Lee Classic Loader (.44 Magnum)

walnut1704 · Nov 28, 2019

Driftwood Johnson said:
Although both a powder measure and a dipper measure out powder by volume, there is a big difference. With a powder measure the powder drops from above into an adjustable cavity that portions out the powder. This is a mechanical device and much less subject to the variation than hand dipping is. The powder drops from above and fills the cavity. That's it. As long as you throw the rotating arm consistently the same amount of powder will fill up the cavity every time, with very little variation. I find that with Unique, one of the only Smokeless powders I use anymore, I constantly get +/- .2 grains with my typical loads.

I cannot say the same for hand dipping. How much powder you dredge into the dipper is completely dependent on the technique used to scoop the powder. If you are dipping charges near the MAX, watch out. A little bit of sloppiness with dipping may push you over the MAX. Dipping is fine for middle of the road charges, particularly for plinking as CajunBass does.

Regarding tapping the scoop to level the charge, you are defeating the purpose of the dipper. The dipper measures by volume. If one scrapes off the excess you have the original volume. If one taps it to settle the charge you no longer have the original volume. I always scrape, I never tap.

Well yes, I would not dip maximum charges. Tapping does not "defeat the purpose of the dipper" at all. The only thing that matters is the consistency of the "throw" and the resulting weight, and is that weight appropriate and an accurate load? What it's "supposed" to throw is irrelevant. In my experience it is more consistent if I tap than if I scrape. I'm not sure why, but it is what it is.

I've weighed 1000's of charges from both methods. While a powder measure is faster, it's not always more accurate. Most of the time maybe it's a little more accurate. With some powders it's far less accurate. But use whatever works for you.

dickydalton · Nov 28, 2019

Regarding my earlier post, I never used the Lee dipper, I always used a scale for the powder. The only measures I trust are the ones on my Dillons.

ontarget · Nov 29, 2019

I am new to reloading and first purchased the whack a mole set. Never actually used it to load any live rounds. I did decap and size a handful but decided to order a Lee Challenger kit. For a very small investment I got everything necessary to get started. I also got a Hornady digital scale and a set of Hornady dial calipers. The single stage press is not fast but as a lot of people will agree it is a bit therapeutic to just get in the zone and roll up some ammo. I use the Lee powder measure that came with the kit but chech for consistency every 10th round or so using the digital scale.

Lee Classic Loader (.44 Magnum)

walnut1704

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dickydalton

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ontarget

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