lee auto drum off?

[Axis II]

I started loading 9mm with a Lee auto drum and loaded about 30 rounds and everything was perfect with that measure until last night. I started loading what I thought was 4.2gr of HP-38 and I measure about the 5-6th one because I have a little OCD. Well that one threw 4.4gr which is hodgdons max. I then ran the turret through each stage and threw another charge and it threw 4.4gr and did this about 5 times. I turned the dial in a bit until I hit 4.2gr and checked it 5 times and it was dead on so I loaded 10rounds and had to pull about 10rds that threw at 4.4gr and some were a little light at 4.1gr.

what am I doing wrong? I empty the hopper and drum after each loading session and put the powder back in the bottle.

 

[kcofohio]

If your drum nut is snug to seal the o-ring on the back side of the drum.
How is your method? Are you consistent with your movements? Any difference with the force applied to the indexing or jarring of the press can cause a variance in the settling of the powder.

 

[Axis II]

If your drum nut is snug to seal the o-ring on the back side of the drum.
How is your method? Are you consistent with your movements? Any difference with the force applied to the indexing or jarring of the press can cause a variance in the settling of the powder.

I resize them then once the turret spins I go up to the flare and drum die. I cant get the plate just right so when it turns to the flare die it doesn't lock all the way so I have to go down a hair to lock it so the press might be jarring a little bit.

 

[splattergun]

How much has this auto-drum been used? Brand new, or have you run a couple hundred throws through it? It takes a little buildup of graphite on the internal surfaces to get the thing settled in. I own 3 of them, soon 4. When new, I always take apart the assembly, brush some graphite wherever the pwder goes through, then reassemble.
Next, when I am adjusting the powder throw, I always operate the turret around all stations between throws to put the LAD through the same rotation, motion and vibration that will occur when I am actually reloading. THis gives me consistency. I make sure my handle movements are always the same, again, for consistency. My LAD powder throws very well with HP38/W231.

Consistency of movement is always key with volumetric powder measuring.

 

[SARuger]

I own 9 Auto Drums, all throw consistently but you have to clean them good before use. Some have a good bit of machine oil in them and the powder will stick and sometimes bottle neck.

 

[Load Master]

What press are you using? Are you using the disconnector? If you have deactivated it, did you move the screw to the back hole? if not, this is your issue.

 

[Axis II]

I have a LCT press and I graphite the inside of the drum and it has about 100 throws in it.

no clue what the disconnect is? I push the little silver tab down when I get to the flare part to release it to throw powder.
I cleaned the inside of it before graphiting it.

I don't let the ram bottom out when it comes down once it hits the thing to turn it goes right back up.

 

[Load Master]

The die that the powder drops through should be cleaned before put into service. They are shipped with oil in them and this can cause issue with the powder drop.

If you are using the auto indexing of your press you can remove the disconnect (the little sliver button) so that the powder drop automatically resets. I have attached the instructions on how to make the change.

 

[Robert Ramos]

May I suggest going to You Tube and look on how to adjust the turret to stop in the right place every time. At You Tube type in Lee Classic Turret..

 

[Axis II]

id rather not use it to where it decided to dump powder with me not turning it on for now. I am afraid of a double charge. why would this being set up this way cause it to throw high?

I will try and adjust the indexer to see if that helps and clean the thrower out again and see if that helps.

 

[drband]

No way you can get a double charge unless you pull the handle twice without indexing. Your best bet is to adjust the turret to index properly(online info at leeprecision.com), remove the powder drop disconnect (little silver button) as instructed above, and make sure your powder drop die is adjusted properly. When set up correctly, you should be running the ram full travel until it stops in the powder drop station. When adjusted properly, you will get the proper amount of case belling (flare) and an accurate powder drop, all with proper indexing that you don't have to nudge into place. Your drops will be consistent and precise when all of the above is done.