Lee Pro Auto disk problems

[rd2play]

I set up the first two dies on my Lee Classic, depriming/priming and powder die. I started testing the powder stage by itself, with a used 38 Special cartridge (cleaned and old primer).

I just can't get the right powder quantity in the cartridge After filling up the cartridge I check it on the scale and it just doesn't match. Lee's instructions say that for 3.1 gn of Unique I should use the .34 cavity. I do that and then the scale says I have only 2.5 gn. (In fact, according to the instructions, there is no cavity for Unique that yields 2.5 gn).

I took the entire powder stage apart several times and I still can't find the problem. The scale is a new digital one from Cabela's, and I calibrated it. Scale looks good.

I don't know what else to do...

[zfields]

Wrap a dryer sheet around your powder hopper. Lees have some issues with static.

[sofa88]

I've noticed that powder measure tends to load on the light side of what the disk is supposed to dispense. Also, I've read that unique doesn't meter as well in that particular dispenser because it's a flake powder, it'll be less consistent compared to using ball powder.

[wtkaiser]

I believe it says words to the effect that the chart is a guideline, not a hard and fast rule. I always came in a bit low with mine. No biggie, I just went to the next larger size. And SOFA88 is correct, in that coarser powders don't meter nicely at all. If Unique is your powder of choice and you MUST get it 3.1 grains exactly, use a trickler and weigh each charge. It's a PITA, but it can be done.

[rd2play]

Thanks, guys. I'll wrap a dryer sheet around and I'll go up in cavity, see which one comes the closest.

I went with Unique because, well... lack of experience, and everyone said it's a good one. What other powder does the Lee measure like better? (for 38 Special).

[takotruckin]

Mine measures the Unique pretty well. Within .2 grains. When choosing a disc use the Green Dot table and you will be pretty close.

[rd2play]

What is the Green Dot table?



I looked into this a little more and I believe it IS a powder or static related issue. Or both.

After I fill up a cartridge several times I turn off the hopper and I remove it slooowly. Then I can see the disk with powder actually covering the .34 size cavity Basically the powder bunches up over the hole, but it doesn't fall into the hole. After one or two light taps, it all goes down.

I'm happy I was able to figure out what is happening, even though I don't know the why. I am very upset though.

The big question is: what do I do now? I am basically at the mercy of static/powder. One cartridge might be light due to static/powder problems, and next cartridge might be OK. And so on... I simply can't count on the disk dispensing the right amount, no mater what hole I use. I definitely don't want to load each cartridge by hand/scale.

Maybe another powder would work better, but now I'm stuck with 1 lb of Unique (fortunately I didn't buy the 8 lbs). I can buy 1 lb of something else and hope I won't waste that money.

If anyone has any good experience with the Lee Pro auto disk and a certain powder, I really would want to know what the powder is.

[zfields]

Mine works great with win231 and. Bullseye

Sent from my NookColor using Tapatalk

[cbridgeman]

So I had a problem with mine throwing a light charge. What happened was the thumbscrew that attached that unit to the die was too tight. If I tightened it up all the way it wouldn't allow the disk to return fully underneath the powder hopper, so it couldn't fully fill up with powder. Once I loosened it up a little bit it worked great. Took me a bit to figure this out.

[rd2play]

I cleaned the disk with a wet rag, I let it dry, put it back, I tapped the hopper, and now I get 2.8 gn instead of 2.5. Tomorrow morning I bet I'll get something different... This thing is killing me.

[Bill Steele]

First, just store your hopper with a dryer sheet inside it when not in use and it will knock down any static. Occasionally change to a new sheet stuffed in before putting it away.

Second, Unique does not meter perfectly, even in the AD Pro disks, which are very consistent with most handgun powders (including the extruded VV powders). +/- about .2grs is fine for Unique.

Third, Unique is perhaps the farthest off of any powder in the Lee chart. It is far less dense than the Lee charts indicate (hence, it will be lighter than the Lee chart says for a given volume). I believe Unique was reformulated a while back, this may be why it is so far off from the Lee charts. Most powders run a little light (a tenth of a grain or so) from the Lee charts, but not all, so you must weigh each time. You will get a feel over time which powders run close to the Lee charts and which are waaay off, Unique is one of these.

Use your load books and use your scale to determine the weight, then figure out which cavity gives you that number and you will be fine.

Unless you are really at max (which you should not be when starting out anyway), Unique is pretty insensitive to a tenth here or there.

Have fun, good luck.

[rd2play]

Thanks, Bill, I appreciate the input. It gives me hope, and helps me sleep better tonight Otherwise I would literally think of powder every time I turned over in sleep.

[Bill Steele]

Mine measures the Unique pretty well. Within .2 grains. When choosing a disc use the Green Dot table and you will be pretty close.

rd2play, I just went back and checked my last batch of Unique I loaded, the disk cavity sizes I used and the Lee chart. Using the Green Dot numbers will get you really close. Green Dot is another powder in the Alliant line, it is a few lines down from Unique in the Lee chart.

Great stuff, the things you learn every day on Calguns.

[NotEnufGarage]

The AD takes some breaking in to polish the disk surfaces so they slide smoothly.

Also, the cavities throw a bit on the light side.

My advice, is get the adjustable disk for the AD.

[brl0301]

Easiest and cheapest thing is going to be to try a different powder that meters better. Ive had great luck with bullseye in my pro auto disk. Also I dont know that id try the adjustable charge bar with Unique. Ive heard really bad things about small loads of flake powder with the adjustable charge bar.