Lee auto drum powder thrower??

Status
Not open for further replies.
If you search this forum you'll find many reviews and discussions on this. It's not exactly 'new' anymore, been out quite a while now.

My experience has been very favorable. I use it for both my .223 loading on a Dillon 550, as well as pistol loads on my LCT. Very accurate with all the powders I've used so far...

It doesn't use a 'disc', per se, but rather a small funnel that screws into the unit which acts as the 'funnel/container' that holds the desired charge of powder, which is then dispensed when the action is actuated.
 
Would you recommend extra plastic funnel or adjustment are simple with one unit.
My main reloads are 9 and 45 acp
 
lonewolf5347 said:
Would you recommend extra plastic funnel or adjustment are simple with one unit.
My main reloads are 9 and 45 acp
Click to expand...

It comes with two rotors. Leave them set to whatever powder charge. You can buy a box of 4 extras for around $15.

Works the same as any cavity rotor powder measure,

As mentioned it has been out for a while and there are many many threads.

But yes it is worth it, very accurate , works well. I use it.
 
It is generally well regarded by people on this forum. This includes my own experience with it.
 
Ive been using it for a while, and for the price of admitance, its a great piece. I load 9mm, .45acp and .223 with mine, the smaller piece does all of them. There is a screw in piece that reduces-increases the volume of the chamber.

Russell
 
I've been using them for pistol rounds and they work well. Recently, I set one up to dispense IMR-4198 for some 7.62x39 rounds It worked great with the long sticks of IMR-4198.
 
Just setting one up tonight - wouldn't rotate until I realised the clamp knob was overtightened. More fiddling tomorrow.

Not sure on how the "down stroke verification device" works or why you would want to take it off - mine came with it installed.
 
goldpelican said:
Just setting one up tonight - wouldn't rotate until I realised the clamp knob was overtightened. More fiddling tomorrow.

Not sure on how the "down stroke verification device" works or why you would want to take it off - mine came with it installed.
Click to expand...
Are you using a Classic Turret press? If so, you'll want to remove the disconnector/powder verification device. It adds an extra step that is not needed IMHO. Lee used to include removal instructions in the printed manual sheet. I see they no longer do that. You will not double charge without it as long as you don't short stroke/double stroke the powder die station. Having to press that little button every time slows you down and interrupts your left hand bullet feeding motions. There are instructions on YouTube somewhere for removal. I'll see if I can find my printed sheet if you need it.
 
I am using the LCT press
I seen it on you tube to disconnect it the button you mention along with the plastic arm
 
I loved the first one I bought so much that I bought 4 more. It is very nearly as accurate as my dillon (+-.1 grn) and it is so easy to adjust. The ONLY drawback for me is the smaller powder hopper. Since the only rifle caliber I reload is .223, it isn't a big deal though.
 
drband said:
Are you using a Classic Turret press? If so, you'll want to remove the disconnector/powder verification device.
Click to expand...
Done - just reversed the installation instructions. It makes sense now! I didn't find the reset function intuitive. Still setting the new dies up on the turret. I reprime off press so I didn't need the riser on the short rifle charging die.
 
drband said:
Are you using a Classic Turret press? If so, you'll want to remove the disconnector/powder verification device. It adds an extra step that is not needed IMHO. Lee used to include removal instructions in the printed manual sheet. I see they no longer do that. You will not double charge without it as long as you don't short stroke/double stroke the powder die station. Having to press that little button every time slows you down and interrupts your left hand bullet feeding motions. There are instructions on YouTube somewhere for removal. I'll see if I can find my printed sheet if you need it.
Click to expand...

I agree. I am very much against spring-loading a progressive powder measure, but on a turret it is not really necessary.

Of course, that lockout system is not nearly as foolproof as the auto-disk one was. When emptying out the hopper to remove the measure from my press, I ran a cartridge up multiple times without toggling the lockout. Sometimes it dropped anyway. Be warned. I'll ask Lee about it.
 
The disc Riser I can use the same one now I have is compatible to the new powder thrower?
I run the lee disc powder on my current press
Well I just ordered it from Brownells
I have 2 lee classic turret press and was thinking in upgrade it to a progressive set up but I think the classic press is good as it gets easy to run without any headache
 
Last edited:
lonewolf5347 said:
The disc Riser I can use the same one now I have is compatible to the new powder thrower?
I run the lee disc powder on my current press
Click to expand...

Yes the riser is the same.

To empty the powder turn the plastic hopper to off, remove it and dump. There is still powder in the rotor however. Simply take the whole turret with dies in it off and turn the unit upside down and funnel into powder container.

The spring is vertical, unlike the Auto disc unit. which was horizontal. I had one break and it hit me in the forehead, I was Pissed! Called LEE and they sent me anew one pronto!
 
Remove-it

Remove-it

Fix auto-drum

Here is the page with removal instructions that came with mine.
I removed it after using the measure for about 5 minutes. PITA to remember to reset it after using the Pro Disk.
However apparently Lee no longer thinks it is a good idea, so what I did may not be a good idea for other people.


I have the reinstall instructions but don't have them handy to attach.
If you need them let me know.
 
Last edited:
You know, I bought my auto drum as soon as they came on the market and I don't think the removal instructions had all those dire warnings at that time.
It is possible I just don't remember. ;)

Anyway... I've not ever double charged a case with the LAD and anyone using an "automatic" powder measure would do well to get eyes on the powder in the case before placing the bullet on top for seating.
 
I just bought my second Auto-Drum so I could keep one on my 9mm turret head and one on my .45 ACP turret head. I only use the Lee Classic Turret Press nowadays for load development. For cranking out the brass, I use my XL650 progressive press.

The new Auto-Drum I just received however did not have the lockout system installed! Weird. I have not used it yet, and I will go back and verify one more time, but I went to remove the lockout system and it was not there. Maybe this is a refurbished unit or something... I bought it "new" from Midway USA. I will take Dudedog's instructions down to the reloading bench later tonight or tomorrow to verify however. Actually, as I think about it, I am thinking that the lockout pieces were loose in the box as well. I may be crazy and smoking crack this morning, but I am pretty sure that this is the case.

I have found that they work pretty well however, and for the price, they are a no-brainer. It is a much better design than the Auto-Disk dispensers if you ask me, without doubt.
 
Doublehelix said:
I just bought my second Auto-Drum so I could keep one on my 9mm turret head and one on my .45 ACP turret head. I only use the Lee Classic Turret Press nowadays for load development. For cranking out the brass, I use my XL650 progressive press.

The new Auto-Drum I just received however did not have the lockout system installed! Weird. I have not used it yet, and I will go back and verify one more time, but I went to remove the lockout system and it was not there. Maybe this is a refurbished unit or something... I bought it "new" from Midway USA. I will take Dudedog's instructions down to the reloading bench later tonight or tomorrow to verify however. Actually, as I think about it, I am thinking that the lockout pieces were loose in the box as well. I may be crazy and smoking crack this morning, but I am pretty sure that this is the case.

I have found that they work pretty well however, and for the price, they are a no-brainer. It is a much better design than the Auto-Disk dispensers if you ask me, without doubt.
Click to expand...
Some older stock was shipped w/o the disconnect device installed.
 
I have a Hornady LNL-AP that I use primarily for loading pistol ammo. When I started loading rifle I had to change the rotor in the powder measure to the larger rifle rotor. Not a big deal but it does add a step to the process.

For each cartridge that I load I like to have a separate quick change powder die and a powder measure stem that I can dial in for my favorite load for the particular cartridge. The cost of those items is about $35.

I read some favorable reviews of the Lee Auto Drum measure. I was particularly impressed with the measure's ability to meter well with extruded rifle powder. The cost of the measure was about the same as the Hornady parts I would need for one cartridge setup so I figured I would give it a try. I did order a Rifle Charging Die set (long and short) and a powder measure riser.

I tested the measure on my Rockchucker and found that it worked well with rifle powder. I ordered some extra rotors and another charging Die and risers to facilitate changeovers. Once that was in hand I set up the Auto Drum on my progressive press to load some .300 Blackout and .223.

Most of my Blackout recipes use very fine spherical powders such as H110 and A1680. I am getting a good bit of leakage even with the rotor attachment screw in tightly. I had some leakage also using W748 which is a ball powder. The LNL-AP priming system is very sensitive to spilled powder so this is somewhat annoying. It is an easy matter to switch to a different Powder for .223 but I really need this measure to work better with fine granulated powder for Blackout loads.

I've run into a couple of minor issues that I chalk up to learning my way around the Auto Drum. I have pretty much resolved those and hope to do the same with the leaks.
 
My main powder drop is with the 9 mm
I hand load each rifle round only because I am near Max.
I was going to order a few more plastic drums
But I wait on that
I want to see the unit works
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

Gottcha
  • Locked
Switched from disc to drum lee powder problems
Replies
13
Views
1K
splattergun
splattergun
A
  • Locked
Lee Disk Kit vs. Lee Charge Bar
Replies
8
Views
977
evan price
evan price
D
  • Locked
Lee Auto Drum
Replies
12
Views
1K
drband
drband
M
  • Locked
Powder Measurer
Replies
6
Views
350
jcwit
J
Olympus
  • Locked
Help With Rifle Reloading
Replies
11
Views
820
witchhunter
W
Back
Top