Lee pro auto powder drop issue.. help

[roc_my_tims]

Hello,

Im using the lee pro auto dropper on my turret pess with Unique powder loading about 5.8grains for 45 acp. But its not consitant its +/- 2 to 3 grains.

I know its new, I have already rubbed it down with a used dryer sheet

I was wondering if anyone has used graphite in an aresol can like this video or just powder?

I can find the can locally but not powder

Watch on YouTube
improving powder measure flow and consistency: http://youtu.be/iqarHdON4Rg

My queston is is this ok to use like powder, does this actually work, anyone know where to buy the powder.

Ps reloading is becoming a $ pit

[sofbak]

If you're trying to throw 5.8 gr and you have a variance of 2 to 3 gr, something is wrong. Just to be sure, is the auto disk and hopper mounted correctly? It can go one of two ways (180 degrees from each other).

If your variance is point 2 to point 3 gr., then this is a normal characteristic of both Unique (which is known to not settle and meter consistently), and the characteristic of the disk set up.

The auto-disk system needs some significant agitation to get the powder to settle into the cavity. You can give the hopper a good thump or tap with a pencil before each throw to help. But if you are going by the Lee manual for cavity size you might need to move to the next larger diameter hole in the disk and try that.

From my early notes with Unique and the disk, the "appropriate" size disk per the manual typically under-delivered by about 15% on weight.

Best thing I did to solve it was invest $10 in the Lee Adjustable charge bar. You can dial that thing to near exact target weights......

[1HitaQuita]

If you're trying to throw 5.8 gr and you have a variance of 2 to 3 gr, something is wrong. Just to be sure, is the auto disk and hopper mounted correctly? It can go one of two ways (180 degrees from each other).

If your variance is point 2 to point 3 gr., then this is a normal characteristic of both Unique (which is known to not settle and meter consistently), and the characteristic of the disk set up.

The auto-disk system needs some significant agitation to get the powder to settle into the cavity. You can give the hopper a good thump or tap with a pencil before each throw to help. But if you are going by the Lee manual for cavity size you might need to move to the next larger diameter hole in the disk and try that.

From my early notes with Unique and the disk, the "appropriate" size disk per the manual typically under-delivered by about 15% on weight.

Best thing I did to solve it was invest $10 in the Lee Adjustable charge bar. You can dial that thing to near exact target weights......

I think he means .2 to .3 grains. You need to become a "tapper" with the auto-disk system. At the top of your stroke just tap on the powder measure a few times to make sure it drops everything in the case. Sometimes it won't drop everything into the case, which under-charges that round & over charges the next.

[roc_my_tims]

You are correct. I did mean +/- .2 to.3 .... I might be shooting for 5.5 and get 5.2 on time and 5.6 the next.

I will start tapping at the top of thw pull also.

Does anyone suppest trying or not trying the grahite powder or aresol spray?

[peacedivision]

Powder is usually treated with graphite already, try running the same lb of powder through the measure a few times to get the insides coated?

[sofbak]

...

Does anyone suppest trying or not trying the grahite powder or aresol spray?

The adjustable charge bar is no more expensive than that can of spray, and will do far more for accurate powder throws than graphite coating ever will in the Lee auto-disk

[sdkevin]

I lapped the topside of my disks and then put a short section of house wiring insulation over the aligning lugs to lockup the disk to disk alignment.

My loads are rifle, so I have to be especially careful about powder drops.

[roc_my_tims]

I knew i forgot to mention something in my 2nd post. I have thw charge bar now in use also

Ive heard unique is a forgiving powder but the variation just doesnt sit well with me. I made some rounds going to see the difference between powder amounts as im loading near the bottom to mid so I cant make it to hot on accident if I was doing in bulk. I guess it just sucks to have to tap the powder holder everytime. Just kn more step. Ill also see if its on backwards but I doubt it.

[roc_my_tims]

Peacedivision. Is there a quicker way to run a lbs of powder through than just using one 45 acp round at a time which with a double stroke is about 12g of powder max.

[peacedivision]

Not sure since I don't have the lee setup sorry. I did it with my uniflow, just set the chamber to max and ran powder straight back into the bottle till it smoothed out a bit.

[reckoner]

You are correct. I did mean +/- .2 to.3 .... I might be shooting for 5.5 and get 5.2 on time and 5.6 the next.

I will start tapping at the top of thw pull also.

Does anyone suppest trying or not trying the grahite powder or aresol spray?

A variance of +/- .2 gr is about the best I've ever gotten Unique to measure from the Lee Pro Auto Disk. It's just the nature of the powder - big, fluffy flakes that don't settle repeatedly.

[roc_my_tims]

Thanks for the info. Ill go shot the loads I made up find the best. Near the middle of the range and go from there. Pistol powder stretches far so ill have this problem for a while.

[Enfield47]

OP do have a rifle charging die? If so use it with a .223 or .308 sized shell to feed the powder through. Take out the auto indexing rod and just pull the handle a few times to fill up the case then dump it into the hopper and repeat. Do this several times and you will have a nice coating of graphite building up on your disks which should make it work better. Replace the indexing rod when your done, then see how your drops are.

[roc_my_tims]

Unfortunately I dont have a rifle die just 45 and 9mm.
So it will be a slow process to cycle tthrough a lb of powder.

Side note question. What 223 dies do you suggest to use with the lee classic turret press

[emptybottle151]

What 223 dies do you suggest to use with the lee classic turret press

http://smile.amazon.com/Lee-Precision-Pacesetter-223-Dies/dp/B002SEZ5PG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1401252381&sr=8-1&keywords=LEE+.223+DIES

http://smile.amazon.com/Lee-Precision-Rifle-Charging-Die/dp/B000LC5S18/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1401252415&sr=8-1&keywords=LEE+rifle+powder+through+die