Lee Load master

[Jedabug92]

I picked one up recently, due to my moving it is not mounted nor fully operational, but I got curious. It's set up for 9mm but I set a 5.56 brass in and it fit almost perfect.
Question 1. Can someone help me break her down and clean her?
2. What would I have to do to swap from 9mm to 556?
I have extra lee die holders

From my sniper hide

 

[aviator41]

PRIMERS
since they both use small primers you just empty the small pistol primers and fill with small rifle primers

TURRET
Extras are cheap, order a turret you can load your 556 dies in

POWDER
you are going form pistol to rifle, so using the universal rifle charging die (90194) is needed on top of the 5.56 powder/flaring die from lee.
you can either change the autodisk in your current lee powder measure then install it on the 5.56 dies, or just buy another powder measure (90429) and a double disk kit (90195) depending on what powder you use. Then dedicate the new measure to 5.56. make sure you don't mix powders up!! I put a piece of masking tape on the hopper and write down what powder is in it and what charge is being dispensed.

Shell Plate
you must buy the shell plate for 223/5.56 - #4S (90910)

BRASS FEED MECHANISM
You will need the Lee rifle pro case feeder (90663) for the 5.56 brass.
I highly recommend the Case Collator (90667)

Bullet feeding
Don't bother with trying to get the bullet feeder (if you have one) to work with .22 pills. Just hand seat them.

I think that's it. given the way the turrets seat in the frame, make sure to check OAL when you switch the turrets.

 

[aviator41]

you shouldn't have to take it apart to clean it. just make sure the ram is LIGHTLY oiled and the advancing arm is LIGHTLY oiled. Did you get the manual with it?

 

[Jedabug92]

PRIMERS
since they both use small primers you just empty the small pistol primers and fill with small rifle primers

TURRET
Extras are cheap, order a turret you can load your 556 dies in

POWDER
you are going form pistol to rifle, so using the universal rifle charging die (90194) is needed on top of the 5.56 powder/flaring die from lee.
you can either change the autodisk in your current lee powder measure then install it on the 5.56 dies, or just buy another powder measure (90429) and a double disk kit (90195) depending on what powder you use. Then dedicate the new measure to 5.56. make sure you don't mix powders up!! I put a piece of masking tape on the hopper and write down what powder is in it and what charge is being dispensed.

Shell Plate
you must buy the shell plate for 223/5.56 - #4S (90910)

BRASS FEED MECHANISM
You will need the Lee rifle pro case feeder (90663) for the 5.56 brass.
I highly recommend the Case Collator (90667)

Bullet feeding
Don't bother with trying to get the bullet feeder (if you have one) to work with .22 pills. Just hand seat them.

I think that's it. given the way the turrets seat in the frame, make sure to check OAL when you switch the turrets.

Yea I have 2 extra turrets
And is the 5.56 she'll plate hard to swap?

you shouldn't have to take it apart to clean it. just make sure the ram is LIGHTLY oiled and the advancing arm is LIGHTLY oiled. Did you get the manual with it?

There's powder all over it and no manual

From my sniper hide

 

[aviator41]

The shell plate is easy. unscrew the knurled nut in the middle, slip off the metal ejector arm and the O-ring, pull the plate off, put the new one and and re-assemble in reverse.

here's the manual

http://leeprecision.com/cgi-data/instruct/LM3231.pdf

 

[Jedabug92]

I have a auto disk and double disks I believe
And how difficult is it to get it to dispense the proper loads? Trial and error

From my sniper hide

 

[aviator41]

A lot of that depends on the powder you use. The autodisk likes ball and extruded powders best. those tend to give the best results for me. You need to download the manual for the autodisk to get vmd's and instructions on calculating which hole in the disk you need to use for your specific powder. It can be a bit awkward to get that first load or two figured up, but once you get the math down it's not bad.

I'd post a link to the manual, but I'm on my phone now. Check leeprecision.com for it. The VMD's from Lee are the secret!

 

[Jedabug92]

My phone down loaded the pdf
But right now there is titegroup all over the press and in the Shell holder.

From my sniper hide

 

[dlbleak]

john, i have the auto disc number sheets already printed out. i can send them to you if it will make it easier. i might have an extra manual that i could send you.

 

[Jedabug92]

john, i have the auto disc number sheets already printed out. i can send them to you if it will make it easier. i might have an extra manual that i could send you.

Hahaha any other load master goodies you could part with? Haha

From my sniper hide