CONFUSED: Lee PRO vs Non-pro Auto-Disk Powder Measure

[ClemBert]

Lee has a PRO Auto-Disk Powder Measure and then just a regular Auto-Disk Powder Measure. Can both of these be used with a Lee Powder-Thru Expander Die on any Lee press? Or, is the regular Auto-Disk measure used with the Powder-Thru Expander Dies on the Lee single stage and turret presses whereas the PRO Auto-Disk measure is used with Lee progressive presses?

I read the notes for the Pro Auto-Disk measure that read: Notes: The Lee Pro Auto-Disk Powder Measure will work with turret presses when setup properly although it was not designed for this application. If that is the case I'm curious to know what would be so different in the setup for the Pro Auto-Disk measure on a turret or single stage press. Is there an extra component you have to purchase....or some sort of different configuration step you have to take?

 

[suzukisam]

I use the standard autodisk, and I have about 5 of them.. I was under the impression that they just changed and made a better design, but were still offering the old design.. I believe they sell an update kit don't they

 

[Gadzooks Mike]

Pro model description last sentence: Designed to be mounted on the Lee Pro-1000 and Loadmaster presses with Lee powder-through expander dies.

The Lee website (http://leeprecision.com/xcart/Automatic-Powder-Measures/) says this:

Auto-disk: This powder measure is best used with reloading handgun cases.

Pro Auto-disk: Best for reloading rifle cases.

Hope this helps.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

The standard and Pro Auto-Disk powder measure are both used on the same presses including the Lee turret press. The difference is in the construction. The Pro uses a round hopper and is secured with machine screws and brass nuts. The standard uses a squared off hopper and is secured with screws that go directly into the plastic of the hopper. they will wear out much faster than the Pro's system.

There are a few other good points to the Pro and it's well worth the slight additional cost and it's definitely made for the turret press.

 

[jb27]

I've been using the Pro Auto Disk that came in the kit I got from Kempfs with my Lee Classic Turret press. So far, not problems with reloading 9mm.

 

[LiveLife]

Pro Auto Disk has elastomer wiper at the bottom of the hopper and Teflon coated metal casing for more consistent/accurate powder drops and less leakage. It also has on/off on the larger hopper for easier powder change over.

I definitely recommend the Pro Auto Disk.

 

[tooltech]

I still have 3 Autodisk measures. 1 pro, and 2 converted to pro. They work great with the Turret press. The larger hopper, with the brass retaining nuts makes it way easier to empty the measure, or change disks. with the regular hopper, if you change charges often, the base of the hopper will crack from the sheet metal screws used to hold it to the measure.

 

[jcwit]

The std Auto disk has screws to hold the powder hopper and will strip and/or crack the hopper usually making the unit usless.

The Pro Auto disk has brass stud bolts attached permently to the powder hopper which are held to the unit with brass nuts, "think Acorn or wing nuts". Much better attachment method and very unlikely to break or cause problems.

 

[Uniquedot]

As mentioned the pro has a powder shut off as well as brass thumb nuts and an elastomer wiper and it has a spring return for use on turret presses or a pull back lever for use on progressive presses. If you get the standard measure, you will soon be spending extra for the upgrade kit which still lacks the teflon coating on the body. The pro is well worth the extra money.

 

[REL1203]

Got my Turret press about a year ago, and have slowly added 4 additional Auto Disk Pro hoppers (one for each Handgun cartridge I reload)... I love the pros, and love there cheap.

 

[rbernie]

I have owned both. My advice is to get the Pro. The materials are of a better quality, the design of the hopper (specifically the hopper-to-body threads, per post #8) is superior, and in general it'll last a lot longer and be easier to use.

They use the same disks.

 

[amlevin]

The "Pro" has an internal wiper that is supposed to keep the disc from cutting powder granules. Also has a safety chain and mechanism that is supposed to prevent double charging on progressive presses.

 

[ClemBert]

Thanks fellas!

Sounds like the non-Pro version is obsolete and is replaced by the PRO version. Perhaps Lee had a contract to crank out millions of the non-Pro measures and just needs to clear it out of stock. I was confused because it just didn't seem to make sense that they'd offer both styles.

 

[dickttx]

+1 on all the Pro answers. After a few quirks mine is so consistant, even with Unique, it is almost boring.

 

[1KPerDay]

What quirks if I may be so bold?

 

[leadchucker]

I saw right quick that the threads on the hopper of the non-pro model won't last long if you change disks a lot. Something I've discovered is that you don't have to detach the hopper on that model to change disks.

I rigged up a little handle that allows me to to grip and remove the big spring. Pliers will do, but I made a little hook with a handle. Then, the throw arm will easily rotate out far enough to allow you to slide a disk in and out the front. It may take a little finesse to align the throw arm with the new disk, but it does work.

I'm also thinking that if you make a dummy disk with no holes in it, you can slide it in the rear as you slide the disk out the front. It will block the powder exit until you slide another disk in. With that, you won't have to empty the hopper when you change disks. I'm going to try it. I'll report back if it works.

 

[1KPerDay]

that's a cool idea.

 

[LiveLife]

I'm also thinking that if you make a dummy disk with no holes in it, you can slide it in the rear as you slide the disk out the front. It will block the powder exit until you slide another disk in. With that, you won't have to empty the hopper when you change disks.

You don't need to empty the hopper to change disks.

This is how I change disks:
1. I turn off the hopper
2. Dump 3-4 powder drops back in the hopper or until there's no powder dropping in the case
3. Push up on the Pro Auto Disk (like when pushed up by a case)
4. Push the disk forward (lever arm will go down as you remove the disk)
5. While holding the hopper assembly up, push in another disk (or same disk with different hole) pushing up on the lever arm to re-engage the slot on the bottom of the disk
6. Turn on the hopper
7. Cycle 3-4 times and dump powder back in the hopper to settle the powder in the wiper cavity
8. Weigh subsequent powder drops until consistent

Ta-da!

 

[mmitch]

Lose the discs and add a charge bar for easier throw adjustment.

Mike

 

[leadchucker]

...1. I turn off the hopper...

Not on the non-pro model.

 

[Hondo 60]

I've used the Pro for all my reloading.

The biggest advantage to the Pro version is the ability to turn it off.
You can then work it a couple of times to empty the chamber & then take it off without spilling all over the place.

Lose the discs and add a charge bar for easier throw adjustment.

Depends on the charge. very low charges, 3-7 gr are real inconsistent with my setup.
The discs work much better.
But if you have a larger charge, then yes, the adjustable charge bar works great.

 

[Seedtick]

Looks like I'm the odd man out. I like the the plain ol Non Pro Auto Disk measure. As a matter of fact I even ordered an extra replacement hopper with my last Midway order a couple of weeks ago.

I just have better consistency using them. I take a file and flatten the bottom of the hopper then I use uber-fine emery cloth on a flat surface to finish it. I also make rectangular baffles out of flashing metal for them. Then treat every thing with powdered graphite.

I did all of this trying to solve the fluctuation I was getting when throwing itty bitty light 380 loads.
It didn't help.
But after I added a 100 grain washer to the bottom of the pan on my 505 the problem went away. I just have to set the big poise on 100 grains when I zero it out.

Afterwards when throwing regular size loads I discovered just how much better it repeated. So I unconverted the rest of my Pro Auto-Disk Powder Measures back to plain ones. My next a round tuit is to install studs into the rectangular hoppers like the Pro's are rigged up. I have changed over to drywall screws and those work much better than what comes with them. I drill the hole deeper and can even use the ones that have stripped out already.

Boy, I didn't mean for this to be sooo long. Sorry. Maybe this might be helpful to somebody.

Seedtick

 

[LiveLife]

Seedtick, your post just goes to prove - "Never underestimate the ingenuity of THR"

Nice going!

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Sounds like the non-Pro version is obsolete and is replaced by the PRO version. Perhaps Lee had a contract to crank out millions of the non-Pro measures and just needs to clear it out of stock. I was confused because it just didn't seem to make sense that they'd offer both styles.

They still make both models because of cost. The non-pro is cheaper and some people shop only price. Every manufacturer has an entrance model and upgrades.

 

[dickttx]

1KPerDay:
1st quirk: The disks often weigh light. They are made that way. On Unique it usually takes two higher cavities, i.e., #82 instead of #71. No problem, you just learn that pretty quickly. HP38 seems to be right on the money. Both powders are boringly consistent.
2nd quirk: Sometimes I had powder dribbling out of the charging die, sometimes I didn't. Finally realized that the depth the die is screwed into the turret controls how far the disk moves. On 357 Mag the cavity in the disk was going past the drop hole and on past the front of the base. Adjusting the die to the correct depth will result in both the largest and the smallest cavities (and all in between) being centered over the drop hole.
This afternoon I mounted the turret, installed the powder measure with the #82 cavity, poured it full of Unique and the first powder drop(no cycling or anything) was exactly 6.4gn, which is what I was loading. Weighed probably 15 charges out of 100 and none varied the width of the marks on my scale.