LEE Auto-Disk Powder measurer VS. Perfect Powder measurer ?

IM_Lugger

IM_Lugger

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Need some help from LEE guys :)

What should I get for my Challenger press, LEE Auto-Disk power measurer or Perfect powder measurer (also by LEE)? They both cost about the same so no economy there...

A couple of question here;

1) which is more accurate/consistent?
2) which is easier AND faster to use?


thanks
 
I've used both, and I'd have to go with the Auto-Disk (at least with most powders); as long as you double-check your ACTUAL throw weights from the cavity (just use the published weights as an "expected" figure), the Auto-Disk has given me consistent results.
 
What are you loading? The auto disk is mainly a pistol powder measure with some small capacty rifle applications.
 
The auto disk will work with the flow thru die...so the case activates the powder measure when you neck size...works great for pistol cartridges....I have found mine to be very consistant for 9mm and .38 spl loads...I use the same same load for each therefore I dont have to change the disk cavity each time I change calibers..
 
Hitzy said:
What are you loading? The auto disk is mainly a pistol powder measure with some small capacty rifle applications.
Click to expand...

Good point Hitzy....thanks for catching that. :wink:
My Lee Auto-Disk(s) work very, very well with pistol-caliber cartridges...not so great with rifle caliber...even .223 can be problematic.
Same deal with my Lee Turret press...works great with pistol calibers, but not so great with rifle calibers.
If IM Lugger is loading mainly rifle cartridges, then I'd recommend the Perfect Powder Measure. If he's loading mainly pistol cartridges, then I'd recommend the Auto-Disk.
 
i got this beat- i put a DILLON powder measure on the lee head using the rifle die- sure it looks funny, but i got the capacity i need for 308 and i got the adjustable charge to boot- but it's expensive
 
What are you loading? The auto disk is mainly a pistol powder measure with some small capacty rifle applications.
Click to expand...
for now .44mag and 9mm

OK looks like Auto-Disk is the way to go....One question though; how does the Auto Disk work? :oops: So far I understand I have to screw it in the expander die, but how does it actually dump the powder charge in the case?

Don’t thinks anyone answered this; is the Auto Disk faster?
 
IM_Lugger said:
What are you loading? The auto disk is mainly a pistol powder measure with some small capacty rifle applications.
Click to expand...
for now .44mag and 9mm

OK looks like Auto-Disk is the way to go....One question though; how does the Auto Disk work? :oops: So far I understand I have to screw it in the expander die, but how does it actually dump the powder charge in the case?

Don’t thinks anyone answered this; is the Auto Disk faster?
Click to expand...

The hollow expander floats in the die, when the auto disk is screwed into the die, it has a drop tube that rests on the expander. Your case pushes the expander and the tube up when you size and the powder drops into it.
It won't be any faster over the perfect powder measure on a single stage as will still have the same number of steps. Personally, I don't like having a loading block sitting there with 50 cases full of powder (especially little tiny 9mm cases) as I'm a clumsy bastard and they will get spilled occasionally. I prefer to charge with powder, then immediately seat the bullet..... less mess that way and less chance of a double charge.
 
The Auto-Disk works this way: The 'powder-through" case expander die has an internal "plunger" which not only flares the neck of the case to ease bullet insertion, but also rises up and pushes on the Auto-Disk's 'drop tube', which in turn activates the powder disk to move forward with its preset charge in a cavity, which then dumps the charge down the drop tube, through the expander die and into the case. On the upward stroke of the press handle, the Auto-Disk's op lever return spring pulls the disk back under the hopper and the preset cavity refills with powder. MUCH simpler in operation than it sounds.
Yes, the Auto-Disk will be somewhat faster (well...as fast as one can be with a single-stage press). You are cutting out a few movements that you would be doing with a "stand alone" powder measure, because you would be completing 2 operations at once: neck expanding and charging the case.
As always, be extra, extra careful to check EACH case after charging to make sure that the correct charge is in the case....a double charge would be disastrous. :wink:
 
Now there is another thing, the perfect is adjustable to exact "weight of powder" the auto disk is not you throw the cavity size and thats it. You can use the adjustable charge bar on the auto disk but I found it works like crap on 700x and 800x. It seems to work well on H-110 though. The volumetric mesurements are only a guide (for all the mesures) and you have to tinker with them to make sure you get close to the charge you want (you usually throw a lighter load if you use what they say) so make sure you have a scale.
 
I didn't have a lot of luck with either the adjustable charge bar or the double-disk set...What I found worked well was to "reverse engineer" a load...find a powder/disk cavity combination that gets the closest to the load you're looking for. For example, I found that the .42 disk cavity combined with WSF powder throws exactly 5.8gr of WSF for my .40cal loads. That's a nice load that makes Major PF for IPSC Standard Div.
If you're trying a powder that throws too much with one cavity, and too little with the next smallest cavity, try another powder...there's lots of choices out there! :)
 
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