Red Dot/Promo & Lee Perfect Powder Measure @ 3.0 grains

[fireflyfather]

Read up on this, and since Red Dot is a flake powder, is it going to meter okay in this measure at low charge weights? I want to use it to charge my .38spc with promo and red dot. Other powders not an option.

Any thoughts?

 

[MilsurpShooter]

Standard procedure I use for the perfect powder measure is to set it, throw a charge, weigh it, dump it back in and do that 3 or 4 times and see what kind of variances I get in the numbrs. I have a tendency to tap the powder dispenser when I prime the load, and tap when I'm dumping it into the powder tray just to be on the safe side. I measure that and adjust as necessary.

I don't use it as an accuracy device, more of a ballpark load to adjust further. It does throw + or - anywhere from .1 to .8 when I use Hogden Pyrodex with it. YMMV

 

[fecmech]

Make sure you are using a scale to set your charges! Red Dot and Promo have the same burn rates and are interchangeable by weight NOT bulk. Using the same bushing in your measure it will throw MORE Promo by weight than Red Dot.

 

[fireflyfather]

Fecmech: OK, thanks for the help, but I'm looking for specific information for this particular powder measure, which doesn't use bushings, but an adjustable micrometer. I'm aware of the differences between promo & red dot. If you are loading properly with this powder measure, you have to calibrate by the individual container of powder, then mark the bottle/can/jug. Appreciate the warning, but need help with whether or not powder will stick/meter correctly.

Jay: Thanks. Do you have any experience loading with red dot or promo with this measure? I'm worried about using a flake powder with a low charge weight.

 

[forquidder]

Lee states in their literature that their Perfect Powder Measure will meter powder down to 2 grains.

 

[MilsurpShooter]

Nope, sorry, no experience with Red Dot or Promo. Hogden Pyrodex and Varget are the only two powders I have for now, but I'm looking for some new powders to use for a few different loads, if I find a flake powder I'll give it a run through and let you know how it turns out.

 

[zxcvbob]

Low charge weights of Promo measure very well in my C&H powder measure with the pistol micrometer. Very large charges do not measure so well in it unless I am careful to tap on it.

Sorry, I don't have a Lee powder measure. But if it has a small diameter cylindrical chamber you should be OK.

 

[ThomasT]

I don't know about your Lee measure but do have some experience with red dot now. I got about 3 pounds free from my gun dealer. I have loaded it in the 32 mag and 44 magnum. In the 44 i used 6 grains and man o man does that load shoot. The 32 mag uses 2.5 to 2.7 and a 94 gr Lee tumble.

Neither load is hot, just good accurate plinking loads.

 

[Marlin 45 carbine]

I've got that powder measure, part of a kit I got from Lee. lower charge weights I check every 10 rounds. really fine spherical and flake gives it some trouble. larger ball and stick it does fine with. I prefer the Load-thru-Expander and dippers for flake and fine ball (680)

 

[ForneyRider]

I have the Lee Perfect Powder and Lee Auto Disk Pro.

I do rifle charges in the Lee Perfect Powder, but have to be selective on powders. IMR 4350 didn't measure well even with lots of coaxing, so I used RL19, which was very consistent with little tapping.

Lee Auto Disk has Micro disk for small charges.

From what I have read, Red Dot is not a good powder for quick powder measures. Red Dot was in consideration when I was researching auto-loader pistol powder, but I went with Power Pistol because it meters pretty good.

The powder companies are introducing powders that measure better. Hodgdon has Extreme Extruded powders like Varget. IMR has SC (Short Cut) and SSC (Super Short Cut).

 

[go_bang]

firefly, what weight charge are you trying to load? I have a Lee Perfect Measure that I use on a single stage press. I was just testing how well it threw 5 grs of Red Dot. Using the .71cc setting it threw between 4.8 and 5.0 pretty consistently.

 

[armoredman]

I have tried to meter 700X, a flake powder, with a PPM, and it was very very difficult. I ended up simply using the Lee powder dipper and the scale to get it right, long process.

 

[fireflyfather]

Go bang: Read thread title. 3 grains. Thanks for your input, though.

Armoredman: I am hoping very much to avoid that process.

 

[armoredman]

That's why the 700X can is almost full...

 

[go_bang]

Sorry about that. My input on the matter is completely useles anyway. For some reason I thought we used the same powder measure, but mine is the Pro Auto Disk not the Perfect Powder Measure.

 

[fireflyfather]

That's why the 700X can is almost full...

Hah. Well, I just shelled out for 8 lbs of promo, so I'm going to bite the powder measure, so to speak, and try anyway. I hear it improves the more you use it.

Sorry about that. My input on the matter is completely useles anyway. For some reason I thought we used the same powder measure, but mine is the Pro Auto Disk not the Perfect Powder Measure.

No sweat. I was starting to wonder why you mentioned exactly the 7.1cc setting (bushing). I considered the auto disk, but the warning to avoid small charges with flake powders in the bushing type powder meaures kind of turned me off to that. Red Dot & Promo are so damn cheap, I am determined to find a way to make this work!

 

[zxcvbob]

You will love PROMO in .38 Special if you can get your powder measure to behave.