Lee Loadmaster Progressive -- any input?

[egriton]

I'm thinking about getting started reloading and the Loadmaster is only $218.

As I don't know whether I'll do this long-term, I thought it would be a good press to start with.

However, I read on a few posts that it is finicky with primers and there have been reports of explosions with some brands. Lee in fact warns consumers about this and also makes a blast shield for those who venture beyond their recommended primers.

Is this enough of a reason to not go with Lee or are the dangers exaggerated?

Thanks.

 

[swampratt]

Some people seat primers quickly and this is like hammering on them.
In other words pull the lever slowly and with even pressures and all should work.
Jerking on the handle like setting a hook in a fishes mouth is not the way to act.

Federal primers do have a softer cup..like the federal 210M primers.
I actually set one off with my lee wack a mole.

I took a pointy bullet and a few 30-30 cases that i had installed primers into ..
I put the primed case in my vise and put the pointy bullet onto the primer and struck it with a hammer.

The reason i did this was to see if pointy bullets in a tubular magazine would set off a primer.
The lead tips deformed a bunch and did not set off any cci primers..
So i tried federal 210M primers.. yep i could set those off..

People have had the primers go off...
I will say Lee could be correct on primer choices ..
all my pistols and 30-30 get cci primers.
My single stage loads 308, 243 and 30-06 get the 210m

I started with the Lee classic cast iron press, single stage..
All my rifles get loaded on that..
Used to load pistols on it .. but have acquired a Pro 1000.. sure like it..

 

[pktrkt]

I started with the Lee Pro 1000 and eventually went to the Loadmaster but after problems with the priming system I sold the Loadmaster and went back to my Pro 1000. As the 1000 is fairly cheap i finally purchased 1 for every pistol caliber I currently shoot. I still use single stage press's for rifle cartridges.