Lee "Perfect" powder measure

[Gard]

I'm reloading for 9MM and I'm using 5.5 grains of Unique. Problem is my powder measure (lee perfect powder measure) is wildly inconsistent. It goes from 5.1 grains all the way up to 5.8 grains. This thing is all over the map! Is this typical for this measure/powder? Am I being too picky trying to hit 5.5 grains every time?

 

[Ghostsaww]

Never used unique, but H110, meters to bang on 1/10 of a grain everytime. My H4895 is generally +/- 1/10, probably due to large kernels.

 

[johnnyreb65]

I'm using the Lee perfect powder measure and unique...I'm getting the same results as ghostsaw w. +/- 1/10th grain I'll set it for 6.5 gr of unique and I'll get a range of 6.4 - 6.6gr with about half dead on..not sure if that;s the fault of the scale or the measure.

 

[WKAYE]

It's the powder. Unique and other flake powders don't meter well.

 

[johnnyreb65]

True,,,,,it also does it with ball powders,,I also use BLC-2 and 231

 

[dinsdale]

I use 3.9 grains Unique and I get about 1/10th variation.


How much powder have you run through it? i.e. is it new?

It needs to get a coating of graphite on it before it runs consistent.

 

[bigstickpilot]

I'm not familiar with Unique, but I run both ball and extruded rifle powders in mine, with a tenth of a grain repeatability. However, Lee does say that you have to condition the measure by first running a dirty, high graphite powder through it when you set it up, then empty and refill with powder of your choice. This will reduce the wildness. It did work for me (doing it wrong the first time, of course, and going back to read the booklet.) Not sure if it's a graphite lube thing or a graphite static thing, but it worked.