The Turret Step

[RussellC]

With the safety prime, you might have to add a washer under it to get it the right height to seat primers. After I did this it runs flawless.

green dot is the only one I can't get accurate enough to my liking in the auto disc

Yes, and I find it needs to be set at just the right angle. Mine works very well for 9mm, .45, as well as .223/5.56. I have got to where I automatically stick my palm under the primer when I push the button. about 3-4 primers per 100 fall out. Adjusting the angle and retightening fix that. I havent had to do the spacer thing yet, maybe I should try it.

Russellc

 

[RussellC]

I use the safety prime system, didn't add washers or modify anything. It works first time, every time and is much faster than just about any other method. BUT, you do have to develop a certain technique and feel

Yup, same here. Most Lee stuff is a little fiddly, but once you have it down its easy and always priced right.

Russellc

 

[tcoz]

As I mentioned in a previous post, I didn't have to add washers but I just noticed that mine came with what could be called a "shaped washer" that sits on the plastic bracket and the bolt that screws down into the turret goes through it. Since it sits on top of the bracket, it doesn't affect the height in any way. The only possible purpose I see for it is to prevent the bracket from turning once you get it positioned correctly. The angle is the most important thing affecting proper function but I've never had to mess with it after the initial adjustment. Looking at the thing, I don't know how it even works at all, but it does and does it perfectly.

 

[frankenstein406]

Yes, and I find it needs to be set at just the right angle. Mine works very well for 9mm, .45, as well as .223/5.56. I have got to where I automatically stick my palm under the primer when I push the button. about 3-4 primers per 100 fall out. Adjusting the angle and retightening fix that. I havent had to do the spacer thing yet, maybe I should try it.

Russellc

Definitely give it a try, that was actually the reason I put a washer under it. So far I haven't had a primer fall out again after adding the washer knock on wood.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I hope you bought the Classic Turret press...

As for the best powders in the Auto-Disk, ball powders of course will meter best but even the tougher to meter powders work well. I use a lot of W231, HS-6 and W296 which are all ball powders. I'm glad to see you bought the Pro auto-Disk, it's a much better measure than the standard Auto-Disk.

DID YOU ORDER THE AUTO-DISK POWDER RISER??? You will need one to clear the Safety Prime when the turret spins.
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/114080/lee-auto-disk-powder-measure-riser?cm_vc=ProductFinding

The good news is, once you start priming on the press and set up all your components so they are handy you will probably be able to safely load between 180 to 200 rounds/hour. Sometimes I can do even more if I'm on a roll!

 

[berettaprofessor]

ArchAngelCD, I did buy the Auto-disk Powder Riser! Haven't set it up yet, but I will soon.

 

[tcoz]

Use the VMD for your powder only as a guide to give you an approximate starting point for your disk orifice. What you actually throw depends on a few factors, one of which I found to be the amount of flare that you set the die to give. It's adjusted by screwing the die in or out which also determines your disk travel. Moral to the story is to set your flare first, then find the correct disk size. Took me a while to figure that one out.

 

[Lost Sheep]

... It's adjusted by screwing the die in or out which also determines your disk travel. Moral to the story is to set your flare first, then find the correct disk size. Took me a while to figure that one out.

Caution: If the amount of flare causes the powder drop to vary you have something out of adjustment and a potentially dangerous condition.

Each time the powder measure throws, the cavity should 1) fill completely and 2) empty completely. If the amount of disk travel is affecting the amount of powder, I can only conclude that either the cavity is not completely filling (has an unfilled space when filling, probably due to the disk not being properly positioned under the powder supply's drop) or is not completely emptying (has some powder remaining in the cavity because the cavity is not fully traveling over the drop hole and leaving some powder on the "ledge").

Either situtaion can have significant variation and could lead to dangerous over or under charging, or, at least inconvenient variations in power levels.

Investigate thoroughly and adjust your installation accordingly.

The easiest to describe is the second condition. You can look down into the assembly and see if the disk is moving completely over the drop hole.

Good luck. Sorry I can't be more illuminating at this time.

Lost Sheep

 

[IlikeSA]

I have the cheaper Lee turret and am pretty happy with it. I have been using bullseye to reload 45 ACP and have found that I have to tap the powder dispenser with a finger to make sure it fills.

 

[Potatohead]

I like mine also Beretta. I recommend the charge bar. I wouldnt load pistol without it. And if you load 380 or 32, or anything with small charges, I recommend the "false wall" modification to the charge bar. Let me know if you ever need details and I'll link the thread.

 

[Jwbfx4]

I've been using a single stage for the last few years, been wanting to upgrade to a turret. I probably will finally buy one in the next couple months.

 

[berettaprofessor]

I recommend the "false wall" modification to the charge bar.

I've seen it, Potatohead....bookmarked a while back for later consideration. I'll have to check out the charge bar because I do load 380 and may load 32 auto someday.

Do you also use/recommend the double disk set much?

 

[Potatohead]

Ive loaded a few (500-600) 223s with the Double Disk. While it works well once I get it dialed in, it seems to take quite a bit of monkeying to find the right cavity mix. Quite possible that could be Potatohead induced though. And I guess this is common knowledge but if you apply any more than light pressure as you actuate the rifle charging part of the rifle charging die, you'll buckle the case mouth and some powder will trickle down (outside of the case).

It works just fine I'd say, but I do see myself trying a different powder measure for rifle eventually.

 

[RussellC]

Yes sir! I got my LCT 6 months ago, and I've been real pleased. I'm using my Perfect Powder measure on the powder-thru die using an adapter I got here
http://www.uniquetek.com/site/696296/product/T1370

Lots faster loading, still with the ability to keep every round personally inspected and certain of charge.

School me here, since I am thinking of getting a Dillon 550, Im interested in this part. Currently using the Lee Classic Turret press withthe Lee Pro Powder Disk. Is there an advantage to using this unit over the Pro Powder Disc, or is it that you just had one? Do you have to press a lever in this unit to drop, or is it automatic with the the stroke like the Pro Powder Disk?

Thanks,
Russellc

 

[mahansm]

The 550 is sold with its own cartridge activated powder measure. The powder measure comes with two sliders; the small one goes down to 3 grains easily and the large one goes up to about 80. Using 231, I'm generally +- .1 grain with the small bar and a 5 grain nominal charge weight. There are smaller and larger sliders available if you need them for special applications.

 

[RussellC]

no, I am just wondering why the powder measure he is using instead of the pro powder disk on his Lee Turret....but yeah, I see the 550 comes with its own.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showpost.php?p=9716118&postcount=2

Russellc