Lee Pro Auto Disk Testing

[sofbak]

I can measure mine tomorrow for you, but here's the riser that you can purchase.

Thanx for the link! I didn't know you could order just the risers. I'll do that instead of trying to fab my own....

[Enfield47]

The spacers come with the double disk kit. Since I already have the original powder system with one set of disks, and I bought the adjustable bar, all I need to stack them is the longer screws, and the spacers or a substitute for them. Didn't want to invest in the entire double disk kit just to get those plastic spacers.

If you can measure the height of them I would greatly appreciate it.

TIA

I can measure mine tomorrow for you, but here's the riser that you can purchase.

[sghart]

I use the Double Disk Kit for doing my Ruger-only .45 Colt loads with 2400. It's shown me consistency to within 0.1gr. Worth the $.

I love my "Ruger only" loads. I load 20 gr of 2400 under a 260 gr SWC bullet. I have an old model Vaquero with a 7 1/2" barrel. Lot's of fun.

[sofbak]

That's what they're for. I can't remember if they came with the powder measure or with the double disk kit, though. If the latter and you were going to get the adjustable charge bar, I could measure them and let you know what lengths each piece is.

The spacers come with the double disk kit. Since I already have the original powder system with one set of disks, and I bought the adjustable bar, all I need to stack them is the longer screws, and the spacers or a substitute for them. Didn't want to invest in the entire double disk kit just to get those plastic spacers.

If you can measure the height of them I would greatly appreciate it.

TIA

[BruinGuy]

A questions for someone who has the double disk kit. The kit includes a pair of plastic parts that appear to be side skirts for the increased height of the "stack". They may also serve as semi-precision height spacers for mounting the hopper with the included longer screws.

The question is-Are these necessary? I could cut a pair of spacers from another material and substitute my own longer screws, but I'm not sure if there is another function of these plastic spacers that I don't see.

TIA

That's what they're for. I can't remember if they came with the powder measure or with the double disk kit, though. If the latter and you were going to get the adjustable charge bar, I could measure them and let you know what lengths each piece is.

[sofbak]

A questions for someone who has the double disk kit. The kit includes a pair of plastic parts that appear to be side skirts for the increased height of the "stack". They may also serve as semi-precision height spacers for mounting the hopper with the included longer screws.

The question is-Are these necessary? I could cut a pair of spacers from another material and substitute my own longer screws, but I'm not sure if there is another function of these plastic spacers that I don't see.

TIA

[Cowboy T]

I use the Double Disk Kit for doing my Ruger-only .45 Colt loads with 2400. It's shown me consistency to within 0.1gr. Worth the $.

[Enfield47]

Stilly, it is worth the price in my opinion. If you have the adjustable charge bar apparently it adds a whole new level of accuracy for your powder drops. I just ordered the charge bar today so I should get it next Mon or Tues.

[stilly]

This is good to know again. I have heard very good things about the Lee Auto Pro Disk thingmajigger for stick powders.

Okay, so everything said here has been validated now... |D

Imma hafta buy a double disk kit.

[Goesfaster]

I love the charge bar, when I am loading 223 with a narrow case mouth I can watch the powder drop as the charge bar moves forward. I found IMR 4198 to be real nice and consistent.

[BruinGuy]

Scotchblade - it helps to sit a little higher so you can peek into the case as you bring the ram down after charging. I like to have a lamp behind me (I use an old-style swivel desk lamp I got from Ikea for $8) so I don't need a flashlight each time. I can see that powder is in the case and the level is consistent. I still check my first 10 and every tenth case after on the scale, but I'm cautious like that.

This works well with pistol cartridges and wide-mouthed rifle (like 7.62x39 I can usually see down into the shell okay); for things with a smaller opening...you've just gotta either trust it or check each one by taking it out of the ram and looking.

[Enfield47]

For rifle rounds, I run my turret in single stage mode and index manually. I just don't want to have to pull the handle two more times to rotate back around to the powder drop and bullet seating die. I figure I've been reloading just under a year now and still have a lot to learn so I still like doing my rounds in batches so I can inspect everything. So far I haven't run into any real issues thankfully but I like knowing I can inspect every step.

[scotchblade]

I have the Auto Pro as well. I need to get used to dropping powder on a turret. I went from single stage to the LCT not long ago.

When charging cases on the single stage, I was able to visually inspect everything in the loading block. This check point is removed when using a turret as you index right to bullet seating.

Obviously there is still a way to check each case, I'm still working on a developing a routine. I'm not comfortable trusting each case is getting the correct charge, even though results in the past are consistent.

[sofbak]

This is handled by the "clunk" of the indexing turret.
The manual says to run the press several cycles to settle the powder, too.

Yup, that helps a lot.. And the more consistent your hand motion on the ram handle gets, the more consistent the dropped charge weight gets....

I also discovered another "kluge" that helps. Once while I was dropping Unique, I noticed after about 30 rounds that every drop was dead on equal on my scale. Normally unique delivered a wide deviation of weight, and I was perplexed about what I had done to tighten up the consistency.

I noticed that the powder hopper had rotated just a bit off center of the turret, and on the turret rotation to the bullet seating die, the side of the hopper was lightly bumping the primer tray on the safety prime attachment.

So after straightening and securing the powder hopper, I rigged up a stationery "thumper" that the hopper would run into (gently) once every full rotation of the turret. this thump made a big difference in tightening the weight deviation on all powders, and saved some wear and tear on my safety prime too.....

[Fishslayer]

the problem with the auto-disk set up is that the disk cavity never completely fills up. Because of settling, and a bulk material property called "angle of repose", there is always some volume of the disk at the top around the perimeter that does not fill-unless you shake the press really good to cause some mechanical compaction/settling of the powder in the cavity.

This is handled by the "clunk" of the indexing turret.
The manual says to run the press several cycles to settle the powder, too.