Lee Auto Disk .223 Problem

[Marxman]

I am sorry if its been covered before, but this is an infuriating problem that's probably got a very easy solution. That being said...

I recently set up my new Lee Classic Turret Press, and purchased a Lee Auto Disk powder measure to go with it after reading some good reviews. To use this powder measure I needed to purchase Lee's rifle charging die, which I did. When I set my equipment up two days ago I was very excited, and went to check the function of the Auto Disk (with no powder, just wanted to see it actuate) with a deprimed LC 5.56 casing.

As my handle reached the lowest point in its operation nothing happened with the Auto Disk. I adjusted it lower and tried again. Nothing. Finally I adjusted it as low as I could but then the shell holder contacted the bottom of the rifle charging die, with no movement of the Auto Disk. I retried the press with a 30-06 casing in its shell holder and it worked like a charm. Somewhat frustrated, I left the press alone and haven't touched it since.

From this situation I figured it was one of two things - factory defect (very little chance) or operator error. I'm absolutely sure it's number two, but I have no idea how to get it to work. The problem seems to be that the 5.56 brass is too small to contact the auto disk actuator, and the charging die is too long to let it work properly. I came to this conclusion because the measure worked perfectly with the larger 30-06 casing.

Any help anyone can give me will be greatly appreciated. I need to get some ammunition loaded quick, my reserves are running out! If you tell me to re-assemble it, please specify how so I can make sure that I don't muck up somewhere like I may have before. Thank you.

For the TL;DR crowd: I can't get my Lee Auto Disk powder measure to work with .223/5.56 brass, and I'd appreciate any insight you may have.

[mossberg500]

go to youtube more reloading video to help you set up your rig, mine works flowless

[Marxman]

Already did, it wasn't any help. Do you use yours for .223?

EDIT: I set the rig up correctly and it functions, just not with .223. It seems they're too short. This is my only real problem. I could have very possibly botched the setup, but the youtube video doesn't help. It still seems like the casing is too short

[johnrunner89]

I have a Lee classic turret press and it works great on .223. I'm having trouble understanding your problem, but I would think you need to readjust the die so the .223 brass can go in nicely.

[Syntax Error]

Maybe the riser is too far up. Perhaps you can screw it down into the turret some more so the .223 brass will engage the powder feed.

[Marxman]

I've already tried these options, and it seems nothing short of shaving off a substantial part of the rifle charging die will work.

Let me try to clarify my problem: My Lee Classic Turret press is not the problem. My Lee Auto Disk doesn't seem to be the problem. The rifle charging die that acts as a spacer between the end of the shell holder and the actuator of the auto prime is the problems, and it seems that it is too long to allow the .223 brass to make the Lee Auto Disk work.

One of two things (that I can think of) may be the problem - either the auto disk's actuator is too short or the rifle charging die is too long - either way it wont let me get the measure to work with .223 brass. Its strictly a spacial thing - the auto disk isn't broken, I'm quite sure the charging die is fine, the press is new, and the turret is new. I'm let with what seems like brass that is too short to make this system work, even though Lee says that it will charge this caliber. Again, any help is appreciated.

Syntax Error - I can't adjust the die down because it interferes with ram operation. Just to troubleshoot I took 2 casings of .223 and stacked them on top of each other. This time it actuated the powder measure, but it needed approximately an extra .75 inches of casing to do so. This was as low as I could get it. Again, it handled the larger 30-06 brass casing I used to test it fine.

Johnrunner, I can't readjust the die any more than I already have. I've tried from high to low to get it to work, and it did absolutely nothing. The way it didn't work actually led me to believe I might have to shave off part of the die to get it to work (don't worry, I'm not doing that).

I appreciate your help, but like I said I've been trying that with no success.

[Antihero47]

do you have the correct rifle bushing\funnel inside the charging die? Are you sure its the correct one for a .223? I have used my Turret press with 223 and the auto disk.

[Marxman]

I have nothing inside my charging die. My setup goes like this from top down

Lee Auto Disk Powder Hopper
Lee Auto Disk Base
Drop Tube
Rifle Charging Die
Brass Casing
Shell Holder
Ram

Between the shell holder and the charging die the casing doesn't seem to be long enough to make the powder measure work. I pull back on my handle and raise the ram as far as it goes and nothing happens with the measure, even when I move the charging die to its lowest position. Will the addition of a funnel or bushing allow it to work? It's not that I'm getting a messy powder distribution - it's that I'm getting no powder, or for that matter movement from the powder measure.

[Antihero47]

I will be home in an hour. I will take some pictures of the setup that I have and break down the die. Its just a round metal insert that slopes into a smaller hole to accommodate small to large calibers.

Looks like this...

[killshot44]

Watching this for resolution. There may be an Auto-Disk in my future....

[Marxman]

Long stupid story short I checked the lee catalog and I am missing their .22 caliber drop disk, and their funnel adapter. I ordered them a couple hours ago, and I'll update this thread when I get/install them. I didn't order the rifle charging die from lee, so I didn't get all the serviceable parts - including those two. When I went to install it I was missing pieces, and the system wouldn't work. Kudos to Antihero47 for the help, and thank you to everyone who helped.

EDIT: Killshot44, I'd suggest the pro kit over the regular kit. Even though I haven't been able to use it yet the reviews speak for themselves. Buy once cry once.

[AIMSMALL]

Pro autodisk works great for me on .223 and .45! I would make the purchase again too.

[johnrunner89]

Glad to see you got the problem fixed. I knew it would be an easy fix. I have the Lee Pro auto-disk powder measure and it works fantastic with .223, and im sure you'll think the same once you get yours going. If you don't have the "Pro" auto-disk, you can upgrade the standard lee auto-disk powder measure with an upgrade kit (might be easier to just buy the pro and sell the standard though).

Oh and if your using the Lee safety prime, I recommend getting the Lee auto-disk riser. It allows the allows the powder measure to clear the safety prime. The link shows a picture of it, just scroll a little down. If your not using the lee safety prime (I recommend it, very simple and effective) than you won't need it but if you are than you will need it. You can get it for about $7.

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=114080

http://www.leeprecision.com/html/catalog/powhan1.html

[DougJ]

I've been using the Lee Pro autodisk for everything from about 2.9 grains of Titegroup for a 38 Special practice load for the wife, up to 25 grains of TAC for the .223, with lots of 45 ACP in between.

Glad you got your problem fixed, and I think you'll be happy with how it works once you have all the required parts!

[killshot44]

Long stupid story short I checked the lee catalog and I am missing their .22 caliber drop disk, and their funnel adapter. I ordered them a couple hours ago, and I'll update this thread when I get/install them. I didn't order the rifle charging die from lee, so I didn't get all the serviceable parts - including those two. When I went to install it I was missing pieces, and the system wouldn't work. Kudos to Antihero47 for the help, and thank you to everyone who helped.

EDIT: Killshot44, I'd suggest the pro kit over the regular kit. Even though I haven't been able to use it yet the reviews speak for themselves. Buy once cry once.

Glad you resolved the issue. Guess that drop disk and adapter would help, huh.

Thanks for the advice on the Pro vs Std.......