Part 1 of RJ's series on the Lee Loadmaster Priming System. In this segment, I demonstrate the primer pin misalignment problems my press has. I'm curious if other Loadmaster users see this same issue.
Ding..Ding..Ding...we have a winner. Had the same problem with mine (mashed and sideways primers) and was well on my way to designing a whole new cup/pin insert device...then I gave up and bought a competitors vastly more expenisive press. Sold the Load Master on Ebay...I kept my Lee single stage and my Pro-1000's though (they work). One thing you didn't talk about in this video was the damge a misaligned primer does to the plastic feed trough and the plastic puck that centers eat..munch..munch.
I got my loadmaster priming system to work pretty well but I'd still get a flipped or missed primer once in while. Which is kind of a pain in the ass cause I have to take down the ammo later. So now I use me Lee hand press to deprime and my rcbs universal hand primer to prime. The press runs flawlessly with less resistance. Without the priming system on it. Plus the ammo is 100% when finished. I can prime pretty fast with my rcbs hand primer. For all the loadmaster haters out there consider that I picked this press up for 200 bucks even. I could set one up in every caliber I shoot for the price of a Dillon. All in all I'm pretty happy.with it
In your part 3 video I noticed that the cover of the slider is not covering the final position of the primer fed over the pin, instead yours is open. The cover on mine actually keeps the primer captive and when it's pushed into final position and the hole in the top of the cover actually helps to continue to guide the pin as it inserts the primer into the shell case, hence there is no alignment issue with the primer pin. It appears as you have a modified primer feed that introduced the problem. I've loaded hundreds of cases without a single primer feed or seating issue and have never had a flipped primer.
Good videos. Was hoping to see if you found any solution to the primer pin not being in the proper position to line up with the case. To me that seems the most important issue since the pin is not in the right position centered to apply even pressure to the primer it is attempting to seat in the Shell case. I have an old Lee Loadmaster press. I just checked the primer pin and it actually travels up thru a hole in the primer feed plastic assembly and is centered in the proper position to feed a primer evenly into a case.
is there any reason you do not show the case retention lever in its proper place--and apparently are not using it to retain the case in its proper radial position? FWIW--I have an early generation Load-Master. I too suffered the primer issues for years--but the last batch of primer system replacement parts generally have solved the problem, providing I keep the tray, slide, and base lubricated with graphite, and that I have 'dehorned' any flash from the respective parts.
I agree. The spring on the primer punch would tend to rock it this way. I just checked with mine and do not see this issue. My pin seems to be centered on the primer through the whole stroke. So either this was an issue that they've since fixed or it is a tolerance problem found only on some machines. I've always sized over station #2 and have had almost no priming issues.
Same probs on my 2013 LM. After applying all your excellent tips, primers were better, but not perfect, you could see ever so slight off-axis pin-indents on the seated primers, but no flips. First I tried shortening the spring, but no noticeable change, then I tried removing the spring and VIOLA! (thanks noscufftiretool), no noticeable indents, BUT am concerned with the pin maybe getting jammed at some point as I'm humming along. I can also see the pin is still slightly off-axis by about 3/64" coming up to & into the shell plate... so what's the answer here as to fixing the lifter & pin alignment (maybe your tape-trick or something)? I also filed & polished the pin flat & square to be sure the primer sat flat on the pin. Sizing at the primer station is also important, so just decap at station 1. Lastly, the vibration method (using a cell-phone vibrator) seems a necessity and I hope to do that mod next. Good luck out there....
The primer pin also has no guide sleeve unlike other presses..the actuating lever tends to push the pin out of alignment..i gave up and got an rcbs..problem solved!!
Problem is the return spring of the primer pin. Its off to one side. After many cycles, it gets distorted and acts like lump that pushes the pin sideways resulting in primers loaded sideways, upsidedown or crushed. Its a design error. The spring should be wider and encircles the pin instead of being to the side.
I just loaded my first 100 9mm cartridges with my new Lee Loadmaster. I had three or four primers that did not get inserted far enough, probably my fault as I am guessing I did not take a really full stroke on the lever. I also had 10 that came out with no primer at all. I need to get a bullet puller so I can fix those. I found one way to stop the no primer problem is to loosen the position finger and take the case out and see if it has a primer in it before adding powder.
i have had a LEE LM for a year now and the only problem i have had is when the primers get low there is not enough weight behind the remaining primers to push them down to stage for the next shell. I had fixed it by making a primer alarm that tells me before it gets to that point so i know to refill it.
It looks to me like when the ram is low, the primer seating pin is nearly in the correct position but as the ram is raised, the pin moves radially outward. I have problems with large primers being cocked to one side so that the seating depth on one side is okay but the other is not. A primer seating pin moving as the primer is seated may explain my problem. Thanks for the info!
My priming pin alignment is similar to yours and I found by removing the spring everything lined up perfectly. I did machine both ends of my priming arm flat since both were WAY off square. If the spring was centered on the arm it would help. I spent a bit of time (not a lot) trying to figure out a way to counter the spring effect but didn't come up with anything.
I've had two primers go off and I've noticed that when I swap to a new caliber that I have to do some major adjustments it's almost a headache to deal with I got it to work the first time but forgot what I did.
if you follow Lee's setup recommendation, won't have an issue. the Recommendation is to have universal decap on 1 and then on 2 have the sizer with out the decap rod to center the case at the top of the stroke. for 223 (or other rifle) I use the universal expander die (flair die), which keeps the case centered.
