Problem with Lee Powder Measure and Scale Measure

[JohnMcD348]

I am having a problem with properly setting up my Powder measure and getting the actual powder drop to measure out correctly.

I'm using Winchester 231 and 396 powder. Loading .357,.38, .45, and .380 at present. My problem appears to be with my math skills or my setup of the micrometer in the powder dispenser.

Example: W296 for .357. 16.6gr comes out to 1.09 when using the VMD of .0656. When I use that setting and drop a charge and weigh it, the scale measures out about 26.64 grain on the scale. I did the powder conversion check and came out with a slightly lower setting of .060 which gives me a setting of .996. That doesn't measure out to anything close to 16.6 on the scale either.

What am I doing wrong? Is it my settings on the powder dropper? Am I using the scale incorrectly? Am I doing the math wrong? Am I just not smart enough to be doing this?

I did zero the scale. I ran a couple of bins full of 231 through it before I started to reload.

Thanks
JTMcD.

 

[pinkymingeo]

Gotta be the scale. At a setting of .96 I get 15.6gr of 296. 1.00 gives 16.0, and 1.02 16.2gr. The Lee scale is a pain in the neck.

 

[FieroCDSP]

Two deals when dealing with the Lee powder scale. If these don't solve this particular problem you're having (at least getting your measures close) then you might want to call Lee and send it in.

1:Make sure the blade of the beam is in the notch. I know that sounds like I'm calling you dumb, but I'm not. You can get a lot of variance if it slips off the blade at any point, and that happens most when you pull the pan off the scale. All it takes is a bump and suddenly it takes a lot more powder. Happened to me a few times already.

2:Make sure your surface is level and zero the scale out with the pan on it each time you set-up.

As a side note, the PPM is not Perfect at all. Depending on the powder, you can get massive fluctuations in measurements. Always use the tap method for flake and tubular powders.

Hope this helps.

 

[pinkymingeo]

I used the Lee scale for about a week, then got sick of it and bought a used RCBS 505. Best $30 I ever spent. The Lee is accurate, but hard to set, hard to read, and harder to zero. My advice to anybody is file the Lee in 13, and get a decent scale.

 

[Cheesemaker]

I just checked my Lee Powder measure set to 1.09 and used H110 powder (same VMD as the W296). It dropped 16.0 grains.
As the others have said it appears your scale is at fault.

I have found the powder measure to be reasonably consistent and somewhat conservative. I always found a setting would drop less than expected - maybe 5 to 10 percent less.
I also bought a RCBS scale - money well spent. I still have the Lee scale and use it to re-verify loads - an extra safety measure. It is as accurate as the RCBS but a pain to adjust and read.
I no longer use the VMD calculations, I adjust the measure until it drops the required charge - weighed on the RCBS and Lee scales. Then I drop into the cases and eyeball them all and weigh one or two of them.

 

[FLORIDA KEVIN]

I set the scale to the weight aI want to drop then adjust the powder measure to match the scale ! also fouond I had to turn off my ceiling fan becasue it was causing the scale to swing !

 

[redneckdan]

the VMD measure is only designed to get you close.

 

[Redhat]

So far I'ma a fan of Lee equipment but when it came time to buy a scale I went with the RCBS 505.

 

[gandog56]

I went with a Pact digital. And the hi-speed dispensor, since I never could get the Lee Auto-Disk to drop a consistant charge of Unique. I only use the Auto-disk with ball powders now. And I made my own charts since the Lee charts are rediculously high. I had one setting that was supposed to drop 16 grains of HP-38. It was dropping about 14.9.

 

[jacobhh]

A good check on the scale is to weigh two or three
small metal objects around your target weight. Move
the scale to a different room, set it up and re-zero it
The objects should weigh the same +/- .1 grain, .2's
not bad.

 

[caverngunner]

On Lee's site where they advertise this scale, they make mention of a procedure involving 5/16 squares of paper. They state that each square should be equal to 0.1 grains. Never tried it myself, but if you don't have any check weights could be a possible check point.

http://www.leeprecision.com/cgi/catalog/browse.cgi?1191949532.5021=/html/catalog/powhan2.html