In this video you'll see how to setup and load 45ACP ammunition on a Lee Loadmaster 5 station reloading press.
Loadmaster Loading 45 ACP (HD)
In this video you'll see how to setup and load 45ACP ammunition on a Lee Loadmaster 5 station reloading press.
How much did this press set you back? What are your savings between a 50 count box of .45 ACP manufactured rounds versus a box of reloaded rounds assuming you reuse the brass?
218.00 at http://www.natchezss.com
costs about 7.00 a box of 50 reloading your reused brass.
Yeah, Midway has the press for a bit more, that’s quite a deal!
The big variable for reloading your own is “cast lead” versus “jacketed” bullets. Lead will save you quite a bit. I’ve shot lead out of revolvers and autos (don’t use in my Glock because barrel is not made for it) and it works fine, but does get the gun dirtier…
I have been looking at investing and getting into the hobby (in response to the lack of ammo still in my area). I found your site through your youtube videos and found them to be very helpful. It appears to me that selecting a press is alot like buying a car. Everybody has their favorites and hates/bashes all the others. So far, all I keep reading about the Lee Loadmaster is “tinckering” time. It appears to me that the Lee has the fastest caliber change time compaired to the rest (as long as you have the extra turrent plates).
In keeping with your none opinon based information. Maybe you could run 500 rounds of the same caliber, projectile, primer, and case through each machine and keep a log (obviously you would have the same die setup on each one). The log could consist of primer failures, powder acuracy, overall length acuracy, midstream press adjustments, and total time. What are your thoughts?
I like that idea! I’ve been looking to do some “stress tests” on the various 5-station progressives, and I think that would be a great way to give people an idea of what to expect when loading (and what kind of rounds/hour rates they can expect).
Ya I have a glock 30 so I suppose if I start reloading to save money I’ll be buying a different barrel. What’s the appx cost difference between reloading lead and fmj? I not only want to save money but I’d like to get better, more customized rounds as well.
Thanks for doing these videos. The Load Master seems to be the red-headed step child of the progressive bunch and I really can’t see why. Watching your videos and others has confirmed to me the great quality and reliability of this press. I love the Dillons and others as well, but when I can get a fully set-up Load Master (case feeder, dies, and all) for $220 vs a Dillon 650 (without the case feeder or dies) at $560, the choice becomes a lot easier. I could get 3 Lee Load Masters for less than it would cost to get one fully set-up Dillon 650.
thank you for helping me make up my mind! I am going too order the Lee deluxe turret kit and the Deluxe pistol dies for .45acp. Just wanted to ask if I am going to need any thing else to start loading for this kit or would be beneficial for me to add to this?
Again Thank you
Brian
Brian- if you go with a Lee turret, look at the “Classic Turret” (cast iron) rather than the deluxe turret kit (aluminum). Either will work, but the Classic Turret has gotten better reviews.
Here’s a Cabela’s kit:
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?id=0044122216337a&type=product&cmCat=SEARCH_all&returnPage=search-results1.jsp&Ntk=Product_liberal&QueryText=lee+classic+turret&sort=all&N=0&Nty=1&hasJS=true&_dyncharset=ISO-8859-1&_DARGS=%2Fcabelas%2Fen%2Fcommon%2Fsearch%2Fsearch-box.jsp.form23
Also look at Kempf gun shop, they have a kit too…
Hope that helps.
Hi Gavin,
Thanks again for all of the information you’ve compiled here! I was curious if you’ve noticed a difference in the quality of pistol ammo produced by the Loadmaster vs. the Hornady Lock-N-Load. I really like both presses. I would like to save money and go with the Loadmaster, but if there is a large difference in the quality of ammunition produced, I may just buck up (literally $) and weight it out for the Hornady. I will be loading 9mm and .38 special, but would like to try 30-30 Winchester on it later as well. I’m casting my own bullets, so if one does better with lead bullets, that could affect things too. I’m definitely a tinkerer, so I don’t mind spending the time to dial things in if they’ll stay that way for the most part. I wouldn’t be going through mounds of ammunition either(300-500 a month tops, cumulatively). Thanks again for your time investment with all of this!
Tim- The Loadmaster is capable of producing fine ammunition. You may have to pay special attention to your die setup and other variables in order to maintain consistent COL (Cartridge Overall Length) but it is certainly possible.
Hello
I am new to reloading i have the lee 1000 loader and was woundering if the deprimer-resizing die on the top were there is a nut to adjust the depriming rod is that to be flush with the nut or less then a 1/4 inch is ok
Hi Gavin,
First of all Thank you! I have a Lee Classic Turret on the way, But I have a few question on supplies. What do you recommend for gun powder and electronic scale? I can not find Winchester 231 powder or Winchester primers for 45acp anywhere. Also I can’t make up my mind on a good powder measuring scale? I’m thinking of purchasing the Hornady ultrasonic cleaner, any thoughts on this?
Thanks again
Brian
P.S can’t wait too see the video’s on the Lee Turret!
The rod should be flush with the top of the adjustment nut… Hope that helps.
Hi Gavin,
I enjoy your website and press reviews, very informative and well presented. I’m going to be buying a progressive reloader and I’m considering the Lee Loadmaster as it seems to be a great value and be fiarly efficient at turning out a decent volume of ammo. I’m going to be loading .45 ACP for IDPA, Wild Bunch (a version of Cowboy Action Shooting) and general plinking, loading .45 Colt for CASS, and loading 7.5×55 Schmidt Rubin, 5.56, and others. My concern is the adjustability of the Lee powder measure as for Wild Bunch Cowboy Action Shooting as you must shoot lead only and low powered rounds (typically 1/3 to 1/2 a full powered load) so obviously an adjustable powder measure that’s easy to tweak is important. The RCBS and Hornady seem to have great powder measures but cost more and don’t have some of the other features I like about the Loadmaster. Can I use a different brand of powder measure with the Load Master?
Thanks!
If you could, show the bracing you have under the Loadmaster. I really like how you have no flex at all in the press. It looks like you have a section of square pipe, yet you do not show it all.
Gavin,
Thanks for all the great info. Thinking of getting a Lee Loadmaster, but have concerns about loading .40 s&w. Many threads discuss the negativity of the round when reloading. I am reloading for a HK USP. Any special concern I should take with this particular round?
Cheers!
The loadmaster looks like a great press. Officially, is it one that you recommend over like a Dillion, Hornady or other progressive presses because of the lower costs? I would be using it to reload a verioty of ammo (223, 40 S&W, 9mm, 45 ACP, ect…). This press seems to be one that people either love or hate. Some sites I look at show good reviews for it and then some show horrible reviews.
Jarrett- The Loadmaster has some great features (caliber changeover is great, priming system fills most easily), and it also has some weaknesses (priming system requires careful setup and calibration, consistent COL requires careful attention, etc)
If you want to crank out ammo, it works. If you want to load match ammo, it’s not the best tool for the job. If you want a continuous case feeder or full use of 5 stations, it’s not the choice for you. If you want to load ammo in a hurry on a budget, it’s an option to consider.
Hope that helps!
Thanks Gavin!
Yes, that does help. I do have some follow-up questions though.
When you say a continuous case feeder do you mean the case feeder that is shown with the press in the above video or do you mean a more automatic case feeder with a motor…does the case feeder in the video work well? Also, you mention that if I want to use all 5 stations then its not the choice. Can you clarify that a little…does it not work as well when using all stations?
Thanks again for the reply. Your site is very helpful.
The more I view vids and read information about the Hornady Lock n Load progressive press the more I like it. It seems to get mostly great reviews everywhere I look unlike the Lee Loadmaster. Decisions Decisions Decisions…lol