Lee Micrometer Adjustable Charge Bar

[john3136]

Hi all,

I'm loading 38spl on a pro 1000.
I wanted to try the adjustable charge bar because I can't get exactly what I want from the disks. I'm trying to get 2.8gn of WST, but one hole gives me 2.75, the next one up is more like 2.9. Ok, call me pedantic ;-)

Anyway, I can't get the adjustable bar to give me consistent powder. I've played around with it twice, and bot times given up and gone back to the disks.

A rough guide of the sort of wild variations I get:

1st case 2.8
2nd case 0.0
3rd case 2.0
4th case 3.4
5th case 2.8
6th case 0.5

I wasn't able to pick any pattern to it, but there is no way that it is safe to use!

Anyone know of anything obvious I might be doing wrong? I checked that the bar is moving all the way back and position is consistent.
I'm out of ideas.

Thanks.

 

[Rule3]

I have a charge bar and never use it. If I recall it will not dispense small charges. I do not know the consistency of WST but if it is not super fine ball powder, the bar will not work.

 

[TAROMAN]

I had the same result as you with the charge bar thingy. Threw it away.
Did experiment with drilling out charge holes in the disks (had extras) That worked better to dial in constanty used favorite loads.

 

[GT1]

The charge bar is incredibly accurate at around 4 grains and up.

You want to use the micro disk in your auto disk measure for very small charges.

 

[hawgleg]

To me the charge bar is a waste of money, use your auto disk and trickle up if you need an exact charge.

 

[Hammerdown77]

As one poster said, the charge bar starts having problems when throwing light charges of powder. It has to do with where the cavity sits under the spout of the hopper when the adjustable bar is mostly closed. Take a look next time. I've seen someone on this forum post a mod they made to the charge bar that is basically an inserted block of plastic at the front of the track that will move the position of the cavity back under the spout when using small volumes, but getting the micro disk is probably the surest solution.

Mine is dead nuts repeatable for everything but small volumes.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

As one poster said, the charge bar starts having problems when throwing light charges of powder. It has to do with where the cavity sits under the spout of the hopper when the adjustable bar is mostly closed. Take a look next time. ..... but getting the micro disk is probably the surest solution.

Mine is dead nuts repeatable for everything but small volumes.

That is the exact problem, the opening on the adjustable charge bar doesn't sit directly under the opening on the powder measure. I agree the micro-disk is what you're looking for. it is dead on and extremely reliable for very light charges...

 

[MrApathy]

have the adjustable charge bar and it works okay with fine powders but not at real low charge weights. the microdisk works well another solution is to get a hornady lnl powder measure with the powder through expanding die and pistol measure which works better for powder measuring than lee products however getting the proper belling can be troublesome.

 

[john3136]

Thanks all, guess I'll just stick with the disks, although I might try to find that mod Hammerdown77 mentioned - just to see if it can be done.

 

[john3136]

I've found 3 mods on other sites.

1. Shim the cavity on the chargebar so that you effectively move the location of the hole a little bit (towards the screw). It would mess up the CC calibration, but then I didn't even use that, I just tried it and weighed the results.

2. cut/file/glue the "slot" on the chargebar where the lever on the press goes in to move the cavity a bit.
(more permanent version of option 1 that doesn't mess up the CCs)

3. File a ramp into the bar to allow powder to flow into the cavity better.

I guess all solutions come back to the fact that the bar doesn't line up with the hopper very well for small loads.

I'll probably just stick with the disks, but I'll certainly look down the hooper just to prove this is the problem.

 

[Hammerdown77]

Here's another possible solution.

Weigh 10 charges of WST like you did before, but this time, before you drop the charge, tap the powder measure (on the base of the hopper, where the spout is) a few times with your finger. This will help the powder fully fill the cavity. I did this when dropping light charges of Clays for 38 Special, and it seemed to work. Tedious, but will work for smaller batches. I wouldn't want to load 1000 rounds like that, though.

Some people will also attach an aquarium pump (or anything small that vibrates) to the powder measure to perform this same powder settling technique. Also helps with the flake powders that don't like to flow as consistently as the fine grain/ball powders.

 

[Shooting Padre]

I talked to Lee manufacturing and was advised that the discs are more accurate than the micro bar. I have went back to the disc also for my reloads, as they are for target use only and I'll settle on the load they produce. I do find however, I may have to move up the disc hole size to get to the recommended charge found in Lee's reloading manual.

 

[Maximumbob54]

have the adjustable charge bar and it works okay with fine powders but not at real low charge weights. the microdisk works well another solution is to get a hornady lnl powder measure with the powder through expanding die and pistol measure which works better for powder measuring than lee products however getting the proper belling can be troublesome.

Buy this:Powderfunnels.com -- Fully Featured Powder Through Exapnder

 

[crracer_712]

I talked to Lee manufacturing and was advised that the discs are more accurate than the micro bar. I have went back to the disc also for my reloads, as they are for target use only and I'll settle on the load they produce. I do find however, I may have to move up the disc hole size to get to the recommended charge found in Lee's reloading manual.

I've found this to be pretty normal. I was loading 4.8 grains unique in 9mm, the lee manual says to use disk hole .53. I had to move all the way up to disk hole .66, largest on that disk. It would drop 4.8/4.9 consistently (mostly 4.8 with and occasional 4.9). This was with no tapping involved, and also the cases had already been resized/deprimed and primed, prior to setting up my classic turret press. I loaded some just cleaned brass that needed resized on the press and I'm guessing here, but I believe the extra step settled a little more powder as it was dropping 5.0 with this batch.

 

[rfd]

to each their own. i use and love the lee adjustable charge bar in a pair of pro auto disks, one for each of my turrets. i can throw super accurate loads of bullseye, from 3.6 grains to 4.4 grains with LESS than .1 grain accuracy as verified by an rcbs 505 beam and a mack 20 digital (that's good to .01 grain accuracy).

in the beginning, i had problems with consistent throws until i learned the key to powder measures is to coat *Everything* that comes into contact with the gunpowder with graphite powder. since all smokeless gunpowder is already coated with graphite, coating the measure hopper, charger, and discharge throat won't matter one bit.

while awaiting a delivery of powdered graphite, i found a wet/dry can of powdered graphite spray at home depot, flooded the working areas of one of my pro auto disks, watched as the solvent flashed off and left a black coal coating of slick graphite. works like a magic charm.