Armory Sponsor
Posted: 12/28/2015 6:09:17 PM EDT
|
Looking to finally upgrade to a progressive press for 45/223. Have been reloading 45/223/308 for about 6 years.
Was wondering if it'd be easier to buy a "kit" and then all the extras for the other caliber OR to buy the press only and get everything else a la carte? Reason asking is I obviously already have all the dies needed... If I were to get the 45 "kit" what items would I need to convert to 223 (as I understand it I would need the shell plate, double disk powder measure, small primer loader, and if I wanted to make it easier to transition an extra 5 hole turret? anything else?) |
|
The lee progressive presses can be made to run reliable, but before you buy one, Know the tweaks needed to get it to run from the start correctly!!!!!
On the loadmaster, the quick break downs are cleaning up the primer chute and tray of burs, taking the primer punch chucked up in a drill to smooth/every so slightly round the outer edges so it's not flipping primers, and throwing the dispensary chain away and replacing it with a return spring. From there, just some light polishing will solve the rest of the problems. As for if you are using lee dies, then get the extra tool turret since the lee dies are a PITA to get adjusted/keep adjusted once they are removed from the the turret are a PITA. As for the powder dispenser, when you are ordering the conversion parts for it to convert it over, order a adjustable charge bar for the dispenser as well. The fixed hole dispenser disco will get you in the range, but will not allow fine turning of your drops short of reaming out the next size smaller channel instead. P.S, too bad you are not local to me, since give me an hour with the machine to clean and set up correctly, and it will run right as rain. Hence the gripe with most of the guys that own them, don't have a clue how to set them up to begin with/know what needs to clean up out of the box, and try to run them with problems that ends up with them breaking parts with jams almost from the start instead. |
|
Great advice.
I think I've gathered my list if I'd like to buy a la carte - Lee Load-Master Progressive Press - 2x Load-Master Progressive Turret - Shellplate #4S - Shellplate #2L - Small Primer Feeder - Large Primer Feeder - Auto-Disk Powder Measure - Auto-Disk Powder Measure Update Kit - Auto-Disk Double Disk Kit - Large Pistol Case Feeder - Progressive Press Collater Questions: Am I missing anything? Are there random pieces (nuts, o-rings, etc.) that are in the kit that I would be missing by buying all separate? Is it advisable to get a second auto-disk dispenser or is it easy enough to swap over to the other turret and re-calibrate? (would save $42) I've read that the large pistol case feeder and collated is efficient but the rifle case feeder is pointless. Is this true? Any answers are much appreciated. Sorry for the naivety. |
|
watch for 45 to understand tool set up
https://youtu.be/iV1uSGJwUSU Watch for 223 to understand tool set up https://youtu.be/yO64tPakN8Y Note, as for the case feeder in 223, you need to have the press mounted rock steady to the bench and not rocking at all of your going to run into problems on the case feeder. So to solve this problem, make sure that the bench is rock solid to begin with, them mount a larger 1/2" steel plate to the bench top first that has a much wider foot print to the bench bolted down, then mount the press to to the steel plate. Over kill for a single press in width, but does give you the idea of the distance that we want the plate behind the press bolted to the bench to begin with. 
Lee bench plate, but the problem with it is it not deep enough to the rear to give the needed wider depth foot print, https://youtu.be/Gw9ctIRr2Qs If your not set up to make a 1/2 steel mounting plate, then inline has a ultra mount that works as well, https://youtu.be/BFc5cVVlsVc As for conversion from 45 to 223, this video will cover the needed parts. https://youtu.be/qYSVyg4B-e4]https://youtu.be/qYSVyg4B-e4]https://youtu.be/qYSVyg4B-e4 So the least expensive way to get this done, Start with a load master in 45 sku 90945, and pick up a universal decapping die, an adj powder bar, and pick up two 223 ex decapper pins to change out from the pins in the universal decapping dies (one in 45 and the other for 223). Note, check around with vendors, since you can get better pricing on these instead of just ordering from Lee direct, hence with the load master set up in 45 going for around $250 from most vendors, instead of $385 direct from lee instead. http://leeprecision.com/load-master-45-acp.html http://leeprecision.com/decapping-die.html http://leeprecision.com/adj-charge-bar.html http://leeprecision.com/223-ez-x-exp-decapper.html Now pick up the parts to convert the machine over to 223 with a loaded turret, and don't forget to order another decapping die (that you are going to change the rod in it as well to the ez rod) for 223 die tool set as well. So from lee on the parts needed for the conversion, For presses sold after March 1, 2012 directly from the factory: Lee Load-Master progressive 5-hole reloading kit for 223 Rem. Includes press, PaceSetter dies (full length sizing, bullet seating, and factory crimp dies) turret, #4s shell plate, Pro Auto-Disk powder measure, Rifle Charging Die, Double Disk Kit, Rifle Case Feeder and primer feed (small primer, Gen 3 plus type). So if you are going to set up another full turret including powder dispenser for 223, will need to add a de-capping die as pointed out above in the video's, and order the new powder dispenser adj charge bar for the new pro powder dispenser instead of using a double disc kit that I scratch out above in lee list. Just a note, the down side to the load master is OAL variances between rounds. In the 45, the stock turret may be fine (with top plate stablizer), but in the 223, might want to think about going with a billet turret with top plate stabilizer instead of running the Lee OEM turret alone. https://youtu.be/L3z84CbNmdo So again, before you start ordering parts, lean the machine, such as the flair tool that goes in the powder measure drop section to flair the case mouths in 45, how to adjust the machine before hand, and what parts need to be clean up and tweaked from the start to get the machine to run reliable (such as lathing the face of bolt FL336 flat or replacing it with a bolt that the face is flat to start with). This way, when the machine arrives, you can do a full tear down on the machine, and tweak/clean up the parts as you are putting it back together to use for the first time and having it running reliable/correctly from the start. To bottom line it, if you don't want to have to tweak on the machine to get it run reliable, DO NOT GET A LEE PROGRESSIVE PRESS!!! If you want something that will run out of the box without having to mod/clean it up to begin with to get it run reliably, then get a Dillion press instead. |
Armory Sponsor