Lee Auto-Disk and Unique powder

[Scott]

who's using the auto-disk powder measure on a turret press with Unique powder? I set up mine last night, thinking I am ready to pump out a bunch of .45Colt with 9.5 grains of Unique. Each hole drops about a half a grain lower than it should. The 1.09 hole should throw about 9.8 grains, and it's pretty consistent at 9.0gr. Wouldn't be a problem, except the next highest hole throws about 10.0gr. Kind of defeats the purpose if I have to stop and add a half grain to each throw. Could it be the flake powder not flowing good? Or maybe it's just simply not that accurate? maybe I should just stick with measuring every load?

 

[96/44]

Lee makes an adjustable bar for the auto disk, or you could take a rat tail file and slightly enlarge the cavity until you get the drop you want. I have found my auto disk to be the only powder measure that will reliably drop the large flake powders like unique and blue dot, and works pretty slick with the powder through expanding dies.

 

[bearing01]

The 1.09 hole should throw about 9.8 grains, and it's pretty consistent at 9.0gr. Wouldn't be a problem, except the next highest hole throws about 10.0gr.

The 1.09 hole throws whatever it throws. It depends on the size of the flakes or density of the powder. The Lee chart for the disk set is only a guide.

10gr is around 10% higher than 9gr. That's a 10% jump. If I recall, the disks typically jump around 3% from one size to the next... I could be wrong. It's been a while since I looked at the bigger disks.

You can get the Lee adjustable charge bar. It's like a vernier. Turn the knob to get the exact charge you want. It works good for higher charge weights.. not lower weights like 4gr.

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

Get it at Midway USA

 

[Rick Courtright]

Hi,

I don't use the Auto-Disk but do use a lot of Unique. It's "tricky" to get the stuff to meter closer than +/- 0.2 gr in most of the measures I've used. Fortunately, w/ Unique that's NOT a real problem--it's quite "forgiving."

And "fixed" measures such as the Auto-Disk or the powder bushings used in shotshell reloading are generally gonna throw a bit light. So getting the "perfect" charge w/ them can be adventurous. If you use the "double disk" option w/ the Auto-Disk, you may be able to get a bit closer to where you want to be.

Fortunately, God invented adjustable measures for many of these tools, including the Auto-Disk. A buddy uses one, and swears by it over the double disk approach. So I'll vote by proxy for him along w/ the guys who say get that adjustable piece...

Rick C

 

[Hammerdown77]

who's using the auto-disk powder measure on a turret press with Unique powder? I set up mine last night, thinking I am ready to pump out a bunch of .45Colt with 9.5 grains of Unique. Each hole drops about a half a grain lower than it should. The 1.09 hole should throw about 9.8 grains, and it's pretty consistent at 9.0gr. Wouldn't be a problem, except the next highest hole throws about 10.0gr. Kind of defeats the purpose if I have to stop and add a half grain to each throw. Could it be the flake powder not flowing good? Or maybe it's just simply not that accurate? maybe I should just stick with measuring every load?

The chart that comes with the Auto Disk is just not anywhere close for Unique. However, at least in my experience, if you look at the row of charges for Green Dot, it seems to follow those weights within a tenth of a grain or so. You might check it out.

Other than that, you probably just need to make your own chart for Unique, or get the adjustable charge bar.

 

[Scott]

OP here; As always, great info here and in a hurry. I've found the adjustable disk on Midwayusa and already have a big wish list there - I think I'll hit "move to shopping cart" and give it a try. I'm also glad to hear I'm not the only one who's noticed Unique not fitting the chart closely. Had me a little scared I was doing something wrong. I loaded 20 rounds last night with the auto-disk; I think I'll get the adjustable thingy and play with it to get 30 more rounds, to fill a box. Should have it ready before deer season!

 

[PointNshoot]

I have no problems with the auto disc and Unique...or any powder I have tried so far , Lees recipe sheets are not on target though as he would say . given hole size would dump a specific charge and it was always off.......

That charge bar on the other hand was a waste of money
and I found it to be utterly useless.
Loads were all over the place and when I removed the hopper I would see
powder all lobbed up on top of the charge bar...so I tossed it

 

[Fishslayer]

The spreadsheet that comes with the Auto disc is just a guideline. Even says so in the instructions.
Too many variables involved that Lee can't control. Even from the fatcory there is a certain acceptable error in the powder weight/volume values.

I keep notes on which hole yields what weight of a given powder.

Still... I always weigh a few charges to see exactly what's going on at a particular moment.

And yes, get the charge bar. Why Lee doesn't include one in their Classic Turret kit is beyond me... It's worth every penny.

 

[FrontSite]

Unique is awfull to measure... try Universal instead

The chart is just a guide .. I've seen the same powder vary from can to can

Don't buy the adjustable charge bar unless you measure a lot of small charges.. it won't help you on this project.

Do buy the Double disc set and you will be able to measure almost all the increments in between above the 60 size disc
for example .. 1.10 - 1.11 - 1.12 and so on..

FrontSite

 

[WESHOOT2]

....try Universal instead. Yeah....