No....dont cast in house. This is a table that rolls. This is set up to roll rightout the door and in the garage or outside if pretty.You actually cast in the house?
Cool machine.No....dont cast in house. This is a table that rolls. This is set up to roll rightout the door and in the garage or outside if pretty.
They’re pretty simple. I’ve taken mine apart many times to clean or polish. Unfortunately there are a lot of plastic pieces so you may have snapped something that’s not easy to repair.I managed to break my Lee Auto Drum powder measure..
Not sure what happened, will take it apart later to see.
Realized I need a double disk kit for my auto disk pro. Rather than buying it, I’ll 3D Print the spacers and go buy longer screws. $3 vs $12.Started setting up my .308 dies on my LCT, ran it as single stage to deprime/FL size, trim, chamfer/debur. Just 30 pieces for this first batch.
Will load them up tonight.
They’re pretty simple. I’ve taken mine apart many times to clean or polish. Unfortunately there are a lot of plastic pieces so you may have snapped something that’s not easy to repair.
Didn’t know they made one and am a little surprised, but that’s great, and good to know as I’ve got 2.I found a parts kit for it on Lee's site, needed a couple of other things so went ahead and ordered one just in case.
In case you didn't know, if it is a part from Lee as in a part that could break they do not charge you for the part, just the shipping.Didn’t know they made one and am a little surprised, but that’s great, and good to know as I’ve got 2.
2min on thingiverse and 31min printing and I have the spacers needed to run a double disk setup. Just have to grab the 6-32 screws from Lowes for $1.50.Realized I need a double disk kit for my auto disk pro. Rather than buying it, I’ll 3D Print the spacers and go buy longer screws. $3 vs $12.
Installed a Lee Auto Drum powder measure on Saturday. Easy set up. Powder drops are very consistent and accurate. No powder leakage. Easy change over for different calibers. I think I am going to like this set-up... we'll see after a K or so rounds.
Finished the magma caster set up!
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Things have been slow in the reloading room this summer with too many other things going on, but I have just started to dabble in casting and loaded up 20 of my first batch this evening to try out. (There's a thread in the Casting subforum about that experience.) We'll see how they shoot as soon as I can get to the range.
On another note, why does everyone rave about how consistent the Lee Auto Drum is, but I can't seem to get decent consistency out of mine, or out of the Auto Disk that I also have. I'm using Bullseye and W231, which supposedly "meter like water". I've cleaned them, wiped them with dryer sheets, run graphite through them, run hoppers of powder through them, and even sorted headstamps in case the different brass was somehow activating them differently. But I never get the .1 -.2 grain consistency everyone talks about. Tonight, for example, 20 rounds loaded and I got throws from the Auto Drum ranging from 2.9-3.8 grains. Granted, most were in the 3.1 - 3.5 range, but that's still not what I would call consistent. This was mixed brass, but even among loads in the same headstamp it varied a lot.
This. If it’s too tight it will not stop in the same spot to fill every time. I had this problem early on. I had to put it just tight enough to not leak.Make sure the drum isn't overly tightened, mine seem to like to be a bit looser than you would think.
That's a bit odd, DaveTNC, by my experience. I have four of them and they meter quite well with most powders (Unique and 800x being the most noteable exceptions). I do get a little leakage using very fine powders but it's manageable. Accuracy is exceptional, for the most part, and I've done nothing but clean them now and again. I did have a problem with consistency when I first began reloading but that was due to improper die setting. Hopefully you'll figure it out, soon. You might give Lee a call or send them an email. They're pretty helpful.
Good luck.
Elmer
Dave, Ive owned 3 different auto drums and they have all been exceptionally accurate over a very large range of powders and types, also throwing small charges and large. I have several drums I leave set up for certain loads and they always stay consistent. I have noticed it sometimes takes 10-20 throws to settle everything and get a consistent weight, but after that its always spot on.
Make sure the drum isn't overly tightened, mine seem to like to be a bit looser than you would think. Good luck with it, once you get it sorted out Im sure you will really like it.
This. If it’s too tight it will not stop in the same spot to fill every time. I had this problem early on. I had to put it just tight enough to not leak.
Sure. I did not properly re-adjust the powder thru expanding die when moving from 357 magnum to 38 special and the drum did not rotate fully. My throws varied sometimes more than a grain. It drove me crazy(ier) until I contacted Lee. Then I feltDaveTNC said:Can you elaborate on this any? I set the expander die per the Lee instructions, then screw it in or out a little to adjust the amount of flare.
Not in my pot as of yet. Building a house in N myrtle beach and having a reloading room included. That is where this set up will be.I love the idea of a master caster, have you run a pot yet?
Slow process casting with single and double cavity RB molds. My buckshot loads are 9 ea .311 or 6 ea .375 RB. Loaded 270 rds of .223 55 gr FMJBT also.
Costs: Lead free range scrap out of my backyard range. I recycle
.223 brass-once fired by me or range pick ups-$0
powder exactly one pound of BL-C(2) @ $18 7000 grs per lb/25.5 gr load x 270 = 6885 grs
primers paid $15 per 1000 so .015 ea or $4.05
bulets paid $25 per 1000 so .025 ea or $6.75
Total per 270 rds is $28.80, just over a dime a piece.
CD