Question for Reloaders Using the Lee Autodisc Charging System

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308win

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What safe guard(s) are built into this system to assure that: 1 - a charge is dropped and 2 - you don't get a double charge? I am looking at turret press options and have not seen any of the products on the market in use so I am ignorant about these products.
 
I haven't reloaded anything in a while but I do use an Autodisk. As I recall there's no SURE way to prevent a 'no charge' or 'double' but with the autodisk it's almost impossible to double without pulling the handle twice. The disk has to move a good way and there's no path from hopper to case when the disk is over the case.
I didn't load 'progressive' so the next step after charging was to visually check the cases for a short charge, as I have had that happen.
 
I am using the Lee Disk System on a 4 hole turret and a Lee Loadmaster press. I visually check every case before I set the bullet. In 10K or so loaded rounds I didn't have an empty case. The correct charge was dropped every time. I have both types. The spring loaded and the pull back chain type of auto disk and both work just fine.

Both presses are auto indexing so I cannot see a double charge being possible. The Auto Disk itself doesn't have a safe guard against double charge. If you - for example - would use a turret press without auto indexing, you could pull the handle numerous times and double or triple charge a case. Nothing will prevent you from doing that. You can do the same thing on a Dillon 550 or any other non auto indexing progressive press.
 
I have a Deluxe Auto-Disk I use with my Load Master. The thrower is case activated and reset by a chain. I haven't used the spring loaded version, but it would require more care as it resets immidately where as the chain reset requires the handle to almost completely return.

I've had one double charge once that I missed. It was early in it's career and as I was trying to troubleshoot a settings I had pulled the handle twice but didn't let it go all the way back and index. Then somehow I missed looking in that case. Fortunately it was a very light target load in a 357 Mag case and so neither I nor the gun were harmed.

I always look into the cases and confirm the powder. Most often if it's not there it's because a primer was missed and not any fault of the powder thrower. I've also found it to be extremely consistant in charge weights with everything from ball to very large flaked powders. I haven't used it with extruded powders yet.
 
I use the Spring loaded type loading .45 I always visually inspect each case before inserting a bullet. I use a 4-hole Lee Turret press. I've put 3000 rounds through it so far without a hitch.
 
I used to look in every cartridge to make sure ther powder charge looked right.....

Now I use a Lee powder check Die.....It checks for you.
 
I too use a Deluxe(or Pro, or whatever they call it) AutoDisk on my Loadmaster, and have not had a short or over charge yet. I'll also echo the comments of the autodisks uncanny consistancy and accuracy!

I recently picked up a micro disk set for it so I can get more specific charge weights with the unit, but I haven't used it yet.
 
What safe guard(s) are built into this system to assure that: 1 - a charge is dropped and 2 - you don't get a double charge?
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You could encounter either problem, but only if a.) you're really sloppy, and b.) you neglect to check charged cases before seating bullets.
 
I recently picked up a micro disk set for it so I can get more specific charge weights with the unit, but I haven't used it yet.
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Are the four disks that come with the Autodisk adequate and reasonably accurate for use for casual plinking'target shooting and HD rounds? What are the micro disks, do you get them from Lee, and what do the sets run? I haven't ran across these on Lee Precision site.
 
The Micro-disk allows for smaller cavities for finer adjustments in the smaller rounds like 9mm and below.

I have a double disk kit so I can load 44 Mag and get more options in my other loads as well. I don't load anything small enough to justify a Micro disk.

The disk capacities are usually close enough that at least 1 will fall between the starting and max range of any given loading.
 
I have a micro-disk and the adjustable charge bar but I've never used either. I do use the double-disk kit regularly. I really like the Auto Disk, enough that even though I don't use the Lee progressive press that it came with now, I still use the Auto Disk in preference to my old faithful 55.

As with any measure, you must use a scale when "setting" the Auto Disk. I find the spec sheet that lists how much powder a given cavity should throw to be consistently and fairly significantly on the low side with many powders.
 
I am actually mistaken!! I got my products mixed up. I have the double disk kit, not the micro disks.

The default disks have quite a range though. I just added the double disk cause I like my charges very specific. For example (and these numbers are from memory, so they could be wrong) I like a charge of 6.4 grains of Power Pistol for 40 S&W, but the closest I can get to that with the default disks is either 6.2 or 6.6 or something like that. Good enough charge, but I want that particular charge, dang it!

Also, large cartridges like .44 and larger need the double disk capacity.

The DD kit is like ~10 bucks at Midway, I believe the micro disk is 10 or 15 bucks.
 
What safe guards are built into all powder "dropper's" YOU and YOUR common sense. Look into the case before you put the damned bullet on top of the charge.
 
What safe guards are built into all powder "dropper's" YOU and YOUR common sense. Look into the case before you put the damned bullet on top of the charge.
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Well thank you for your input Mr Personality, if you don't have anything positive to contribute exorcise your demons on another thread :banghead:
 
I've used the Lee Pro Powder measures for several years now. I started with the disks, but quickly went to the adjustable charge bar. I've got the micro disks for reloading .32 S&W Long, but haven't used it yet.

When reloading I have the mindset I'm a manufacturer of ammunition. Part of the manufacturing process is quality control or QC. I use QC in every step. For the powder step - for the cases I don't test weigh I visually verify that there is powder in the case and the level looks reasonable before placing the bullet on the case. I test weigh powder 1 in 10 cases more or less depending on how well the dispenser is working with that particular powder - ie. my confidence level.

I've never had a case go through the Lee Pro dispenser and not have powder in it.
 
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308Win,

The Lee Adjustable Charge Bar works with any press. It simply replaces the disks in the powder measure. Instead of selecting the best "hole" that is closest to the weight of powder you want to throw, you adjust the charge bar (which is kind of like a variable size hole!). By adjusting the charge bar you can get your powder measure throwing the weight you want. I don't know why Lee doesn't discontinue the disks (except for the double disk and micro disks) because the charge bar does the job better. Well, I guess the answer to this is Lee can sell you the charge bar after they sold you the powder measure.

For pistols, the adjustable charge bar will work with most loads. If you reload very large or very small caliber ammo you may run into situations where the charge bar won't work. For example, the charge bar will only go up to about 19 grs. of 2400 and I may need 22 grs. In this case you need the double disk kit.

Hope this helps,
Paul
 
For example, the charge bar will only go up to about 19 grs. of 2400 and I may need 22 grs. In this case you need the double disk kit.
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Or you could just work the handle twice on the 4 hole turret press with the charge bar set to 9.5 gr??? (you'd have to disable the auto index though - easy enough and I've done it quite often for one reason or another).

I've used the auto disk for quite a while with no problems. The only thing I don't like about it is that as some have noted the amount of powder thrown is fixed for each hole size and not adjustable.
 
The only thing I don't like about it is that as some have noted the amount of powder thrown is fixed for each hole size and not adjustable.
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Why would you consider that a problem. The fixed disc cavaties take the fine tuning out of it. When I load .38 spl, 9mm, 9x18 Mak, 7.62x38R, etc, I know just what disc and cavity to use. No adjustment to ding dong with, just drop it in. Worst case for me, I'm .1g off from when one of my calibers should be. Doesn't bother me in the least. The charge bar on the other hand, takes me more time to adjust, and it's just as close. Plus, I'm going to probably start using it to charge rifle calibers, no way the charge bar is going to do that unless you want to throw the handle a dozen or two times.....
 
Donkee,

What happens when you get a different batch of the powder you use and the powder measure throws a heavier load than you need from the usual hole?
 
Not to seem petty here, but even atmospheric pressure effects The Auto disc.

And "Mr. Personality" will tell you the same thing again because you are playing with YOUR fingers, hands and face which includes your eyes. Don't guess...KNOW how much you have thrown. As I have said before. I am in no hurry. I weigh every charge that my Auto Disc drops. And look inside before I place the bullet on top of it. I work in a trade that has proven to me that machinery is designed by man and is prone to fail. Just like the safety on your firearm. "Safety's are designed to fail" You are the only "Safety" for your Gun. Sorry if my lookin' out for your safety affended you. In the future I will have NO concern for you. Oh...Have a nice day on me.....

Oh BTW...There certain flake powders that can get caught between the disc and the hopper that will jam up the works and deliver little or no powder charge. If you are not alert to this you will come up short and I do mean short...
 
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Donkee-it takes a little bit of work, but on the adjustable charge bar, there are graduations which can be used. For example, on my set up, two graduations on the brass dial will increase or decrease the charge by 1/10th of a grain with Bullseye. Sure, you have to have your scale out just to make sure, but it is a worthwhile accessory if you will put just a short time into it.
 
I had an interesting experience trying a new powder, Unique, with the adjustable charge bar. The bar worked fine with Bullseye, as it is such a small, fine powder, but the large flakes of Unique would not fall into the angled slot on the bar and measure well at all. The bar works much better with finer granule powders, I really like the flexability. You dont have to take things apart to change charges.

I was back to the disks for the right sized load, which fell straight down then, and measured fine. I weighed several, and they are very even from the disk.

A good light, close by, will help you see your load before you place every bullet. You can see how much is there. One thing to remember it to pull the handle all the way, for the indexer to work. I seem to have to watch that when I am weighing, because then I dont. I seem to think watching that bullet sit over the right load is one of the most important parts of the process. I guess its easier to see the powder for pistol cases than rifle.
 
I use the adjustable charge bar with Unique and never had a problem keeping within +.05gr. - -.1gr. of Unique, I'm using 8.0 grs for my 40S&W. I never warmed up to the disks, I don't like being limited to the powder weights and I like turning a screw to adjust the powder.

Whitesmoke,
I must be blind, I just checked the lee and Midway site and cannot find the powder check die. Can you provide a part number or a link?
 
Oh BTW...There certain flake powders that can get caught between the disc and the hopper that will jam up the works and deliver little or no powder charge. If you are not alert to this you will come up short and I do mean short...
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This is one of the first things I learned about the AutoDisk...

Which is why I only use ball type powders with it and some of those meter better than others. Accurate for example meters way better than Hodgdon.

As an aside to those who measure every load. I managed a QA dept for a medical manufacturing firm for over 6 years and I'm here to tell you that Statistical Process Control works.

When I first got into reloading I was paranoid as hell but put what I'd learned in QA to work. I started out measuring every load out of the autodisk. Then got to every 5th load and eventually every 10th. They're always the same weight from beginning to end using a balance scale set to the desired weight. My brain tells me to just zero the scale, test it with my calibration weights, weigh a charge, if necessary change the autodisk hole to the next higher or lower size as required (which it sometimes is based on different powder lots - I guess) and once everything is right just make cartridges and forget about it. My gut however won't let me do that and so I continue [unnecessarily as much experience attests to] to measure every 10th throw.
 
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