Mastering Ammunition Production: The Lee Load-Master 38 Special/357 Mag Progressive Reloading Kit

For any serious shooter, the pursuit of precision, consistency, and cost-efficiency in ammunition often leads to the rewarding world of reloading. The rising cost of factory-produced ammunition, coupled with the desire for custom-tuned loads, makes home reloading an increasingly attractive and practical endeavor. But where does one begin, especially when seeking a system that offers both speed and reliability?

The answer for many discerning handgun enthusiasts lies in the Lee 90938 Load Master 38 Special Reloading Pistol Kit. This comprehensive progressive 5-hole reloading kit from Lee Precision is meticulously designed to empower shooters of .38 Special and .357 Magnum firearms to produce high-quality ammunition with remarkable efficiency and precision. It's more than just a piece of equipment; it's an investment in your shooting experience, offering unparalleled control over every cartridge you fire.

Why Choose to Reload Your Own Ammunition? The Undeniable Advantages

Before delving into the specifics of the Lee Load Master, let's explore the compelling reasons why countless shooters choose to reload:

• Significant Cost Savings: Factory ammunition prices can quickly add up, especially for high-volume shooters. Reloading allows you to reuse spent brass casings, which are often the most expensive component of a cartridge. By purchasing bulk components like primers, powder, and bullets, you can drastically reduce your per-round cost, making your shooting hobby more sustainable and enjoyable.
• Customization and Precision for Peak Performance: Are you a competitive shooter looking to gain an edge? Do you want to squeeze every last bit of accuracy from your firearm? Reloading provides the ultimate control over your ammunition's performance. You can fine-tune powder charges, bullet types, and seating depths to create loads specifically optimized for your firearm's unique characteristics, leading to tighter groups and improved ballistic consistency.
• Enhanced Understanding of Ammunition Dynamics: The reloading process provides an invaluable educational experience. You gain a deeper appreciation for how ammunition functions, the interplay of various components, and the factors that contribute to accuracy and reliability. This knowledge enhances your overall shooting proficiency and safety awareness.
• Self-Sufficiency and Availability: In times of ammunition shortages, being able to produce your own rounds ensures you always have a supply for practice, competition, or personal defense. You are no longer reliant on external market fluctuations or stock availability.
• Quality Control: When you reload your own ammunition, you are the quality control expert. You can meticulously inspect each component and assembled round, ensuring a level of consistency and reliability that often surpasses mass-produced factory ammunition.

Introducing the Lee Load-Master: A Progressive Powerhouse for Handgun Calibers

The Lee Load-Master is a true progressive reloading press, meaning it can perform multiple operations with each pull of the operating handle. This significantly increases your ammunition production rate compared to single-stage or turret presses, making it ideal for shooters who need to produce hundreds, even thousands, of rounds efficiently. This particular kit, with its SKU 90938 and UPC 734307909383, is specifically configured for the popular .38 Special and .357 Magnum calibers, two of the most widely used handgun cartridges.

Key Features and Their Benefits: Unpacking the Lee Load-Master Advantage

This comprehensive kit comes equipped with everything you need to start producing high-quality pistol ammunition almost immediately (just add powder, primers, bullets, and brass!):

• 5-Hole Turret System: The heart of the Load-Master's efficiency is its robust 5-hole turret. This design allows for a full complement of operations to be performed in a single rotation, from sizing and de-priming to priming, powder charging, bullet seating, and crimping. This multi-stage process per stroke minimizes handling and maximizes output. The turret can be easily removed and pre-loaded with dies for different calibers, allowing for quick caliber changes without having to reset individual dies. This flexibility is a massive time-saver for reloaders who work with multiple calibers.
• Included Carbide Full Length Sizing, Powder Through Expanding, and Bullet Seating Dies: Lee Precision is renowned for its high-quality dies, and this kit includes the essential set for .38 Special and .357 Magnum.
  • Carbide Full Length Sizing Die: The carbide ring eliminates the need for case lubrication during the sizing process, a major convenience that speeds up reloading and reduces mess. This die precisely sizes the brass case back to its original dimensions, ensuring reliable chambering and extraction.
  • Powder Through Expanding Die: This innovative die performs two crucial functions simultaneously: it expands the case mouth to accept a new bullet without deforming it, and it allows for powder to be charged through the die directly into the case. This integrated design streamlines the powder charging step and ensures consistent powder drops.
  • Bullet Seating Die: This die perfectly seats the bullet into the case to the desired depth. It's crucial for achieving consistent overall cartridge length (OAL), which directly impacts accuracy and feeding reliability in your firearm. The precise adjustments allow for fine-tuning your loads.
• #1s Shell Plate: The shell plate is critical for securely holding the brass cases as they move through the different stations of the press. The included #1s shell plate is specifically designed for the .38 Special and .357 Magnum cases, ensuring perfect alignment and smooth operation throughout the reloading process.
• Pro Auto Disk Powder Measure: One of the standout features of the Load-Master is the included Pro Auto Disk Powder Measure. This highly consistent and reliable powder measure automatically dispenses precise charges of powder as the press operates. Its disk system allows for quick and accurate changes to powder charges simply by swapping out disks or adjusting the micro-disk, ensuring repeatable and safe powder drops every time. The consistency of powder charges is paramount for accuracy and safety, and the Pro Auto Disk delivers on this front.
• Universal Case Feeder: For high-volume production, a case feeder is indispensable. The Universal Case Feeder automatically orientates and feeds empty brass cases into the shell plate, eliminating the need for manual placement of each case. This dramatically speeds up the reloading process, allowing for continuous operation and significantly higher output rates per hour. Its "universal" design means it can handle a wide range of pistol and rifle cases (with appropriate feed tubes, sold separately if needed for other calibers), making it a versatile addition to your reloading setup.
• Small Primer Feed: Safety and efficiency are enhanced by the included Small Primer Feed. This system automatically feeds small pistol primers into the primer seating station, eliminating the need to handle individual primers by hand. This not only speeds up the process but also reduces the risk of accidental primer detonation, making the reloading experience safer and more streamlined.

Built to Last: Construction and Design Excellence

The Lee Load-Master is constructed from robust Cast Iron, a material chosen for its exceptional strength, rigidity, and durability. This heavy-duty construction minimizes flex during operation, ensuring precise alignment of dies and consistent results. The substantial weight of 14.30 lbs further contributes to its stability, preventing movement or wobbling during high-speed reloading sessions. The press is designed for secure Mount Type: Screws, allowing it to be firmly bolted to your reloading bench, providing a solid and stable foundation for all your reloading tasks. Its industry-standard Thread Pattern of 7/8"x14 ensures compatibility with virtually all standard reloading dies on the market, offering future flexibility should you expand your die collection.

Who is the Lee Load-Master Kit For?

This specific kit (UPC 734307909383) is an excellent choice for a wide range of handgun shooters:

• Dedicated .38 Special/.357 Magnum Shooters: If these are your primary handgun calibers, this kit is perfectly tailored to your needs.
• High-Volume Shooters: For those who go through hundreds of rounds per range session or participate in action shooting sports, the progressive nature of the Load Master will significantly cut down on your ammunition costs and production time.
• Value-Conscious Reloaders: While offering advanced features, Lee Precision is known for providing exceptional value. This kit offers progressive reloading capabilities at a price point that is often more accessible than competing brands.
• Beginners Seeking a Comprehensive Start: While a progressive press can seem daunting to a newcomer, the Load Master kit is remarkably user-friendly with good instructions and community support. Its completeness means you don't have to source individual components, making the entry barrier lower.
• Reloaders Looking to Upgrade: If you're currently using a single-stage press and find yourself limited by its production rate, the Load Master is a natural and efficient upgrade.

Setting Up Your Lee Load-Master: A Path to Self-Sufficiency

While every reloading press requires careful setup, the Lee Load-Master is designed with user-friendliness in mind. The general steps involve securely mounting the press to a sturdy bench, installing the dies in the correct sequence within the 5-hole turret, adjusting them for proper function (sizing, belling, seating depth, and crimp), setting up the powder measure for your desired charge, and installing the primer and case feeders. Lee Precision provides detailed instructions, and numerous online resources offer visual guides to assist new users. The process, once learned, becomes second nature, allowing you to consistently produce safe and accurate ammunition.

The Advantages of Progressive Reloading: Speed and Consistency

Compared to other types of presses, progressive reloading offers distinct advantages, particularly embodied by the Lee Load Master:

• Unmatched Speed: The ability to perform multiple operations simultaneously dramatically increases rounds per hour. While a single-stage press might yield 50-100 rounds an hour, a progressive press like the Load Master can easily produce 500+ rounds per hour once properly set up and in rhythm.
• Streamlined Workflow: The continuous operation means less handling of individual cases and components, reducing fatigue and potential for errors.
• Optimized Component Feeding: With the integrated case and primer feeders, and the automatic powder measure, the Load Master creates a smooth, continuous flow of components, maximizing efficiency.
• Reduced Manual Effort: Many functions are automated, reducing the physical strain on the reloader compared to manually operating multiple steps for each round.

Safety First: Essential Reloading Practices

Reloading is a safe and rewarding hobby, provided proper precautions are followed. Always adhere to these fundamental safety rules:

• Read the Manuals: Thoroughly understand your equipment and the reloading process by reading all instruction manuals.
• Consult Reloading Manuals: Always reference multiple, reputable reloading manuals for load data. Never deviate from published data.
• Work in a Clean, Organized Space: Keep your reloading area free of distractions and clutter.
• Verify Powder Charges: Double-check your powder measure settings and periodically weigh charges to ensure consistency.
• Wear Safety Glasses: Protect your eyes from errant primers or components.
• Handle Components with Care: Store powders and primers safely and separately according to manufacturer recommendations.
• Avoid Distractions: Do not reload when tired, distracted, or under the influence of anything that impairs your judgment.

Maintaining Your Lee Load-Master for Longevity

To ensure your Lee Load-Master continues to perform optimally for years to come, regular maintenance is key. This includes:

• Cleaning: Periodically clean the press, especially around the shell plate and ram, to remove powder residue, primer dust, and lubricant buildup.
• Lubrication: Lightly lubricate moving parts according to the manufacturer's recommendations to ensure smooth operation and prevent wear.
• Inspection: Regularly inspect dies, shell plate, and other components for wear or damage. Replace worn parts as needed.
• Proper Storage: When not in use, store your press in a dry, protected environment to prevent rust and damage.

The Lee Load-Master 90938: An Investment in Your Passion

The Lee 90938 Load Master 38 Special Reloading Pistol Kit (UPC 734307909383) is more than just a collection of parts; it's a complete system designed to bring the power of progressive reloading to your bench. It solves the common problems of high ammunition costs and inconsistent factory loads, offering a pathway to custom, high-performance ammunition tailored to your specific needs. With its robust cast iron construction, versatile 5-hole turret, and integrated automatic feeding systems, it stands as a testament to Lee Precision's commitment to quality and innovation in the reloading community.

Whether you're looking to significantly reduce your shooting expenses, achieve sub-MOA accuracy with your handgun, or simply enjoy the self-sufficiency of crafting your own ammunition, this kit provides a reliable, efficient, and comprehensive solution. It's built to empower you, the shooter, to take control of your ammunition supply and elevate your shooting experience to new heights.

This exceptional reloading kit, along with a wide array of other shooting and outdoor sports equipment, is readily available through reputable retailers like DEGuns. Investing in the Lee Load Master means investing in precision, savings, and an unparalleled understanding of your ammunition.

Product Specifications Overview

Feature	Detail
Brand	Lee Precision
Model	Load Master
Caliber	38 Special / 357 Mag
Material	Cast Iron
Holes	5
Weight	14.30 lbs
UPC	734307909383