lee pro auto disk powder measure not accurate

[TennJed]

i set up my lee classic turret and pro auto disk powder measure and it seems to be throwing an inaccurate charge....i wanted to use about 4.2 gr of unique for 38sp....according to the "book" that came with the powder measure disk 46 should drop 4.2 gr of unique....i am consistantly getting 3.3 to 3.4 grs...i am checking this against a franklin arsenal digital scale and a rcbs 5-10 balance scale.....either i did something wrong (which is possible) setting it up or something is wrong with the kit.....i set it up based on what i saw in the directions and a couple of you tube videos.....i did not set up the return spring chain becuase i could not find anything in the directions on how to install it......can anyone help

 

[rick300]

Me too, I just find the disk that works and make a note in my load book.
Say 6.8 grains of Unique = lee disk 8.8. It gets me +/- a tenth. I load in the middle so no problem. Your scale has the final word. Hope this helps. Rick

 

[Shadow 7D]

It's a volume measure, if you read the manual, they tell you which powders meter the best, unless you want an auto trickler, it's all volume and that is that, some powders work better with some brands, some not so.

some people go so far as to tape an electric tooth brush to the measure or tap it every drop.

 

[1KPerDay]

Ignore what the book says it should throw. Find the orifice that actually does throw the charge you want (likely one a size or two larger than the book says) and make a note of it. I think you'll find the measure to be very consistent once it's throwing the charge you like.

 

[LiveLife]

TennJed, join the club.

My experience has been similar with Unique and I no longer use the Auto Disk chart. Yes, I have tried the tapping of powder hopper and it does settle the powder quite a bit but still deviates quite a bit from the chart.

Instead, I now rough weigh the initial powder drops on the digital FA scale to select the right Auto Disk hole to use and verify the final powder drops on the Ohaus 10-10 beam scale.

Even then, it still varies .2-.3 gr for me. Accuracy however has been good even with this variation. I am planning to hand weigh some test loads to see if accuracy improves (just for my curiosity), but will use the Pro Auto Disk for final production rounds as it drops most ball/small flake powders with .1 gr variance. I recently bought Universal and PowerPistol to do a powder comparison test along with my old standby WSF for slower burning pistol powders.

 

[greyling22]

I've had some issues with inconsistency with large flake powders, but as a general rule of thumb it works pretty well.

return chain doesn't work with turret presses, only progressives, there should be a return spring gizmo on your dispenser. something like this http://media.photobucket.com/image/recent/aronstewart/IMG_0318.jpg (not my picture, I don't know what the screw is doing {maybe reducing volume? poor mans adjustable charge bar?})

some variation from the booklet is to be expected, but 25%, something sounds wrong.

 

[1SOW]

I've had some issues with inconsistency with large flake powders, but as a general rule of thumb it works pretty well.

Exactly. The ball and small rod type of powders (231, Titegroup, n320 ++) work great in the Lee chart/system. 700x, Unique and others are not so accurate or easy to use in the Lee system.

Modifying the holes in a spare disc gets great results for "in-between powder load" needs.

 

[jcerillo70]

Ive had better luck using the disk rather than the adjustable charge bar. i have to cycle about 12 throws through the hole im using to lube it up then i measure it till it throws consistent. Once it gets going its the greatest thing in the world

 

[john16443]

Ive had better luck using the disk rather than the adjustable charge bar. i have to cycle about 12 throws through the hole im using to lube it up then i measure it till it throws consistent. Once it gets going its the greatest thing in the world

My experience is that the charge bar drops what I want when I want it like nobodies business using Bullseye, Titegroup, W231 and WST. Don't have to worry about trying to drill holes or live with the in-between throws of the disk. Darn consistent as well, always within 1/2 grain or less of what I want.

 

[Lost Sheep]

Accurate or precise?

Lee powder measures (The Auto-Disk and the Dippers, not sure about the drum-type) are notorious for throwing lighter than their publications say. So, it can be said they are not "accurate". However, their scale is very accurate AND precise. When the Auto-disk or the dippers drop consistently, they are said to be precise.

You can fix accuracy for a gun by adjusting the sights or for the powder measure by recalibrating the documents that tell the throw weight. You can't fix precision nearly so easily.

I have always used the spring and "F" lever for my auto-disk. I never used the chain and "T" lever. The Chain and "T" lever are only for use on single stage or progressive. The chain would get all tangled up around the rotating turret, so only the "F" lever and spring must be used on either turret press.

Lost Sheep

edit: If they sent you the autodisk with only the chain and "T" lever, call them. They will send the proper lever and spring at no charge. It would be their mistake to fix.

In the meantime, you CAN use the "T" lever without the chain, but you have to operate the return stroke of the "T" lever by hand each time.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

i wanted to use about 4.2 gr of unique for 38sp....according to the "book" that came with the powder measure disk 46 should drop 4.2 gr of unique....i am consistantly getting 3.3 to 3.4 grs..

The chart that comes with the measure is a guide, not the rule. If the suggested disk doesn't throw the weight you want use the next one either up or down depending upon the weight being thrown for that powder.

Your measure isn't inaccurate just make the adjustment you need. Most powder I try are close but I usually have to use a different disk that in the chart. The only one I found that is correct is the one for W231. It's not a big deal, just change the disk...

 

[TennJed]

thanks guys

 

[gregj]

When I got mine, the first thing I did was create a spreadsheet of the powders I was going to use, then record for each disk cavity the amount of powder dropped. This became a quick reference in the future when working up loads.

 

[john16443]

When I got mine, the first thing I did was create a spreadsheet of the powders I was going to use, then record for each disk cavity the amount of powder dropped. This became a quick reference in the future when working up loads.

Same here, and I have another sheet set up for each 1/10 grain of powder for the charge bar. So if I want to throw 5.0 grains of W231 for my 200gr SWC's, I know where to set the bar to start. Don't have to adjust more than half a division to dial it in each time. That's what it takes to account for different temps or humidity when charging the cases.

 

[wingman]

I've used the adjustable charge bar from the very beginning and had no problems. I did smooth the bar up with super fine emery cloth then I dropped a small can of graphite though the system been very smooth since only occasional cleaning needed. Disk are ok but requires more effort with each powder in determining with disk to use.

 

[dickttx]

Adjust your powder die in or out so that the disk hole is directly over the drop hole.
I puff a little powdered graphite on the area where the disk/charge bar slides and on top of the disk/charge bar each time I take the hopper off.
As has been said by others, the tables are a starting point only, but I have found the measure to be extremely consistant, even with Unique.

 

[RustyFN]

My experience is that the charge bar drops what I want when I want it like nobodies business using Bullseye, Titegroup, W231 and WST. Don't have to worry about trying to drill holes or live with the in-between throws of the disk.

Try throwing 3 grains of Titegroup with the charge bar and let me know how it works for you. Didn't work very good for me.

 

[john16443]

Try throwing 3 grains of Titegroup with the charge bar and let me know how it works for you. Didn't work very good for me.

No reason for me to go below 4 grains TG. Have you found a hole that consistently throws that low charge?

 

[WyrTwister]

i set up my lee classic turret and pro auto disk powder measure and it seems to be throwing an inaccurate charge....i wanted to use about 4.2 gr of unique for 38sp....according to the "book" that came with the powder measure disk 46 should drop 4.2 gr of unique....i am consistantly getting 3.3 to 3.4 grs...i am checking this against a franklin arsenal digital scale and a rcbs 5-10 balance scale.....either i did something wrong (which is possible) setting it up or something is wrong with the kit.....i set it up based on what i saw in the directions and a couple of you tube videos.....i did not set up the return spring chain becuase i could not find anything in the directions on how to install it......can anyone help

Not unusual for the disk to drop light . Often I have to go up one or two holes . But they are usually consistent + - .1 grain .

I often use the double disk kit , to fine tune the load . So I am used to experimenting to get the disk combination to get the powder charge I want .

God bless
Wyr