Auto disk powder measure Question

[RuggedAK]

Hey all a newbie here. I am looking for some load data. I am using 55gr M193 bullets with Ramshot X-terminator powder. I am confused about what disk size to use on the Lee Auto disk powder measure. It is currently on the 1.57 hole. Is that too much or too little of a charge? The powder chart that lee sent with the kit is not very helpful. Any info is appreciated. Thanks.

 

[GT1]

The real question is what is that dropping for you?

You do have a scale and a loading manual?

 

[RuggedAK]

I do not have a scale but I think I'm going to get one.

 

[GT1]

I think you had better get a scale before you load one round.

Saves fingers, and eyeballs, and your friends standing at the next firing point.

A search at the ramshot site will tell you how much powder should be in a charge for a 55 fmj bullet. A reloading manual would be real helpful too. You want to make sure things are right, there are no mulligans in reloading.

 

[RuggedAK]

Good point. Just checking to see if anyone was using the same powder and bullet grain as me.

 

[GT1]

I am using it, but my load might not be good for your combo, in fact it could be dangerous.

 

[BBQJOE]

I do not have a scale but I think I'm going to get one.

 

[twice barrel]

Get a scale. Nothing fancy just something for you to verify what charge weights of a particular powder you can reliably toss thru your powder dispenser. I love the auto disc but you have to live within its capabilities. As a bushing type dispenser it will throw consistent charges with ball and flake powder until you get down to the smallest of charges. When you want to use an extruded rod shaped powder it doesn't do so well and a different kind of powder thrower and/or trickler in conjunction with you dispenseris the way to go. But that's when you'll need to weight each charge. Since I load pistol rounds and usually below maximum I love mine. Back when I was loading mostly 243, 6mm, 30/30, 270, 30/06, 7mmRem Mag, and 300 Win Mag it was of no use and I used an RCBS DuoFlo with trickler and scale. Much more tedious but necessary. You truly benefit from a smooth nicely dampened scale when weighing each charge and utilizing a trickler.

With a handgun shooting close and many more rounds I find a powder offering atleast two charge weights between starting and maximum dispensed by the auto disc for the powder, bullet weight, and cartridge I wish to load for. Sometimes it means I have to alter the type or weight of projectile to use a certain powder or conversely select a different powder. Some powders I just cannot use with the autodisc and I just avoid them because for handguns I have no desire to weight each charge and I have yet to use a powder dispenser I like better than Lee Pro Autodisc for this purpose.

TB

 

[Lost Sheep]

Hey all a newbie here. I am looking for some load data. I am using 55gr M193 bullets with Ramshot X-terminator powder. I am confused about what disk size to use on the Lee Auto disk powder measure. It is currently on the 1.57 hole. Is that too much or too little of a charge? The powder chart that lee sent with the kit is not very helpful. Any info is appreciated. Thanks.

Welcome to the forum and to reloading. Thanks for asking our advice.

The Lee Auto-Disk (and their volume-calibrated dippers, too) seem to deliver (drop) lesser weights of most powders. This behavior is fairly widely known in the reloading community and it is generally accepted (well, accepted almost as a fundamental dictum) that all charges should be verified as to weight.

The fact is that all mechanical powder measures deliver powder by volume, but almost all powder recipes are specified by weight.

Thus most loaders verify that their powder measure setting or chosen disk cavity is delivering the amount of gunpowder desired (which was chosen from a manual that specified weight).

Scales, of course, are not affected by the settling of powder (packing ratio) due to vibration or granule shape.

It is possible to load safely without a scale, relying only on volume measurement and density figures, but it is more convenient and safer to load with charges verified by weight.

Electronic scales are convenient, but most of the cheaper ones are not reputed to be reliable, especially in the face of uncertain battery voltages (as they lose charge), "dirty" AC power or near sources of electromagnetic flux (flourescent lights, electric motors or power cords, principally). Gravity-powered scales are generally the most reliable. Among them, the Lee Safety Scale is the least expensive at around $25 to $30. But it only weighs up to 100 grains, so if you ever want to weigh bullets heavier than that, it won't. It is as accurate as any common scale, but uses a vernier to determine tenths of grains. Many people find verniers difficult to read and hard to understand. Most other beam scales sold in this country are made by Ohaus and carry RCBS, Dillon, etc nameplates and paint. They are easier to use than the Lee and can weight heavier weights but are no more accurate and cost at least twice what the Lee does.

Good luck

Lost Sheep

p.s. I notice that no one has given load data, expecting that you have a manual from which to choose a load. Most reloaders consult several sources while choosing a load. Published manual(s), web site of the powder manufacturer and web site of the bullet maker are the most likely places to find load data. Casual sources (like forum postings) need to be vetted before they are relied on. Many loaders have a rule against sharing loading data because if something blew up for a reader of what they wrote (for any reason whatsoever), the would feel (partly) responsible.

 

[Lennyjoe]

I use a Lee autodisc on most of my bulk production ammo and the best way to build a load is to select your disc, add powder to the hopper and then charge the case. Pour the case contents onto a scale to meausure the load. If the powder weight is off, go up or down a disc size depending on your desired weight. Once you get the weight charge/disc size combo, write it down in your reloading journal for later use.

An RCBS 5-0-5 scale or even a cheaper digital scale will work if you are on a budget.

My favorite powders to use with the Autodisc is H335 for .223 and 6.8 AR loads and W231 for .45 loads.

Welcome aboard to the world of reloading.

 

[rbernie]

Great feedback from Lost Sheep.

 

[GCBurner]

I like the Autodisk, it works well and throws consistent charges with ball and small grain powders. I wouldn't feel comfortable telling anyone what disk size to use until they had a good scale to verify the actual charge weight, though.

 

[Fishslayer]

Get a scale. The spreadsheet provided with the Auto Disc is a guideline to get you in the ballpark.

Did I mention "get a scale?"

 

[kingmt]

I think Lee plays on the safe side also. the disk drop a little lighter then the chart says.

 

[tcanthonyii]

No scale? Really?? I'm surprised no one told you to stop re-loading yet. I will say it. STOP. Please STOP before you hurt yourself or someone else at the range Read a couple books. I REALLY like Lee's manual. It's how I got started. Lay s it out in very simplistic terms and processes.

Once you've done that get a scale -- I have the lee safety scale and really like it. Then start reloading again.

FWIW I love the auto disk. It's only drawback is not having enough holes. Lee should offer a set of 10 disks with more holes in it. I think You'd find the double disk kit to be very beneficial. I pulled it out the other day loading 44 mag. For 223 You'd get a lot more adjust ability out of it.

 

[LiveLife]

FYI, if you need more powder charge than what the largest disk hole will provide, you need to use the double disk kit.

But even the double disk kit maxes out at around 43 gr of H4895/Varget/RL15.

I filed the slide tabs of the microadjust charge bar to use it stacked and I can get 47-48 gr.

 

[rdhood]

No scale? Really?? I'm surprised no one told you to stop re-loading yet. I will say it. STOP. Please STOP before you hurt yourself or someone else at the range

I have to agree with this. A lot of folks poo poo the small digital scales, but I have found mine to be reliable and accurate. You NEED a scale to tell how YOUR individual loading set up is throwing powder. For example, I can tell you what a .88 + .95 cc disk throws according to the Lee chart for AA2015. And then I can tell you that MY particular setup throws about .4gr less.

The auto disc powder measure throws a reliable charge (i.e. mine throws the same amount every time) for most powders. But you need to know exactly what it is throwing.