Lee Pro-Auto Disk powder measure screwed me!

[sksman777]

I was excited to get my new Pro powder measure, installed easy. Did a few tests very accurate. I ordered the double disk, as most of my reloads are 46gr H100 for the S&W 460. I put everything together to find out with both disks at the highest capcity I can only get 43.5gr of H110. So this thing is pretty useless to me. Anyone have any ideas?? Can I get a few more grains or am I doing something wrong? According to Lee the highest charge should be 48 grains.

[drkphibr]

Highest charge depends on powder type. Just like different powders with the same disks will give you different results.

On large caliber reloads, I do the "double double". I find two of the disks (or in some cases, the single disk) that will give me exactly 1/2 of my needed load. Then when doing my powder drop, I do it 2 times. A third time will overfill the casing, so I know I've goofed, but unfortunately, if you don't pay close attention, you may load a squib by forgetting to 2x the drop and only effectively fill it with 1/2 what's needed. I've found this to be a decent work around and I'm pretty attentive with my reloading, especially when I'm doing double double loads.

[wtkaiser]

Right - same thing with the RCBS Little Dandy. I'm not about to spend 5 or 6 bucks for every single charge rotor, but the smaller ones that work great for a .38 special also work great for .44 if you just do it twice. Like he says, ya gotta pay attention to things - but we all do that anyway, don't we?

[milotrain]

Wait.... do you not own a drill? Just make the hole a bit bigger. Go slow and in small increments until you get what you want. It's a piece of plastic after all.

[lpspinner]

I hate the disks, I chucked mine and replaced them with the Lee adjustable Bar.

[Fishslayer]

I was excited to get my new Pro powder measure, installed easy. Did a few tests very accurate. I ordered the double disk, as most of my reloads are 46gr H100 for the S&W 460. I put everything together to find out with both disks at the highest capcity I can only get 43.5gr of H110. So this thing is pretty useless to me. Anyone have any ideas?? Can I get a few more grains or am I doing something wrong? According to Lee the highest charge should be 48 grains.

The spreadsheets provided with the AutoDisc are a guidline only. They're meant to get you in the ballpark.

I would probably bore out a cavity to exactly 23gr and double drop.

Be aware that a different lot of powder might not yield precisely 23gr with that cavity. Might want to invest in an 8# keg.

[XDRoX]

I hate the disks, I chucked mine and replaced them with the Lee adjustable Bar.

I use the adjustable bar. With it open all the I can get 25gr of TAC to drop. That's exactly what I use in 223 but it wouldn't work if I needed more.

[sonnyt650]

You can stack two of the adjustable charge bars as well, did that for .308 before I doubled up on the Lee Perfect Prime w/ one for my .223 and the second for .308.

[jwc]

Wait.... do you not own a drill? Just make the hole a bit bigger. Go slow and in small increments until you get what you want. It's a piece of plastic after all.

This idea worked very well for me, but I used a small file. 10,000+ powder drops later it has NEVER failed to drop the exact amount of power I expected.

[milotrain]

This idea worked very well for me, but I used a small file. 10,000+ powder drops later it has NEVER failed to drop the exact amount of power I expected.

I hear that Dillon users also make replacement bars for their powder drops by reaming out holes to an exact size. As long as you use the same powder and stroke action the drop will stay consistent. It's a very very good idea for match ammo.

[noylj]

If you're going to load for a rifle and want a specific charge weight, then invest in a powder measure that gets you there in one drop. Why go through needless work?
The whole idea of stacking disks or double throwing just puts more variable into the process where mistakes can take place.
Spend $80 or whatever on a Hornady or Dillon powder measure and be done with it. The Dillon is just an overgrown Pro Auto-Disk with an adjustable charge bar that actually works. If you buy the Hornady, for only $10 you can buy a replacement metering assembly and set aside one when it throws the exact charge of a specific powder you want.

[j.primo]

[Cowboy T]

Highest charge depends on powder type. Just like different powders with the same disks will give you different results.

On large caliber reloads, I do the "double double". I find two of the disks (or in some cases, the single disk) that will give me exactly 1/2 of my needed load. Then when doing my powder drop, I do it 2 times. A third time will overfill the casing, so I know I've goofed, but unfortunately, if you don't pay close attention, you may load a squib by forgetting to 2x the drop and only effectively fill it with 1/2 what's needed. I've found this to be a decent work around and I'm pretty attentive with my reloading, especially when I'm doing double double loads.

+1 to this idea. Boring out the appropriate cavity would also work well. The Pro Auto-Disk Powder Measures, once you get them set, are remarkably consistent with their drops.

[pisarski]

thats what i did with mine and it works fine