Had a couple light drops with Lee powder drum

Status
Not open for further replies.
S

Shivahasagun

Member
Joined
Jul 12, 2021
Messages
913
Was dropping 4.7 gr of Titegroup (.45 acp) on Lee 4-hole w/Lee drum & powder-thru die. (They are sized first of course)

I check each drop as I go in case the powder looks really wrong before I seat the bullet.

Well I had 2 that looked very light. So I dumped those to charges on the scale and they were probably a grain or two. Definitely would have been squibs.

These are fired, mixed brass & I didn't note the make.

But it's the cases. When I tried the same cases, they would drop light again. The other cases worked the drum perfectly. The problem cases didn't look any different to my eye.

Since they got a primer already, I just dropped powder into a "regular" case, poured it into the "abnormal" cases, and seated the bullet. They look okay to me.

So why did these couple cases not actuate my powder drum properly? Thin case wall or something?
 
Last edited:
Most likely case length. Some reason those cases are not moving the expander plug enough to fully activate the drop. Maybe sizing or wall thickness but length is my best guess.
 
I use the same setup. With that big difference in volume maybe you shot stroked it and, as AJC1 said, check the case length. Or the drum did not fully cycle, or powder bridging. On my large volume cases like 223 i give it a little tap at the end of the stroke to clear the drum
 
deadeye dick said:
I use the same setup. With that big difference in volume maybe you shot stroked it and, as AJC1 said, check the case length. Or the drum did not fully cycle, or powder bridging. On my large volume cases like 223 i give it a little tap at the end of the stroke to clear the drum
Click to expand...
Didn't see the case caliber. Most likely short stroke.
 
I had an issue the other day with the auto drum. I was dropping 4.0 grs of Titegroup. I started with 300 9mm cases, and i toss finished rounds into a plastic container. I usually measure every drop for the first 20 or so, then check about every fifth. I got through about 100 or so with every single one right on the dot at 4, so I started checking every 10-15th round. Then I got one that was 2.5. Tried again and got 2.0. Checked 20 in a row and got drops all over from 2.0-4.5. Took everything apart, cleaned, and rechecked 20. Same result. Never could get it to drop 4.0 consistent again. Had to finish with auto disk which worked perfect.
Since I had been tossing them all in the same container, and couldn't know which ones were low, had to pull about 150 and start over.
I have changed my process now. I no longer toss finished rounds in a bucket together; I use loading blocks and separate each 50 round lot.
 
scott511 said:
I had an issue the other day with the auto drum. I was dropping 4.0 grs of Titegroup. I started with 300 9mm cases, and i toss finished rounds into a plastic container. I usually measure every drop for the first 20 or so, then check about every fifth. I got through about 100 or so with every single one right on the dot at 4, so I started checking every 10-15th round. Then I got one that was 2.5. Tried again and got 2.0. Checked 20 in a row and got drops all over from 2.0-4.5. Took everything apart, cleaned, and rechecked 20. Same result. Never could get it to drop 4.0 consistent again. Had to finish with auto disk which worked perfect.
Since I had been tossing them all in the same container, and couldn't know which ones were low, had to pull about 150 and start over.
I have changed my process now. I no longer toss finished rounds in a bucket together; I use loading blocks and separate each 50 round lot.
Click to expand...

Interesting.

I start with cases separated in a tray & put them back in the tray. I was considering just going bucket to bucket and forgetting the tray.

I might take cases out of a bucket but put finished rounds in a tray.
 
I had the same problem with my AutoDrum as the OP. It was always something that would prevent a full cycle. I couldn’t trust it. I solved the problem with an AutoDisk. Much better design and no more fiddling with adjustments when changing loads
 
Check your AutoDrum setup. The AutoDrum PM needs to be screwed all the way into the powder thru die before setting the die/flare. If it is not, a slightly short case will not always actuate the drum rotation fully. If the AutoDrum is not screwed all the way in, back out the die, screw the AD in fully, and then reset the die for your desired case flare. Hope this helps.

edit: if using a powder thru riser, it should be screwed in fully and the AD screwed in fully to the riser.
 
drband said:
Check your AutoDrum setup. The AutoDrum PM needs to be screwed all the way into the powder thru die before setting the die/flare. If it is not, a slightly short case will not always actuate the drum rotation fully. If the AutoDrum is not screwed all the way in, back out the die, screw the AD in fully, and then reset the die for your desired case flare. Hope this helps.

edit: if using a powder thru riser, it should be screwed in fully and the AD screwed in fully to the riser.
Click to expand...
Thanks. This very well could be my problem. I will definitely try this. As for the OP, it surely sounds like this could be the problem there as well.
 
Sometimes I rotate the drum so it doesn't impact the primer feed device. This could loosen it. I'll be sure to check that it's snugged down in the future.

Yes I use a riser.
 
This can be addressed by going with the new Lee Pro-6000...6 stations

I have a Hornady Powder Check die next to the powder measure...it would definitely show the difference between 4.0grs and 2.5grs. I just glance at it after watching the full rotation of the powder measure drum.

It isn't as big an issue on the Hornady LNL AP as the shell plate rotates clock-wise and the powder measure sits toward the front. It is easy to look into the case as it passes and before a bullet is placed
 
scott511 said:
I had an issue the other day with the auto drum. I was dropping 4.0 grs of Titegroup. I started with 300 9mm cases, and i toss finished rounds into a plastic container. I usually measure every drop for the first 20 or so, then check about every fifth. I got through about 100 or so with every single one right on the dot at 4, so I started checking every 10-15th round. Then I got one that was 2.5. Tried again and got 2.0. Checked 20 in a row and got drops all over from 2.0-4.5. Took everything apart, cleaned, and rechecked 20. Same result. Never could get it to drop 4.0 consistent again. Had to finish with auto disk which worked perfect.
Since I had been tossing them all in the same container, and couldn't know which ones were low, had to pull about 150 and start over.
I have changed my process now. I no longer toss finished rounds in a bucket together; I use loading blocks and separate each 50 round lot.
Click to expand...

I use the autodisk too. To me the drum is to much of a hassle. I use the autodrum only on 223's cause the double stack seems like a hassle. The AD die flares the case the AD does not.
 
Last edited:
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

S
Mixed cases and powder drum malfunction
2 3 4 5
Replies
103
Views
3K
CQB45ACP
C
Gottcha
  • Locked
Switched from disc to drum lee powder problems
Replies
13
Views
1K
splattergun
splattergun
vaalpens
  • Locked
357sig First batch load on Lee Turret, but no Lee Auto-Drum
Replies
20
Views
671
vaalpens
vaalpens
L
  • Locked
expander vs. auto-powder adjustment
Replies
4
Views
354
snakeye
snakeye
santacruzdave
  • Locked
Lock n' Load progressive & Lee Auto Drum
2
Replies
29
Views
2K
k4swb
k4swb
Back
Top