|
Forum Rules | Firearms Safety | Firearms Photos | Links | Library | Lost Password | Email Changes |
Register | FAQ | Calendar | Today's Posts | Search |
|
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
January 26, 2020, 11:17 AM | #26 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 15, 2012
Location: Texas
Posts: 2,566
|
Save your money and get a Uniflo or Redding ,or Lyman. Plastic stuff usually doesn't do well for me. A good one will last forever.
|
January 27, 2020, 04:34 PM | #27 |
Member
Join Date: August 28, 2012
Location: In AZ, Where Free Men Live
Posts: 51
|
Nothing throws charges better than a Lee
There was an article in Precision Shooting around the year 1998 (I regularly re-read my ~20 years of them.) The author was a benchrest shooter, Frank Murphy, I believe. He gathered up, begged and borrowed every kind of powder measure you can imagine and tested the consistency of all of them. I don't recall what scale he used to measure the throws, though, and that is sort of important.
At any rate, he tested them all, and by a very small margin the Lee threw more consistent charges than the Harrel, Jones, Redding BR-30, RCBS, Lyman etc. measures. Probably not statistically significantly better, but still, better. Surprise! It ain't purty, but it runs with the big dogs. I'd been lusting for a Harrel or Jones, but they did no better than my BR-30. Ho hum, another $250 saved. As I load for more and more calibers, I'm tired of paying $200 or more for a set of dies. My last five or six sets have been Lee, and they work just fine, thank you very much. I esp. like the rifle sets that have FS, NS collet, seat and factory crimp dies.
__________________
NRA & CRPA Life Member for over 35 years Last edited by pcxxxx42; January 27, 2020 at 07:38 PM. |
January 27, 2020, 04:52 PM | #28 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 19, 2010
Location: Medina, Ohio
Posts: 1,049
|
You ever use one?
I have read enough bad about them to know that one will never cross my threshold.
__________________
Member: Orange Gunsite Family, NRA--Life, ARTCA, and American Legion. Caveat Emptor: Cavery Grips/AmericanGripz/Prestige Grips/Stealth Grips from Clayton, NC. He is a scammer |
January 27, 2020, 06:03 PM | #29 |
Staff
Join Date: March 4, 2005
Location: Ohio
Posts: 21,061
|
I have two. I bought them twenty years ago because the powder shutoff feature in the hopper together with a rubber band to keep the lid on will let me leave powder in the hoppers and lay them on their sides in my range box for load development. One of them works great, the other not as well. That's perhaps the risk associated with the inexpensive construction method; they may not all work exactly alike. The patented elastomeric wiper is supposed to prevent grain cutting, an action that shakes an entire measure when it occurs, causing a degree of powder settling that causes the next throw after the cut to be thrown heavy, and, to a diminishing extent, sometimes the two throws after that. My better Perfect never experiences any catching that approximates the bump caused by cutting in a metal drum. The Perfect that doesn't do as well gets a hesitation every few throws that approximate a cut and causes the overweight charge problem.
I probably could return that less successful copy to Lee, but I haven't bothered because I seldom do range powder dispensing now. I now usually dispense a series of incrementing charges in a series of primed cases at home and transport them to the range where I only seat the bullets, stopping when I am seeing more pressure than I want. This is so any settling of the powder that transportation vibration is going to produce gets a chance to happen. With stick powders, settling tends to lower the effective burn rate. But the bottom line is the Perfect in good condition does stick and large spherical grains, like H380, as well or better than most if you get it anchored rigidly enough. Nothing I had actually beat it with stick powder until I got the JDS Quick Measure. It does stick powders best, often staying within 0.1 grains of nominal charge, but it's not cheap or as convenient to set and use.
__________________
Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle |
January 28, 2020, 03:44 AM | #30 |
Senior Member
Join Date: October 22, 2016
Posts: 3,883
|
For $25, I'm going to get the Lee. I was loading .32 on Sunday using the Hornady dispenser and it was painfully slow. Accurate, but slow. Again, I'm not demanding superior consistency, I just want something that works well enough. If being plastic to some people is the dealbreaker, they should really try before they judge.
It's probably got more to do with that "Everything I buy must be made of metal so my grandchildren's grandchildren will be using it thinking about how their great-great grandfather bought this 100 years earlier and now it's a family heirloom: a powder measure." Yeah, a mass produced piece of equipment is a family heirloom. Shoot, I should endeavor to keep the Scott's push mower in the garage so I can give it to my son believing he will pass it on when in reality he's going to pawn it for $20 to buy beer.
__________________
"We always think there's gonna be more time... then it runs out."
|
January 28, 2020, 05:09 AM | #31 |
Senior Member
Join Date: April 28, 2013
Posts: 3,173
|
The Lee PPM is a good measure. One hint to help with leakage on fine ball powders, take some plastic polishing compound like used for cleaning up cloudy car headlight lenses and lap the disc to the body. This doesn't eliminate all the leakage but takes care of most of it. I also have their newer more deluxe model that accepts the drums from the Autodrum and it works great right out of the box. For a few bucks more I would go with this one over the original.
|
January 28, 2020, 07:57 AM | #32 | |
Staff
Join Date: September 25, 2008
Location: CONUS
Posts: 18,460
|
Quote:
__________________
NRA Life Member / Certified Instructor NRA Chief RSO / CMP RSO 1911 Certified Armorer Jeepaholic |
|
January 28, 2020, 05:26 PM | #33 |
Senior Member
Join Date: April 30, 2009
Location: Cyber-world USA
Posts: 258
|
I use the Lee Perfect Powder Measure it doesn't cost much & works great with stick powders. You will need some graphite lube to lube the moving plastic parts before you start the first time.
|
January 28, 2020, 05:47 PM | #34 |
Senior Member
Join Date: April 4, 2011
Location: LA (Greater Los Angeles Area)
Posts: 2,598
|
The PPM instructions say to cycle a hopper full of powder through the measure, prior to reloading. This coats all internal surfaces with graphite already in the powder. That powder can then be used for loading.
__________________
............ |
January 28, 2020, 07:57 PM | #35 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: January 22, 2005
Location: Kentucky
Posts: 3,623
|
USSR says:
Quote:
__________________
Cherish our flag, honor it, defend it in word and deed, or get the hell out. Our Bill of Rights has been paid for by heros in uniform and shall not be diluted by misguided governmental social experiments. We owe this to our children, anything less is cowardice. USAF FAC, 5th Spl Forces, Vietnam Vet '69-'73. |
|
January 29, 2020, 05:58 PM | #36 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 19, 2010
Location: Medina, Ohio
Posts: 1,049
|
In other words, you haven't used one.
Sorry, I never buy a Yugo when a Porsche is available.
__________________
Member: Orange Gunsite Family, NRA--Life, ARTCA, and American Legion. Caveat Emptor: Cavery Grips/AmericanGripz/Prestige Grips/Stealth Grips from Clayton, NC. He is a scammer |
January 29, 2020, 09:01 PM | #37 |
Senior Member
Join Date: March 20, 2014
Posts: 2,084
|
I don’t have a perfect powder measure but my auto drum meters accurately and replacement parts are cheap as dirt if you need them. The negative is it leaks fine ball powder with every pull of the handle.
|
February 15, 2020, 04:15 AM | #38 |
Senior Member
Join Date: October 22, 2016
Posts: 3,883
|
I set up the Lee PPM and cycled through maybe half a hopper of powder before weighing the throws. Only did Trail Boss, since that's one of the main powders I'm planning to use with it, and it's damn accurate. Lee says it's accurate to +/- .1 grains, but it's looking like it's even more accurate with TB, like +/- .05 grains.
Will try it with Accurate #9 next.
__________________
"We always think there's gonna be more time... then it runs out."
|
February 15, 2020, 06:56 AM | #39 |
Senior Member
Join Date: April 8, 2000
Posts: 2,101
|
I have a multitude of measures to use. From Lee to Lyman, to RCBS, Hornady and Herter's and probably something I forgot I even have. The ones that get the most use are the RCBS. I've picked up one here and there with large drums and small drums and both drums. They just work and work well for around 95% of the loading I do. I use the 55 for finer detail and more precision work, but still manage consistent charges and tight groups with the green ones.
I've picked most all of them up for 40 bucks or less regardless of the color. Bottom line with any of them is to be consistent with the motions loading and dumping the powder. Flake might behave better in one or the other but none don't all perfectly. However for bulk loading where your not pushing the limits on pressures they save a ton of time and effort. Hope you find one that works well for you, or maybe even half a dozen.
__________________
LAter, Mike / TX |
February 15, 2020, 12:09 PM | #40 |
Senior Member
Join Date: April 4, 2011
Location: LA (Greater Los Angeles Area)
Posts: 2,598
|
PPM is not a Yugo
"it's damn acccurate."
Yes. The other thing I like is the Volumetric Density Feature that when you know the VMD for your powder you can dial in your intended charge in one or two tries without a lot of trial and error. You can contact powder makers or calculate your own for ones not on the list. That is not nearly so easy on other measures.
__________________
............ |
February 15, 2020, 12:29 PM | #41 |
Staff
Join Date: March 4, 2005
Location: Ohio
Posts: 21,061
|
Just keep in mind some powder VMD's can vary as much as about 12% from one lot to the next, so that while VMD gets you in range, you still need to check your throw weights on a scale or else use very conservative data.
Western powders lists density and VMD's for their Ramshot and Accurate powders with tolerances on their web site. The Ramshot line seems to be consistent, but the Accurate line shows tolerance variations with different types.
__________________
Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle |
February 15, 2020, 02:26 PM | #42 |
Senior Member
Join Date: December 28, 2006
Posts: 4,342
|
I like my Uniflow, but for under $50 I'd stick with the Lyman. Amazon has them for $49 with free shipping. As for the Lee.......I'd pay a tad more to get more, even if you only are going to use it occasionally.
|
February 15, 2020, 04:03 PM | #43 |
Senior Member
Join Date: April 4, 2011
Location: LA (Greater Los Angeles Area)
Posts: 2,598
|
VMD is not an alternative to a good scale. It just gets you in the ballpark a lot quicker. When I have calculated the volume for the load I want to drop, it does drop very close to that. The ultimate judge is the scale, but using VMD to set your volume setting is good a development. Lee's powder measure settings are in cubic centimeters seem pretty accurate. But your scale tells you the weight of your charges.
__________________
............ |
February 15, 2020, 07:18 PM | #44 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: November 14, 2017
Location: Finger Lakes Region of NY
Posts: 1,442
|
Quote:
Don
__________________
NRA Life Member NRA Certified Metallic Cartridge Reloading Instructor |
|
February 15, 2020, 10:49 PM | #45 |
Senior Member
Join Date: March 1, 2009
Posts: 4,232
|
Sounds like it was a well spent $25. I know a guy who keeps 5 of them mounted all set to a specific powder charge. $125 bucks and he never has to change measurements
__________________
“How do I get to the next level?” Well, you get to the next level by being the first one on the range and the last one to leave.” – Jerry Miculek |
February 16, 2020, 05:41 AM | #46 |
Senior Member
Join Date: October 22, 2016
Posts: 3,883
|
I tried Accurate #9 and Unique. Unique did as well as Trail Boss, but AA#9 was a real pain to work the handle and throw a charge. There was some powder leakage, which given how fine that powder is I'm not surprised. Here I was thinking that Bullseye was a fine powder, but this AA#9 was so small I was concerned that I should wear a mask so I don't breathe it in.
So, I think AA#9 is going to be exclusive to the Hornady automatic dispenser. It doesn't seem like a powder that's going to work well with the drum style measures. However, the Lee Auto Disk measure... that one it may work with fine powders because that's a very different method of throwing a charge. Can anybody who owned or still owns a Lee Auto Disk tell me how it did with very fine powders? If I decide to use AA#9 in .357 and 10mm regularly, I'm gonna have to look at getting something other than the Lee Auto Drum and PPM I have now cuz I'm not going to accept weighing every charge with the Hornady dispenser. So far I can say that with flake powders like Trail Boss and Unique, this measure does extremely well and is well worth the money. If you use very fine powders a lot, I would not get this measure. Can't tell you how it does with stick or ball powders.
__________________
"We always think there's gonna be more time... then it runs out."
Last edited by TruthTellers; February 16, 2020 at 02:59 PM. |
February 16, 2020, 11:27 AM | #47 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: December 28, 2011
Location: IL
Posts: 210
|
Quote:
As mentioned, the elastomer wiper in the Lee does not crunch nor cut powder, and the BR shooter in the article found that to their advantage. |
|
February 16, 2020, 01:40 PM | #48 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: April 4, 2011
Location: LA (Greater Los Angeles Area)
Posts: 2,598
|
Quote:
The materials used to manufacture the products vary widely. The 3-D shape deminsions of the cavity volume are important for different powder types. Durability is an issue. Calibration and volume adjustment mechanism, graduations are important. Repeatability of results is critical. Other than that, I still doubt I would agree with what you are trying to say.
__________________
............ |
|
February 17, 2020, 06:55 AM | #49 |
Senior Member
Join Date: March 20, 2011
Location: Willamina, OR
Posts: 1,908
|
Many years ago I was given a Lyman measure. It's great with ball and flake powders but it's about useless with extruded powders.
I bought a Lee perfect measure only for use with with extruded powders and I'm quite happy with it. I'm still overly picky and I measure into the pan of my RCBS scale and weigh every load. I find that I have to trickle more powder in maybe on in 5 loads. However if I just dumped the powder directly into the cases, it would still be more consistent than factory ammo... Tony |
February 17, 2020, 08:55 AM | #50 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: March 1, 2009
Posts: 4,232
|
Quote:
__________________
“How do I get to the next level?” Well, you get to the next level by being the first one on the range and the last one to leave.” – Jerry Miculek |
|
|
|