Lee Auto disk powder Measure

[nosimij]

I Just last week received a Lee turret Press kit, the low end one.  I have reloaded my first batch of 9mm rounds over the weekend.  All appeared to go within reason 20 rounds in 3 hours.  I am sure my speed will improve, but i am worried about quality.  The consistency of the powder measure is the biggest thing.  I may be over reacting but I am thinking that I have have an issue. 

1) The table of which disk hole to use for a specific powder at a specific weight was WAY off.  I was supposed to be throwing 3.5 Grains but it was consistently measuring 2.3.  I did make sure that the hopper was 75% full so gravity had help. I then pulled the turret and dumped the powder for the third time, first 2 were to see that I had it installed correctly, and moved to the opening that was supposed to throw .9Grmore, my difference.  It through 4.0 since that was mid range I left it.  I measured every one of my 20 rounds and got between 3.8 and 4.3.  That is a .5gr difference.  I am used to that with my Mec shotgun powder measure but that is ~20Gr of Red Dot so the percentage of difference is a lot less.  Is this typical, something to worry about or some where in between.  Is this something that will break/wear in?

has anyone used the "Lee Auto-Disk Adjustable Powder Charge Bar" in place of the Disk?  I am betting that this would solve the disassemble to "dial in" the powder charge, but would it give a consistent throw?  I am thinking that the disassemble savings would be worth the money alone.  i do not like the remove the screw form the plastic part and then run it back it.

[Majer]

Do yourself a favor and buy a powder measure like this one.It will give you a more consistent charge than the auto disc will and they last almost forever if cared for properly.



http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=37390/avs|Manufacturer_1=RCBS/Product/RCBS-Uniflow-Powder-Measure

[Magoo541]

Do yourself a favor and buy a powder measure like this one.It will give you a more consistent charge than the auto disc will and they last almost forever if cared for properly.



http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=37390/avs|Manufacturer_1=RCBS/Product/RCBS-Uniflow-Powder-Measure

Like you I just started reloading and I checked several of my charges using the powder measure Majer posted above and they were pretty close.  In fact when I shot them across a chrono I only had a 35 fps variation for a 200 grain 45 ACP cast bullet at 809-844 fps for 5 rounds. 
I don't know about you but I enjoy reloading almost as much as shooting and I'm looking forward to working up some rifle rounds when I get the opportunity.

[MikeBjerum]

Send it back to Lee!  I do not know the reliability of Lee powder measures, but with Hornady, RCBS and Dillon once the adjustment is set they stay put.  I check mine at the beginning of each run and after every 500 rounds (about hourly), and I seldom need to adjust anything.

Your Lee powder measure is defective and should not be used!

[JoeG]

There is not a problem with your equipment based on your post.

I have been using two of these for a long time in progressive presses. One set for 45ACP and one for 9mm, they both work very well once set up. You need to understand that what you are looking for is repeatability of charge weight and not an absolute volume. Reloading data is set up on charge weight not on volume. Powder density can change based on a number of factors including Lot# and humidity. I view the recommended disk volume as a starting point with the goal being to get a disk that gives me the charge weight in the table. Richard Lee's book on reloading is great and explains all this very clearly.

With my two units, once I found the right disk to give the desired weight. I routinely get 0.05grain repeatability (I measure this by cycling 10 charges into a film canister weighing it and comparing multiple batches to address my scale's 0.1grain accuracy) 5 samples (i.e., 50 charges) compared will quickly give you a sense of the error per charge. (While I am an engineer, I did not do all the quality statistics to get standard deviation, etc. since this is a HOBBY, get over it any quality nerds in the crowd)

I have been working off the same 8# jug of powder so I have not had to recalibrate yet. I do repeat the test any time I start reloading again after a long layoff (just cause checking is easy and more fun than wishing I had later) Never seen a problem and none of Mr Murphy's gremlins have come by so far to screw with my equipment while I was away.

As a safety engineer I much prefer SIMPLE over adjustable. While I have never used the units with the micro adjustment, I would wonder how you know that it has not moved during use without repeated check weighing. A recent American Handgunner mag had a story by one of their writers where he had that exact problem and had to break down a few hundred rounds he had just loaded. Better than shooting a overly hot load! As a professional worrier I like simple!

I like my Lee presses and love the price since I bought a 2nd one and keep them set for the two cartridges I shoot all the time. All for about 1/2 the price of a Dillion. Yes they are not built like a tank like the Dillion but Lee discusses this in his book and I think makes a good case for his approach.

As  beginner, read a lot, reload a little and then read a lot more. Lots of good info on the web.

Good luck

[Sponsor]

[jaybet]

Joe G makes a great point...the holes in the disc are not precision weight measures, they move a volume of powder, so the number will change with the powder. I do the same with my pistol ammo...I have a target weight of powder and I switch around 'till I get near my target. I'm not loading sniper rounds so a few grains here and there aren't going to hurt. PLUS I have found fairly consistent charges with my Lee equipment. I can't say it has ever been a problem.

[Fiveofclubs]

I Agree with Joe G.  I use the Lee Auto Disk too, and I've just made my own charts.  The tool throws consistent powder, you just have to find the weight based on the powder you are using.  I'm using Bullseye powder and for my .40 S&W I'm using I think the .37 hole and getting 3.4 grains.  I used to reweigh every 10 - 20 loads, but I've backed off to 2 per 50 (first and last).  It's been very good. 

Your speed will pickup over time.  Over all I'm fine with the Lee press, especially for the price point.  If I ramp up my shooting again though I will be getting a true progressive.

[ellis4538]

Actually, I suggest you sell the Lee and buy a Dillon.

JMHOFWIW

Richard

[sledgemeister]

I have a lee auto press set up for 9mm and use the disc measure system, I found that I needed to find the right disc hole for the right powder charge, its a bit of mucking around to find out what hole throws what weight but when you do you leave it alone and just reload. Its very consistant and have loaded shitloads of 9mm and never had an issue. (my first press and its still going years later)
I also have a Hornady LnL for other calibres, if I had to buy again I would just buy the LnL as it can reload everything, also have had a simplex press, Lee Turret, lee classic etc etc.

[Solus]

I've not used the Lee disc measure, but I have used the RCBS rotary.

One thing I learned to do for consistent charges was to tap the handle at the top and bottom of it's movement in order to "jiggle" the power for a clean flow into the measure and then into the case.

Of course, this tap had to be consistent.  I would use a double-tap at the top and bottom of the movement, keeping it all at the same speed and force for the taps.

I would throw a single charge and weight it to get my first go at the micrometer setting, then throw 10 loads and measure to see that the average was where I wanted it and that my movement was consistent also.  After the cases were loaded, I'd throw another 10 charges as a double check before seating bullets.

This was when I was using a manual press.   The lack of checking between each operation is one of the drawbacks of using a progressive press.  However, with my 550 and then my 650 I spent time testing and checking without loading bulets until I became confident the equipment was doing it's job.  I would still run 10 cases without bullets to check for average load before starting and another 10 after to be sure it had not changed.  I never did have to pull any rounds because of drift.  That makes the 500+ rounds/hour of the 650 worth it.