Setting up the LoadMaster

The Pro 1000, 4000, and the Six-Pack Pro presses. We also include the "Legacy" progressive presses; the Load-Master, Auto Breech Lock Pro
Post Reply
User avatar
Et2ss
Moderator & Supporter
Moderator & Supporter
Posts: 143
Joined: 18 Nov 2018 19:56
My Press Choice: Progressive
Location: Far too close to the edge
Has thanked: 4 times
Been thanked: 68 times

Setting up the LoadMaster

Post by Et2ss »

OK after digging out from the snow all day, I came down to the new reloading bench and figured I'd finish setting up the loadmaster.

I did a test run of 15 small rifle primers, and they loaded OK with the exception of one which was flipped, but that very well could have been me, as 1 slipped slipped down into the shoot as I was putting the tray into it.

Next I installed the Pro Auto Disk. Reading Lee data, it says the .66 cc disc should deliver 6 gr of Unique for a starting load.

Well it doesn't, it delivers about 5.4 gr.

I moved up to the .71cc hole, and it's delivering about 5.8 gr. zwhich is probably an OK starting load for plinking.

Is Lee's data normally that far off on the Auto Disks?
User avatar
mr surveyor
Founding Member
Founding Member
Posts: 649
Joined: 30 Jun 2013 09:30
My Press Choice: Hand Press
Location: NE Texas
Has thanked: 385 times
Been thanked: 231 times

Re: Setting up the LoadMaster

Post by mr surveyor »

I found out early on in my reloading endeavor (which started way back in 2011 :) ) that the Lee data for Unique when comparing volumetric data to weight data was somewhat "off". I would imagine that the volumetric data for dippers (my experience) is in the same category as the volumetric data for the disc measurements. I found that the .7cc dipper that Lee data called to carry a 6.4 gr load of Unique was only carrying about 5.8 gr of Unique. Granted, this was from my then current lot of Unique so I checked again about a year later from a totally different lot of powder .... that time it measured (on two different scales) at 5.9 gr per 0.7cc scoop.

Other powders I checked (AA#7, AA#9, A2400) were within about 0.2 gr of the Lee weight to volume calculations, which to me is well within the "lot to lot" variation potential. The Unique thing still has me puzzled though.


jd
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
There's just some things best left unsaid on the internetsuperhighway.
User avatar
GasGuzzler
Moderator & Supporter
Moderator & Supporter
Posts: 2035
Joined: 26 Jan 2016 22:39
My Press Choice: Turret
Location: Cooke County, TX
Has thanked: 330 times
Been thanked: 500 times

Re: Setting up the LoadMaster

Post by GasGuzzler »

Well we are talking about Unique, right? Your example is one reason I moved to Lee's drum measure.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
I've always been crazy but it's kept me from goin' insane.
User avatar
Ranch Dog
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 6456
Joined: 22 Jun 2013 17:16
My Press Choice: Progressive
Location: Inez, TX
Has thanked: 1616 times
Been thanked: 2850 times

Re: Setting up the LoadMaster

Post by Ranch Dog »

Et2ss wrote:Next I installed the Pro Auto Disk. Reading Lee data, it says the .66 cc disc should deliver 6 gr of Unique for a starting load.

Well it doesn't, it delivers about 5.4 gr.

I moved up to the .71cc hole, and it's delivering about 5.8 gr. zwhich is probably an OK starting load for plinking.

Is Lee's data normally that far off on the Auto Disks?
It's not that Lee's data is off, its that the powders specific gravity is off its spec; hence, the volume is off. I start every new bottle off by determining the VMD for that bottle, and I write that number on the side of the bottle. From there it is very easy to determine the exact charge that any disk cavity or cc setting will deliver before you start.

I have a spreadsheet that can be downloaded that will help with these calculations to include determining the VMD of your charge. If you want to use it, download it, and I will answer any questions you might have. The file is an Open Office file that can be downloaded into excel, some of the formatting might be lost. I started to use the Open Office software (free) and never went back to MS.

The first thing to do is take several samples of dropped charges from the powder and device that will deliver it. I make it simple when I do this, I drop ten charges, one after the other, and then weigh them, and then divide that weight by 10. From there you enter the sample's cc and weight in the "Calculate VMD" boxes. When you have the VMD of your powder for your delivery device, go to the "Powder" tab and enter the VMD in the appropriate column. I also add the powder's lot number just as a reference.
Michael
Image
User avatar
Et2ss
Moderator & Supporter
Moderator & Supporter
Posts: 143
Joined: 18 Nov 2018 19:56
My Press Choice: Progressive
Location: Far too close to the edge
Has thanked: 4 times
Been thanked: 68 times

Re: Setting up the LoadMaster

Post by Et2ss »

Cool!

I downloaded it, but it's coming up as "This file is corrupt" in excel.

I'll have to try it at work, or later down in the reloading room with Open Office, ( I don't have it on this new laptop my kids bought me for my birthday last year)
scotland
Founding Member
Founding Member
Posts: 139
Joined: 26 Jan 2014 20:52
My Press Choice: Turret
Location: NM
Has thanked: 14 times
Been thanked: 38 times

Re: Setting up the LoadMaster

Post by scotland »

I get the same message with Excel for the spreadsheet.
User avatar
Ranch Dog
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 6456
Joined: 22 Jun 2013 17:16
My Press Choice: Progressive
Location: Inez, TX
Has thanked: 1616 times
Been thanked: 2850 times

Re: Setting up the LoadMaster

Post by Ranch Dog »

I will uploaded a new copy later tonight.
Michael
Image
User avatar
Et2ss
Moderator & Supporter
Moderator & Supporter
Posts: 143
Joined: 18 Nov 2018 19:56
My Press Choice: Progressive
Location: Far too close to the edge
Has thanked: 4 times
Been thanked: 68 times

Re: Setting up the LoadMaster

Post by Et2ss »

It works with Open Office.

Just save it as an .xls, and upload for folks with excel
Post Reply

Return to “Progressive”