I hate my powder hopper - Lee Perfect powder measure

Paatz

Paatz

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It's sticky, won't keep a setting, I want a new one.
In the classes of good, better, and best, what do you recommend?
This is just for hand throwing, I load one at a time.
 
Since going automatic digital I can't see myself going back.

Do you throw your charges fully with the thrower or do you throw 90ish% and trickle up on a scale?
One of my friends uses a Dillon and he has it down to pretty much +/- 0.1gr so long as his movements with it are consistent. If he's less careful it'll be closer to +/- 0.2gr.
I've heard many good things about the Lyman and RCBS throwers as well for bulk non-match ammo.

I had a Lee perfect powder measure and wasn't that big of a fan of it. It's been sitting on my shelf unused for a two years or something now. I switched to trickling each charge on a balance beam scale for accurate loads and did that for a while. I've since bought a Lyman Gen 6 automatic powder dispenser and have no plans on going back. Any of the big brands powder dispenser will do a good job; the RCBS 1500 is the most popular. Trickling is still more accurate (especially with a scientific grade scale) but for my purposes the +/- 0.1gr of the automatic dispenser is good enough.
 
My Hornady that came with my starter set has been giving me fits as of late. With flake powder, on bad days I am +-.2 grains. Then, it (me?) will turn around and throw bang on the next night. I was thinking of taking it down again and polishing the charge cavity and adjustment screw surface to try and eliminate the chance that I might be getting some powder hung up in there somewhere.

I have had mixed results with "the flick", but I'm sure it can't hurt. The stuff I have been loading is run of the mill pistol loads, so that, coupled with my less than awesome abilities, make for an acceptable load I guess. I'm no where near an over or under charge scenario, but striving for perfection is still desirable.
 
I haven't had good luck with the flick, I have better luck with being consistent with the way I manipulate the charge handle. But it's likely just me.

I'm saving for a charge master combo.
 
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Lee has stopped making that powder measure - they have a new model due out in the next couple of weeks (Lee Classic Powder Measure). It is a cast Iron body with cast Brass interchangeable "Quick Change Drums".
I have one on order with Higginson Powders. Price should be about CAD $95

Lee%20Classic%20Powder%20Measure%2090868_zpsqt6whews.jpg
 
I had to take mine apart a couple times to clean out the H110 grains that got into the mechanism. Some screws are threaded into plastic so I don't know how many times I could do it and still have it hold together. I more or less gave up on it and now that I've gone digital I doubt I'll buy the new one unless I get into high-volume shooting (even then I'll look at the RCBS first).
 
I'm liking the looks of that Redding.
I like how the handle and micrometer are out of the way above the dispenser.
 
The H110 comments are ironic considering that's what is in my hopper now. You can throw charges but it's very still and not at all pleasant to use. Previously, I had Trail Boss in it and it had worked well.
 
Tazzy said:
I have a Lyman 55 and I like it.
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+1 on the Lyman55. I have the older orange one and it is very accurate and repeatable when dropping loads of W231. I can't speak for other powders but for my pistol loading it works great. The MOST a charge has been out is 0.1gr. I drop 4.2gr of the W231 and check on the drops every 15 rounds on the scale. Key is to keep the hopper filled. If down to 1/4, fill it back up. It has never gone heavy on a drop, only lighter by 0.1gr when the hopper gets low. Once I started to do the refill at 1/4 hopper, it stays at the desired drop.

As always YMMV.
 
I have been using a Redding BR for over 15 years and could not been more satisfied. My son also uses one and he's happy with it. No powder measure will be extremely consistent with stick powders but the Redding BR is as good as it gets.
762shooter said:
Me too. I moved up from an RCBS to the Redding and never regretted it.
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Well damn I *just* bought and started using a Lee Perfect Powder Measure. I'd have waited for this one for sure.

So far the PPM is not bad. Seems to work really well with Titegroup, almost 200 rounds of 3.8gr throws with just a handful +/- 0.1gr. I am planning for one of the automatic setups like the RCBS 1500 though.

K-C said:
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Lee has stopped making that powder measure - they have a new model due out in the next couple of weeks (Lee Classic Powder Measure). It is a cast Iron body with cast Brass interchangeable "Quick Change Drums".
I have one on order with Higginson Powders. Price should be about CAD $95
Click to expand...
 
If you're feeling spendy the Harrels precision powder measure's are top notch. I picked up one over xmas and use it in conjunction with my digital scale. I find that even with extruded powders it is capable of constantly throwing within .2gr. From there I trickle to the nearest .02 gr.

I've never tried spherical or pistols powders but I'd imagine one could get more accurate using powders that meter well. They also have models that will throw charges from 2gr to 120gr depending on what your application is.
 
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