Please double check formula for my first 100 rounds on Lee Classic Turret /auto powdr

[buenhec]

Ok, I just loaded my first 100 rounds on a Lee Classic 4 Hole Turret. Took me a while to set up, the instructions leave lots to be desired. Please double check my data, this is what I am using:

.45 ACP
Powder HP-38
Using Lee Auto disk .49 Should be 5.3 grains (this is my biggest doubt..)
Casings Winchester new
Primers Winchester Large for regular or Magnum
Bullets, Berry's Plated 200 Gr (pointed end out right)?
Bullet length when complete 1.35

I made sure the primer is flush with casing, and length matches my regular ammo. Will shoot using Sig 220 C3. I dont want to sound like a wussy but better safe than sorry. Do I ever have to scale the auto powder dispenser, or is it always accurate? Also after 2nd stage (powder) handle is very hard to pull down. Is this normal?

Overall it was pretty fast, easy, fun and lots cheaper...thanks all for the good info and getting me started.

 

[Jim Watson]

I trust you are talking about .45 ACP. If so:
Lee measures are normally very conservative. When I was fooling with their dippers and disks, nearly all delivered a little less than listed. But a scale is still a good thing to have.

1.35?
1.275" is the maximum overall length for .45 ACP and most ammunition is less than that. Your cartridges must go in the magazine and they must go in the chamber (Chamber check with the barrel clean and out of the gun. Cartridges should go all the way in the chamber FREELY, and fall back out.)

 

[Lone_Gunman]

The Lee Auto Disk generally dispenses less powder than the chart says. Sometimes you have to go up a hole size or two to get the right amount of powder.

The chart is a general guideline, and by no means an accurate representation of how much powder you will actually get. Its close, but not close enough. You absolutely need to check it with a powder scale, and adjust your hole sizes accordingly. I have been using a pro-auto disk for a couple of years now, and there is no way I would just go by what the chart says without measuring on a scale.

 

[buenhec]

Sorry, recalibrated the caliper, the length is 1.215. Should have got a digital... The manual says the minimum is 1.155, so sounds like it ok. Fits in chamber freely. Good tips..

Thanks

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I would never load rounds without checking the powder charge with a scale. I weigh the first to see if the charge is correct then I weigh 5 charges and divide the weigh by 5 to see if the it is being charged reliably.

The Lee Safety Powder Scale is very accurate and will work very well for you. Even though it Lists for $30 you can find it for under $20. http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=712103
If you want something Digital, Frankford has one which will cost you $25. It's a very small scale but it works. I use it to check charges after the initial setup during long runs. It's a good and inexpensive backup to your beam scale. http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=713372&t=11082005

With those prices there is no reason not to have a scale.

 

[buenhec]

Loan Gunman, you are correct. According to Lee, the .49 disk should deliver 5.3. I used the Lee scale and the charge weighed in between 5.1 & 5.2 if I am reading it correctly. .1 or .2 diff should not hurt me right? Should I try these charges first before going up to the next disk?

 

[RustyFN]

You should be OK with a .1 or .2 difference as long as you aren't loading near or going over max. My advice would be to only make a few and shoot them before you start making 100 or so. Having to pull 93 bullets with a hammer puller is no fun, don't ask me how I know this. When working up a load I will start at minimum and make 15 to 20 rounds each with a few different charges. I never load to max until I have tried other rounds and can't find anything accurate and don't see any signs of over pressure. When I find the most accurate load that works in the gun then I will go into mass production.
Rusty

 

[Lone_Gunman]

5.1 or 5.2 grains is fine, and should not make a difference.

Some of your larger holes in the Auto Disk system will cause greater variations. Just check with a scale before using.

 

[davinci]

I use a .43 to get about 4.8 grains of Red Dot, or titegroup. If I recall correctly. Haven't loaded anything in a while, I'm out of lead.

 

[Bula]

Hey Buenhec, your original post asked about the handle getting 'stuck' after stage 2. While your dropping powder the case is also flared to make the bullet seating easier. My guess is that you've got the die set a little too low, so you're belling a little more than you need. After you bell and charge the case there should be a VERY slight belling on the case. Heavy belling is really tough on brass too. .45 acp brass seems to go on forever if it's treated right.
Try raising that powder through die a little, and you should check out the die adjustment videos on the LeePrecision.com website. Good luck. It hurts my wallet seeing others shoot new .45 acp brass. Check the 'for sale' boards here for once fired stuff. I'd say about $50 per 1k shipped is standard. Last time I priced Winchester brass it was like $21 per hundred!!!!
for empty brass!!!

 

[The Bushmaster]

Do you have a loading manual like Lyman's 48th Edition? If not...Get one or two different load manuals.

You need a scale. The Lee dippers are conservative if you do it right, but humans seem to slowly increase what they see and the powder will get heavier as you go along (we tend to get greedy)...

Also...Primers are seated NOT flush with the case head, but just slightly below the case head about .005" +/- a couple thousands...

 

[bugs100]

I have alot of different 45's. To get them all to chamber, I load them with a OAL of 1.243-1.250. I load all my 45's with 5.2grs of W231.

 

[Snapping Twig]

Don't load any more ammo until you get a good scale.

Your data sounds good and should provide many happy hours of pleasant shooting.

My load is a 230g FMJ or hard cast TC over 5.3g HP38/W231. Laser beam accurate, hard hitting.

 

[TheFrenchCanadian]

Always double check with a scale!

I absolutely agree with ArchAngelCD.

I always double check the powder charge when setting up my Lee Auto Disk. Usually once I've reset it I'll run a couple through and just dump 'em back into the hopper, then I'll weigh ten charges in a row to take an average. After that I'll check each 10th or 20th one... call me uptight, but it works!

I also invested in one of those small inexpensive Frankford Arsenal scales ($29) as a backup to my RCBS 505 that I bought off of Ebay for $35. It's quick, works well and reassures me that both scales are calibrated the same.

A scale (beam or electronic) is an absolute must when reloading. I wouldn't ever be without one!

Take care,
TFC

ArchAngelCD

I would never load rounds without checking the powder charge with a scale. I weigh the first to see if the charge is correct then I weigh 5 charges and divide the weigh by 5 to see if the it is being charged reliably.

The Lee Safety Powder Scale is very accurate and will work very well for you. Even though it Lists for $30 you can find it for under $20. http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpag...eitemid=712103
If you want something Digital, Frankford has one which will cost you $25. It's a very small scale but it works. I use it to check charges after the initial setup during long runs. It's a good and inexpensive backup to your beam scale. http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpag...372&t=11082005

With those prices there is no reason not to have a scale.