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