Lyman Powder Dispenser Issues

live24wheel · April 15, 2008, 09:21 PM

Hey Folks,
I've got a couple questions about the powder dispenser that comes with the T-Mag II Expert Kit. I believe it is the #55. It is the press mounted model. It seems to throw inconsistent charges constantly. I would say +/- .1 to .2 grains. Also when you pull the handle every 3rd or 4th pull is hard. Kind of hard to explain but when your throwing the powder sometimes you can easily pull the dispense handle down and sometimes its difficult like it getting caught up. Not every pull is the same.

Does any of this sound normal to you guys?

Thanks,
Tom

DEDON45 · April 15, 2008, 11:16 PM

What powder are you using? Some long "stick" powders can cause the handle operation to be a little stiff. Also, .1 grain consistency is actually pretty good.

Sport45 · April 16, 2008, 12:16 AM

+1

Sounds like your cutting grains of extruded powder. I find I can minimize this by getting as close to the desired weight as possible using the large powder bar. That way there's less area available for shearing the powder kernels.

+/- .1 grain is fine. For rifle loads I don't see problems with +/- .2 grains. As with any measure, consistency in operation is the key to getting the best consistency in drops.

Lyman 55 Instructions

live24wheel · April 16, 2008, 09:56 AM

I will definently give the large powder bar a shot. I am just loading Unique for .45 ACP. Hopefuly that will clear it up, it gets pretty annoying. It seems however, that even with the dispenser empty, you can still feel some "grab" on every 3rd-4th pull.

Tom

DEDON45 · April 16, 2008, 12:48 PM

You could try taking it apart and lubing it with powdered graphite... I know it works good in my Hornady measure (somewhat similar design), and it helped to quell the static problem I was having.

wncchester · April 16, 2008, 06:10 PM

"I would say +/- .1 to .2 grains."

That's pretty good accuracy for any powder measure.

WCW · April 16, 2008, 06:52 PM

I have the same measure, and I have to say unique is one powder that is hard to throw really consistent loads with. If you are getting +/- .1 or .2 grains that is as good as it gets with flake powders. The suggestion to use the large powder bar is right on. That’s absolutely the best way to alleviate cutting flakes or granules of powder

GP100man · April 16, 2008, 07:07 PM

put some on a rag & shake it in the measure to coat it good .
then if you want dead nutt charges cut a piece of card board to fit in the tube & put a fair size nut on it for weight .
i do this to all my measures & they throw powder ,even herco & 800x!

GP100man##

primlantah · April 17, 2008, 01:36 PM

I also use the lyman #55 and i HATE it and the xp1500 scale that came with the kit. 90% of my time reloading is trying to get my 45acp charges consistent. The best powder i have found for it is Accurate #5. I have used w231 and clays universal in it with +-.5grains... accurate gets me to about +-.2 or .3. Since loads with accurate #5 are usually a bit heavier i find it helps with the smaller deviations(but not reloading economics).

OldShooter · April 17, 2008, 06:58 PM

I recently bought a Lyman T-Mag Expert kit with a #55 unit. I haven't used it yet, I have read the manual a few times and don't even understand what they are talking about. Are there instructions for simple people like me?

My measure has a black powder baffle in it, why? What are the top, middle and bottom slides? The exploded parts diagram doesn't identify them.The instructions say to loosen the knurled adjusting screw (key 15) and turn the top knurled adjusting screw to form an opening within the metering cylinder and retighten the locking screw (key 15). The adjusting screw is not identified by key # and neither are the slides. I gues this is completely trial and error. Help!

primlantah · April 18, 2008, 08:34 AM

OldShooter, the entire t-mag kit instructions read like a 10 year old wrote them. I just put it together like legos and trial and error. Maybe the crappy instructions are why its got some crappy tools.... maybe were all just doing it wrong. Am i the only one who feels like the t-mag kit was a mistake?

April 15, 2008, 09:21 PM	#1
live24wheel Member Join Date: March 2, 2008 Posts: 15	Lyman Powder Dispenser Issues Hey Folks, I've got a couple questions about the powder dispenser that comes with the T-Mag II Expert Kit. I believe it is the #55. It is the press mounted model. It seems to throw inconsistent charges constantly. I would say +/- .1 to .2 grains. Also when you pull the handle every 3rd or 4th pull is hard. Kind of hard to explain but when your throwing the powder sometimes you can easily pull the dispense handle down and sometimes its difficult like it getting caught up. Not every pull is the same. Does any of this sound normal to you guys? Thanks, Tom

April 16, 2008, 12:16 AM	#3
Sport45 Senior Member Join Date: May 25, 1999 Location: Too close to Houston Posts: 4,196	+1 Sounds like your cutting grains of extruded powder. I find I can minimize this by getting as close to the desired weight as possible using the large powder bar. That way there's less area available for shearing the powder kernels. +/- .1 grain is fine. For rifle loads I don't see problems with +/- .2 grains. As with any measure, consistency in operation is the key to getting the best consistency in drops. Lyman 55 Instructions __________________ Proud member of the NRA and Texas State Rifle Association. Registered and active voter.

April 16, 2008, 07:07 PM	#8
GP100man Senior Member Join Date: August 1, 2007 Location: Tabor City , NC. Posts: 1,969	graphite is your friend!! put some on a rag & shake it in the measure to coat it good . then if you want dead nutt charges cut a piece of card board to fit in the tube & put a fair size nut on it for weight . i do this to all my measures & they throw powder ,even herco & 800x! GP100man##

April 17, 2008, 06:58 PM	#10
OldShooter Senior Member Join Date: March 28, 2006 Location: Maine Posts: 846	Lyman #55 I recently bought a Lyman T-Mag Expert kit with a #55 unit. I haven't used it yet, I have read the manual a few times and don't even understand what they are talking about. Are there instructions for simple people like me? My measure has a black powder baffle in it, why? What are the top, middle and bottom slides? The exploded parts diagram doesn't identify them.The instructions say to loosen the knurled adjusting screw (key 15) and turn the top knurled adjusting screw to form an opening within the metering cylinder and retighten the locking screw (key 15). The adjusting screw is not identified by key # and neither are the slides. I gues this is completely trial and error. Help!

April 15, 2008, 11:16 PM	#2
DEDON45 Senior Member Join Date: March 24, 2008 Posts: 278	What powder are you using? Some long "stick" powders can cause the handle operation to be a little stiff. Also, .1 grain consistency is actually pretty good.

April 16, 2008, 09:56 AM	#4
live24wheel Member Join Date: March 2, 2008 Posts: 15	I will definently give the large powder bar a shot. I am just loading Unique for .45 ACP. Hopefuly that will clear it up, it gets pretty annoying. It seems however, that even with the dispenser empty, you can still feel some "grab" on every 3rd-4th pull. Tom

April 16, 2008, 12:48 PM	#5
DEDON45 Senior Member Join Date: March 24, 2008 Posts: 278	You could try taking it apart and lubing it with powdered graphite... I know it works good in my Hornady measure (somewhat similar design), and it helped to quell the static problem I was having.

April 16, 2008, 06:10 PM	#6
wncchester Senior Member Join Date: December 1, 2002 Posts: 2,832	"I would say +/- .1 to .2 grains." That's pretty good accuracy for any powder measure.

April 16, 2008, 06:52 PM	#7
WCW Senior Member Join Date: March 6, 2007 Posts: 132	I have the same measure, and I have to say unique is one powder that is hard to throw really consistent loads with. If you are getting +/- .1 or .2 grains that is as good as it gets with flake powders. The suggestion to use the large powder bar is right on. That’s absolutely the best way to alleviate cutting flakes or granules of powder

April 17, 2008, 01:36 PM	#9
primlantah Registration in progress Join Date: November 2, 2007 Posts: 110	I also use the lyman #55 and i HATE it and the xp1500 scale that came with the kit. 90% of my time reloading is trying to get my 45acp charges consistent. The best powder i have found for it is Accurate #5. I have used w231 and clays universal in it with +-.5grains... accurate gets me to about +-.2 or .3. Since loads with accurate #5 are usually a bit heavier i find it helps with the smaller deviations(but not reloading economics).

April 18, 2008, 08:34 AM	#11
primlantah Registration in progress Join Date: November 2, 2007 Posts: 110	OldShooter, the entire t-mag kit instructions read like a 10 year old wrote them. I just put it together like legos and trial and error. Maybe the crappy instructions are why its got some crappy tools.... maybe were all just doing it wrong. Am i the only one who feels like the t-mag kit was a mistake?