Lee LoadMaster .223 Turret Style Reloading

[GMELECTRONICS365]

dont you think is more efficient if you added more casings

[Liberty4Ever]

@GMELECTRONICS365 Read the video description.

[GMELECTRONICS365]

@Liberty4Ever derrr to me lol

[kdo54]

What brand and model of reloading tool is that? and how much did it cost you? also are there any other tools that you didn't show in this video that you used like burr removers or brass cleaners? Im also assuming that it can be reconfigured for different shell types and calibers. Im really interested in getting into reloading my own ammunition I have hundreds of empty casings but no tools to reload them.

[XtreamHunting]

about how much does it cost to get the basics for reloading rifle cartridges

[triggersafe]

@XtreamHunting youre looking at about $300.00 if you buy cheap but excellent Lee equipment.you enjoy the reloading,and enjoy shooting more bec you loaded your own ammo.plus it cheapens the price tag on ammo.buy 8 # jars after learning from 1 # of powder.save you a lot of money.reloading is itself a hobby.enjoy!

[cyclops5276]

@triggersafe

I used Lee products for years, then, as was practical, switched over to Dillon for my progressives press needs. Still have a Lee Loadmaster and Lee Pro 1000, can't bring myself to throw them away after all these years since they still work.

[RaymondMillbrae]

You need a more solid platform to fasten down that press. Lookey at that press ROOOOCK with every pull of the handle.

[Liberty4Ever]

My comment from a year ago: "The movement of the press on the table is much less of an issue than frame flexing. Most of the single stage accuracy advantage is the concentric ram/die alignment."

I'd also add: "This was the initial setup. I slightly redesigned the table section of my vertical reloading bench and now use bolts instead of lag screws, and the press is VERY solid. It's the same mounting used for the single stage Classic Cast press to the left, where I resize .50 BMG brass!"

[Alansr10]

That must be kinda a boring job. unless you into that.

[ebarnby07]

@Alansr10 It is worth the time, just put on some good music, and enjoy your savings! : ) Also, it's fun to shoot something that you actually made yourself.

[phil656565]

@Alansr10 totally worth it, save alot of cash and you can customize proper loads for your rifle

[xt45069]

@Alansr10 most guys that reload enjoy it. Idk what it is but we love it. I think its the ability to see a shell go from just a case to a bullet that we put together and can shoot

[TheVTHILLBILLY]

umm why are you doing just 1 at a time ??

[Liberty4Ever]

Same answer as I gave three comments ago.

Reading is fundamental.

The text to the right of this video clearly explains the fact that the progressive Lee LoadMaster press can be used in a turret press mode, and the advantages of doing so.

I also have a short companion video that quickly demonstrates the Lee LoadMaster press in the progressive reloading mode as it was intended to operate.

[Jishory]

man that is sweet, looks like the way to go now that you cant find ammo anywhere

[trig40]

Thx for the Video... On your next one... Don't talk our ears off... Just kidding... and Thx again... very helpful!!

[Liberty4Ever]

Reading is fundamental.

The text to the right of this video clearly explains the fact that the progressive Lee LoadMaster press can be used in a turret press mode, and the advantages of doing so.

I also have a short companion video that quickly demonstrates the Lee LoadMaster press in the progressive reloading mode as it was intended to operate.

[RobertGary1]

I wonder if the new law in California prohibiting mail order ammo sales will affect reloading equipment too. :(

[smokinjoe666]

Wow holy crap California passed a law like that?! How unfair!

[GeneralG1810]

Nice press but can you get something that feeds the brass and bullets automatically for the Lee like you can the Dillon presses

[Liberty4Ever]

The Lee brass feeder is very simple and inexpensive, but it requires a little more manual effort than the Dillon brass feeder. The Lee feeder is a funnel and four drop tubes. It's gravity fed. I simply dump 25-30 brass in the top at a time.

The Lee bullet feeder requires the bullets to be stacked in a vertical tube and is also gravity fed. Fingers pull a bullet off the bottom of the tube and place it over the neck automatically. By the time I could load the tube, I could hand feed them.

[bierrum105]

can you load more than one shell in the press and after each operation add another

[Liberty4Ever]

You are referring to progressive reloading. This is a progressive press, designed to work in exactly this manner.

Click "more info" in the video description to the right of the video and read about turret style reloading versus progressive reloading.

[baconator490]

does this reloading master thing come in .357 and 7.62x54r?

[Liberty4Ever]

You can pretty much get a LoadMaster configured in any caliber you like. It's quick and easy to change the turret with the dies mounted in it and the shellplate and maybe the primer feed and you're reloading a new caliber.

Buy the .257 LoadMaster, then buy the shellplate, another turret, and the dies for 7,62X54R.

I reload my 7.62X54R on my Lee Classic Cast single stage press. It's slower, but for just a few rounds the set up is quicker and easier. It's also more accurate for rifle ammo.

[uigfvoif]

бля, я тоже так хочу......

[flasher555]

Americosi zhgut kak ognemeti nah, ya kajdiy raz etim mudakam zaviduyu kogda viju kak u nih legko kupit pukalku.

[redneck500]

what is the price to reload the ammo vs the price of a box of ammo? do you understand my ques?

[Liberty4Ever]

The price of ammo keeps going up. The price of reloading supplies keeps going up. At any given time, the price of reloaded ammo is about half the price of commercial ammo.

You can spend $50+ on reloading equipment. Shotgun reloading equipment is about $50 (Lee Load All II). A good single stage reloading press (Lee Classic Cast) setup is about $150. A good progressive press setup (Lee LoadMaster) is about $300+.

You can make much better custom ammo than you can buy.

[Popsicle22754]

what type of primer r u using and what brand

[Liberty4Ever]

Small rifle primers for .223.

I've mostly used CCI, but I have a LOT of Wolf primers from stocking up last summer. I was pretty sure The Obama would win the 2008 election when I saw him as the keynote speaker at the 2004 Democratic National Convention. I saw this gun and ammo craziness coming a mile away.

I have heard that the Wolf primers are slightly softer (more sensitive) than other brands, and may cause semi-auto slam fires if you have a very heavy firing pin. We'll see!

[22kill3r]

awsome ok a friends b day is comeing up soon and he just got a 204 ruger kimber and he likes 32 gr. hornity and i want to get him someing like that to reload his ammo and i was wondering how much one of those cost and if they make one for the 204

[XCritonX]

One good thing that is coming out of the ammo shortage is that it appears that more people are reloading. Self-sufficiency is a great virtue. You can have all of the guns you want but if some one can easily cut your ammo supply you end up with expensive paperweights.

Next step, the hand gun crafting industry takes off!

[grumman581]

Unfortunately, we cannot be truly self-sufficient since we have to buy commercially made primers. For the bullets, we can cast our own as long as we have a bit of lead, an mold, and a heat source. For powder, we can make compromises by switching to less optimal powders or maybe even blackpowder for certain firearms. But if we don't have primers, we're screwed...

[grumman581]

It doesn't do us any good to have a stockpile of 1000 lbs of lead, a couple of hundred lbs of powder and 50 firearms in our gun safe if we can't find primers for them. Since a primer is just producing a really good spark to ignite the powder, maybe someone could come up with a new form of ammo that required an electrical charge to ignite the powder? Theoretically, it would be possible, but it would be a hard sell from a dependability standpoint.

[usn020702]

while i was in the navy i worked closely with the folks that work with the ciws weapons system. from what the techs said each primer on the shell is struck, and simultaneously there is an electric charge sent through the casing to detonate the round even with a bad primer. so in short, it already exists...kind of

[wsvjr]

how much did that setup cost?

[Liberty4Ever]

The LoadMaster press costs about $250, and has the dies needed for one caliber. Die sets cost $20 to $35 for additional calibers, and you might need a shell plate which is about $20. Plan on maybe $150 for electronic scales, inexpensive calipers, a good reloading manual (I like Complete Reloading 2nd Edition by Richard Lee), a kinetic bullet puller, and a tumbler to clean the brass. Then you need to buy bullets, powder and primers. The supplies cost about half what loaded ammo costs.

[runman1271]

Don't let Obama see ya doing that

LOL

[wsvjr]

haha

[roastedtyres]

rofl

[xt45069]

@runman1271 why would obama care its legal. I cant wait til that idiot is out of office though

[aidibacalum]

mini factory

[vonnieglen]

I picked the Lee Classic Turret because I reload several types of ammunition and wanted to be able to switch between them easily. With my attention span it is easier for me to do all the steps on one bullet at a time. The alternative of doing a single step on a hundred bullets and then move on to the next step might be almost as fast but for me that is work not play.

[vonnieglen]

Thanks for the great video of your awesome press! I've got a Lee Classic Turret myself which is a great press, but not really in the same league as yours.

LeaveActionMan, I am glad you found a solution that works for you, and I understand where you are coming from. But you are still going to have a pretty hard time convincing me to give up my turret press. Different strokes for different folks.

[Liberty4Ever]

I have a friend who used my Lee Classic Cast press and my Lee LoadMaster press and loaded some .223 and some straight wall pistol ammo. He decided to get a Lee Classic Cast press. He's been very happy with it, and has reloaded thousands and thousands of rounds of ammo (.223, .308, 9mm, .40 S&W). The turret press may be a good compromise in speed and simplicity. I'm not crazy about the primer feed on my LoadMaster. I've developed work arounds for it. Otherwise, it's a great press.

[LeaveActionMan]

As Liberty4Ever say`s , A~Large~Open O-frame press is a person`s best bet for loading costom built ammo , But add CAST Iron too that. Turrat and Progressive Presses can be a Night Mare to use ... Lot of moving parts". I finely got away from them after trying 4 diff. ones. What I did is set up 4 Lee Classic Cast O-frame sing. stage presses,one each with a diff. die of the same Cal. for pistols and load aprx.100 cases @ a time using loading blocks.You have TOTAL"control & site over each case.

[LeaveActionMan]

# 1, You do Not" want that press too Move Or Flex, mounted on that work bench@ All. #2,in the Lee Turret presses There Is a certain amount of Flex in that Turrent , That will cause you a lot of trouble, bullet seating Depth"... (Poor Accuracy)& Flyers, and Can Cause Too High of Pressure in the Gun Chamber.If your gonna use these type presses I sugest one With O flex in the Turrent or the press...Like A Redding T-7 CAST IRON.

[Liberty4Ever]

The Lee LoadMaster progressive press shown in the video (it's a progressive press shown operating similarly to a turret press) is a very beefy O-frame press. The frame flex is minimal, and the turrets lock in tightly. It's not as rigid as a beefy single stage press like the Lee Classic Cast press, but it is very rigid. The movement of the press on the table is much less of an issue than frame flexing. Most of the single stage accuracy advantage is the concentric ram/die alignment.

[LeaveActionMan]

My friend , I have all three of the Lee turrant presses. The flex in the presses... All three of them, IS" Critical ESP: when bullet seating,unless one want to see flyers in a Group pattern.Case lenght, Primer Depth,Powder Chg`s,Bullet Depth`s (Consistanly) are all Critical, and You Can Not" Get That Type Of Consistant Load using any of the Three Presses mentioned . Part of my Experance come`s with 6mm PPC Bench Rifles which I own 3 of and have Built 7 total in my 40+ yrs working with gun`s.

[Liberty4Ever]

My friend, once again, this video is not about any turret press (or "turrant" press). It's about turret style reloading (one operation at a time) on a Lee LoadMaster PROGRESSIVE press.

You set the bar mighty low when comparing to typical commercial ammo which is usually optimized for volume production and not accuracy.

I think we agree that a beefy single stage O-frame press will make the most accurate bench rest ammo, but the LoadMaster can make very good plinking ammo.

[LeaveActionMan]

Yes sir the LoadMaster Press is plenty good enough for plinking for most people . The press work`s fairly good when all of the many adjustments are done Right , although Some of the adjustments on the press don`t like to stay in that order very long and a person is forced to stop and re~adjustmen, something that it should do for the price of it. Another Night mare to me is the primer set up on it, Jam`s constantly" Thumping , shaking, ratteling, stuff you shouldn`t have to do. Poor set up.

[Liberty4Ever]

OK. I admit the LoadMaster primer feed is problematic. I'm accustomed to it and I can keep it going, but it still bugs me. However, I've had no other maintenance issues with the LoadMaster and nothing gets out of adjustment. If you have nasty waxy bullets, you do need to keep the wax cleaned out of the bullet seater, but that's it. My ammo is very consistent, in powder weight, seating depth, crimp, etc.

[LeaveActionMan]

Word of Wise here".... If you want your ammo to shoot @ Least as Good as Factory ammo , You`d best be doing it on a Single stage Press . With these type presses Bullet Seating IS NOT" Consistent".... Powder Charges are also NOT" Consistent with most powders. You can`t see those powder charges .If you use one of these presses, USE A Powder COP" Die too Ck. those charges. Make SURE your Press doe Not Move on your bench as I see most of these videos , moving around or Flexing.

[Liberty4Ever]

With turret style reloading on a beefy progressive press, each operation occurs separately, like a turret press or a single stage press, so the operations in different stations do not affect each other.

I always check ten separate powder drops for consistency. In my experience, with powder that meters well, a progressive press can provide accuracy typical of cheap factory ammo, turret style loading is as accurate as good factory ammo, and a single stage can be better than factory ammo.

[uberjedi]

How much shooting would justify the cost of such an expensive albeit useful machine?

[Liberty4Ever]

The math is fairly simple. On average, reloaded ammo costs half what new ammo costs. I enjoy reloading, so I don't charge myself for the time I spend doing it, but if you're only reloading to save money, you can pay yourself whatever you think you're worth. Most people who only reload to save money may not bother and will either work some overtime to buy ammo or shoot less as ammo prices increase.

Plan on $100-$300 to get into reloading. $200-$600 in ammo would pay for it.

[uberjedi]

I plan on buying 7.62x39mm ammo in bulk, maybe three cases of about 1000. This would be used in an SKS. They go for about $210-250, so I think reloading would be very economical. My reason to reload would only be to save money so a turret reloader may not be for me. They do look great though. Thank you for replying.

[Liberty4Ever]

Make sure that any ammo you buy that you plan on reloading is brass and not steel, and has a Boxer primer instead of a Berdan primer.

Brass & Boxer = good.

Steel or Berdan = bad.

[crazyredlion4500]

That is exactly how I feel about reloading. I like the savings in cost of ammo. I think sometimes I enjoy reloading more than I do Shooting. I use the Lee Classic cast single stage press. The savings will pay for your tools very quickly if you shoot a lot.

[Mickstix18]

May be obvious, and possible already asked, but why just 1 round at a time? Isnt the progressive press designed so, once full, you could be entering new brass every pull of the lever? Thanks.

[saviour100]

i was wondering the exact same thing bro

[coastguard322]

what happened to measuring out the gun powder,putting it in the shell,then putting the head on the bullet.

[Liberty4Ever]

The LoadMaster press has a powder dispenser that automatically measures the powder by volume and drops it into the brass. I install the bullet with my left hand as shown in the video and the LoadMaster press seats the bullet to the proper depth in that stage and crimps it in the next stage.

[MattyHild]

is it cheaper to make your own rounds? if so does it justify the time consumption?

(not including specialized bullets)

[Liberty4Ever]

The cost of ammo keeps going up, and so does the cost of reloading supplies, but at any given time it's about half the price if you reload your own (after buying the equipment).

Many people don't shoot enough to justify the equipment cost, and others just don't want to spend the time reloading.

I started reloading to save money, but like most reloaders, I kept at it because I enjoy reloading as a hobby unto itself. YMMV.

[ChromeGhost0219]

thats cool

[roodingle]

what about the primer?

[Liberty4Ever]

From the text description to the right of the video:

"Station 2 - The primer is inserted."

I almost never use the LoadMaster to seat primers. The the primer pockets on the range pickup .223 brass vary too much, so I get too many primer related jams and malfunctions which is a major hassle. I do all the depriming, resizing, case length trimming, case neck chamfering inside and out, tumble cleaning and priming off the press. I only use the press for powder, bullet seating, & Lee Factory crimp.

[roodingle]

Thanks

[Sugargoober]

Now THATS handy! Can it make .30 ott 6's?

[Liberty4Ever]

Yes, with the proper shell plate (#2L) and .30-06 dies mounted into a turret, the LoadMaster can reload .30-06.  I've never done it, but I do load .308 plinking ammo on the LoadMaster which is similar. The Double Disk may still not be big enough to throw enough powder, but the Perfect Powder Measure should.

[mxf7010g8k]

this looks to be the best

[TarvisYenehc]

It costs me about .24 per round, depending on if its a vmax or a bulk fmj/spire point and where the brass comes from. I usually buy once fired brass so it's cheap. FWIW, I use a dillon 550b, but am thinking about getting a super 1050.

[mjp556]

How much do you save reloading .223?

[Liberty4Ever]

I was paying 11 cents per round, but the US government stopped allowing contractors to dispose of US surplus ammo by disassembling it and selling the components to reloaders, so now I buy .223 bullets in bulk for 6 cents each instead of pulled bullets for 3 cents each, making my new cost 14 cents per round. That's about half the cost of new ammo, which always seems to be the case, more or less.

You can also tune a load for your rifle or your shooting needs, or make weird custom loads. Bonus!

[jessemaguire1111]

how much does a press like this cost and does it do more then just one round type, like .40sw??

[Liberty4Ever]

The LoadMaster is about $225, with everything needed to load one caliber (you supply brass, primers, powder and bullets). You can then buy an interchangeable turret ($11) and install a set of dies ($20-$30), and add a new shell plate if needed ($21 - but many calibers share a common shell plate). If you want to go all out for the fastest possible caliber changeovers, dedicate a powder measure ($30) to each turret so you don't need to move the powder measure and change powder bushings.

[seeloss]

hey

nice press

dont u have to trimm the brass

[fusionstar916]

read the info..

[Liberty4Ever]

Yes, the rifle brass is trimmed to length along with some other simple prep work.

I now use 100% full synthetic motor oil as case lube when resizing and it's great.

[seeloss]

hey thanks

i just started reloading .223 for highpower and the single press just takes up too much time so i might get a lee load master soon

[Liberty4Ever]

If you want super accurate loads, you probably want a single stage press, turned necks, measure run out, etc. The Lee LoadMaster in turret mode is probably a good compromise between speed and accuracy. For pistol or rifle plinking ammo, I use the LoadMaster in full progressive mode. Sorting bullets and brass by weight improves accuracy. So does measuring the powder by weight, either scooping and hand trickling, or using the RCBS ChargeMaster.

[XxNeed4SpdxX]

What weight oil do you use now?

[Liberty4Ever]

I use Castrol Syntec 5W20, full synthetic motor oil. It's the only synthetic oil I've used. I've used maybe an ounce out of the quart and I've resized thousands of pieces of brass. I still think it's the best resizing lube I've ever used and a quart will probably be a lifetime supply.

I just loaded 1158 rounds of .223 in a few hours today. I had already sized, trimmed and primed the brass. I used the LoadMaster in progressive mode to quickly drop the powder, seat the bullet and crimp.

[Sakalova]

cool

[LSgunner]

Great info, how does the 308 differ? I'm looking into a Loadmaster for 308win and could use any info you can share. Thanks

[Dakota556]

Great demo you have here. I have been loading .223 on a Lee 3 hole turret press since the 90's also doing the sizing and trimming before hand. Been thinking of upgrading to a 4 hole turret so I can ad my crimp die......ammo is way to expensive to NOT reload

[Liberty4Ever]

I tried a lot of different techniques, and for .223 and .308 (rifle ammo) I prefer to deprime, resize, clean off the case lube, trim to length, chamfer necks inside and out, process primer pockets as needed, and prime - all off the press. For plinking ammo, I reload in full progressive mode on the LoadMaster. For target ammo, I individually weigh the powder charges and use the press in turret mode, processing one round through all stages before starting the next round.

[gandb21]

ow my finger! Btw, do they make automated reloaders for rifle rounds?

[Liberty4Ever]

Not sure what you mean by "automated reloaders". A progressive press like the LoadMaster is about as automated as it gets without going to very expensive commercial equipment. A progressive press will reload rifle ammo, but I think it typically works better for pistol ammo. I do resizing & depriming, case neck trimming and chamfering, and priming off the reloader and then load .223 ammo on the LoadMaster. Plinking ammo is run full progressive. More accurate ammo is run one at a time.

[gandb21]

i watched another video of a press that was operated by an electric motor. all the guy did was place the shotgun shell into the press. i was wondering if there wsa something similar for rifle rounds.

[Battlesboy]

How many rounds per hour can you churn out?

[Liberty4Ever]

I can load about 400 rounds per hour, pistol or rifle, but I resize and prime the rifle cases off the progressive press. The LoadMaster is as fast as the Dillon RL550B. The claims of 600 RPH are generally "crank & yank" reloading. I prefer to take my time, inspect every powder charge to make sure it's not too high or too low and generally be very cautious. I'm not so much churning them out as I am hand crafting precision ammo. :)

[Battlesboy]

Ya, for me it wouldn't matter much because I just need handloaded ammo for extra practice.

[nipplebrady1988]

thank very much for the infomation can you recoment a web site that will ship shot shell parts to the uk

thanks neil

[Liberty4Ever]

midwayuk dot com

I buy way too much stuff from midwayusa dot com.

This might help find a supplier:

ukgunroom dot com/ukGunDealers dot jsp

For less common stuff, you might try:

ballisticproducts dot com

I'm not sure but I think they ship outside the US.

[nipplebrady1988]

hi bud can you tell me how much your set up was pleas as ime thinking about realoading my .223 thanks neil

[Liberty4Ever]

With the cost of .223, who isn't thinking of reloading? I'm kicking myself for not buying 30,000 of the military surplus 55 gr bullets when they were available for abut three cents each.

.223 press kit... $200

Digital scale... $22

Lee load book... $12

AutoPrime & shell holder... $20

Other stuff... $50-$200

[Liberty4Ever]

I greatly prefer to load rifle ammo by sizing and priming first, then finishing on the progressive press.

Info on my vertical reloading bench and equipment:

tacticoolproducts dot com/reloading

My new vertical reloading bench is 14" wider and 2" deeper than the one shown, and it's already full!

[ColdFusion0]

Nice!!! 5 stars.

[Lebayer]

Anybody know how to avoid the problem of the deprimer missing, when using a universal die in Station 1 on the Loadmaster? I tried the changed set-up but the case is so loose in the shell plate that I keep knocking the pin up in the collet. Real pain so I went back to the regular system.

[Liberty4Ever]

I'm still experimenting. The shell plate indexing has a lot of slop to allow the components to self align (raise the press slowly at the end when priming for the most reliable operation). Currently, I deprime and resize on the single stage press, clean off the lube, trim, chamfer necks, swage any crimped primer pockets, then use the LoadMaster to finish the process (prime, powder, bullet seat and Factory Crimp). I don't use the universal decapping die in station 1.

[chuckeieio]

I just bought the same one. I'm setting it up tonight for 44 mag, 9mm and 300 mag. Any issues so far or lessons learned?

[Liberty4Ever]

Go slow. It's a learning process. Don't expect to bolt it to a bench and start yankin' the the handle and producing a mountain of ammo. Particularly, if this is your first reloading experience, you will be learning reloading while also learning, setting up and debugging a complex progressive reloaded. At the least, I'd recommend using it in turret mode as shown in this video until you have 200 trouble free rounds before going to full progressive.

[Liberty4Ever]

The primers are the most problematic part of the Lee progressive presses. Spend a lot of time and energy making that as smooth as possible.

Per another reloader's suggestion, I'm going to remove the decapping pin from the sizing die and install it over stage 2, to center the brass and push it down against the shell plate to improve the priming. I'll install a universal depriming die in stage 1.

[chuckeieio]

Thankyou for the feedback. I'll need all the help i can get. I just bolted down the base this afternoon and plan on setting it up after work during the week. The instructions are vauge at best lol. I bought a few Hornday reloading books to help with balistics and such.

[Liberty4Ever]

I forgot to mention to check out the other LoadMaster videos on YouTube. Some of them are excellent guides to setting up the LoadMaster.

The Hornady book is good. I like the reloading book by Richard Lee. Some people don't like it because it seems a bit like a Lee ad, but that's a bonus for me because I own most of those Lee products. The vast manufacturer's load data in the back of the book is more than worth the price, but the theory has some good stuff not found elsewhere.

[DaveTheSamurai]

Thats a sweet set up I got to get one them and reload my 25.06 .

[Liberty4Ever]

I noticed the LoadMaster presses are on sale at MidwayUSA right now! :-)

I just placed an order for almost $600, and misery loves company. Come on. You know you want it.

[dbmers]

Dillon makes a carbide 223 die. No lube needed...a bit pricey though

[Liberty4Ever]

I looked up the Dillon carbide rifle sizing die. $23.45 doesn't seem expensive to me. The description on the Dillon website discussed a spring loaded primer ejector and a larger radius in the sizing die being smoother operating, but there was no mention of not needing to lube bottleneck rifle brass. Straight walled pistol cases don't need lube with carbide dies, but I thought rifle cases always need lube. Have you actually resized .223 with the Dillon carbide die with no lube?

[Liberty4Ever]

I call shenanigans! :-)

From Dillon's Australian website:

PLEASE NOTE: Carbide rifle dies still require case lubrication!

[dbmers]

I think you looked at the wrong page, but I was looking at the 3 die set, which is 123.95...that's pricey for a die set. I also read a bit more thoroughly and yes still need lube....I am soooo disappointed :(

[Liberty4Ever]

$124 for a die set is expensive, but I'm accustomed to Dillon being expensive. Somebody has to pay for Mike to shoot machine guns out of black helicopters in the desert. :)

It's possible to buy just the sizer and decapper die which is all I'd need, and it's $24 which seemed reasonable. However, the Lee carbide rifle die requires lube, so I wasn't surprised to find the Dillon version does too.

Many people with Dillon presses buy Lee dies, because they like them better and they're a lot cheaper.

[bohoki]

sorry to sound dumb but why are you not loading one after another you should be shucking in and out every crank

[Liberty4Ever]

"why are you not loading one after another?"

Please read the comment to the right of the video, especially the next to the last paragraph. This is a demo video, intended to demonstrate the individual steps. Turret style loading is also good to debug the process before full progressive loading, and for making more accurate ammo. I also uploaded a full progressive version of this video.

[mrwhite5904]

ah, alright thanks for the info.

I'm gonna be getting:

1. Lee classic 4 hole turret press

2. Lee pro auto disk powder measure

3. Lee safety prime small/large primer feeder

Is there anything else that i need for the actual reloader itself?

[Liberty4Ever]

The Classic Turret Press is very good. The Safety Prime reportedly works better than the priming on the Pro-1000 or LoadMaster. I recommend getting the full die sets with the Lee Factory Crimp Die. There are lots of little things, like a scale (digital, eBay, .1 gr accuracy, about $20), calipers, etc. Mostly, you should get a reloading manual and read it FIRST, and make a list. No way to learn reloading from a YouTube reply. A local reloader would be a great resource to get you started.

[LSgunner]

Did you ever use your loadmaster for .308 win? If so how did it go I'm looking at one for 308/223. I own a Pro 1000 for handgun so I like Lee products but could use any info you can give. Thanks

[Liberty4Ever]

I've loaded a few hundred .308 on the LoadMaster but haven't shot any. Still waiting for the Kel-Tec RFB to shoot them! The LoadMaster worked great, but I did the resizing on the Lee Classic Cast press.

Lube cases with synthetic motor oil, resize and deprime, tumble clean to remove the lube, then reload as shown in this video if you want best accuracy, or do full progressive reloading if you want good plinking ammo quickly. The LoadMaster will replace your Pro-1000 for pistol ammo. Good luck.

[LSgunner]

Why do you resize and deprime on a seperate press?  How would you set up the dies on a loadmaster? I'm looking at Lee's pacesetters but with 5 stations can I improve the loads for semi-auto (Fn-Fal) by adding dies or steps? Thanks

[Liberty4Ever]

When loading bottle neck rifle ammo, the lube needs to be cleaned off the cases before they're loaded. On a progressive press, that would occur between station 1 and 2. You can set up one turret to deprime and resize and another to do everything else, including a universal decapping die in station 1 to make sure the flash hole and primer pocket are clear before priming the case. I already have the beefy single stage Lee Classic Cast press, which is better for resizing large rifle brass.

[Liberty4Ever]

The dies are setup on the LoadMaster exactly according to the instructions. Stage 1 usually deprimes and resizes, but that can be done on a single stage press if you like. Stage 2 has no die because that's where the primer is installed. Stage 3 has the powder drop die. Stage 4 has the bullet seater die. I advise seating the bullet only and adjusting the die to do no crimping, because I always use stage 5 for the Lee Factory Crimp die, which is excellent. I Factory Crimp pistol ammo too.

[mrwhite5904]

im about to get into reloading (buy a lee classic turret), and i had a few questions

1. How do you get the primer out of the used brass?

2. Is there some kind of preloaded reservoir holding the primers in step 2?

[Liberty4Ever]

Get Modern Reloading Second Edition by Richard Lee and all will be known. You NEED a reloading book. It has detailed instructions, and a lot of load data. The old primer is removed in station 1, but for rifle loading I prefer depriming on a single stage press because the case lube needs to be cleaned off before the other steps. The new primers are loaded into a primer tray that attaches at station 2. Check out other videos. I made one showing how to load the primer tray.

[tsw7x62]

what did that one cost??

[Liberty4Ever]

A LoadMaster preconfigured for one caliber costs about $220, or $200 on sale. You might look at MidwayUSA dot com.

[tnekkc]

Look at that bench deflection!

Stiffen it.

Have you heard of triangulation?

[Liberty4Ever]

The bench is VERY strong. I need to mount the press with threaded bolts instead of lag bolts. I reused the holes and the lag bolts aren't as strong as washered bolts. It really bothers YouTubers, but I don't even notice it when I'm using the press. I'm fussy, and the flex in the press on the video bugs me too.

[tomterahedrob]

Bond Arms says they get over 2000fps with 90 grain 45acp round in their 3 inch deringers.how do you do this? seems icredibly unsafe.thanks.

[NoBrakes23]

Thanks for posting

[tnekkc]

Bolt the press to the bench a little tighter.

[Liberty4Ever]

The vertical reloading bench is VERY strong and stable. It mounts to the wall and becomes part of the building's structure. I have a double 2X8 under the press. I should have glued and screwed them instead of just screwing them, but I wanted to be able to disassemble the bench. Mostly, I should have used bolts completely through the 2X8s instead of lag screws. But it's plenty sturdy enough for reloading. Approaching 10,000 rounds and no problems.

[themistocles3]

I think tnekkc was looking at the way your press angles toward you on the down stroke. I looks like the presses rear bolt needs tightening but on my presses I get the same thing even if the bolts are tight.

[Liberty4Ever]

I understood the comment about the .1" the top of the press moves forward when the handle hits the hard stop in the downward direction. Mounting bolts instead of lag screws would reduce that small motion. I just don't think it's a big deal. It's not like the press is flexing.

[szej666]

you're cool.

[themistocles3]

It has always been my understanding that sizing should be done prior to trimming. Have you found the cases to be square and of consitant length with this method? Nice video. I am looking at either a Dillon 550B or the Loadmaster next and this tips me back towards the Lee. Thanks.

[Liberty4Ever]

Technically, yes, resizing should occur before trimming. For .223 blastng ammo, trimming first seems to work OK. The Lee case length trim gauge trims to the low side, and one resizing is not enough to stretch past the upper limit. Good question!

[Liberty4Ever]

I now do things in the right order. Clean off the range crud and oxidation in a vibratory bowl cleaner. Lube, size and remove old primer in a single stage Lee Classic Cast press. Clean off the lube in a vibratory bowl cleaner. Swage the primer pocket. Trim to length and chamfer inside and outside of the neck. Use the progressive press to prime, flare the mouth, drop the powder charge, seat the bullet and factory crimp the bullet.

[mblackestheartm]

that looks fun cuz you can buy all different kinds of bullets for the shells and test what does different dammage. i was thinkin of doin that.

[Liberty4Ever]

I reload for a 9mm carbine. I optimized the load for the 16" barrel carbine instead of the 3"-5" pistol barrel and was able to get a 90 grain hollow point (typically used in .380 pistols) traveling at 1932 fps without any signs of overpressure. It seemed milder than a 9mm+P. I may be able to reach mach 2!

[pdalko]

Nice!!! :-) - LFCDs Rock for rifle crimping.. .. why did you mix the lube with isopropyl alcohol? What reloading forums are you posting in.. arfcom?

[Liberty4Ever]

Alcohol thins the Lee Case Lube enough to spray it through the sprayer shown in the background on the video. Thinning also ensures that just the right amount of waxy lube remains after the alcohol evaporates. Other than some wasted overspray and waxy load blocks, it works well.