Lee Perfect Powder Measure / small necked cases

[moellermd]

I just got a Lee Perfect Powder Measurer and was reloading some 204 ruger. Unfortunatly the mouth is to big for a 204 case. To solve the problem I glued a disposible tip off of a Otoscope (the thing a Dr looks in your ear with) to the end of the powder dispensing cone. You can order an extra from Lee for next to nothing. I trimmed the nose so it just fit inside the neck. Works great now. Even long powders do not bridge. I have heard of people fixing the problem by filling the hole with epoxy and re-drilling it out. I think this is alot quicker however.

 

[Lennyjoe]

What powder are you using?

I have found some serious inconsistencies with the Perfect powder measure using Varget, 800X and IMR 4350. Use caution on the Perfect powder measure when loading near max loads.

 

[griz]

Welcome to THR. Thanks for the good idea. I load 17 Rem single stage but if I ever need a batch big enough to justify the progressive I will remeber that.

 

[moellermd]

Lennyjoe,

I have used imr 4895, 335, and Benchmark out of it. Not had any problems at all. I usualy measure every 10 rounds or so and all charges were consistant.

 

[MCgunner]

I use a funnel that is made for the purpose.

I've never had a problem with the measure, myself. I load IMR4831 with it, similar stick powder to 4350, no problems with max loads.

 

[Lennyjoe]

Hmm, maybe mine is just dirty and in need of a good cleaning. Will check it out.

 

[YellowLab]

Make sure you are going full stop to stop. I use a Perfect Powder Measure on my Loadmaster and at first I had to fiddle with the die to get the linkage to go stop to stop.

With extruded powders (I used 46.5gr H4895 for .30-06) and its as accurate as I need it to be.. I don't weight ever 10th, but I do weigh every 100 when I have to fill the primer tray.

Don't EVER try to use a flake or ball powder with the PPM.. major leaks-ville. But with extruded its leak free and great to use.

 

[ftierson]

Don't EVER try to use a flake or ball powder with the PPM.. major leaks-ville. But with extruded its leak free and great to use.

Actually, I use a PPM for both flake and ball powders with very little trouble...

This includes .45ACP and 9x19mmP with Bullseye, and many rifle cartridges with H335/WC852/AA2230C/H414... For 5.56x45mm alone, I've loaded in the tens of thousands of rounds using the PPM and the quicker rifle powders just mentioned.

I also load .357 Mag and .44 Mag with the PPM using H110, and H110 is the only powder that I have experienced some problems with in this measure (since the H110 "balls" are so tiny in size compared to other ball/spherical powders).

The key to keeping the seepage through the cylinder to a minimum is to keep the drum relatively tight. If you keep it snug, you'll be able to use even H110 while, at the same time, retain enough smoothness of operation to travel consistently from stop to stop (which, as YellowLab says, is very important for consistency).

I even load .380ACP (using 3.0gr Bullseye) with the PPM, but I check the loads much more often than with ball powder loads in rifle cases.

With the flake powders in small weights, I find that flicking the drop spout with my finger after I've thrown the charge into the case and have removed the case to the loading block keeps the small charges quite consistent. I let the few grains of powder that fall out when this is done just fall on a clean sheet of paper under the spout and dump them back into the powder container after I finish loading the several hundred rounds. If you do this, you must remember to do it every time. Consistency is everything. Personally, I wouldn't trust the PPM in a progressive machine with the tiny flake powder loads. The flake powders tend to cling a little too much in the drop tube...

That's my experience...

Forrest

 

[TC66]

I use both flake and ball powders out of my PPM and have had no problems. I use Unique for my .38 spcl and BLC2 for my .223. They seem to be very accurate so far and trouble free to this point.