Hornady powder measure on a Lee press?

[leadchucker]

Edit: After investigating this further, I see that I don't need my existing Lee powder through dies to use a Hornady Lock-n-Load powder measure on a Lee press. I just need a PTX powder through adapter for each bulled diameter I load... not really that expensive for each different caliber. (aside from the initial expense of buying the measure and the case activation kit)

I've seen the videos at Ultimate Reloader for the "Powderfunnels universal powder through expander." What I don't see is any place to actually buy it.

Is it not for sale anymore?

 

[Varminterror]

Why not simply use the Hornady die? Why bother with grafting the two together, when the Hornady tool exists and does the same thing?

 

[leadchucker]

Why not simply use the Hornady die? Why bother with grafting the two together, when the Hornady tool exists and does the same thing?

I see what you mean. Thanks.

 

[Jeff H]

If you seat and crimp on the same die, there is no need to buy the PTX die. Just use the Hornady powder measurer with out the PTX and use the lee die with the funnel piece screwed back in. That gives you an expander and measurer goes in the next hole.

In case I wasn't that clear, set them up like:
Resize/ Deprime
Expand
Charge
Seat /Crimp

 

[Varminterror]

But setting it up like that on top of the Lee powder die wouldn't run the powder drop automatically.

I have gaggles of Lee Powder Through dies too, but I only use manual throwers on top of them. The Hornady bases aren't cheap, but they're not really expensive either. They do take a little time to adjust, so I only have 8 of them set up for now on the cartridges/loads I shoot the most.

 

[2011redrider]

Edit: After investigating this further, I see that I don't need my existing Lee powder through dies to use a Hornady Lock-n-Load powder measure on a Lee press. I just need a PTX powder through adapter for each bulled diameter I load... not really that expensive for each different caliber. (aside from the initial expense of buying the measure and the case activation kit)

I've seen the videos at Ultimate Reloader for the "Powderfunnels universal powder through expander." What I don't see is any place to actually buy it.

Is it not for sale anymore?

Seems it is not available and website is shut down. What Lee press are you using? I tried the hornady setup on a LCT and it was too heavy and did not index well. The funnel only flares the mouth and does not expand the case mouth.
I switched to the RCBS powder expanders which work with the Hornady PM after some adjustment. As I recall, they were 30 bucks, think I still have it, but, never use it anymore.
Here is a thread on Cal Guns about the Hornady/RCBS PM's on the Lee Classic Turret.
http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=945413

 

[leadchucker]

I'm using a Lee Classic Turret and a Pro 1000. Great equipment, but Lee's powder handling stuff is pretty poor. I'm just looking for alternatives, and that Lock-n-Load measure looks pretty good. After looking things over, I wonder if the inner case expander out of my Lee Powder through dies would work with the Hornady case activated powder measure just as the PTX powder through adapters do. Maybe the length and diameters match.

If not, I could probably turn out something similar to that "Powderfunnels universal powder through expander" on my lathe.

 

[thomas15]

I wonder if the inner case expander out of my Lee Powder through dies would work with the Hornady case activated powder measure just as the PTX powder through adapters do.

The Hornady PTX (expanding) dies only cost about $8.00 ea. However, if your setting up for multiple pistol calibers you will want a LNL powder measure lower assembly ($25.00) and PTX measure stop ($6.00) for each caliber. The case activated powder drop kit comes with one of the lower assemblies. This will make caliber changes a lot easier.

The RCBS version is very similar but more expensive. Make sure your using the pistol drum on either make of powder drop.

I have seen youtube vids where someone has adapted a bullet feeder to the LCT. Nice idea but you can only put so many bullets on the rotating turret head.

 

[RealGun]

I have the Hornady case-activated powder measure set up for 45 Colt on a "Classic Cast" Lee Turret. Yes, the powder measure is heavy and indexes well enough only if not in a hurry with pulling the lever. I don't see how it could work without the entire assembly. The lower assembly, which is the actual die, contains the expansion plug to activate the measure, but it needn't be adjusted to flare the case mouth if you don't want that. The lower assembly allows raising the powder measure mechanism high enough to clear the tops of the dies.

Now to the real answer. Lee powder measures work great. For the finer powders and smaller measures of the very coarse I like the newer Lee Auto Drum measure. That would include a "riser" to clear the other dies and to just miss the stationary primer feed upon rotation of the turret. My auto drum has the lockout disconnected per the instructions.