TheDoctor
03-04-2013, 10:57 PM
For a while, I have been liking my Loadmaster. The one thing that drives me absolutely nuts is consistent COL. If I run it as a turret, it is absolutely perfect. Except for the fact that for me it is slower than a normal turret press when used as such. When I go progressive, I can get +.03 variations. Way too much for me to accept. For some cowboy action loads, it will work, but when you can visually see that a bullet is not seated enough, that's just wrong.
I had not problems getting the press set up and functioning. No issues with the priming system. I actually LIKE being able to prime on the handles down stroke. One reason I have kept with this press for a while till I could get the COL issue addressed. Also one of the main reasons I bought this press.
I started in earnest trying to discover what the problem was, and why I was getting inconsistent COL. Read and learned lots. And the more I read and learned, the more aggravated I became.
Most solutions people give are regarding which die goes where to even out the forces on the turret and shell plate. Others are modifying the turret with JB weld and setscrews to take any play out of it. Others recommend taking the carrier to a machine shop and having the inside support ribs milled to the same height so there will not be a tilt on the shellplate. It is apparently all cast, no machining done to ensure they index all around at the same height.
Upon reading that last bit is what got my goat. I understand that the Loadmaster IS capable of loading good rounds. I have loaded many on mine. I understand that it will require a "little" tweaking. I have tweaked it to where it runs smoothly, and without the COL issue, I am very happy with it. But having to buy or modify components to the point that they are basically custom made is ENOUGH! I realize that this machine is lower cost than an equivalent RCBS, Hornady, or Dillon. But tweaking here and there to make it run smoothly is one thing, having to utilize equipment that the average person does not have to re-machine the puppy is something else. This press is about to become my dedicated decapping/get the media out of the flash hole machine.
That having been said, I know of no machine out there other than the 1050 that will allow you to prime on the down stroke of the handle. That isn't absolutely critical. Quite a few of my loads I hand prime anyway. I also like having a 5 hole turret, but sometimes, for certain cartridges/loads, would really like 6. Those are the two main features I would like, but probably can not get on anything other than the Loadmaster. I would dearly love to have a 1050, but honestly can not justify needing, or in reality, wanting one. Load too many different cartridges, and normally at the max, 500 of each at a time. Some loads I load so few of I use a single stage.
I have never used an RCBS progressive, but you will have to pry my Rockchucker out of my cold dead hands..... Have never used a Hornady press of any kind. I have a SDB for 45 Colt, but never really use it anymore. That, and a friends been "borrowing" it now for the past three years! Have seen the 550 and 650 in action, but have never had to change calibers on either of them.
How do most of the progressives out there now do for COL consistency? I would like to assume that the shell plates would be perpendicular to the ram, with a minimum/no wobble. I would like to think that someone has engineered a die turret that will give you the same results whether you run a single case through, or it's loaded up all around.
I know when it comes to my tools, it's buy once, cry once. I took a chance on the Loadmaster press. Price wasn't the issue. I liked the features it had, and could not see a reason WHY it would be giving the issue it is giving me. Watching the how-to videos on it, it seemed like it would be a simple press to get set up and operate. And it is. But I would have thought that some basic milling would have been done where it's critical.
So, I guess once the market turns around and things start becoming available again, if they are still legal at that time, I need a new press. I don't want to have a progressive that I end up having to use as a turret. If I wanted a turret, I would have bought a turret! Now I have to figure out what I want.....
I had not problems getting the press set up and functioning. No issues with the priming system. I actually LIKE being able to prime on the handles down stroke. One reason I have kept with this press for a while till I could get the COL issue addressed. Also one of the main reasons I bought this press.
I started in earnest trying to discover what the problem was, and why I was getting inconsistent COL. Read and learned lots. And the more I read and learned, the more aggravated I became.
Most solutions people give are regarding which die goes where to even out the forces on the turret and shell plate. Others are modifying the turret with JB weld and setscrews to take any play out of it. Others recommend taking the carrier to a machine shop and having the inside support ribs milled to the same height so there will not be a tilt on the shellplate. It is apparently all cast, no machining done to ensure they index all around at the same height.
Upon reading that last bit is what got my goat. I understand that the Loadmaster IS capable of loading good rounds. I have loaded many on mine. I understand that it will require a "little" tweaking. I have tweaked it to where it runs smoothly, and without the COL issue, I am very happy with it. But having to buy or modify components to the point that they are basically custom made is ENOUGH! I realize that this machine is lower cost than an equivalent RCBS, Hornady, or Dillon. But tweaking here and there to make it run smoothly is one thing, having to utilize equipment that the average person does not have to re-machine the puppy is something else. This press is about to become my dedicated decapping/get the media out of the flash hole machine.
That having been said, I know of no machine out there other than the 1050 that will allow you to prime on the down stroke of the handle. That isn't absolutely critical. Quite a few of my loads I hand prime anyway. I also like having a 5 hole turret, but sometimes, for certain cartridges/loads, would really like 6. Those are the two main features I would like, but probably can not get on anything other than the Loadmaster. I would dearly love to have a 1050, but honestly can not justify needing, or in reality, wanting one. Load too many different cartridges, and normally at the max, 500 of each at a time. Some loads I load so few of I use a single stage.
I have never used an RCBS progressive, but you will have to pry my Rockchucker out of my cold dead hands..... Have never used a Hornady press of any kind. I have a SDB for 45 Colt, but never really use it anymore. That, and a friends been "borrowing" it now for the past three years! Have seen the 550 and 650 in action, but have never had to change calibers on either of them.
How do most of the progressives out there now do for COL consistency? I would like to assume that the shell plates would be perpendicular to the ram, with a minimum/no wobble. I would like to think that someone has engineered a die turret that will give you the same results whether you run a single case through, or it's loaded up all around.
I know when it comes to my tools, it's buy once, cry once. I took a chance on the Loadmaster press. Price wasn't the issue. I liked the features it had, and could not see a reason WHY it would be giving the issue it is giving me. Watching the how-to videos on it, it seemed like it would be a simple press to get set up and operate. And it is. But I would have thought that some basic milling would have been done where it's critical.
So, I guess once the market turns around and things start becoming available again, if they are still legal at that time, I need a new press. I don't want to have a progressive that I end up having to use as a turret. If I wanted a turret, I would have bought a turret! Now I have to figure out what I want.....