quick review-new lee auto drum powder measure

[Rule3]

As an update to my last post.

Loaded 100, 9mm with 5.5 gr of Power Pistol

Loaded 100, 40 SW with 5.7 gr of Win Auto Comp

Took a long time as I hand weighed on a balance beam 50 of each caliber powder drops. Every one was spot on.

If it was not accurate, I would not have loaded them

Yes, I use the riser as it's on there and I prime on the press,

In previous posts I tested Unique and Bullseye. If it drops Unique accurately I feel that is good omen

I also see no reason to use a baffle like in the Pro Auto Disc as the drum unit holds enough powder inside the unit to act as a "buffer" for the weight of the powder in the hopper.

 

[RussellC]

quick question for anybody that has used one with a Lee turret, did you need to use the riser to clear the auto prime like you need with the auto disc? going to order one tomorrow.

I used the riser.

Russellc

 

[RussellC]

Rule 3,



That's the type of proof I'm talking about, practical application. With all of you buying it, I'm sure the strength and weaknesses will be forth coming when you actually start using it, like Digid just did.

I had no such occurrence. Quickly loaded 100 checking every 5th one. A few had .1 variance on I think, 2. Majority spot on. Way more consistent than Pro Auto disc.

Russellc

 

[baseball2013]

I ordered one this afternoon and can't wait to try it out.

 

[digid]

I would like to add to some of the comments that have been made to my post of throwing issues with this measure on the turret.

My bench is rock solid, does not move at all. At one time in its life it held metal working equipment in excess of 1000 lbs.

Yes it was my first time loading on this turret with this powder measure. All of my reloading in the past has been done on my Dillon or my Lee Breach Lock. The Lee Classic Turret and the powder measure are new.

I suspected the powder settling was the issue. And expected a little variation but not as high as what I was seeing.

If I throw the charges with out moving the turret they are all within .1 gr.

I measured every load with a Digital Scale that I has been known to be very accurate. I zeroed it with a case every time after going through the sizing die and having a primer inserted.

I will work with this some more. I purchased the Classic Turret and this powder measure to load some of the rounds that I do not shoot to many of, like 41 and 357 magnums, and a few rifle cartridges, that I had been loading on the Breach Lock.

 

[RussellC]

I would like to add to some of the comments that have been made to my post of throwing issues with this measure on the turret.

My bench is rock solid, does not move at all. At one time in its life it held metal working equipment in excess of 1000 lbs.

Yes it was my first time loading on this turret with this powder measure. All of my reloading in the past has been done on my Dillon or my Lee Breach Lock. The Lee Classic Turret and the powder measure are new.

I suspected the powder settling was the issue. And expected a little variation but not as high as what I was seeing.

If I throw the charges with out moving the turret they are all within .1 gr.

I measured every load with a Digital Scale that I has been known to be very accurate. I zeroed it with a case every time after going through the sizing die and having a primer inserted.

I will work with this some more. I purchased the Classic Turret and this powder measure to load some of the rounds that I do not shoot to many of, like 41 and 357 magnums, and a few rifle cartridges, that I had been loading on the Breach Lock.

Mine was also first use, and on a Lee Classic Turret Press. Worked great for me. I mean, its a good solid measure for my uses. It isnt the second coming or anything, but I trust it better than I do the Pro Auto Disc. For its price it is a darn good measure. YMMV.

Russellc

 

[Toprudder]

Mine was also first use, and on a Lee Classic Turret Press. Worked great for me. I mean, its a good solid measure for my uses. It isnt the second coming or anything, but I trust it better than I do the Pro Auto Disc. For its price it is a darn good measure. YMMV.

Russellc

Were you dropping powder in single-stage mode (auto-index disabled)?

 

[RussellC]

Were you dropping powder in single-stage mode (auto-index disabled)?

Nope, full on turret press mode. Did stop after drop, measure on scale and return to brass afterwards. Then weighed every 5th one, then just got busy!

Russellc

 

[someguy2800]

Got mine yesterday. Tried it out briefly on my Lee Classic turret by setting it up on my 223 turret with a rifle charging die. The extension riser was required in order to clear the auto prime mechanism. Didn't try dropping any 223 powder.

Next I moved it over to my 38 special turret which I load the most of. This would not clear the primer mechanism on my turret until I removed the reset button following the lee instructions. With that our of the way I was able to clear it without the riser by turning the the auto drum as far as I can to one side.

I loaded it up with some 700X and tuned in the drop with a desired charged or 3.2 grains. I dropped 25 charges or so in a row after I got it set.

8 charges of 3.0 grains
4 charges of 3.1 grains
13 charges of 3.2 grains

700X is a pretty difficult powder being a big flake, but this did well enough for my purposes. The accuracy window on this powder for me is pretty wide. Next will be 9mm with AA5, and some light 357 loads with AA7. I will leave the heavy loads to my Lyman gen 6.

 

[Toprudder]

<snip>
I loaded it up with some 700X and tuned in the drop with a desired charged or 3.2 grains. I dropped 25 charges or so in a row after I got it set.

8 charges of 3.0 grains
4 charges of 3.1 grains
13 charges of 3.2 grains

700X is a pretty difficult powder being a big flake, but this did well enough for my purposes. The accuracy window on this powder for me is pretty wide. Next will be 9mm with AA5, and some light 357 loads with AA7. I will leave the heavy loads to my Lyman gen 6.

That is actually pretty good for 700x, IMHO. I've noticed that 700x has a lower velocity/charge curve than some powders, so it is pretty forgiving.

 

[someguy2800]

Yes and its very clean burning at any pressure. I really really like 700x. I load it in a 38 special with 158 cast bullets with a charge weight of 2.5-4.5 grains and it all works fine and gives good accuracy.

 

[guncheese]

in my auto drum i have been able to get very consistent 2.5gr drops of 700X on the loadmaster
i do recommend using a baffle
without a baffle i couldn't get proper drops below 3.5gr
i have been using a baffle in both the auto disk and auto drum
makes a world of difference
i used this template set to make mine
Uncle Nick's Powder Baffle Templates

 

[Rule3]

in my auto drum i have been able to get very consistent 2.5gr drops of 700X on the loadmaster
i do recommend using a baffle
without a baffle i couldn't get proper drops below 3.5gr
i have been using a baffle in both the auto disk and auto drum
makes a world of difference
i used this template set to make mine
Uncle Nick's Powder Baffle Templates

See my post #76. A baffle would serve no purpose due to the amount of powder that stays in the top of the unit, It acts as a buffer or baffle as it is.

Yes, I tried it both ways with my baffle from the Pro disc.

 

[drband]

Yep, a baffle has no purpose in the auto drum.
One note-- changed out drums for a different load today after several hundred drops. (I dumped the residual powder first). I was pleased to find almost no powder or even dust on the inside of the mechanism when I pulled the drum. It seems to be a very well engineered and implemented device. FYI

 

[sellersm]

Been using mine on my Lee Cast Turret, no issues so far. Dropping 6.7gr of W231 like clockwork!

 

[someguy2800]

The powder hopper was very loose on mine. It was only really held in by gravity which I found out the hard way. I removed the measure from the die to make a die adjustment and mistakenly tried to pick it up by the hopper. The result was a couple hundred grains of powder spilled all over the bench and floor. The fix was to put a piece of electrical tape around the bottom of the hopper where it slides into the measure. Its just enough to take up the clearance an give a friction fit.

 

[Rule3]

The powder hopper was very loose on mine. It was only really held in by gravity which I found out the hard way. I removed the measure from the die to make a die adjustment and mistakenly tried to pick it up by the hopper. The result was a couple hundred grains of powder spilled all over the bench and floor. The fix was to put a piece of electrical tape around the bottom of the hopper where it slides into the measure. Its just enough to take up the clearance an give a friction fit.

The tape fix (thank you) will make it fit tighter but has nothing to do with dumping powder. Turning the hopper to the off position will fix that.

 

[sellersm]

Update: I was having an issue with the powder hopper turning, very slowly, as my Turret would rotate. After a handful of rounds, I noticed the hopper had turned enough, towards the "OFF" position, that the powder drops were being reduced measurably, by almost a grain or two.

I sent a note to Lee, I just received John Lee's reply, which I put below:

Simply tighten the Philips truss head head screw that holds the black hopper valve to the red hopper. You can can tighten to the point it is nearly impossible to move.

 

[drband]

Update: I was having an issue with the powder hopper turning, very slowly, as my Turret would rotate. After a handful of rounds, I noticed the hopper had turned enough, towards the "OFF" position, that the powder drops were being reduced measurably, by almost a grain or two.

I sent a note to Lee, I just received John Lee's reply, which I put below:

Careful not to break the hopper. Mine was loose with the screw bottomed out so I added a tiny washer under the screw head. Fixed as Mr. Lee said (with the washer).

 

[sellersm]

Careful not to break the hopper. Mine was loose with the screw bottomed out so I added a tiny washer under the screw head. Fixed as Mr. Lee said (with the washer).

Thanks! Good to know.

 

[Dudedog]

Haven't used it that much but liking it so far.
My LPD will probably see less use,money well spent IMO

Added tape "fix"

 

[WVsig]

Can anyone confirm that if you take the safety off so that it drops a charge everytime it is activated by a case that you can prime on a Lee Turret without the riser? I am using Lee Dies on the Lee Classic Turret currently with the Pro Auto Disk which needs the riser to clear the safety prime but if pick up this Drum I am going to donate/sell my Pro Auto Disk and need to know if I need to keep the riser.

There seems to be some people who say it works others say it doesn't. Looking to load both pistol and rifle.

 

[Artofgolf]

... and need to know if I need to keep the riser...

Yep, keep the riser

 

[Mad Chemist]

I'd keep the PAD too. Never know when you'll wind up with another press that needs a powder measure.

 

[Rule3]

Can anyone confirm that if you take the safety off so that it drops a charge everytime it is activated by a case that you can prime on a Lee Turret without the riser? I am using Lee Dies on the Lee Classic Turret currently with the Pro Auto Disk which needs the riser to clear the safety prime but if pick up this Drum I am going to donate/sell my Pro Auto Disk and need to know if I need to keep the riser.

There seems to be some people who say it works others say it doesn't. Looking to load both pistol and rifle.

Keep it. Heck, keep the whole extra unit as a back up.