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Lee charge bar
- Thread starter Wendyj
- Start date
berettaprofessor
New member
I've got to order separate crimp. Rcbs doesn't come with one.
None better than a Lee crimp die.
As an added to this thread, I used my charge bar for the first time the other night; wanted to exactly match a 24.0 grain load of CFE223 for a 62 grain Hornady Match bullet that shoots well in two different rifles. Pro Autodisk couldn't get me within 0.3 grains, even with a double disk kit. The charge bar worked.
I'd add, though that you don't need a charge bar to adjust the Pro Autodisk; many drill an appropriate cavity and thread it with a brass screw; I've used one in a 0.30 cavity to throw a 2.1 grain charge of AA#2 consistently for 32 ACP. It really works well on those small charges where the Pro Autodisk cavities and the charge bar are both too big.
Mike Irwin
Staff
I've been using the Lee charge bar with my Auto Pro Disk for years.
Simply put, it is as accurate and as repeatable as either my RCBS Uniflow or my Belding and Mull, both of which are several orders of magnitude more expensive.
As others have said its biggest drawback is that it's not great for smaller loads because it becomes inconsistent. I've found that level to be about 4.5 grains of WW 231. Once I hit that point it is VERY consistent.
Some have said that the inconsistency comes about because at lower levels the hole in the bar doesn't line up well with hole in the powder hopper.
There are any number of solutions, one that involves using a soft eraser to create a block that effectively moves the charge bar hole foreward and closer to centered under the powder hopper, allowing the charge hole to fill accurately with smaller charges.
I've done it, and it works well but takes some fiddling to get right.
Simply put, it is as accurate and as repeatable as either my RCBS Uniflow or my Belding and Mull, both of which are several orders of magnitude more expensive.
As others have said its biggest drawback is that it's not great for smaller loads because it becomes inconsistent. I've found that level to be about 4.5 grains of WW 231. Once I hit that point it is VERY consistent.
Some have said that the inconsistency comes about because at lower levels the hole in the bar doesn't line up well with hole in the powder hopper.
There are any number of solutions, one that involves using a soft eraser to create a block that effectively moves the charge bar hole foreward and closer to centered under the powder hopper, allowing the charge hole to fill accurately with smaller charges.
I've done it, and it works well but takes some fiddling to get right.
The problem I'm having now is crushing 223 cases with the small charging die. Really slow and backed it out a little but it takes the mouth out of round on 1 of 3. Benchmark mower never varies in the Lee pmm but 2-3 grains with the double disk set. I did find an app Reloader VMD which has every powder by manufacturer and let's you choose from charge bar , double or single disk. Type in grains you want and it tells which number disks to use. It seems to be higher volumes than lees book though. On double disk I had to drop the sizes on top disk to get what I needed. I wish I had had enough sense to put the wings on the side with the double disks. Has anyone tapped the hole or drilled it larger on the short charging die? Seems if case went inside it might not crush. More learning curves. So far so good though. I bought it for straight wall pistol and its holding its own.
The short charging die is universal. It doesn't expand. I set it up by installing a resized case and putting the powder measure on the die. Pulled lever and adjusted the die until it actuated the disk fully over the drop hole. It makes some of the case mouths out of round after I backed off enough not to crush the necks. The disk is dead over the drop so I finally quit spilling powder all over the place. These are for my AR so a tenth off or over either way no biggie. I've worked with it until I got discusted. I may just use chargemaster and drop through a funnel if I can't figure it out. If this was precision rifle I wouldn't do it any other way. I wish Lee had an expander die for it because I wouldn't flare but I think the case would line up better. Pistol rounds drop close to perfect.
I have never had the issue with the rifle charge die in however many .223 cases I have loaded. :/
I can only guess the cases that are getting bent are too long.
Hmm, a look at the Lee site, I am sure I am using the long charging die for my .223, but it should be the same set up.
I can only guess the cases that are getting bent are too long.
Hmm, a look at the Lee site, I am sure I am using the long charging die for my .223, but it should be the same set up.