Lee 50th Help

f55

f55

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I started to reload today but have run in to a problem.

My Lee 50th came with power measure system and scales, I have zeroed the scales and then tried to measure out 42gr of imr4985, but no matter how much i try i cant get it consistent, its all over the place. Is the powder measure system just crap from lee?

I have checked read the instructions, watched the you tube video but hasn't helped.

Anyone else use this system have this type of problem.
 
I had the same problem with the Lee balance beam scale (not sure if it is the Lee scale or just the balance beam design) I bought an electronic scale directly from Hornady for about $50 shipped and it works great.
 
redddogg69 said:
I had the same problem with the Lee balance beam scale (not sure if it is the Lee scale or just the balance beam design) I bought an electronic scale directly from Hornady for about $50 shipped and it works great.
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Thanks for the response redddogg69, its been driving me nuts for the last hour, some times it balances then i try again and its way below, then above. I thought it might be the measure system and took it apart checked and tried again, same thing. It claims its the most accurate system.
 
YUp, get a digital scale (in grains), and a manual powder trickler, for precision powder measuring, I throw charges slightly under weight and I trickle charge to exact amount, not even 1/10th grain difference, with every charge i throw. This is an accuracy and safety thing!
 
Shooter ----/ said:
What exactly are you doing to check it?
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I checked the power measure system, took it apart to make sure nothing was stuck in it, and after i trickled the powder i weight it (scale set to 42gr), out of ever 10 , 1 or 2 would balance the rest where either under or over sometimes way over.

I think i will get a digi scale tomorrow and try again.
 
So your powder measure isn't dropping exact loads is what your saying?

If your using a "stick" powder, they don't work very consistent.

When using a powder measure, you will almost always have to use a trickler to bring the charge to exact grain weight.
 
I have the 50th. aniversary Lee reloading system. I find that it takes a bit of fooling around to get the powder measure to be consistant. Before I start dropping powder I run a few loads through and just dump them back in the hopper. I then start doing my loads but I double check using an electronic scale (grains) and also the balance scale. I just don't trust a powder measuring device. Better safe than sorry.
 
Shooter ----/ said:
So your powder measure isn't dropping exact loads is what your saying?

If your using a "stick" powder, they don't work very consistent.

When using a powder measure, you will almost always have to use a trickler to bring the charge to exact grain weight.
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Im not sure, thats why i was asking, the powder measure or the scale, if the scale is not good and doesn't balance then the powder measure might be ok, its just stange that sometimes the scale is low and sometimes high.
 
The Lee scale is crap. Get a digital and don't look back.
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Myself, I use the Hornady digital, but always crossreference with a balance scale. I wouldn't ever put 100 percent trust in a digital scale. I had an MTM scale, and the calibration was permanently off by 3 grains right from brand new. If I hadn't double checked on a balance scale, I could've been in big trouble.
I have found my Lee balance scale to be extremely accurate.
 
redddogg69 said:
I had the same problem with the Lee balance beam scale (not sure if it is the Lee scale or just the balance beam design) I bought an electronic scale directly from Hornady for about $50 shipped and it works great.
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If you're talking about the little Hornady GS-350, it now retails for over $110 dollars! Inflation :eek:
 
punkrockboy said:
Myself, I use the Hornady digital, but always crossreference with a balance scale. I wouldn't ever put 100 percent trust in a digital scale. I had an MTM scale, and the calibration was permanently off by 3 grains right from brand new. If I hadn't double checked on a balance scale, I could've been in big trouble.
I have found my Lee balance scale to be extremely accurate.
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I will wait for their response to my email, maybe they can shed more light but still going to get a digi scale, my first experience with balance scales haven't filled me with confidence
 
I would bet the scale is right and the powder measure is throwing varying charges. Variability in stick type powders has been mentioned. What powder are you using? For sh!ts and giggles try weighing some bullets on the scale. They are obviously a known weight. Or try the same one multiple times. How repeatable is the measurement? Do you know anyone with a scale you can trust to compare yours to?

John
 
R&R Rancher said:
I would bet the scale is right and the powder measure is throwing varying charges. Variability in stick type powders has been mentioned. What powder are you using? For sh!ts and giggles try weighing some bullets on the scale. They are obviously a known weight. Or try the same one multiple times. How repeatable is the measurement? Do you know anyone with a scale you can trust to compare yours to?

John
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Hi John

IMR4985 powder, will try weighing the bullets and see what i get, dont have any other scales, going to dante tomorrow to pick up a rbcs 750 and will let you know.
 
When I got my 50th kit, I used the "Perfect Powder Measure" to throw ball powder charges. NOT ONE WAS THE SAME when weighted on the Lee scale that came with the kit. So I used my Lyman scale because I didn't know which was wrong, the Lee scale or measure. Found out that the measure would not throw a repeatable charge. Called Lee, was told that I must be doing something wrong with it and did not get any satisfaction (ONLY time that happened). Tossed the measure and continued to use my Lyman and Pacific ones. Kept playing with the scale but didn't like the tracking with the magnetic dampening system and found that it was quite touchy. Don't use that anymore either, went back to my RCBS 5-0-5. Now I use an RCBS RANGEMASTER 750 and I find that it is quite accurate enough for the shooting I do.
I used to use the dippers from Lee before I ever got any scales (first one came with my Lee Loader) but never really had the accuracy on paper that Lee claimed they were capable of. When I got my 5-0-5, I found that I could not dip repeatable charges no matter how careful I was. Now I just use them to dip a base charge into the scale pan and then trickle up to the weight I want when developing a load. Once it works for me, then i set up my Lyman 55 powder measure and throw all the charges I want. It has never varied on me once set up. Sorry OP, but, although I am a HUGE Lee Precision fan WRT their loading gear, I gotta dump on the scale and measure.
 
redddogg69 said:
GS-1500 is the one i have retails for $35usd
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You can measure vegetables with that too! :p *kidding*

It's funny about that scale, because I read about people who swear by their accuracy for measures even under 4 grains to the 10th, then I read other stuff about folks whose scales are apparently out an entire grain or more with this one. It makes me wonder if their accuracy varies a great deal from scale to scale. But this is what check weights are for. Speaking of which, a 100gr check weight isn't really going to cut it for those who measure out powder in amounts under 6 grains.
 
I've never used IMR4985, but from what I see with a quick check I "think" it is a stick powder. Does it look like a bunch of small cylinders? If so, as the drum in the powder measure rotates around, it shears off some of the power between itself and the main portion of the measure. This causes varying amounts of force and that is why it is difficult to be consistent in your drops.

John
 
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