Recently, I got the following question via the Suggestion Box from Bruce in Oregon:
The Lee Loadmaster is a four station progressive press unless station 2 could be used for more than just priming.
What else can it be used for?
Can a person expand, powder & prime at that station?
Sounds dangerous but how many primers have you detonated on a press? The powder is really not an explosive, it burns.
Does everybody have a fire extinguisher in their reloading area?
The press would be much more useful if this could be done.
Bruce- there’s a story behind the infamous station #2 on the Lee Loadmaster. Due to the fact that this press primes at the top of the stroke, alignment of the case is critical to ensure reliable priming. In order to best accomplish this alignment, it’s suggested that you put a depriming die (no sizing) in station #1, and put a sizer in station #2 without the decapping pin in place. This “forces” an alignment between the subplate and priming punch, and the case. Due to this suggested setup, there’s really not anything else I would suggest doing in station #2. If you get a Lee Universal Depriming die, you can leave it in station #1. Powder charging and priming in the same station would be a “big” no-no, as you guessed due to safety reasons. A fire extinguisher is a must-have in your reloading room, and cigarettes should not be allowed for obvious reasons 
.
So, in practical use, the Loadmaster is really a 4-station press.
Thanks,
Gavin
Thanks for visiting my reloading blog!
Bruce,
What would you do with the extra station(s) if had the proposed setup?
You can prime and charge in station one if you prime at the bottom of the stroke. This means manually depressing the priming rocker arm at the bottom of the stroke. You will need to remove the priming activator bolt attached to the top of the press. One way to accomplish this is to attach a rod to the rocker arm, which runs down to the floor and is attached to a foot pedal. I am using a top had cymbal foot pedal. There is just enough torque to push the primer into the case. The good thing about this is that you can actually feel the primer being inserted into the case. Since the primer is inserted at the bottom of the stroke the chance of detonation is much less. You also need to modify the primer guide so that you give the primers a very smooth path to enter the primer hole. You also need to modify the primer pin by soldering a brass rod on it, which prevents the primers from flipping. If you want more details please contact me. davidjstiles@comcast.net
KY, two more notes. I use the Hornady LNL case activated powder measure, which is much more reliable than the Lee auto disk powder measure. You can check out the primer feed modification invented by Magic Mike on Youtube at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mw6Tb-Chc4s. It is very reliable and much safer. Primers simply don’t flip or misfeed.
Also, I de-prime and resize in a separate operation because I like to clean my cases without primers in them, in a ultrasonic cleaner, which cleans the brass inside and outside, including the primer pockets. I dry them off and then feed them into a highly-modified home made case feeder (based on the Hornady case feeder mechanism). Then they move to the next station where they are primed at the bottom of the stroke, moved up to the charger, where they are expanded and charged. Then to a Hornady bullet feeder. Next is a Hornady bullet seating die and finally a Lee factory crimp die. While this is a very fast and semi-automated process; no matter how you slice it, the Load Master is a 4 station press.
For .45 ACP I deprime on 1, prime and size on 2, bell and powder on 3, seat on 4, crimp on 5. For 38 special 4 and 5 combine.
My cases enter the Loadmaster via Lee case feeder after being cleaned, polished, sized and primed.
Station 1. Expand and charge (w/lee riser)
Station 2. Powder check (RCBS Lock-Out)
Station 3. Bullet feed RCBS
Station 4. Bullet seat
Station 5. Lee Factory Crimp
I can crank them out with very few stoppages.
Dear friends, I am interested in buying a press to reload ammunition. I wish someone would help me choose between the LEE Loadmaster and Dillon 550. Which is better and why? Thank you.
I would suggest any single stage press over a progressive. I know you might think you want a progressive so you can churn out round after round, but someone who is new to reloading might get overwhelmed with a progressive press and start churning out bad (or even dangerous) round after bad round. Besides, a single stage press is good to have around anyway for certain jobs you might prefer not to do on the progressive press. I started with a Lee hand press and I still use it for certain things to this day,
Question…..Has anyone ever substituted small pistol magnum primers for small rifle primers? If so, what were the differences? Any problems? Will it work? Thanks.
Tim Baldwin
Those were 4 questions. First answer, yes. Second answer, and it varies between primers, but the cups are generally thicker or harder in rifle primers than in pistol primers, and there may be differences in the amount or potency of the priming compound. This is because rifle loads generally have more powder than pistol loads and operate at higher pressures, and the powder must be ignited reliably and uniformly. Picture laghting a cigarette versus a campfire, and having a match versus a blowtorch. What’s better suited to each job?
Third answer…Using pistol primers versus rifle primers in a rifle load can mean poor or inconsistent ignition, backed out or pierced primers and possible damage to the firearm. Rifle primers in a pistol load may be too hard for the firing pin to detonate the primer. These are just possibilities, doesn’t mean it WILL happen.
Fourth answer, yes it usually will work, with the caveats above. Using any reloaded ammunition in a firearm tends to void the warranty anyway. I realize that right now it’s tough to find primers, but it’s important to note the safety considerations involved even if it means waiting to reload something until you can get the right components. Hope this helps, and best of luck!
I have a Lee Load All II and bought some Alliant 20/28 powder. I want to load 20 Gauge and it calls out 18 grains. What bushing will give this to me – they don’t list this powder as yet, will I need to do trial and error and weigh several loads from different bushings to achieve results?