I Found a Die I'm Looking Forward To Trying

[Joshua M. Smith]

Hi folks,

I usually charge rifle cases off the press while using a Lee Disk to charge on-press.

However, sometimes I want to load up plinking rounds that don't require me to weigh each charge, and that means charging on the press.

Nothing Lee makes would adapt their "Perfect Powder Measure", which is the one that works best for me, to the press.

I went looking and found this:



The address reads www.gun-guides.com.

It adapts the Perfect Powder Measure to my Rock Chucker press, and should work with any press. The thing's long, too, and I would think it would handle most anything below .50bmg.

I need to go 'empty' a few cases to try it out!

Regards,

Josh

 

[Potatohead]

I guess the Lee Rifle Charging Die doesnt work in your situation?

 

[Joshua M. Smith]

Hello,

The Lee Rifle Charging Die doesn't accept the Perfect Powder Measure. I have it setting on the bench over there and had been playing with it.

Additionally, it's only rated for 7.62x51mm and under. I load 7.62x54r and 7.92x57. The Rock Chucker has enough threads to make it work for the 7.62x54r and I may set it up eventually to use a Lee Double Disk thrower, but I don't know how the double disk setup would meter out Varget and other stick powders.

I didn't try it, but I doubt it would work for the 7.92x57.

Measuring and dumping using it as a powder-through die would sort of be pointless as I do that off-press with a funnel.

Regards,

Josh

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Not to take away from your post and I'm glad you found something you like but Lee does have a Universal Charging Die that is made for use with the Perfect Powder Measure. I have one and I have used it successfully.
http://leeprecision.com/universal-charging-die.html

Lee Universal Charging Die, used with the Perfect Powder Measure for progressive style presses from 218 Bee to 300 Win Mag. Does not expand the case mouth. Works on case length .984 to 2.620 inches.

It can be found for ~$21 online.

 

[Joshua M. Smith]

ArchAngelCD,

I looked at that. It says "for progressive presses". I went from a turret to a single-stage as I was using the turret as a single-stage, anyway.

I suspected that it would work fine on the Rock Chucker, but I could find nothing on using it on a single stage and everything I could find proclaimed how it worked the handle on the Perfect Powder Measure. I didn't want that.

Additionally, it cost more because of parts I don't want or need.

The choice was between something that may have worked, and something that was described to work in its intended application.

Regards,

Josh

 

[Walkalong]

That is sort of how the old projector measure was used and how I set up my BR 30 and 10X to work on my LNL. The case goes up in the "adapter" and uses "powder bushings" to funnel powder into the case.

I made a couple of more powder drop bushings out of SS a couple of months ago.

 

[Elkins45]

I'm sorry, I must be missing something. The Perfect is a manually actuated powder measure: why would you want to mount it in a single stage press like your Rockchucker to charge cases? That just means swapping each case in and out of the shellholder an extra time. Why not just mount it on the bench and charge cases by hand?

What am I not understanding?

 

[ArchAngelCD]

ArchAngelCD,

I looked at that. It says "for progressive presses". I went from a turret to a single-stage as I was using the turret as a single-stage, anyway.

I suspected that it would work fine on the Rock Chucker, but I could find nothing on using it on a single stage and everything I could find proclaimed how it worked the handle on the Perfect Powder Measure. I didn't want that.

Additionally, it cost more because of parts I don't want or need.

The choice was between something that may have worked, and something that was described to work in its intended application.

Regards,

Josh

That sounds reasonable to me. Please don't forget the report when you give it a try...

 

[Joshua M. Smith]

ArchAngel,

I just tried it, loaded 10 rounds, and it works very nicely. I didn't deviate more than 0.1 grain throwing 45 grains of Varget.

I'm not affiliated with the maker, but I am happy with their product. I like hearing that folks are happy with my stuff, so I try to write good things about products that impress me.

I think, but cannot prove, that this is either one person or a small group of folks. That's a bonus.

Regards,

Josh

 

[Joshua M. Smith]

Elkins,

A few things:

1. If I do not charge on the press, I charge on a separate table and I weigh each charge. Charging on the press saves time for me if I don't want to weigh each charge.

2. I can prime on the downstroke and charge on the upstroke. Usually these would be separate instances, like if I were loading match-grade ammo and weighing each charge.

3. It's just a more stable platform, I feel, than the table mount.

4. Working the press settles the next charge nicely.

Regards,

Josh

 

[Walkalong]

Very cool product. I am surprised Lee doesn't make something like that.

 

[StrawHat]

JMS, I have used similar tools to load plinking ammunition and match grade 38 Special stuff. It is nice to be able to crank them out in larger numbers than one at a time isn't it?

 

[Elkins45]

2. I can prime on the downstroke and charge on the upstroke. Usually these would be separate instances, like if I were loading match-grade ammo and weighing each charge.

Can't you prime on the downstroke when you are sizing them?

3. It's just a more stable platform, I feel, than the table mount.

That's undoubtedly true, especially as compared to the flexy little mount Lee supplies. I will be interested to see if you see a measurable difference.

4. Working the press settles the next charge nicely.

Hmmm...that's something I have always tried to avoid. I try to bump the measure as little as possible so charges don't get progressively more dense as the measure packs. I'm probably just being paranoid because there undoubtedly becomes a point where it's 100% settled and won't settle any more, but I do this based on past experience where the 20th charge usually comes out a bit heavier than the 1st one because of packing as the handle is actuated.

If it works for you I'm glad you found it. It appears like a nicely made gizmo and the price is certainly reasonable. I need to check their website and see what other useful stuff they offer.

 

[Joshua M. Smith]

Hello,

Can't you prime on the downstroke when you are sizing them?

I could, but I neck size and then trim. I like to use the Lee trimmer system for simplicity.

I try to bump the measure as little as possible so charges don't get progressively more dense as the measure packs. I'm probably just being paranoid because there undoubtedly becomes a point where it's 100% settled and won't settle any more, but I do this based on past experience where the 20th charge usually comes out a bit heavier than the 1st one because of packing as the handle is actuated.

On any powder measure like this, I raise the handle so that the charge drops, then I rap it with my fingers on the side, three times.

This settles that powder 100%.

I then lower the lever to dump the powder into the case. I rap it three times again. This settles the powder in the reservoir and dislodges any stuck granules.

Using this method, I hardly ever deviate more than 1/2 of 1/10th of a grain, or 0.05 grains. To deviate more than 1/10 of a grain is abnormal when I do it like this.

Regards,

Josh