Anyone powder charge rifle on a LEE classic turret??

Status
Not open for further replies.
Rule3

Rule3

Member
Joined
Jan 26, 2010
Messages
10,409
Location
Florida
I have used my Turret for years for many handgun calibers and prime and powder charge on the press. I Do all the depriming, sizing etc for 223 Rem on the Press but drop the powder with a RCBS powder measure.

I like to see the powder and check them in a loading tray. I would like to try some on the press with the double discs.

I gather all I need to do is screw the auto disk riser into the Rifle charging die? I believe I have that dies somewhere around here

For those that do, does it work well and can you find the correct powder charges with messing around with the double disks??

If someone has the disc combo for H335 at 24.0 to 25.0 grains it would give me a head start (yes I know it varies and I do have the chart);)

Thanks
 
Sorry I am no help. My rifle charges are hand weighed and dropped. Slow but I am ok with that. Too much of my life is already hectic.
 
I have reloaded a fair amount of rifle on my Lee turret using the pro auto disc with the double disc setup. I have found that with fine powders, such as 8208 and Benchmark, I can get +/- 0.1 grains if I am careful about how I pull the handle. I generally load in turret mode, and if the press gets to jumping too much, the charge will have greater variance. Larger grain powders generally throw +/- 0.2 grains.
I use this mod to make adjustment easier and allow for fine tuning of the charge. I also use a powder baffle and find it helps with consistency as well.
You will need the riser if you are using the auto prime, otherwise the auto charge will bang into it every time it comes around.
 
I load bulk .308 with the double disk kit and rifle charging die. Powder throws with 4895 are pretty consistent. Or close enough for me. I don't load max charges and I weigh frequently. For .30-06 sized cases or larger, you probably won't be able to get enough powder unless you drill out the largest holes.
 
I've loaded quite a few 223 using the double disc, H335, CFE223. I have the discs written down at home, I'll get you a ballpark number that I start with. Just finished a couple of boxes using 55gr VMax and CFE223. Hornady 60gr SP and H335 are next. Need to double check a couple of loads, I'm close to a good load, 23.1, 23.4, (I know, probably no big difference, good excuse to load and shoot some more). The secret I've found to getting an actual weight is to cycle the turret completely around, simulating the actual loading process. Makes sure the powder is 'stacked' into the discs consistently.
 
I use the adjustable charge bar and can get a little over 25gn of h335 so don't need double disc. I don't know how much other powder will fit in it. I didn't need the riser to clear the primer feeder if you have the powder measure turned to the center of the turret and tighten the ring. I'm going to get another charge bar to double stack so it will be easier to adjust. I think I can make it work.
 
Thanks, I know the charts are not accurate. Been using the discs and many powders for years. Some are pretty close some are so far off.

I have the charge bar also I did not think of using it. Was not aware it could dump that much powder? Sure would be simpler than trying to find the correct disc combo!
 
My charge bar will only throw around 23 grains of TAC. However if you have a double disc kit you can stack a charge bar on top of a fixed cavity disc and that works well. You need to experiment because you want both cavities to be close to the same volume.

You can also stack two charge bars with a slight modification to one of them, by using the same volume on both charge bars the powder drop is very consistent.
 
grogetr said:
I use the adjustable charge bar and can get a little over 25gn of h335 so don't need double disc. I don't know how much other powder will fit in it. I didn't need the riser to clear the primer feeder if you have the powder measure turned to the center of the turret and tighten the ring. I'm going to get another charge bar to double stack so it will be easier to adjust. I think I can make it work.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the tip!! I have had the bar for years and never use it. Just set it up and it will throw 24 to 25 (Max) of H-335. I just loaded 10 test rounds and weighed each one. Perfect!!:)

This will speed up my 223/5.56 output!!

Thanks again!
 
I have been loading .223 ammo on the Lee turret press for a for years now. Before I got the double-disk setup I was throwing a half charge twice with the single disk setup. I also didn't think of using the adjustable charge bar either. I didn't think it would throw enough powder but I also forgot ball powders would fill the space better too.
 
I have the "Deluxe turrent" I have loaded .223 using the disk measure as well. I have had good luck dropping H335, 8208 and BLC(2) and TAC with the disk measure and the double disk kit when needed. You can drop about 24.5 grains of H335 or about 23.5 gr of TAC using the 1.57 disk hole. This is the largest unmodifed hole in a disk from Lee. Most of my charges were correct or + / - .1gr.
Which is good enough for blasting ammo IMO.

You will need to modify a hole or use the double disk kit for some powders. Doing it this way will let you get pretty close to the exact charge you want.
 
What I do not like about the double disk is screwing the longer screws into the risers on the side. The screw do not just push through. They need to be screwed in all the way. Pretty tight fit and it's a pain. Guess I need to use a drill driver. I am afraid to make the holes one size larger so the longer screws just push through.??

I know it doesn't sound like a big deal but then to change back to the regular disks , unscrew them again.
 
I put the long screws in when I was going to use the double disc set then tried the
adjustable bar and just left the long screws in. It didn't seem to make any difference so don't think you need to change them back and forth.
 
Rule3 said:
What I do not like about the double disk is screwing the longer screws into the risers on the side. The screw do not just push through. They need to be screwed in all the way. Pretty tight fit and it's a pain. Guess I need to use a drill driver. I am afraid to make the holes one size larger so the longer screws just push through.??

I know it doesn't sound like a big deal but then to change back to the regular disks , unscrew them again.
Click to expand...
I bought a second hopper and I leave the long screws and the spacers mounted on that hopper and I don't need to change the screws any more! lol

I haven't seen the Pro Auto-Disk hopper and base sold as an assembly so you need to order the parts separately.
Base - AD1509 - $5
Hopper - AP1646 - $6
Wiper - AD3396 - $1
Screw - FP2112 - 50 cents
I'm not 100% sure that is the correct screw because there is another one on the parts list.
Make sure by checking the one on your hopper before you order.
http://leeprecision.com/parts/powder-handling/automatic-powder-measures/pro-auto-disk-parts/

So, for only $12.50 you can have a second hopper assembly for use with the Double-Disk kit.
 
Last edited:
Thanks ARCH! I may just buy another whole powder set up. Always good to have a back up!;)

I have extra screws already so I just saved .50 cents:D
 
New question:

Anyone use a powder check/ Cop die on the turret press?

I have already trimmed and sized the cases so I can take out the sizing die. There is a empty spot now so I was thinking a check die?? Not like you can do a visual and see in that tiny necked down case!
 
IMO and only IMO it's extremely difficult to double charge or not charge a case on a turret press with an auto-index. I guess it couldn't hurt but I would not spend the money. This is especially true when using a ball powder since it meters so well. I think you really have to try hard to make a mistake.
 
Arch, I agree.

I use say 25 grains of powder. I filled a case to the beginning of the case neck and it is 30 grains. I would see it bounce out if it got that full. So 30 grains would be the max of H335 the case would hold and I would see that.

Never say never:) but I have never had a issue with my handguns and I load a lot of calibers and use many different powders.I do not check those and there have been thousands.

My first batch of 50, 556 on the turret I dumped and weighed every one. They were all perfect.

I have faith or trust the disc powder system I do not care much about under charge or squibs as much as I do about over charge,

Not even sure if 5 grains over with H-335 would cause a k- boom??:uhoh:

Not sure I want to find out though!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

S
  • Locked
want to reload with a lee classic turret, help!
Replies
10
Views
1K
BAT1
B
W
  • Locked
Lee Turret, W296/H110 powder metering
Replies
4
Views
550
joecil
J
A
  • Locked
Lee Disk Kit vs. Lee Charge Bar
Replies
8
Views
975
evan price
evan price
NorthBorder
  • Locked
problem charging .270 on Lee Turret press
Replies
9
Views
1K
Dudedog
Dudedog
T
  • Locked
.223 reload on a lee turret??
Replies
20
Views
3K
TX1911fan
T
Back
Top