic. He was very condescending. I just let him talk in case there was something i missed. After, I politely told him that I knew what I was doing, but made the mistake of buying something that was made out of plastic and poor quality.
I don't care if there is a guarantee or lifetime support or other perks to go with your product, I don't want to listen to that kind of crap on the phone. It was taking me at least 1 week to get a part and I had to request 3 parts, one which never was replaced with a working piece.
Looking for another progressive right now. I use my turret press for my 38/357 and my RCBS chucker for my rifle loads. Hope I can find something to load 45 and maybe 40cal.
The hole is cast smaller, then they make the thread, but half way down there is a line of extra material on all 3 turrets. All 3 have flat threads need the center of the part which would make me think there is a positional error in their CNC program or equipment. Lee representative told me they farm the turrets out, they don't make them. Wonder if they come from China or Mexico?
Stephanie W.
You may return the products to us for merchandise credit since they were not purchased through Lee Precision directly. If you are looking for a cash refund, I would recommend reaching out to the supplier you purchased these products through.
Sincerely,
Stephanie
Lee Precision, Inc.
4275 County Road U
Hartford, WI 53027
phone (262) 673-3075
I've had very few problems with Lee equipment. If it wasn't for Richard Lee there would be a lot of people in this country that could never have afforded to get into reloading in the first place. I was able to start reloading back in 1962 because Lee was the only one out there that made something the ordinary person could afford.
Lee dies are second to none and the Lee Classic cast iron 4 hole turret press is head and shoulders above any other brand of turret press at less than half the prices of others.
Anybody that says they just take their blue or green progressive presses out of the box and start cranking ammo out without any problems is full of BS. You have to tinker with every brand of press to get the feel of it. Try running a dillon press full speed and watch what happens. It'll throw powder out of the cases especially the ones that are near full because the indexing is not smooth enough. You won't hear people talking about that.
Just for the heck of it google Dillon Primer Tube Explosions.