Unique and Lee Auto disk

I dont have a problem with Unique metering ok in my Lee Auto disc. I run about 5 cycles , dropping powder each time and getting things flowing then no problem. I have noticed that I have to run the press consistently. If going slow and easy, or hard and fast, the key is to run it the same way every time. If I go gently and slow & smooth the drop is lighter than if going hard and banging away, but this is true of every type powder to some degree

What Jonsey814 said...never an issue with my Lee auto disk and Unique but consistent positive operation of the press is key to consistent drops

Used a lot of Unique over the last 40 or so years. About 3 years ago I acquired a LCT with the Lee Auto Disk powder drop. After diddling with it for about a month I finally stopped the powder leak, and drilled out some of the holes to drop the charge I want. Works like I want it too. I keep it set up for 9 mm. Gotta shoot some of them when we get over the flu.

Have a blessed day,

Leon

personal messenger

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I would think any vibrating device should help, aquarium pump, adult devices, Black and Decker palm sander etc, but haven't tried any
since I said no to Unigue after the first lb,

While I have never had a problem throwing consistent loads using any VMD (Volume Metered Density) I do know people who have and have actually resorted to using small vibrating devices attached to the powder hopper(s). The only issue with Unique being a flake type powder is when it likes to "stack up" when going through the drop. Overall though it is not as bad as some powders.

Ron

I did a few things to improve the consistency and limit leakage of the Auto Disk Pro.
Most add a baffle in the bottom of the hopper, I added weight on top of the powder.
An aluminum weight with a guide rod is sold on ebay, mine is a wooden disc.
Another mod I did was file the stand-offs flush with a disc, material removed was mostly lumpy/uneven powder coat, makes a tighter fit of the seal on the disc.
The offset screw that holds the hopper to the measure puts the hopper at an angle and uneven pressure on the seal, a source of leakage.
I put a clamp over the hopper for even/all over pressure on the seal.
I filed:

Wooden weight:

Parallel PM Clamp:


I get even seal contact with the clamp, compare this to your seal (Checkout that offset screw).

All that is somewhat fiddly but works for me with unique.
I always throw 10 charges and average the results, for a target charge weight of 4.3gr I through 10 charges and weigh at 43gr. and adjust accordingly.
A lot easier than chasing/adjusting for +/- .10gr.

edit: you don't say what press or die you are using but the case snaps off the powder thru the expander plug for a "kind of like tapping the hopper" for me.

Nice mods, Tilos. Now I may have to take a little off the standoffs on mine.

Machine Shop Dude said:

This is a serious question and not to be considered trolling.

So unique is a bad word to meter consistently in this thrower the easier is to use ball powder every chance one gets. Unfortunately all I have at the moment for 45 LC and 44 Spl is Unique. I noticed that when tapping on the hopper in the powder drop position of cycle I am able to get a consistent drop. With out the shake its unreliable at best. If one was to strap a personal messenger, say the ones for men on rings to the exterior of the hopper would this provide the right amount of powder movement to drop a consistent charge?

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If you mean a Massager or vibrator, you are not the first or only one to come up with that idea. Fish pumps and other ridiculous methods.
With 45 Colt , a 0.5 grain or so variance is not gonna make a bit of difference.

Keep the powder measure almost full and/or put a baffle in in. (yes, I have used a PRO measure for years with many powders) You do have the PRO, yes?? There is the regular Auto Disk and the Pro version.

For $35 you can get a Auto drum and be better of.

Rule3 said:

For $35 you can get a Auto drum and be better of.

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^^^^This^^^^
I know some folks don't like them and have reported issues... but I have 5 AutoDrums and they all work perfectly! I have a set of extra drums, too. None of mine are the newer "machined" drums either. YMMV

People do that to make the primer feed better too. I started out loading with long stick rifle powders so unique is a hell of an improvement as far as metering. I have an rcbs that is no more accurate with unique that the auto disc. I use Unique for a lot of my weak 44 mag/special 45 colt and even 40 and 10mm loads. 8 lb jugs are cheap, easily available locally and its versatile. Not the best for anything but good for a lot. If I were using it for a precision rifle or anything close to max I might have a different view though. I use other powders for those.

Only problem I have with unique in my PAD is the weights are WAY off from the chart. Not even close. But they are consistent. I just write in the actual weights and check a few charges every time I load.

Yeah. That's true. I have all the hole diameter and their charges in a notebook. The chart is useless. Makes me wonder about anyone loading using a dipper

crestoncowboy said:

Yeah. That's true. I have all the hole diameter and their charges in a notebook. The chart is useless. Makes me wonder about anyone loading using a dipper

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Something which can be done as to the volume of the disc cavity is derive a good VMD (Volume Metered Density) for the powder. You would need a good scale. If a powder has a VMD of .1064 , and the desired charge weight is 4 grains, 4 x .1064 = .4256, or . 43 cc's and choose the closest cavity. However, we can manipulate the same formula and get the actual VMD for a lot of powder. CC setting (powder measure setting) / Weight of the sample = VMD (volume in cc's for 1 grain) so if we throw a charge using the .43 volume setting and weigh that charge we get 0.43 cc / charge weight on scale = VMD. While powder manufacturers try to maintain a VMD lot to lot they also have an allowable error so published charts are not an exacting science. WE see it all the time.

Ron

Mine was about 2-3 hole sizes off which is pretty drastic . I'd forgotten about it until 1k mentioned it. I just weighed some, averaged it, and wrote it down. Most powders were closer. Doesnt matter to me as I weigh and check. But I know people who just use the dippers. Seems dangerous to me.

Get a copy of the latest edition of Handloader's Magazine.

1. Read the article on Unique
2. Feel all good inside!

My auto-disk rides on the top of my lee classic turret. I have found that the jiggling and jolting of the turret going round-and-round serves very well to settle the powder. Unique meters well enough for my purposes (mid-range loads in revolver cartridges).

I find the same thing as ATLDave with my LCT and handgun rounds that the vibration from running the press causes a more accurate throw as long as I do my part. I also calculate and write on the container the VMD for that particular canister. Generally I stay within .1-.2 grains when checking consistently depending on the powder after clearing its throat of the first couple of drops using my ProDisk but I don't try max loads either nor touchy powders for the most part. I don't use Unique because I prefer Universal all that often but I think it is at the higher end of tolerance for my AutoDisk.

Only problem I have with unique in my PAD is the weights are WAY off from the chart. Not even close

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I think Lees chart lists a VMD of .132 my lb of Unique was around .109 not as bulky as Lee listed.

sparkyv said:

Nice mods, Tilos. Now I may have to take a little off the standoffs on mine.

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Actually that fix with a file is explained on the Lee site:
http://leeprecision.net/support/ind...View/221/105/auto-disk-powder-measure-leaking
With pics here:
http://leeprecision.net/support/ind...ng-auto-disk-powder-measure-fine-ball-powders
There's lots of good info at the Lee Site but it's buried so deep it's hard to find.
Here's some more "knowledge":
http://leeprecision.net/support/index.php?/Knowledgebase/List/Index/13

OK, after reading all the accolades posted here about the Lee Auto Drum PM, from members whose opinion I respect, I dug out my "early issue" Auto Drum and gave it another try.
After taking it apart/putting it back together, and generally just fiddling with it, I identified what I thought was going on, and what parts I believe have changed and are different now.
I emailed Lee service explaining what was happening and included pics of my measure compared to measure pics on the Lee website.

Within minutes I got a response that said something like: "oh yea, that's a common problem with early models, yes we changed the main zinc/alum casting on current measures but in the interim we developed a small molded plastic part to add-on for a fix."

So Lee is sending me that "interim fix part" (Orientation Lock) rather than the new body design I asked for.
It's part of a kit of plastic parts for the AD measure PN AM3041
Here's a pic:

I recognize everything but the "Sleeve Outlet Guide"...anyone have any idea what that is?
I will report back when I get the part and how it is working.

Some great tips here. I had done some of them, in particular sanding down the stand-offs to get a little tighter fit.

I'd suggest using Lee water based case lube to lubricate the disk sliding areas. Use a thin film and let it dry throughly. It was suggested by another hand loader I cannot recall.

I found a bunch of info somewhere on tuning a LCT press. Filing down the stand offs was on of the items suggested. I did it and really notice a difference with H110/Win296