For those that own the Lee Perfect powder measure

[DaveInFloweryBranchGA]

I'm looking to answer some questions on the Lee perfect powder measure only from those that own one or have owned one. Please be kind and refrain from comment if you don't fit in the above group. Here are my questions:

1. Does or is this powder measure a good measure for powders appropriate for the following calibers: 30.06, 7.5 X 55 Swiss, 6.5 X 55 Swede, 7.62 X 54 Russian, 8 X 56R and .303 British?

2. IF the answer to question one is yes, what powders that do well in these calibers will also measure well in the perfect powder measure?

3. Does this measure have the capability to be case activated like the auto disk and pro auto disk can be?

4. Will this press clear the safety prime on the Lee classic turret press?

Thank you for your assistance,

Dave

 

[RON in PA]

In my experience the Lee Perfect measure works well with stick powder like IMR 4064, 3031 etc. So it is useful for loading the old military cartridges from WW1 and WW2. When you try to use it with ball powder like Olin 748 or 760 you run into problems.

 

[Matt-man]

Dave,

I own the PPM. I see from one of your other posts that you own the Hornady Lock-n-Load measure - I also own that measure. Metering H4350, the Lee is just as accurate as the Hornady. I would expect it to meter similar extruded powders like 4895 and Varget quite well also.

I purchased the Universal Charging Die which comes with a case-activated linkage for the PPM, but was very disappointed in the quality of that setup. The linkage is a small rod that replaces the handle on the PPM, and instead of a return spring there is a small chain that attaches to the shell plate. It doesn't hold a candle to the smooth, solid linkage on the Hornady, and requires some improvisation to mount on anything but a Lee press.

My opinion: if you've already got the Hornady measure, don't bother with the PPM. The only disadvantage I see to the Hornady vs. the PPM is that it will occasionally cut a kernel of powder.

 

[Berek]

I use the Lee PPM with both ball and stick powders. I've even used it on Pyrodex 'P' and 'RS' once or twice... Never had a problem at all.

 

[Ranger J]

My PPM works well for powders such as Reloader 7 and 15, which I reload my 30.06 and .308 with but 'leaks" powder with those such as H110 and AA#9. The latter two are suitable for heavy pistol loads. I use an old orange crush single stage so I can't help on other concerns.
RJ

 

[HSMITH]

I have had the same results as Ron and Ranger with mine.

 

[trickyasafox]

runs well in 30-06 with IMR 4895 for me

 

[Vitamin G]

Honestly i dont know the differences between powder types, but i have used it for bluedot and bullseye. I find it excellent for blue-dot, but the bullseye seems to leak out on occaision as its much smaller grained.

quite consistent, also.

 

[azredhawk44]

PPM is not a very good measure.

If you value your safety, go with either the Lee dipper system or a measure made of metal.

My PPM started to throw wildly inaccurately. Upon reflection, it started to do it after I started to load 44mag using Win296 or H110. These are both extremely fine powders that probably acted like fine grit sand paper on the plastic and rubber internals of the PPM.

I was using Reloader15 one day to load for .30-30 (An extruded powder much like IMR4895 or H4895) and my measurements started to magically increase. 0.5grains over, 1.1 grains over, 1.7 grains over, on and on and on.

The rubber elastomer wiper had torn.

Unless you constantly suspect it of failure and baby-sit it closely, I don't think a responsible loader can use a PPM in a quality setup.

 

[jeffdt]

I use the Lee PPM, or did, I recently pick up an RCBS chargemaster pro 1500. I used the PPM with VV N110 loading 22 Hornet. VV N100 is an extruded powder and metered extremely well from the PPM. I threw a charge into and empty case (from the PPM) and poured it into the Chargemaster's powder tray. I had set up the PPM to throw 8 grains, it weighed dead nuts 8 grains on the Chargemaster. I threw six additional charges and weighed them, ALL OF THEM, dead nuts on.

My two cents, weigh every tenth or fifteenth charge it throws. If your scale is set up for that charge, it won't slow you down too much.

JeffDownTheRoadFromYouInSuwanee,GA

 

[R.W.Dale]

My PPM is a piece of garbage and was from the first time out of the box. Leaked ball powders all over the place. The "scale" on the measure has absouletly no refrence point what so ever. I hated using the thing, so I bought a used RCBS measure and I couldn't be happier with it.

lee dies and trimmers are A++++ , lee scales and measures F

I still have the thing , I'll give it to you if you pay postage.

 

[Poodleshooter]

To echo most of the above in a brief fashion. My Lee PPM measures extruded powders very well, and leaks ball and flake powders horribly. The finer the powder, the worse it jams up the measure and the less accurate it is.
Most of the best powders for the cartridges you specify are extruded,and would do just fine in the Lee PPM.

 

[YellowLab]

Lee scales are da bomb yo! If you cannot read a Lee Saftey scale then you probibly never used a verineer caliper or other such tool Of course you read the directions and mounted it at eye level... rriiiggghhttt???

The PPM is horrible at ball and flake powder. There must be a reason why Lee only puts it on thier Loadmasters when you order it with RIFLE dies. A note in the box would be nice.... but every product has some limit.

 

[rbernie]

Uh, guys - the little #2 phillips screw on the right side of the unit is what holds the thing together. If it's leaking ball or flake powder, just snug up a wee bit on the screw - it *does* tend to back out slightly over time. The only powder that it really doesn't seem to like for me is AA1680 - it throws it fine (+-.1gr) but it does get a wee crunchy as some of the finer spheres get stuck in the works.

I have probably 20,000 reloads under my PP measure, and while that experience has not been without some learning it's also not been fruitless or overly frustrating.

 

[Uncle Don]

Mine has been used primarily for IMR 4895 and IMR 4350. In both cases, it works very well. For the calibers you describe, it seems that extruded stick powders are well within the scope, therefore, I think it would work well for you. I just can't speak to it's leaking with fine powders as I haven't used it for that or for quantities of handgun loads to which I use the Auto Disk.

 

[R.W.Dale]

Tightining the pillips screw only resulted in having a hard to operate leaky powder measure.

 

[DaveInFloweryBranchGA]

Gentlemen,

Thank you for your responses so far. IT would appear as far as metering the two powdes I want to use most, the ones Uncle Don's mentioned, the PPM does pretty well at. So if I can get it to work as a case activated measure, I have my solution.

Do any of you or are any of you successfully operating the PPM as a case activated measure? And if so, how are you doing it?

Thanks again,

Dave

Krochus,

I'll take you up on that if you're serious. Would you be kind enough to send me a pm with your address and postage costs to area code 30542?

Thank you,

Dave

 

[YellowLab]

The Lee Universal Charging Die 90273 is what you want. It includes everything you need to case activate the PPM.

Works really well... my .30-06 cartridges operate it perfectly.

Read the directions and make sure you use the correct brass inserts, in the correct order, in the correct orientation (the directions show you how).

 

[DaveInFloweryBranchGA]

Thanks for the information Yellowlab. Sounds like I have my setup for my future Lee classic turret press solved.

I'll enjoy it until my son "borrows" it and takes it off to college. Then I'll buy another, cause I'm pretty sure I'll never see it nor my M1 Garand again. Dang, I gotta get another Ar-15 built. He's got that too. Darn kids.

 

[Uncle Don]

I agree that the PPM with the Universal charge die will work on the Classic Turret. However, you would have to manually reset the measure after the case actuates it because that process is done automatically on progressives. Since the turret turns on the Classic Turret, it can't be done any way other than manually. I've been thinking about this myself because I want to make use of the increased clearnance of the new press. Up to now, I've just batch loaded rifle so it hasn't been an issue.

 

[R.W.Dale]

Check your PM's dave.

 

[YellowLab]

The PPM should come with the return chain. IF you can mount that to the ram somehow that would be almost identical to how the Loadmaster does it.

Just don't try to put ball or flake powder through it.

 

[Uncle Don]

Yellowlab - that won't work because on the Loadmaster, the chain attached to an area on the carrier that doesn't move even though the shellplate does. On the top, it attaches to the PPM on a turret that doesn't move.

I caught wind that Lee is working on a measure that will work properly on the Classic Turret but I have no idea when they might introduce it. In the meantime, I think you are either stuck with a manual return or I understand that RCBS makes an adapter that works with the Lee Powder Through Die for thier Uniflow.

 

[DaveInFloweryBranchGA]

Now that would be some good news, a Uniflow that would adapt easily to a Lee powder through die. I'd jump on that in a minute. Basically, the Hornady and the RCBS Uniflow are pretty much the same measure. It would be a perfect powder measure to work on the Lee Turret. Or that new measure Lee may be coming out with.

 

[BigJakeJ1s]

Hmmm... Pure speculation here, but I wonder if Hornady and Lee traded patent licenses, since Hornady now offers powder-thru expanders for use with their new case activated powder drop linkage. Hornady needed the powder-thru expanders to compete with Dillon (who also licenses that technology from Lee), and Lee needs a better case activated linkage. Hornady already licenses their case activated linkage (and the pushbutton changeable metering inserts) to RCBS.

Andy