Lee Dippers

[Hillbilly75]

I grew up reloading using a powder scale but over the past two years, I have started using the Lee Dippers. Never even heard of these until I purchased my first Lee Loader and the Lee Dipper was included. I load for 243, 30-06 and 38spl measuring H4350, H4895 and HS-6 with the dippers and have not had any major problems. My rifle groups are consistently close (sometimes under, sometimes slightly over) to MOA at 100yds and definitely good enough for hunting loads. What are your experiences or thoughts on the Lee Dippers? Would I be better off experimenting with different powders first or is it necessary to get a powder scale to really tighten up the groups?

 

[243winxb]

Get a scale for safety. The dippers can do a good job, depending on the operator, with large amounts of powder in the 243 & 30-06. When you get down to the small powder charges for handgun, being light or heavy with the powder can be a problem. When loading near maximum powder charges, always weight each charge.

 

[Bush Pilot]

I use Lee dippers in conjunction with a scale and have had good luck. Don't rely on the Lee chart to be "right on".

 

[Arkansas Paul]

I'll probably buy a set of the dippers eventually. It would be good to scoop just under the desired weight and then trickle to the goal. I'm just a perfectionist when it comes to loading though.
If you're getting right at moa groups, then you obviously have a good, reliable and consistent tecnique. I know a guy that only used dippers for .30-06 and he can outshoot me with my trickled up loads ten times out of ten. Maybe I'm a lousy shot and just don't know it.

 

[MMCSRET]

I use the dippers extensively, I verify my powder dip consistancy and then go to work charging the entire run. I check randomly. Been doing it that way with the yellow dippers since 1981 and used the red ones before that. Great tool to have in my inventory of reloading equipment.

 

[Lost Sheep]

Trade rifles

I'll probably buy a set of the dippers eventually. It would be good to scoop just under the desired weight and then trickle to the goal. I'm just a perfectionist when it comes to loading though.
If you're getting right at moa groups, then you obviously have a good, reliable and consistent tecnique. I know a guy that only used dippers for .30-06 and he can outshoot me with my trickled up loads ten times out of ten. Maybe I'm a lousy shot and just don't know it.

Swap rifles with your friend.

If the better groups stay with your friend, it's you. If the better groups stay with the rifle/ammunition combination, it's a little more complex. He might be a better handloader (having tuned his ammunition to better "fit" his rifle), his rifle might be simply more accurate or measuring by volume might be superior to measuring by weight (which is not as ridiculous as it sounds).

More testing required.

Good luck

Lost Sheep

 

[dagger dog]

I'll use the Lee dippers especially when working up new loads, where you're loading 10-20 rounds increasing .5-1gr or so of powder weight. Sometimes it takes a combo' of 2 dippers and a trickler and I always check every 10 charge with the scale.

Once you decide which charge is the most accurate for your firearm then you can modify or make a dipper to throw the charge you want. Always use your scale to check dipper weight , just to make sure you picked up the right dipper.

If your going to load 200-300 rounds of the same load a dispenser is a lot faster, and just as accurate.

 

[oldreloader]

I still use them even with the other "better" stuff I have.

 

[jhansman]

I used them regularly (and, as standard practice, weighed the load at the start of each session) until I discovered this site http://www.beartoothbullets.com/tech_notes/archive_tech_notes.htm/41 and now use my own. I'd forgotten how much fun it was to work with metal, and they add a nice handmade touch to my bench.

 

[FWest]

I just picked up some at a flea market. Missing the smallest one , 020. Neat slide rule type deal for loads. Do the new ones have a chart or slide deal ?

 

[Sunray]

Use your scale. The Lee Scoops can vary the powder charge plus or minus a full grain.
CC's are a unit of volume. Smokeless powder isn't loaded by volume.

 

[Philippe]

They are ok for what they are but i just use them for getting close and then trickle the rest of the way.

 

[mikeadams]

FWest,

I just purchased the Lee Powder Measure Kit the other day. It still has a slide. The new one does have 15 dippers instead of 13. Just a note, even Lee states that max charges should be weighed.

 

[BBDartCA]

I have seen great variability in weights the dippers will produce. Starting to load 357 and concerned being off a few grains here will result in problems down range, or worse, at the breech.

 

[Lost Sheep]

I have seen great variability in weights the dippers will produce. Starting to load 357 and concerned being off a few grains here will result in problems down range, or worse, at the breech.

The manual technique you use will bear a GREAT deal on how consistent the loads you mete will be. With a modicum of care, staying within .1 grains on a 5 grain load is fairly easy. If you are not consistent with your scooping/dipping technique, you will not have consistent charges.

But that is true with powder measures, too.

The mechanical measures might be easier to be consistent with than the dippers, but the dippers are not THAT much harder.

Lost Sheep

 

[FWest]

Thanks for the information. I'm new to dippers not reloading. A handy tool that will have a place on my bench.

 

[dagger dog]

FWest,

The dipper set you show look to be the older Lee system, they are NOT compatable with the newer YELLOW dipper load data slide rule, I would give a call to Lee to be certian.

 

[FWest]

Thanks again for the tip. My plan is to use them more as a scoop than a measurement- working up rifle loads and finishing off with a trickler. I have a few other measures, Lyman 45, RCBS uniflow , Lee pro auto disc's for more percise measurements as well as a 505 scale.

 

[mgmorden]

I've always just used them for rifle loads in place of a trickler. I had weight every charge when doing rifle rounds, but I'll get a general feel for how much powder it takes to balance the scale. If it takes 2 and 1/4 scoops from one of the dippers then I can quickly put on the 2 and then grab a bit more and just tap it out slowly until it balances. It's just a way for me to work faster.

I'd never rely on them solely though. IMHO measuring via them is only a last resort if you do not have access to a scale.

 

[MtnCreek]

Would I be better off experimenting with different powders first or is it necessary to get a powder scale to really tighten up the groups?

IMO, a scale is required equipment when loading smokeless powder.

The Lee Dipper; When Close is Close Enough!

 

[fguffey]

Lee dippers, key word, Lee, Lee dippers came with instructions.

Required reading is not required when reloading, should be, but reloadrs find it saves time to go from beginning to 'expert' if they take the short cut. R. Lee designed, developed and manufactured Lee dippers, dippers came before Lee, there was no need to rediscover America. Adjustable dippers have been available since the late 1800's, the problem was 'net work', most reloaders were on their own, Lee put the information with the dipper.

If the correct dipper is used with the correct powder there is no way the reloader can get into trouble if the powder is racked off lever with the top of the dipper (starting load), a level dipper full is the starting load, a dipper, unraked with the maximum amount of powder is maximum as in one more flake of powder will cause a landslide is maximum.

For those that went from start to expert without required reading I suggest you take lee's advise and use powder scales to test the capacity of the dippers by levering the dipper with powder then weigh, after wards, use the same dipper with the same powder to get a heaping dipper full and weigh, the difference should be the difference between starting and maximum loads, and if not, why did Lee build all the different dippers with different height and diameters?

The dipper is the old way, the scale to dipping is to verify, I am a big fan of verifying, I am also a big fan of required reading, R. Lee was paid to develop loads, he listed loads in grains because they required him to furnish loads in grains, he developed the loads at the range with dippers, then went back to the shop and used scales to weigh the powder in grains, and, he was quite amused at their ignorance?

F. Guffey