Improving the Lee Perfect Powder Measure

[Poodleshooter]

Anyone else fiddle around with their "perfect" powder measure?
Last night while perusing the Lee loading manual, I noticed that Lee recommends that manual users of the PPM cut off the lower stop tab for the throw lever,allowing the powder chamber to go completely vertical,fully emptying the chamber with each throw. While testing,I noticed that even ball powders would sometimes retain a small amount of powder in the measuring chamber when using the measure with the stop tab intact. Cutting it off allows the chamber to empty completely.
I also added a powder baffle made from a large plastic bottle cap some time ago to improve consistency of powder packing in the measuring cylinder.
Anyone else tweak their equipment?

 

[rchernandez]

are you able to post pictures of these?

 

[Poodleshooter]

I'll try to remember to do so tonight.

 

[Hawken50]

a pic of the baffle or instructions on how to make and use would be great too. i have a Perfect Powder Measure too, but haven't used it yet.

 

[YellowLab]

If you can get the Perfect Powder Measure to NOT leak with ball powders you are already ahead of the game.

Mine works GREAT with stick (IMR4895) for my .30-06 and .223, but tried it with H110 for .30Carbine and it leaked HORRIBLY.

 

[pbhome71]

I use "Cling", sprayed on a piece of cloth, to wipe the outside of the plastic powder cylinder. This cut down the amount of powder clings to the bottle.

BTW, I also have problem with ball powder. It leans on the side that I stop using it for that. Flakes, and sticks works great on mine.

-Pat

 

[R.W.Dale]

I did some tweaking on my PPM and now it works great!

What I did was to remove the PPM from my bench and installed a RCBS uniflow in it's place, after storing the PPM in a box........somewhere I'm completely happy.

 

[YellowLab]

THe PPM has it uses, and for the $20 price tag I am not complaining... its a GREAT rifle charge stick powder measure.

For pistol I use the Pro AUto DIsk.. work great with all powders.

I wouldn't spend the $60-80 on an RCBS/Redding/whatever when for half I get the right tools for the right jobs... short of an electronic scale and trickler NO volume measure is gonna be 100% perfect for every powder, at every charge.

 

[armoredman]

Been having difficulty with mu Uniflow on extruded powders, and had a PPM hiding in the closet for a while, so I will re install and try it with the H-4895 or IMR 3031 today.

 

[Poodleshooter]

a pic of the baffle or instructions on how to make and use would be great too.

No pictures right now as my Canon A70 is currently dead due to it's faulty CCD board,which will require full disassembly and tightening of the screws that retain the board in the camera. I've done it three times now and revived the camera from the dead. Canon's warranty doesn't apply after 1 year.
Anyway....
Take a circular piece of soda can cut to the diameter of the powder reservoir. The piece is then folded down the middle,but only folded to about a 60-90deg angle,forming a tent like shape. Cutouts are then made at the edge of the circle (base of the "tent'),to allow powder to flow down under the baffle after moving around it. Basically the idea is to keep the weight of the powder in the reservoir from affecting the compression of the powder in the measuring chamber when it is packed in by gravity.

For the powder measure change, look right under the metal throw lever. You'll see that a plastic tab molded onto the body of the measure stops the throw lever from moving completely vertical when a charge is thrown. Remove the screw, the metal lever,the plastic insert and the plastic drum. Cut off the tab with an exacto knife,then replace all parts. The throw lever will now move the measuring chamber to the full vertical. CAUTION: the measure will no longer function with the Universal Charge die. This process is documented in the Lee Reloading Manual,but not in the PPM instruction sheet.

The PPM is a $20 measure. No,it's not a Harrel,but then it doesn't cost as much either,and allows poor reloaders like me to enjoy reasonable accuracy in our loads.
Some ball powder work very well in my Lee (WC844 and 846,etc). Some work very poorly (any ball handgun powder by Accurate Arms). Since I generally use flake,large ball and extruded powder it matters very little to me.