Just bought the Lee turret press and Pro Auto disc powder measure. The instructions that came with the outfit are very sketchy, and the illustrations are next to useless.
I can't figure out how to get the thing working. Would anyone be kind enough to give me a step by step on properly hooking this thing up on the press?

Check out these videos on You Tube for set-up and explanation of the Lee Turret Press. If you still have questions let us know:
YouTube - lee turret press setup.

You need to have the extension tube also for it to work if you are using the Safety Prime also. Otherwise it will not clear and hit.

Go here. It will help you a lot.
A review with lots of pictures.
Real Guns

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Still Running Against the Wind

I just bought a Lee Classic Turret also, but haven't recieved it yet. Check this guy out. He has a 4 part series that's the best I've seen for the LCT.

YouTube - Lee Classic Turret Press - Part 1 - Introduction

So what does'nt work? the Press, or the Pro disk?????

Without a better description of what the problem actually is it's difficult for anyone to determine the cause. One question and a solution that comes immediately to my mind is, did you remember to turn the hopper to the "ON" position?

Try going back to the store where you bought it and ask them. They should be happy to help you since you spent money there.

Pecos

Ive noticed for some formulas the data table with the auto disk has a different auto disk number for the load then the lee 2nd edition handbook would have you use.
example 2nd edition says use .53 auto disk for a charge of 4.2grains of IMR 700x
data chart that came with your dies says use .57 auto disk to throw 4.2 grains. .53 throws 3.9.
weighed them both and the data chart is correct.

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sw9ve, 24/7 pro Ds, Hs M4

I was in your position about three weeks ago. I am NOT very mechanical. The instructions for the press, the powder measure, the primer dispenser, and the dies all had to be comprehended, and were not very clear, lacked photos, etc.
The most incomprehensible, to me, was the powder measure. I finally just screwed it in---and it worked. I had read lots of bad about the primer system. I carefully lined up the bracket, loaded it, finally figured out how simple it was to hang it on the bracket, and it has not missed a single primer, from 1 thru the 250 I have seated.
You will like the system very much when you start to use it.

Granted the Lee instruction pamphlets included with their products have some room for improvement, but at least they aren't written in one language and translated into another by someone that isn't fluent in either.

That said, Lee has better instructions on their website and as shown in the above posts, there are many How-To videos on You-Tube and elsewhere on the 'Net.

Like dickttx said, getting the Lee Auto disk to work is pretty much plug 'n play.
Getting it to dispense the right amount of powder isn't much more complicated.

I am somewhat mechanically inclined, but I must admit, it did take me several tries to get the Safety Prime system to work properly.
However, once you find the sweet spot, it works like a champ.

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Age + Treachery = JohnnieB

The spreadsheet that came with mine is not nearly close, either. It's just meant to be a guideline. Lots of variables, so throw some charges, weigh them, and make notes on which cavity throws what weight of each powder you use. Powder lots can vary in density up to 10% (IIRC), so make sure you occasionally check with a scale.

I also mark my reload boxes with not only the charge weight, but what disc I used to measure.

The spreadsheet does not match up with my experience either, it just gets you close. But using my scale to weigh charges of Win 231/HP-38, I've found my Pro Discs to be very good. I have no problems with any of them.

whenever I switch my powder hopper to ON. I cycle three and throw it back in the tube, then weigh the fourth. sometimes I throw 2 weigh the third. depends on what type of mood im in.
I also right down my auto disk with the weight it throws on my data sheet, Not so much on the box, just the charge goes on that. so far I haven't needed a powder trickle. Thinking about getting one once I get more pratical reload and shooting data under my belt. get me closer to that sweet load.

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sw9ve, 24/7 pro Ds, Hs M4

I really like this combo, too. Although I prime off the press, I have found that adding that little riser tube makes installing and removing the powder dispender a lot easier.

I removed the auto advance bit from my press and just spin the turret by hand.

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-jwk-
US Army '72-'95

gets you close indeed.. I went and re weighed the autodisk charges.
.57 disk is said to give 4.5 grains. more like 4.4. I piled 10 charges and weighed it. 40.43 great, looks like im going to be buying that tumbler after all. What do they want you to do? buy the double disk set so you can throw an accurate charge according to the printed data?

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sw9ve, 24/7 pro Ds, Hs M4

Every lot of powder is going to vary a bit. When measuring by volume it also will vary by temp and humidity. Some powders are close some are way off. You did to do some trial and error to find the closest to what you want. You may not get exactly the 10th of a grain you want. There is the adjustable charge bar which you can tweak a little closer but it will not work for very small charges.
In the manual and/or instructions it explains how to determine your own VDM of your individual powder.

If I want a 4.5 gr charge and it gives me 4.4 or 4.6 that's OK by me. Not going to see or feel the difference.JMO

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Still Running Against the Wind

yea agreed. I was just thinking of potential "hot" loads were that +/- is critical. I have about 500 loads under my belt so small discrepancy I find have a larger impact due to my novice stature. but with anything new I always start small then work up when the data has valuable information to build off of.

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sw9ve, 24/7 pro Ds, Hs M4

That's why I never load to max levels as there really is not reson to. Especially with Magnum Powder with little difference between min and max loads. Take H110/W296 for example. I would just load it at min levels so if by chance it goes over a bit I am still good. Or use a different powder like 2400 which will do the same but has more wiggle room.

HP 38/W231 (my most used powder) has a lot of wiggle room so loading in the middle is pretty safe. Most of the low to mid range loads are usually more accurate also, use less powder saves money and your gun but still makes a hole in paper.

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Still Running Against the Wind

FWIW, I needed two extension tubes to clear my Safety Prime system.


Also check midwayusa customer feedback on this press. Lots of long and lengthly posts from buyers on set -up. GREAT press but the instructions are awful!


BTW, make sure the bottom of the arm of the Lee Safety Prime feed contacts the top of the primer lever ( in the ram) when you swing it in at top stroke. Any space there will cause you to spit primers here and there.

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Dave

The Lee Classic Cast Turret and the Pro Auto Disc is an extremely well engineered outfit. However, I agree that the instructions could use some help.

After you use it a while, it becomes second nature and you appreciate the design.

I have two Dillon 550B's that I use for volume loading but I appreciate the Lee for those small runs of specialty loads. It just takes seconds to change calibers and does a FINE job.

Dale53