Assistance with Lee scale and powder thrower

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BioPace

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Hey guys, noob reloaded here. Literally just trickled my first 24rounds yesterday.

IMR 4064 23.0g 55g fmjbt in a .223 case. None of that should be relevant. Yes I know 4064 isn't ideal, but it shouldn't be the cause of my issues.

Issue: when I trickle 23.0g as per my Lee scale it looks like this:



When I set my thrower to 1.72cc (a little OVER 23.0g) with the thimble just barely snugged down I get a load that reads as 21.4g when reading the scale in the same way. I don't see how I could be misreading the powder thrower. I've run two hoppers worth of powder through it, and move the lever smoothly and slowly.

What's going on? Suggestions? Trickling takes me an average of just under 2 minutes per. It's killing me!
 
There are density variations between lots of powder. So the lot they came up with the number for the thrower with may be different from yours.
Trust the scale over the thrower setting.

The Lee scoops are the same. The chart shows 1.0cc of IMR 4227 as weighing 13.0gr but I get a consistent 13.8gr on my scale.

Use the chart and the adjustments on the thrower as a rough estimate and dial it in with the scale. Make sure the thrower is throwing consistently, according to the scale, and then start charging cases. Check the thrower periodically as well while reloading.
 
Consistency is the key. You want to run the powder measure the same each time. If you flick it twice for the first drop, flick it twice the next time. Not like that guy in the video above who flicks it a couple times one throw then half dozen taps the next. Don't do that!

I found I got the most consistency just running the arm up/down without any tapping and at least half full of powder. Run about a dozen or so drops to "prime" the unit and get it throwing consistently.

Some powders just frack it up like W296/H110 but some powders run pretty good.
 
I got mine to throw consistently by putting the arm up, tapping the back once with my fingers, and then putting the arm down. I wasn't too gentle moving the arm either.
My only issue is the thing kept jamming up with finer powders and I kept having to take it apart to clean it out to get the arm to move easily. Switched to an automatic electric dispenser and haven't looked back.
 
Thanks for the tips. I adjusted the thrower so that it was throwing a load that weighed in at 23.0g then did 50 loads testing every 10th load. They were all within accuracy tolerance I'm expecting. This is just plinking ammo.

Yomomma I have run a pound or more through the thrower before I started doing loads. I'm tapping twice before dropping the load. Good tips from all though. Thanks.
 
Lapping compound will stop fine ball powders from jamming up the Lee PPM. Mine would pack with powder and nearly jam solid with just a couple throws. Then I took it apart and lapped it good. Now it works perfectly with ball powder and drops to within .1 gr almost every time. Google Lee PPM lapping.
 
2 things will help. 1 set the lee safety scale up so it is eye level while you are sitting.
Run 2-3lbs of powder through the the lee powder measure to break it in and coat all the internals....and work the lever the same each time you throw a charge.

When I load, I weight each charge. I set the powder measure just lighter than my desired load set the trickler up over the pan, Then trickle up. Way easier than trying to dump down a charge. The closer you get to the desired charge with the measure the less trickling you have to do which speeds up loading. Just remember set up the measure to be just under you desired charge weight for 3 or 4 powder throws.

Good luck and have fun!
 
I'm confident enough in it with ball powder that I'll measure every 5 or 10 throws.... Seems to drop that very well.
With extruded no way, I get a lot of variation, and bridging every 3-4 throws. I'll get one 2-3 grains light, and if you don't pay attention the next could be 2-3 grains heavy.
 
Hitzy said:
I'm confident enough in it with ball powder that I'll measure every 5 or 10 throws.... Seems to drop that very well.
With extruded no way, I get a lot of variation, and bridging every 3-4 throws. I'll get one 2-3 grains light, and if you don't pay attention the next could be 2-3 grains heavy.
Click to expand...

What sort of powder volume/weight are you talking here with variations like that? 3 grains heavy is enough to exceed max in .223 but less important in bigger cases.

I weighed every 10th load and didn't see much more than half a grains variation (.233 23.0g).

Is there a more solid powder thrower? I'm just loading for plinking and personal amusement (the guys at work were pretty gob smacked at the idea of making your own ammo) so hunting accuracy or real precision isn't super important but id like to be able to skip weighing every load.
 
Not to sound condescending but you have to get rid of that scale. Replacing mine was the best investment in reloading I have made. It takes forever to level out and the arrows are as fat as thumbs. The scale I have now i paid 65 dollars for on the EE and it levels off FAST. has saved me hours. Good luck.

Rob
 
I mainly use mine with IMR4895 and set it to drop a few tenths under 41.5 gr then I trickle to exact charge weight but this is for precision loads. As for consistency with 4895 I'd say most drop to within a few tenths, the occasional one drops dead on or needs a stick or 2 and I get the rare overcharge of several tenths. I'd say max error is around 1/2 grain on the extreme side but the majority could be used as is for plinking or hunting ammo. With the little bit of H335 and CFE223 I tried, most were bang on and a few were all of 1/10th out.

BioPace said:
What sort of powder volume/weight are you talking here with variations like that? 3 grains heavy is enough to exceed max in .223 but less important in bigger cases.

I weighed every 10th load and didn't see much more than half a grains variation (.233 23.0g).

Is there a more solid powder thrower? I'm just loading for plinking and personal amusement (the guys at work were pretty gob smacked at the idea of making your own ammo) so hunting accuracy or real precision isn't super important but id like to be able to skip weighing every load.
Click to expand...
 
I have had both these items and they both have their own issues:
The scale is pretty good but;
-only use it on a flat solid surface.
-zero it out before use.
-always make sure the fulcrum channel and beam pivot are clean and dust free.
-once zeroed and you set your weight apply the beam lock!

The powder measure;
-never trust it.
-the tap method works.
-be gentle or be aggressive but don't do both, consistency is the key.
-the scale measures by weight, the thrower measures by volume and your reloading recipe is by weight so trust the weight as some powders do not measure well using volume.

What I do is find a close throw weight and trickle up on the scale.
Note: I retired both these items for a RCBS 505 scale and a Hornady powder measure.
My loads didn't get better or worse and my loading time is about the same.
I can throw very close now though and have to trickle very little (and sometimes not at all).
 
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