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July 27, 2010, 10:49 AM | #1 |
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Lee Auto-Disk Powder Measure
I have several Lee Auto-Disk Powder Measures but the one on my 380 die set is bridging the powder. I was using Unique powder which used a very small volume load at 2.8 grains. I'm now playing with BlueDot at 4 grains and both powders are bridging. If I tap the powder hopper it works fine, I was wondering if anyone has made a tapper/vibrator for the powder hopper? I believe that I can take BlueDot to 5 grains safely but I have not worked up to that amount. I just finished the first firings at 4 grains last night. Any great ideas out there?
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July 27, 2010, 12:41 PM | #2 |
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Isn't Unique the powder that everybody on here complains about not metering very well?
I would do a search for a good metering powder for the 380 and buy it bud. I thought I read something about using a fish tank erator to vibrate powder measures before. Something like that anyway. |
July 27, 2010, 01:02 PM | #3 |
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5 grains of anything sounds like a lot for the 380. Accurate #2 is a very fine powder (easy to meter?) and 3 grains is a nice mild load for 95 gr. lead bullets. 3.6 grains is a stiffer load for 100 gr. plated bullets or for 95 gr. JHPs.
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July 27, 2010, 01:13 PM | #4 | |
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July 27, 2010, 01:39 PM | #5 | |
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Quote:
I like the idea of a fish tank air pump. I had thought of the local adult store and tearing one of those items apart...battery operated and small. I will also tell you that BlueDot at 4 grains and a 100 grain rn cp berrys bullet = VERY low recoil in a Walther PPK/S One of the things I did do when I started down this road was call Alliant and check the charges with one of their ballistic guys. It seems that at a 100 grain bullet weight I could use up to 5.4 grains. I'm not sure it will fit in the case.... but the numbers says its safe...This is NOT confirmed with experience! My next test will be 4.5 grains. Last edited by rtpzwms; July 27, 2010 at 01:52 PM. |
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July 27, 2010, 01:43 PM | #6 |
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Try Winchester 231.
Ball powder, meters VERY consistently through my auto disk.
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July 27, 2010, 01:55 PM | #7 |
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Mike, I'll look and see if my local gun shops carry Winchester 231. But still looking for a way to improve the consistency of the design of the Auto Powder Measure at low volume.
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July 27, 2010, 02:12 PM | #8 |
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Ball powders will naturally do that for you because their shape and the small size of many naturally promotes flow and consistent packing, even in small amounts.
I used to reload for .32 S&W Long, which as I recall used 2.1 grains of 231. I never had an issue with inconsistent throws.
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July 27, 2010, 02:13 PM | #9 |
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I use 4.0 grains of Unique for my .380acp load. Meters fine in the Autodisk. What I do to vibrate it is just work the handle with authority when advancing stations. And then a tap on the powder measure when its turn comes up.
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July 27, 2010, 02:43 PM | #10 |
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uh yep get one of those from the adult store and duct tape it to the powder measure then take pictures and post it so we can all have a good laugh.
Also have someone take a picture of you buying it at the store that should be good also. I hate when I go to a store to find something like that to do a job it was not intended for. Like when I was looking for a metal 5 gallon bucket at the farm store and the girl asked me why I needed metal instead of plastic. I said well I am going to boil a deer head in it on my turkey fryer so I can make a european mount. She said ok. |
July 27, 2010, 02:44 PM | #11 | ||
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A new way of enjoying reloading?!! Not in my garage! Last edited by rtpzwms; July 27, 2010 at 02:52 PM. |
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July 27, 2010, 07:24 PM | #12 |
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It does`nt take much , treat ya Unique with a sprinkle of powdered graphite & the hopper also .
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July 27, 2010, 09:26 PM | #13 |
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I'd just attach a cheap electric toothbrush motor to the hopper. I haven't had any problems with my Autodisk, but I only use a few different powders that all meter well. I think the vibrating attachment idea is a good one for inconsistency issues. I can't see why it wouldn't work.
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July 28, 2010, 05:47 AM | #14 |
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.380 powder
Really need a small grain powder.
AA2, 231, N310, N320, AA5, and Power Pistol have loads for all weights. For your application I think that 231 is about the most "universal" powder that meters well and doesn't show any pressure spikes that I have ever found. This is like working up loads for my .32S&W long wadcutter guns. Target loads are so small that I weight them all with an RCBS LoadMaster and never even worry about how well the powder meters. Performance on the target at 25 yds is everything. |
July 28, 2010, 09:30 AM | #15 |
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One thought is to get the Pro AutoDisk upgrade kit so you will have the cylindrical hopper, same spring-activated base. The hopper as smaller diameter, kept pretty full, would give you more pressure around the fill opening. I have both and think there is less friction at the polymer lips of the Pro powder measure, so you can get a better snap and then bump, when the thing retracts for a reload. I think the indexing, either at a turret or at a shellplate, should be enough vibration to shake the powder down.
Powders that have run really well for me in this equipment are Titegroup, Green Dot, Bullseye, and Power Pistol, the last two being my choices for bulk purchases for reloading the big three, 9, 40, and 45. The other thought is to try the Adjustable Charge Bar that comes with that Pro upgrade kit. It replaces the disk and has an irregular shaped (adjustable) opening instead of a cylinder opening in one of the disks. That might by less inclined to create bridging. It is a question of whether the bridging is occurring at the hopper or at the disk receiving the powder drop. There is also the chain pull option on the Pro hopper. The parts are included in the upgrade kit. That would give you the opportunity to jolt things a bit as you pull the chain. It will require that you check very carefully that every round received a charge. The charging is case-activated, but it would be up to you to pull the cavity back to recharging position, normally done by a spring except on the progressive models which also use that powder measure. |
July 28, 2010, 10:59 AM | #16 |
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For those who are suggesting powder, thanks but I'm looking for a solution to the problem not a work around. Lee Auto Powder measure is known for this issue and I'm trying to find a solution not a work around. In the process it should hopefully make all of the drops even more consistent.
I like the toothbrush idea and the pro hopper upgrade. I am using the adjustable charge bar on all of my Auto Powder systems. I am worried about more pressure on the powder as it drops. The pressure needs to be consistent, my thoughts are the more consistent the pressure the more consistent the charge. I've even thought of borrowing the idea of a baffle in the hopper to keep the weight the same regardless of the amount of powder in the hopper. This will sound funny but yesterday I ran across a solar powered cricket. I like the idea of the engine in use the size is small and I don't think it would take a lot of vibration to prevent the bridging. The draw back as I saw it with the cricket is it will work indoors under INTENSE light. That means in my mind that the guys in the garage/basement would have to install grow lights to make it work....well some may have already installed the grow lights....just kidding. I keep going back to the toothbrush I think it might be a good cheap solution. Rechargeable under 20 bucks could be attached by placing it in a tube attached to the outside of the hopper. So only one would be needed and could service all of the systems one owns. My original idea was a video game controller vibrator with a AAA or AA battery pack attached to the hopper lid. I think with a pair of batteries it would work for many hours. To get an exact idea I would have to get a motor and build it out and test for a real run time guess. So for now I'm still thinking. I love the ideas lets keep trying. Now with the Pro hopper in the mix, the solution should be universal to both or even more. I know others have had this problem with their powder system. Is it possible to have a true universal solution? |
July 28, 2010, 05:53 PM | #17 |
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I found out a long time ago that plastic seems to want to cling to powder after a while. Fill your sink as if you were going to wash dishes (warm water and dish soap for pots and pans strength). Dismantle easily removable parts. Wash in solution and put in dish drain to dry. DO NOT RINSE! This accomplishes 2 things. It cleans your equipment and it leaves a soap film that keeps the powder from clinging. Just be sure that everything is completely dry before using. See, no more static cling. This remedy works for quite a while and when the powder starts to cling again, it will be time to clean it again anyway.
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July 28, 2010, 06:04 PM | #18 |
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Consistent charges
If a powder change isn't desirable, then you need to tap the powder measure on the up and downstroke One to give a consistent "settle" to the powder and the other to break up any bridging.
If you want a fix, you can look at: http://www.pleasuremenow.com/index.a...OD&ProdID=6078 Nothing like a remote control powder hopper vibrator. |
July 28, 2010, 11:35 PM | #19 |
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If your a Lee Loadmaster user you might be interested in a lot of these improvements. There is one for a powder measure vibrator on page 2.
http://forums.loadmastervideos.com/f...opic.php?t=835 Mike Mattera
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July 29, 2010, 12:36 AM | #20 |
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Time is a variable, too
The vibrating engine/toothbrush/etc attached to the hopper may be a good idea but the longer you take between powder dumps, the more settling may take place, contributing to variation in powder charges.
Some powder measures I have seen have a small weight (looks like a doorknocker) for delivering a regulated tap to the measure. Just flip it up with your finger and let gravity deliver the blow. Same blow every time. Set up a standard procedure. (e.g. Two taps, throw powder, three more taps., repeat) Frankly, I like the powder scoops. I have found them to be supremely accurate if I use the same dipping technique each time. They cannot cut or crush powder granules. You never run out of powder unawares. You see the powder charge enter the case (or at lease the funnel). But I do recognize the time savings of the die-mounted powder measure. I use it with Unique to good effect on my Pro-1000 presses. Good luck. Lost Sheep |
July 29, 2010, 09:03 AM | #21 |
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"Lee Auto Powder measure is known for this issue"
Just about any volumetric powder measure will display issues in trying to measure smaller quantities of the large flake powders like Unique and the "dots" (Red, Green, and Blue). That's not the measure's fault, it's just the nature of the beast.
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July 29, 2010, 01:53 PM | #22 |
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Mike-Mat
Thanks for that information. I think that guy is on the right track. I'm going to look and build something like that. Lostsheep I thought about time being a variable but i think most of us get into a flow when we reload. So it might be an issue. But I know I have an issue now, so I will keep what you said in mind and I'll watch for that. I like the "door knocker" but it requires the human element which is what I want to remove. Noylj I've been tapping and it does work but the point is to automate and to take the human error out if its possible. Mike Irwin Its a "known issue" & "the nature of the beast" I understand but sometime same old is not good enough. I think that the problem can be solved and we can all benefit from a good solution. There are a lot of great minds here and collectivity we might be able to find the solution. To all keepem coming! Its a good start and I'll keep you posted on where I am in this project. |
July 29, 2010, 03:41 PM | #23 |
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'I think that the problem can be solved and we can all benefit from a good solution."
Yep. The solution is use a powder that meters better and burns cleaner. See, problem solved.
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"The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower. |
July 29, 2010, 03:43 PM | #24 |
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My Lymann powder measure had a manual door knocker. It works.
Thought about making some kind of rise and fall knocker that happens with the stroke of the press. Not sure how it would work, but I'll post Pics if I build it. Someone on the other forum uses a fish tank air pump to create a vibration for their measure. I dont want another electric noise maker humming in the background. Mike Mattera
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July 29, 2010, 03:47 PM | #25 |
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WOW Man, Your Smart... May I touch the hem of your robe?
Another solution is to buy factory rounds! Mike Mattera
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