Pistol powder variance in Lee auto disk

[Tony k]

In a previous thread I asked about using Green Dot in 380.
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/green-dot-380-data.820769/
Many people suggested that I might not get consistent throws with my Lee Pro Auto disk. I decided to do a comparison between power pistol bullseye IMR PB and Green Dot.

My basic procedure was to use the smallest hole size, which is .30, on a Lee Pro Auto disk. I threw 50 charges for each powder to get it to settle, then I weighed 10 charges to compare consistency, and finally I compared the combined weight of 10 charges to get an average. The results are as follows:

Imr PB
2.4
2.3
2.4
2.4
2.4
2.4
2.4
2.4
2.4
2.3
Ten throws 24.1

Bullseye
2.5
2.5
2.6
2.4
2.4
2.6
2.5
2.5
2.5
2.5
Ten throws 25.7

Power Pistol
3.2
3.1
3.1
3.1
3.1
3.2
3.1
3.1
3.1
3.1
Ten throws 32.2

Green Dot
2.1
1.1
.7
.7
2.1
2.1
2.1
.8
2.1
2.1
Ten throws 13.4

It seems to me that the Green Dot Is bridging in such a small hole. I'd be satisfied with the consistency of the bullseye the power pistol and the IMR PB. However the green. Results are completely unacceptable so unless I can get more consistent results I probably won't be using it in 380

 

[Walkalong]

Yea, that's not good.

Have a .45 ACP? Green Dot works well in it.

 

[Tony k]

Yea, that's not good.

Have a .45 ACP? Green Dot works well in it.

Yep, I load quite a bit of .45. in fact, I originally bought the Green Dot for 45. I just never got around to trying it because bullseye was working so well.

That's likely what I'll use it in. I might burn up what's left of my Imr PB in .380, but there no sense in getting too wild with load refinement since it's discontinued and I have lass than a pound.

 

[wild willy]

I use Green Dot for my .32 Mag. Lee turret press Lee pro auto disk 3.5 grains. I have never gotten spreads that bad usually within .1 either way I just did 3 groups of 10 34.6, 34.7 and 34.5 .Maybe using the smallest cavity caused some of it.What press? on the Lee turret I get more consistent charges doing the whole loading procedure

 

[Tony k]

I use Green Dot for my .32 Mag. Lee turret press Lee pro auto disk 3.5 grains. I have never gotten spreads that bad usually within .1 either way I just did 3 groups of 10 34.6, 34.7 and 34.5 .Maybe using the smallest cavity caused some of it.What press? on the Lee turret I get more consistent charges doing the whole loading procedure

Same setup as you. I think it's all because of using the smallest cavity. I guess I was focused on the fact that other people suggested poor metering at low charges. I wanted to see how bad it really could be.

Maybe I should retest with the cavity I'm likely to use.

 

[Hpi_jeep]

I've had pretty good results using true blue with auto disk. It works very well for me. It does leak quite a bit of powder on my desk though. I think the more I use it the more it wears in and works even better. Probably 12k-13k throws on the current disk configuration.

 

[Tony k]

I just did some more tests. Bottom line is I'm still getting bridging all the way up to the .53 cavity, which is throwing at about 3.6gr when it meters correctly.

No bueno for me.

 

[armarsh]

Green Dot testing today with Lee Pro Auto Disk using a .46 disk, which is what I use for 100 grn Berry's. Thrown with my Hornady LNL, set up like I would normally use it. I use a Lee riser to get additional clearance for the next station, which is an RCBS lock-out die. Weighed on my A&D FX-120 milligram scale.

1       3.04
2       3.10
3       3.04
4       3.18
5       3.14
6       3.16
7       3.08
8       3.12
9       3.08
10      3.06
    
High    3.18
Low     3.04
Ave     3.10
ES      0.14
SD      0.05

I find this performance to be completely satisfactory for my uses. I take a great deal of care in how I prepare disks before I use them. If they don't have a substantial layer of graphite on them I rub some in with a q-tip and then run several dozen throws with a mixture of old powder and graphite.

 

[Tony k]

Green Dot testing today with Lee Pro Auto Disk using a .46 disk, which is what I use for 100 grn Berry's. Thrown with my Hornady LNL, set up like I would normally use it. I use a Lee riser to get additional clearance for the next station, which is an RCBS lock-out die. Weighed on my A&D FX-120 milligram scale.

1       3.04
2       3.10
3       3.04
4       3.18
5       3.14
6       3.16
7       3.08
8       3.12
9       3.08
10      3.06
   
High    3.18
Low     3.04
Ave     3.10
ES      0.14
SD      0.05

I find this performance to be completely satisfactory for my uses. I take a great deal of care in how I prepare disks before I use them. If they don't have a substantial layer of graphite on them I rub some in with a q-tip and then run several dozen throws with a mixture of old powder and graphite.

Heck yes those are acceptable results! In my test, I was using "unseasoned" disks. I might try again after I put some graphite through them.

 

[wild willy]

I've been using spray graphite for years.The carrier evaporates leaving a nice coating. I spray powder measures,powder thru dies,funnels anything the powder touches I give the Lee disks a good coating.

 

[JimKirk]

There are several math errors in the OP ...
10 drops
PB 23.8
BE 25.0
PP 31.2
GD 15.9

But the Green Dot does not seems to do well ...

 

[Zendude]

The inconsistent drops are also what I experience with non-spherical powder in the smallest few disk sizes.

 

[Tony k]

There are several math errors in the OP ...
10 drops
PB 23.8
BE 25.0
PP 31.2
GD 15.9

But the Green Dot does not seems to do well ...

Math error no; communication error yes.

The 10 throw totals are separate from the individual throws listed.

Sorry about that.

 

[JimKirk]

Got ya! I thought my calculator had been hacked by the Russians !!

 

[1KPerDay]

To the OP I can't get consistent throws with any of the large flake powders like red/blue/green dot at anything under about 3.4 grains. Try HP-38 or something similar. I load all my .380 with HP-38/W231.