Reloading 30-06 w/ lee double disk kit; help

tangodeltakilo · July 16, 2009, 07:33 PM

I am new to loading rifle and am trying to get some 180 grain Sierra Gameking's ready. I have a Lee Classic turrent set up for single stage on these loads. I have some RL-15 and CCI large rifle mil. primers and was wondering if that would work alright. I know a slower powder would be better and some other type of powder measure, but Im just trying to use what I have. Is there a way for this work with the lee double disk kit? Any help would be greatly appriciated.

freakshow10mm · July 16, 2009, 08:05 PM

You'd have to look at the charge to find the volume for the powder charge you want to use. For very large charges in the 45/70, I've been fine setting the volume to half the charge needed and making sure I double charge it to get my weight I need. Variance might be .2gr or so but for plinkers who cares? I think I was running 28gr so I set it to drop 14gr and just went up again to drop another 14gr to get my 28gr I needed. Definitely verify your powder level in the case before actuating the auto index and seating a bullet.

tangodeltakilo · July 17, 2009, 01:53 AM

Thanks for your reply. Isnt the double disk holes in volume cc? How do you convert the cc's into grains and for that specific powder? I'd like to start about 43.65 and work up towards 48grains. Sorry if Im just asking dumb questions.. its just confused me.

NWPilgrim · July 17, 2009, 03:40 AM

You should still weigh the volume charges to verify against the load data. I would estimate you need somewhere between 3.5cc and 4.5cc to get a 40+ grain weight charge.

That means you will be throwing two charges using a 1.75cc to 2.25cc disk combination. It would be good to calibrate the powder to the volume by throwing a 1.0cc volume and weighing it. Divide that weight into the desired charge, and that is what you multiple 1.00cc by to get the disk volume you need. You probably want one half this total volume amount. After setting that disk volume verify that it throws one half the expected weight.

Re15 is a little fast for 180 gr but not bad. If that is what you have, go for it.

JFN · July 17, 2009, 07:31 AM

Lee's disk info doesn't list RL15, but it does list RL12 which will give you rough starting point to work from.

It shows RL12 has a volume density (VMD) of .0695

43.6gr X .0695 = 3.03 cc of volume
So you use the combination of disks that will throw 3cc's as a starting point. Weigh the charge it's throwing and swap disks to adjust up or down from there.

The 1.57 disk on the bottom with the 1.46 disk on top = 3.03cc
The largest volume you can get with the double disk set is 1.57 + 1.57 = 3.14cc, which would be somewhere around 45gr, probably less.

So to throw larger volumes than that (charges over 45gr) with the auto disk you'll have to half the value and drop powder twice as mentioned earlier.

freakshow10mm · July 17, 2009, 09:48 AM

The Lee manual shows CC volume of 3.15 to drop 44.6gr R15 (page 451).

Try the two biggest holes first and see where that gets you. You might have to half the disks and drop two half charges to get your goal.

totalloser · July 18, 2009, 12:49 AM

I wasn't able to make my double disc drop enough for .308, so I drilled out a couple holes bigger (9/16 if I remember right).

But I think the best way to go is make your own "wings" for a triple disc and get some longer screws. This way you can play with the charges a whole lot, and drop a full charge in one pass. I heard this trick after I fine tuned my oversized discs. DANG!

July 16, 2009, 07:33 PM	#1
tangodeltakilo Junior Member Join Date: December 31, 2008 Posts: 9	Reloading 30-06 w/ lee double disk kit; help I am new to loading rifle and am trying to get some 180 grain Sierra Gameking's ready. I have a Lee Classic turrent set up for single stage on these loads. I have some RL-15 and CCI large rifle mil. primers and was wondering if that would work alright. I know a slower powder would be better and some other type of powder measure, but Im just trying to use what I have. Is there a way for this work with the lee double disk kit? Any help would be greatly appriciated.

July 17, 2009, 03:40 AM	#4
NWPilgrim Senior Member Join Date: September 29, 2008 Location: Oregon Posts: 2,357	You should still weigh the volume charges to verify against the load data. I would estimate you need somewhere between 3.5cc and 4.5cc to get a 40+ grain weight charge. That means you will be throwing two charges using a 1.75cc to 2.25cc disk combination. It would be good to calibrate the powder to the volume by throwing a 1.0cc volume and weighing it. Divide that weight into the desired charge, and that is what you multiple 1.00cc by to get the disk volume you need. You probably want one half this total volume amount. After setting that disk volume verify that it throws one half the expected weight. Re15 is a little fast for 180 gr but not bad. If that is what you have, go for it. __________________ "The ultimate authority ... resides in the people alone. ... The advantage of being armed, which the Americans possess over the people of almost every other nation ... forms a barrier against the enterprises of ambition." - James Madison

July 18, 2009, 12:49 AM	#7
totalloser Senior Member Join Date: October 20, 2007 Location: Fort Bragg, CA Posts: 679	I wasn't able to make my double disc drop enough for .308, so I drilled out a couple holes bigger (9/16 if I remember right). But I think the best way to go is make your own "wings" for a triple disc and get some longer screws. This way you can play with the charges a whole lot, and drop a full charge in one pass. I heard this trick after I fine tuned my oversized discs. DANG! __________________ You only truly believe in freedom if you believe in the freedom of those you disagree.

July 16, 2009, 08:05 PM	#2
freakshow10mm Junior member Join Date: January 23, 2008 Location: MI Posts: 1,398	You'd have to look at the charge to find the volume for the powder charge you want to use. For very large charges in the 45/70, I've been fine setting the volume to half the charge needed and making sure I double charge it to get my weight I need. Variance might be .2gr or so but for plinkers who cares? I think I was running 28gr so I set it to drop 14gr and just went up again to drop another 14gr to get my 28gr I needed. Definitely verify your powder level in the case before actuating the auto index and seating a bullet.

July 17, 2009, 01:53 AM	#3
tangodeltakilo Junior Member Join Date: December 31, 2008 Posts: 9	Thanks for your reply. Isnt the double disk holes in volume cc? How do you convert the cc's into grains and for that specific powder? I'd like to start about 43.65 and work up towards 48grains. Sorry if Im just asking dumb questions.. its just confused me.

July 17, 2009, 07:31 AM	#5
JFN Member Join Date: July 4, 2007 Location: Virginia Posts: 45	Lee's disk info doesn't list RL15, but it does list RL12 which will give you rough starting point to work from. It shows RL12 has a volume density (VMD) of .0695 43.6gr X .0695 = 3.03 cc of volume So you use the combination of disks that will throw 3cc's as a starting point. Weigh the charge it's throwing and swap disks to adjust up or down from there. The 1.57 disk on the bottom with the 1.46 disk on top = 3.03cc The largest volume you can get with the double disk set is 1.57 + 1.57 = 3.14cc, which would be somewhere around 45gr, probably less. So to throw larger volumes than that (charges over 45gr) with the auto disk you'll have to half the value and drop powder twice as mentioned earlier.

July 17, 2009, 09:48 AM	#6
freakshow10mm Junior member Join Date: January 23, 2008 Location: MI Posts: 1,398	The Lee manual shows CC volume of 3.15 to drop 44.6gr R15 (page 451). Try the two biggest holes first and see where that gets you. You might have to half the disks and drop two half charges to get your goal.