Lee Classic Turret powder question

[coloradokevin]

Okay, so I'm getting close to making a purchase here...

I've been eyeing a Lee kit through Cabelas that is built around the Classic Turret Press (with the Lee Safety Scale, and Pro Auto-Disk Powder Measure w/ four disks included).

My immediate intention is to reload for .223, .40 S&W, and for my 8mm Mauser (the ammo I use a lot of). Down the road a bit I'd like to load .45 ACP, and possibly .300Win Mag.

The question I have concerns the Pro Auto-Disk Powder Measure... Does this item have the capacity to measure powder for all (or any) of the rifle cartridges? If not, do you guys have a better recommendation for rifle powder measurements?

It seems to me that it would sort of defeat some of the purpose of a turret press if you are unable to measure rifle powders on it, but I might not be seeing the situation correctly (Still, I've only ever heard folks talking about loading pistol rounds with the auto-disk/pro auto-disk system)

As I've said before, I'm a complete newbie to the reloading scene, but I'd prefer not to buy equipment twice (at least initially)! I've read the ABC's of Reloading already, and am trying to bring the theoretical knowledge base up to speed... But, some of the answers to questions I've had have been harder to track down!

Thanks for the help

 

[DaveInFloweryBranchGA]

Depends on the powder and the cartridge. But you shouldn't limit yourself to just the Lee powder measure. I have the same press with an RCBS Uniflow mounted on top of a Hornady Case Activated Powder Drop.

I bought the Uniflow used for $30.00 and used the Hornady CAPD from my Hornady LnL. You can do the same thing, though you might have to buy the CAPD new.

So don't get yourself locked into the thinking that because you bought brand X press, you have to buy only brand X powder measure as well.

I own a couple of the Lee measure's for pistol and small rifle and use the Uniflow for larger rifle and extruded powders.

Here's a picture:

http://www.zjstech.net/~ddixson/RCBSUniflowMountedToLeeClassicTurretPress 001.jpg

Regards,

Dave

 

[cracked butt]

The lee perfect powder measure has the capacity for rifle loading and can be mounted to the press with the use of a universal rifle charging die. If you remove the spout from the lee perfect powder measure, it the measure screws into the universal charging die. It works very well, the LPPM is a very good measure despite its cheap construction, but you have to maunually run the measure.

 

[snuffy]

Double disc set up

The lee double disc set up will work for the .223 and the mauser, but I doubt it would have the capacity for the 300 mag. If you order the press kit, you should be able to order the double disc kit at the same time.

 

[coloradokevin]

Thanks for the help guys!

Part of the reason that I was planning to use the Lee Pro Auto-Disk measure (with the double disk kit) is that it is included in the package.

The deal I saw through Cabelas is $165 for the press, large small primer setup, Pro Auto-Disk Measure (w/ four disks), and the Lee Safety Scale. This seemed like the most reasonable start-up price for a kit, and I liked the reviews I had read on this press!

As a follow-up question... If the Pro-Auto Disk Measure isn't large enough to work on cases like the .300 Win Mag, what is my other option? Do I just manually measure powder and funnel it through the die on the press during the reloading sequence?

 

[jsu]

I used Lee double disc on Lee classic turret for 303 Bri. But the powder weight choices is limited due to disk sizes. So I used powder measure from my Hornady LNL and it worked fine.

Hornady still offer their free 1000 bullet for the LNL press. I think it's a very good deal.

 

[snuffy]

Kevin, you need to understand that the lee pro disc measure you would get in the turret kit will not be the double disc. The pro disc comes standard with 4 discs. The double is 4 more discs that are stacked one on top of another to form a larger cavity.

From the Lee website;
This kit raises the hopper so you can stack two disks. This not only doubles the capacity of the disks but it makes very fine adjustments possible. Most powders can be adjusted up or down .1 grain with different combinations of disks. Complete listing of combinations, 4 extra disks, screws and risers are included.

Lee Double Disk Kit90195 Serv.Parts 14.98

 

[strat81]

With a double disk kit, the Lee Auto Disk can throw about 45-50gr of powder, depending on the type of powder. If your charge needs require more you can set the Auto Disk to throw half of what you need and then run the case through twice or use a different measure.

 

[coloradokevin]

With a double disk kit, the Lee Auto Disk can throw about 45-50gr of powder, depending on the type of powder. If your charge needs require more you can set the Auto Disk to throw half of what you need and then run the case through twice or use a different measure.

Thanks for the replies everyone! It is good to hear some suggestions from those who do these things!

Strat81,

You brought an interesting question to mind when you mentioned either charging twice, or finding a different measuring system...

Are there actually any press-mounted measuring systems that handle much more powder than the Lee Pro Auto-disk (w/ double disk kit)? Or, do you pretty much move into the off-press charging arena when you get into the larger rifle cartridges (again, say, .300 Win Mag)?

 

[DaveInFloweryBranchGA]

Kevin,

You asked:

"Are there actually any press-mounted measuring systems that handle much more powder than the Lee Pro Auto-disk (w/ double disk kit)? Or, do you pretty much move into the off-press charging arena when you get into the larger rifle cartridges (again, say, .300 Win Mag)?"

I already answered this question above in my post. Use an RCBS Uniflow with a Hornady or RCBS case activated powder drop for on the press priming.

Dave

 

[stubbicatt]

The double disc kit works pretty well with ball powder, but not so well with extruded powders. The Lee Perfect Powder Measure (while a misnomer in some circles) works great with the extruded powders.

HTH.

 

[coloradokevin]

I already answered this question above in my post. Use an RCBS Uniflow with a Hornady or RCBS case activated powder drop for on the press priming.

Thanks Dave.... I saw your earlier response, but I wasn't clear on whether or not these two other systems had a greater charge capacity than the Lee system.

 

[strat81]

The double disc kit works pretty well with ball powder, but not so well with extruded powders.

This is true. Kinda.

In my Autodisk, using my charging technique and disk combos:
-Titegroup (flake) meters very well, usually .1gr variation
-Power Pistol (flake)meters as well as Titegroup
-Universal (flake? flattened ball?) is okay, but not as good as Titegroup
-AA1680 (ball) meters well, but is messy
-H335 (ball) probably meters the best
-Reloader 7 (stick) meters very consistently too, maybe .1-.2gr.

I thought RL7 would meter terribly, but it's actually pretty good.