New to reloading , throwing unique , bad idea ???
- Thread starter Metal god
- Start date
FrankenMauser
New member
That's probably because they finally realized that nothing else does, either. So there's no point in singling out Unique!
I use the Lee pro auto disc with the charge bar . It works pretty good with small ball like powders . I'm not saying it's great but is adequate . It does leak a little , not sure how much though . It has to be less then a grain every couple hundred but I can see little kernels fall every once and awhile .
The only reason I use these Lee powder throws is that's what works best with the LCT press . I looked into setting it up to use my Hornady powder measure and that was going to be another $100 give or take a bit . I considered it then realized having my Hornady powder measure held up on the LCT I'd have to continually disassemble the thing to load rifle loads I do on my single stage because it takes a separate drum for larger charges .
For me it just seemed better to use the LCT as a stand alone handgun loader .
The only reason I use these Lee powder throws is that's what works best with the LCT press . I looked into setting it up to use my Hornady powder measure and that was going to be another $100 give or take a bit . I considered it then realized having my Hornady powder measure held up on the LCT I'd have to continually disassemble the thing to load rifle loads I do on my single stage because it takes a separate drum for larger charges .
For me it just seemed better to use the LCT as a stand alone handgun loader .
Mike Irwin
Staff
"That's probably because they finally realized that nothing else does, either. So there's no point in singling out Unique!"
I will vehemently disagree with you on that.
My primary powder dispenser is my Lee Auto Disk Pro.
Using ball powders or Trail Boss it is as accurate and as repeatable as both my RCBS Uniflow and my Belding and Mull, both of which were several orders of magnitude more expensive than the Lee.
I will vehemently disagree with you on that.
My primary powder dispenser is my Lee Auto Disk Pro.
Using ball powders or Trail Boss it is as accurate and as repeatable as both my RCBS Uniflow and my Belding and Mull, both of which were several orders of magnitude more expensive than the Lee.
FWIW (nothing to Lee Haters). I recently reloaded 100, 45 ACP cartridges for a test I'm conducting using 5.0 gr. of W231. I used my Lee PPM to measure the charges and because I was looking for uniformity, I weighed each charge. Some charges were slightly under .2 (2/10) grain variation.Many were a bit less than .1 but most were less than one tenth of a grain variation from the setting and many dead nuts. That's just as good as my C-H 502 (which is one of the best powder measures I've run across) and my other two "pistol powder measures".
Or mebbe the PPM and my scales got together and conspired against me and altered the weight readings to lessen any variation?
Or mebbe the PPM and my scales got together and conspired against me and altered the weight readings to lessen any variation?
I am intelligent enough to know that everything in life has limitations. Even my wife, as perfect as she is has limitations.
The thing is to find those limitations and not to push them or trouble will always fallow. I live by this.
I understand that the Lee progressive presses have limitations and are not perfect yet I can use them very successfully while other seem to not. Same with the Lee powder measures. They are not perfect and could easily be improved but to what cost? Again I can use these just as they are and accomplish my work.
Then the expression buy once cry once always comes up which makes me laugh. Why buy a Lexus when all I need is a Kia Rio? I say it's you money, spend it how you like and I will spend mind the same, as I like.
Every piece of equipment on my bench has been thoroughly researched before I bought it. I know exactly what it is, what it's limitations are and yes what it's reputation is. There are no surprises or false expectations. I believe it's called do diligence. More people should try it.
I have posted this before about the Lee Auto Disk but I'll give the condensed version.
I received a couple extra A & B disks that I intend to modify so I wanted to know just what each cavity throws with each powder I use and those powders being HP-38, AA#5 and Ramshot Silhouette. So I started at the smallest and threw 20 charges in each cavity with each powder. Not one dropped a charge less and .2gr of all the rest and not one was dropped heavy. All-in-all the general spread was X.Xgr with a -.1gr with a few that were -0.15gr.. I can certainly live with those numbers. So those are the limitations I find using these powders and only these powders. When I obtain another powder I will go thru this whole procedure again with that powder.
BTW, I did record these numbers and made a chart for future reference.
The thing is to find those limitations and not to push them or trouble will always fallow. I live by this.
I understand that the Lee progressive presses have limitations and are not perfect yet I can use them very successfully while other seem to not. Same with the Lee powder measures. They are not perfect and could easily be improved but to what cost? Again I can use these just as they are and accomplish my work.
Then the expression buy once cry once always comes up which makes me laugh. Why buy a Lexus when all I need is a Kia Rio? I say it's you money, spend it how you like and I will spend mind the same, as I like.
Every piece of equipment on my bench has been thoroughly researched before I bought it. I know exactly what it is, what it's limitations are and yes what it's reputation is. There are no surprises or false expectations. I believe it's called do diligence. More people should try it.
I have posted this before about the Lee Auto Disk but I'll give the condensed version.
I received a couple extra A & B disks that I intend to modify so I wanted to know just what each cavity throws with each powder I use and those powders being HP-38, AA#5 and Ramshot Silhouette. So I started at the smallest and threw 20 charges in each cavity with each powder. Not one dropped a charge less and .2gr of all the rest and not one was dropped heavy. All-in-all the general spread was X.Xgr with a -.1gr with a few that were -0.15gr.. I can certainly live with those numbers. So those are the limitations I find using these powders and only these powders. When I obtain another powder I will go thru this whole procedure again with that powder.
BTW, I did record these numbers and made a chart for future reference.
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FrankenMauser
New member
I'm not a Lee hater.
I have simply found, through actual, hands-on experience, that the majority of Lee tools are (or were at one time) somewhat innovative designs, but poorly made from cheap materials and rarely finished properly. They sometimes work ... if you fight them enough.
The older I get, the more unwilling I am to fight crap tools.
My real life experiences; I have looked into many of the reported "shortcomings" of Lee Products. Several of the "junk reports" I have not been able to replicate. Most of the "wonk work" reports I have only to read the directions to eliminate any problems. One newer tool, the Lee Bench Prime, had two or three "junk tool" posts on a couple forums. I bought one and started trying to prime some brass. I had 3 failures out of 60 cases. I read the directions and followed them, no more trouble and now, 2,000 primed cases later I can dump a sleeve of primers into the tray and prime 100 cases non-stop. But, perhaps because I'm a lifelong machinist/mechanic and am able to read technical kinda stuff and I know how to use simple machines and hand tools, I have very few problems.
As for the cheap materials, most are newer, modern materials and modern, up to date machining techniques are used. Kinda like Bill Ruger started using investment casting for his revolvers, real junk, right?
But, everyone has the right to their own opinion...
As for the cheap materials, most are newer, modern materials and modern, up to date machining techniques are used. Kinda like Bill Ruger started using investment casting for his revolvers, real junk, right?
But, everyone has the right to their own opinion...
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Some very sound advice here. Seems Unique is pretty well liked here; I use it a lot in my .45 auto and .38spl. And Steve in PA is correct: if you use the RCBS Uni-Flow, make sure you have the baffle in for smaller charges. Huge help. 44 AMP, what is the "quirk" with plated bullets?
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On the autodrum, keep the hopper decently filled and it will throw very consistent (usealy within 0.1 grain for me)
One other tip, get rid of the disconnector straight away. with that thing installed you are more likely to create a squib then you are in danger of double charging.
Most forums would have you believe one could only hope to assemble a complete cartridge if you adhere to the blue church
Lee just makes affordable, well designed equipment, without frills. And their dies function just as good and in some cases better then alot of the competition. With out the need of taking out a bank loan
One other tip, get rid of the disconnector straight away. with that thing installed you are more likely to create a squib then you are in danger of double charging.
Most forums would have you believe one could only hope to assemble a complete cartridge if you adhere to the blue church
Lee just makes affordable, well designed equipment, without frills. And their dies function just as good and in some cases better then alot of the competition. With out the need of taking out a bank loan
Hammerhead
New member
I attend the pale green church, it's the only true path.
I kept trying Universal for the longest time, it's so clean shooting and meters like water, but Unique is just better, a least in my 357s. Just more accurate and seems to have less felt recoil.
HP-38 was the big surprise in 357. Even with a Speer 125 TMJ (lots of empty case with that bullet), HP-38 is every bit as accurate as Unique, even with less than 50% load density. Hated HP-38 in .44 spl and .45 Colt, almost gave up on it, but it's a real star in .357 with 125 grain jacketed and plated bullets.
N340 is another excellent alternative to Unique. Bulkier than HP-38 and meters well. I use it as a grain for grain substitute for Unique in target loads.
I kept trying Universal for the longest time, it's so clean shooting and meters like water, but Unique is just better, a least in my 357s. Just more accurate and seems to have less felt recoil.
HP-38 was the big surprise in 357. Even with a Speer 125 TMJ (lots of empty case with that bullet), HP-38 is every bit as accurate as Unique, even with less than 50% load density. Hated HP-38 in .44 spl and .45 Colt, almost gave up on it, but it's a real star in .357 with 125 grain jacketed and plated bullets.
N340 is another excellent alternative to Unique. Bulkier than HP-38 and meters well. I use it as a grain for grain substitute for Unique in target loads.
FrankenMauser
New member
My father bought a Lee 7.62x39mm die set.
The sizing die was so rough that it was physically impossible to push a case into it. It looked like a corrugated sewer pipe. It was very obvious that the reamer used for the die had broken during the process.
We sent it back to Lee. (At OUR cost, of course, due to Lee's stupid warranty - even though it should have NEVER left the factory.)
They returned it with a note indicating that it was within their quality standards.
I really want to know how the innovative "sewer pipe" design qualifies: Is that part of the, "well-designed"? Or does that get filed under, "without frills"? Or is that part of the, "better [than a lot] of the competition"?
I have a Bair Cub die set here. They're considered to be 'bargain basement' dies from years gone by. Yet, it is lightyears ahead of modern Lee dies, including being hardened, tempered, and then chrome-plated (for wear resistance!)...
With my Dillon 550B's & with the Dillon powder measure with small bar installed, I get +- 0.1 gr charges. I limit Unique's use to loads that need at least 5.0 gr of Unique as minimum. In 9mm, .38 Spl, .357 Mag., .41, .44 Spl and mag., I can see no difference in accuracy out to 50 yds from those with charges that I've meticulously weighed.
While some may refer to Unique as, "Flaming Dirt", I find it useful...(and I'll agree it's pretty sooty), but then I clean up my guns each time I use them, and don't shoot 200+ rounds at a single range session. For my use, it's one of the very best choices for any medium handgun cartridge where light to moderate velocities are desired.
Best Regards, Rod
While some may refer to Unique as, "Flaming Dirt", I find it useful...(and I'll agree it's pretty sooty), but then I clean up my guns each time I use them, and don't shoot 200+ rounds at a single range session. For my use, it's one of the very best choices for any medium handgun cartridge where light to moderate velocities are desired.
Best Regards, Rod
I met with him on Sunday . Circumstances did not permit me to be there as long as I had planned . I helped him set up the press with the dies . I then attempted to get the Lee priming system that hooks on the press . All I was able to do with that was drop primers on the floor or not drop the primer in the priming thing . I could not fix it because I have no idea how it works so I really had no idea what was going wrong .
I had brought my RCBS universal priming tool with me and I showed him how easy it works . He decided to buy one and uninstall the Lee priming system .
So that's how far we got on Sunday . I stopped by his house today and he had cleaned a few hundred cases and primed them . He is going to use my method which is universally deprime and remove the decaping pin from the sizing die so he can size the cases with the new primer already installed .
I had brought my RCBS universal priming tool with me and I showed him how easy it works . He decided to buy one and uninstall the Lee priming system .
So that's how far we got on Sunday . I stopped by his house today and he had cleaned a few hundred cases and primed them . He is going to use my method which is universally deprime and remove the decaping pin from the sizing die so he can size the cases with the new primer already installed .
Metal god you could send him to youtube for videos on the Safety Prime, there are many to chose from. If he is comfortable doing it your way with the off bench prime then that is fine too but I still think he should be given the option to try for himself.
Mentor him and get him up to speed on setting the dies, adjusting the dies and then just establish a repeatable routine so when something gets out of whack the routine wont feel normal and that something is wrong. If at this point he needs to progress just one step at a time then again so be it. Both of you just need to be patient with each other. He'll get it!
Mentor him and get him up to speed on setting the dies, adjusting the dies and then just establish a repeatable routine so when something gets out of whack the routine wont feel normal and that something is wrong. If at this point he needs to progress just one step at a time then again so be it. Both of you just need to be patient with each other. He'll get it!
Marco Califo
New member
I decap, size, and then prime. SIZE BEFORE PRIMING. I do not need to take the sizing die apart.
I do those steps in batches. I have primed ready to load brass, that only need powder and bullet seating.
Roland Thunder
New member
The best measuring powder I have ever used is AA#2. In fact all the Accurate Arms powders measure very well. If I wasn't using AA#2 for 9mm, I would be using 231 or Bullseye
Stats Shooter
New member
My first pistol I loaded for was the "scary" 40 s&w. I had loaded rifle for many years be for that.
But the powder I started with was HS-6. It meters pretty well in a uniflow, so it would likely meter well in a Lee too. HS-6 is a very forgiving powder. It doesn't have the quick pressure spikes some other powders do as things tend to progress linearly.
HS-6 is a bit dirty at lower pressures, and I testedit well over max for safety (slowly working up).
But the powder I started with was HS-6. It meters pretty well in a uniflow, so it would likely meter well in a Lee too. HS-6 is a very forgiving powder. It doesn't have the quick pressure spikes some other powders do as things tend to progress linearly.
HS-6 is a bit dirty at lower pressures, and I testedit well over max for safety (slowly working up).