Lee Scales and powder measures.. your chance to reccomend or not.

2

22to45

CGN frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
38   0   0
I am trying to help a nearly retired buddy into the reloading game, and looking to do it on the cheap side... He will be loading for 338 win, 303 brit and 308. Are these things ok pr not?
Thanks
 
I'm currently using a lee auto disk pro and lee safety scale to reload rifle rounds. The lee auto disk pro seems to throw very consistent charges with both flake and standard rifle powders. The lee safety scale works but it wouldn't be my first choice for a scale. I use mine only to check the odd charge to make sure my powder measure is being consistent.

I also load with the lee scale but you have to be very carful as it's so easy to knock it out of adjustment.
 
i have the Lee scale, the beam one, whatever it's called. i don't use it. you can have it if you cover shipping costs.

i use a digital jewel scale to figure out which powder disk to select, as those are consistent enough for my pistol needs.
 
I have the cheap Lee powder measure (the one for something like 35 bucks) and I'm happy to say it works pretty well and is consistent in the amount it throws.
 
The Lee Perfect Powder measure is probably the best one around (under $200) for measuring stick powders.
Some of them will leak with ball powders, but a little work with grinding compund fixes that easily.

The scale is accurate, inexpensive, and very sensitive. It is maybe not the most user friendly, but if you can learn how to read a vernier scale, there should be no problems. It is certainly better and more accurate than any comparably priced digital scale.
If money is a concern, it will do the job very well. If there is a little bit of extra money available though, almost any other beam scale is more convenient. No more accurate though, just easier to use.
 
i use the powder measure, works ok. sold the scale and use a cabelas digital, much better and was only $90
 
The most important item you can have is a scale check set. This is just a set of predetermined wts. you use to make sure your scale is weighing correctly. I use RCBS and it's not particularly unusual for it to be out and need cleaning, even tho I keep it covered when not in use. The knife edge sometimes seems to need cleaning and/or jiggling around a bit to get it to read accurately.
 
The Lee balance scale is accurate, but will make you want to scream if you are trying to move the little needle piece (i.e. determining an unknown mass). The perfect powder measure is more than consistent for the type of shooting I do. If I need to use a balance scale, I use the RCBS (5-0-5 I think its called). My Lee beam scale I keep around "just in case" (Not like hoarding or anything...)
 
Lead Loader said:
I use the hornady scale, its like $110
Click to expand...

If it is the now discontinued Model M, it's a pacific design, and IMHO one of the best scales that was available for a decent price. I still use my Pacific Model M quite often to check my chargemaster, and check weights for both once in a while. The Pacific has always been reliable, accurate, and very easy to use.

I modified mine by filling the bottom with lead, I like things to have a lot of weight, same with my trickler, filled the base with lead, lol.
 
I find the perfect powder measure to be very consistent. I don't have any problem using the lee balance beam scale. As has been said, if you can operate a REAL vernier caliper (not a digital) then you can operate this scale.

I haven't tried the on-press powder thrower only because the smaller one doesn't throw enough powder for large rifle cases in one throw.
 
I use the LEE Pro Auto-Disk & Perfect powder measures for all my pistol reloading with complete satisfaction.
For weighing the charges RCBS 505 &/or a 750 digital scale works for me. Like stated in the above posts the Lee scale works, but frustrating to use!

Mr LEE,..... low cost is not always wanted.
 
I don't know what he's got so far but Henry at Budget shooter supply has a pretty decent lee classic turret press kit in right now. It's $50 cheaper than regular retail. If I was just starting out it's what I'd buy and it has everything to get him going for $250 except for dies. http://www.budgetshootersupply.ca/frame.cfm?ItemID=477&CategoryID=19

I'm using the lee scale right now and I kinda hate it. I can get it to weigh 'somewhat' accurately but it's a process that goes like this:

1) Pour powder into scale
2) Wait forever for scale to settle
3) Add more powder/remove powder as required, tap scale
4) Wait forever for scale to settle
5) Scale says too little powder
6) Trickle powder into scale, scale doesn't move. Tap scale, scale reads too much powder.
7) Remove some powder, tap scale
8) Wait forever for scale to settle
9) Scale says add powder
10) Trickle in some powder, tap scale
11) Wait forever for scale to settle
12) Say F@$k it, that's good enough and dump charge into case.
13) Repeat
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom