other powder measures on Lee Load Master progressive press

[jekemi2005]

I am going to purchase a Lee Load Master progressive press. It's a good press at a reasonable price. However, I'm not a fan of the Lee disc powder measure. Has anyone ever use another case activated powder measure, such as the Hornady case activated powder measure on the Lee Load Master? Can it be done?

 

[TheSnake]

I didn't like the disk setup either so I got the adjustable charge bar. Have you thought about that? It works fine for me. I only do pistol rounds on my Lee LoadMaster.

http://leeprecision.com/adj-charge-bar.html

 

[jekemi2005]

That's a good idea. I'll try that first before investing $150 in a Hornady powder measure and their case activated accessory. I'm also not thrilled with the generally flimsy construction of the Lee powder measure. Lee has this very rugged and well constructed press but puts this cheap powder measure on it. It works though.

 

[TheSnake]

It is mostly plastic on the outside but the tube and sleeve is steel. I think it works quite well for what it is. I measure about 10 throws on the scale before I start loading and they are consistent to .1gr. For my 9mm and 45ACP med loads I don't have any problem with the powder throw. There are other adjustments on the press itself you need to get correctly set to make it run smooth. I have trouble with it seating primers every so often that I need to call and get help on but I know it's me just having something not adjusted correctly. I tried the bullet auto loaders but I load mostly hard cast lead for practice shooting and they don't work well with lead bullets.

 

[jekemi2005]

I have been using the Lee Classic Turret press for a year now. It works great. I use a Hornady locking ring on the case activated disk powder measure to keep it in place but on my other dies the Lee locking rings seem to secure everything. In general I'm happy with the Lee auto-disk powder measure and I have three of them attached to three different turrets so I can change calibers quickly. However, I'd like a more substantial powder measure, such as the Hornady powder measure, with the case activated mechanism. If you have the Loadmaster, what is the little chain activated mechanism that appears to run from the shellplate to the powder measure. I'm wondering how essential that is to the overall mechanism.

 

[TheSnake]

If you have the Loadmaster, what is the little chain activated mechanism that appears to run from the shellplate to the powder measure. I'm wondering how essential that is to the overall mechanism.

When the bullet travels up into the powder throw, it lifts the entire powder rig up sliding the disk over to drop the powder the the case. When you lowder the shell plate assembly, the powder rig does not fully return to the lower position by itself. The chain becomes tight when the shell plate reaches the bottom and pulls the lever it is attached to- to lowder the powder rig and slide the disk to get another load of powder. Without the chain, the powder throw process does not complete. There are many videos on YouTube if you search for "lee LoadMaster" and you can see it in action. I would post a link but cant do it from my iPad.