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Posted: 6/6/2013 8:21:52 PM EDT
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ok so heres what i have
xtreme bullets 115gr hp HP38 cci 500 primers and a lee pro auto disk which size disk hole should I be using to start and how I work up? its looking like I want to have a MAX of about 5gr according to the chart that came with the auto disk the .40 hole will throw 4.3. / .43 hole will throw 4.6 / and .46 hole will throw 5.0 (for hp38) where should I start and end? sorry for newb question but I just got everything in and set up today and am stuck on this part |
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The holes are labeled by volume (cc's). The actual weight of the powder charge dispensed will vary between different brands of powders. You need to weigh and average 5 or 10 powder throws per hole and get it dialed in to get the right disk hole size for the powder you're using.
A digital scale makes this much faster than a balance or beam scale. I use an MTM 750 electronic scale. |
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Quoted:
The holes are labeled by volume (cc's). The actual weight of the powder charge dispensed will vary between different brands of powders. You need to weigh and average 5 or 10 powder throws per hole and get it dialed in to get the right disk hole size for the powder you're using. A digital scale makes this much faster than a balance or beam scale. I use an MTM 750 electronic scale. this is correct. my auto disk throw Wst/WSF/BE/ 700x as listed in chart. AA2/5 powder it threw light. Ubiversal also threw light. also, i have found that with the auto disk, the first throw when the hopper is filled is higher. dump the first couple back in. |
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Number one, read the instructions that came with the auto disk. The auto disk holes are measurements in cc's not grains . You take the charge in grains and multiply it by the powder specific VMD factor. In this case HP-38 VMD factor is 0.09260. Times your max load that you stated is .463, round to .46 and that is your max disk. You can download the new VMD chart from Lee's website. Hope that helps, I don't have time to look up load data right now I just know that powder's VMD as I use it a lot . BTW, the equation works backwards to. Take disk size and divide by the VMD, you get charge in grains.
Edit, sorry I read your post wrong, no coffee yet. Generally your start load would be max load minus 10%. Problem with the auto disk and pistol rounds is you don't really have much room to vary small loads. You can get an adjustable charge bar from lee for the AD, it will let you make smaller adjustments. So, in your case I would only be able to load with the .43 and .46 holes. As I said, not much room to vary. |
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Quoted: all the data im finding says to start around 3.7 and work up to mid 4's. 5 max anyone have a good safe suggestion and where to start and stop to take to range and test? these will be my 1st ever reloads and going in a glock 19 thanks for all the help Just so you dont get confused and blow yourself up, Lee's Disk system uses volume, NOT weight. The data you will find, that is not straight out of Lee's book, will be in weight. |
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Quoted:
all the data im finding says to start around 3.7 and work up to mid 4's. 5 max anyone have a good safe suggestion and where to start and stop to take to range and test? these will be my 1st ever reloads and going in a glock 19 thanks for all the help It seems like you answered your own question. Start 3.7, stop 5.0. I don't understand what you're asking. The only thing I can tell you is the Lee dispenser is inconsistent and can vary +/- 0.2 gr! It's a PITA and I plan to upgrade ASAP. Keep the dispenser over 1/3 full. Choose a disk and throw 20 loads. Record the weight of each. Find the heaviest load and ensure it's under max. I set mine to 4.6gr, because 4.8gr got feisty and unpleasant. Now the Lee throws from around 4.4 to 4.7gr. ETA: For you other guys: he never said it throws in weight. He even stated what the chart shows for that powder. Maybe its value near 0.1cc/gr is what's making you think there's confusion. |
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Please understand this: THE PUBLISHED LEE CHARGE WEIGHTS BASED ON VMD OR TABLES WILL NOT BE ACCURATE!
Use the tables that came with the measure to estimate the charge weight for that disk cavity and powder. The ACTUAL charge weight will vary (usually will be lower - they must er on the side of safety) from the table. Weight several charges from each cavity you use. If you can't get exactly the charge weight you want you can buy an adjustable charge bar like this Adjustable Charge Bar OR you can use a drill bit to SLIGHTLY expand the cavity of one that charges to light. Of course this is a permanent mod, but the disks are cheap. Different lots of the same powder may end of with different charge weights - don't assume anything will stay the same - especially if you are near max charge weights. |
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I have yet to have a problem with my Lee equipment, including the Lee Pro Auto Disc.
As others have stated, it uses a VMD, or volume load. Not a grain. I have always made charts, using the powders I have. I record lowest charge + max chage divide by two, and this is your middle charge. I start with the middle charge, and rarely have to make adjustments. Don't go and load 100's, or even 50 rounds without testing. I have the luxury of loading a few, and stepping out back to test them, prior to loading a few hundred. |
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Thank you. I was mainly looking for load data if anyone had any for these perticular bullets.
The data I have doesnt list them but has various other 115gr. To those saying to read a book. I have read a few. I have questions that a book cant answer. Ideally I wish there was someone local that could mentor me on this. I fully understand how potentially dangerous this could be. Yes im am new to this, in fact I havent loaded a single round yet. Im waiting on a better scale as I do not trust the one I have before I actually load any. My plan was to load 10 at time starting at min and stopping before the max. I dont want to grenade my glock out of the gate so I was hoping those wiser than me would give me some actual pointers besides "read a book". |
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The Lee data on the site should be a good starting point. Take the disk hole they give you as a starting point, and measure how many grains it throws. Dump the first 5-6 charges back into the hopper, then take a measurement.
Once you have the grain weight of a particular powder in a particular hole, write it down. Then you can move up or down holes in the disk, weighing each charge and writing it down as well. It's a pita, but keeps you from blowing up yourself. Don't just blindly go by the data, it's never as accurate as it needs to be. Work off of you equipment and your powder, you should be fine if you don't do stoopid things. Every time you start a run, check your charge weight with a scale, even if you think you know the disk is the right one or you haven't changed anything. |
| Devilman, I don't reload 9mm but I do use that powder. I generally don't start at min and I don't load up to max. I have not found one of my weapons that likes either one. I load for target/plinking. That said all guns vary with what they like. If you have the option to start at minimum with the AD then I would do that, you will probably only have 3 or 4 different loads you can make up with the disks. My auto disk throws HP-38 very consistently. |
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For all my powders i calculate the actual VMD. If you look in the Lee manual or the instructions for the Lee PM's it will explain how to calculate the powders VMD.
Every new lot or lb of powder i recalculate its VMD then write it on the powder bottle for future reference,they do change. Once you get it figured out it is very easy and very accurate. IMO more accurate than loading by weight alone. |
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