Lee Auto Drum advice please...

[sclg]

Just got one of these and I'm having real difficulty getting consistent charges out of it.
Got is set up for a nominal 24gr of N120 to go in my 45-70 cases. Using a Lee turret press with the auto riser and Lee dies.

If I push the handle down, wait a bit, tap the measure a lot, etc then I get about 23 to 23.5gr out. However, if I just take the handle smoothly down then up again, it can be as low as 20gr - randomly between 20 and 22.
It's almost as if the drum isn't rotating far enough so the powder doesn't flow out properly. With the drum at rest, the hole is in the right position as you can see it if you take the powder hopper off. With the press right down, it rotates only just past the 3 o'clock position and I would have thought it ought to go a bit further so the powder could drop out properly. But I don't know of any way of adjusting that??

Any idea what I might be doing wrong?

[dromia]

Is the arm on the measure at the top of its stroke.

If not I would try seating the dispenser die a bit further into the press to get the full throw.

[dromia]

BTW have you taken off that ridiculous "safety feature" off the dispenser?

[sclg]

Is the arm on the measure at the top of its stroke.
If not I would try seating the dispenser die a bit further into the press to get the full throw.

The plunger bit gets to just under 2mm from it's end stop.

It's plugged into the expander die so I can't really screw it in any more without getting excessive flare
Maybe I need a charging die??

[sclg]

BTW have you taken off that ridiculous "safety feature" off the dispenser?

You mean the "down-stroke verifier" - Yes!!

[bradaz11]

have you tried loosening the drum screw off a tiny bit?

what die are you using? the 45-70 charging die?

I've never held the handle down and fiddled with the dispenser, I just cycle the handle and get accurate, repeatable charges.

[sclg]

have you tried loosening the drum screw off a tiny bit?
what die are you using? the 45-70 charging die?
I've never held the handle down and fiddled with the dispenser, I just cycle the handle and get accurate, repeatable charges.

Will try loosening the screw tomorrow.
45-70 Expander die

[bradaz11]

basically when i set up a new drum, i do the screw up with no powder, empty case in the holder, and raise and lower ram as I nip up the screw, if it's too tight, it will do as you describe. you'll get a feel for too loose, only one i've ever had leak slightly is true blue, and those grains are TINY!

the only other time I had issue was with 44spl. I was using a 44mag charging die / powder thru expansion die. the spl isn't long enough to actuate it, I needed a 44spl die.

[MrD]

Just got one of these and I'm having real difficulty getting consistent charges out of it.
Got is set up for a nominal 24gr of N120 to go in my 45-70 cases. Using a Lee turret press with the auto riser and Lee dies.

If I push the handle down, wait a bit, tap the measure a lot, etc then I get about 23 to 23.5gr out. However, if I just take the handle smoothly down then up again, it can be as low as 20gr - randomly between 20 and 22.
It's almost as if the drum isn't rotating far enough so the powder doesn't flow out properly. With the drum at rest, the hole is in the right position as you can see it if you take the powder hopper off. With the press right down, it rotates only just past the 3 o'clock position and I would have thought it ought to go a bit further so the powder could drop out properly. But I don't know of any way of adjusting that??

Any idea what I might be doing wrong?

How much powder have you run through it? I had the same issue with 30 Carbine. The drum didn't seem to rotate far enough to dump all the powder. I increased the flare slightly which helped. I fiddled with the drum screw tightness which also helped. But, what it really needed was use. Many sources state running a hopper of powder through to 'condition' and lubricate before using for real. Other suggestion is powdered graphite on the drum.
However, my main gripe with this is the strength of the spring - it seems way too strong for what it needs to do.

Donald

[dromia]

I have never had a problem with these powders measures, just a good clean and away you go, however and I think this could be part of the problem I never use powder through expander plugs especially the Lee ones as they are far too rough and have a brutal flare on them, I neck expand as a separate step with bespoke "M" die style expander plugs.