I have all lee reloading equipment, i like everything but am kind of skeptic about the lee perfect powder measure. Give me some opinions. If u dont like it give me some that you all do like manual or electronic.
Lee perfect powder measure?
- Thread starter keith jones
- Start date
Re: Lee perfect powder measure?
The Lee works great and holds a charge pretty well once you have it dialed in, especially for $20. Problem is, you still need an accurate scale, which costs way more. On the higher end, you can get the RCBS Chargemaster combo for about $275 from Natchez, plus a $50 rebate from RCBS.
The Lee works great and holds a charge pretty well once you have it dialed in, especially for $20. Problem is, you still need an accurate scale, which costs way more. On the higher end, you can get the RCBS Chargemaster combo for about $275 from Natchez, plus a $50 rebate from RCBS.
Re: Lee perfect powder measure?
+1 on the Chargemaster and "Boy Howdy!" you don't want to be guessing when it comes to your charges. There are other cheaper ways to go but what ever you get, you have to have confidence in it. The best thing is to have two different scales so you check one with the other.
+1 on the Chargemaster and "Boy Howdy!" you don't want to be guessing when it comes to your charges. There are other cheaper ways to go but what ever you get, you have to have confidence in it. The best thing is to have two different scales so you check one with the other.
Re: Lee perfect powder measure?
A guy where I work gave me his Lee powder measure because he "Hated" it. I use my RCBS Uniflow for my Rifle loads and the Lee for my Pistol loads. Its seems the Lee throws the small charges better.
But hey, it was free!
A guy where I work gave me his Lee powder measure because he "Hated" it. I use my RCBS Uniflow for my Rifle loads and the Lee for my Pistol loads. Its seems the Lee throws the small charges better.
But hey, it was free!
Re: Lee perfect powder measure?
I bought a LEE scale year's but like you didn't trust it.
When my RCBS died one long weekend I went back to it and fiddled with it and tried it out for a bit.
That was 6 year's ago.
I don't measure every charge anymore, unless I'm working out a load.
I use a LEE perfect powder measure also.
It take's time to get used to the LEE scale with it's sensitivity
The RCBS is still sitting in a drawer.I got it repaired,but like the LEE.
I bought a LEE scale year's but like you didn't trust it.
When my RCBS died one long weekend I went back to it and fiddled with it and tried it out for a bit.
That was 6 year's ago.
I don't measure every charge anymore, unless I'm working out a load.
I use a LEE perfect powder measure also.
It take's time to get used to the LEE scale with it's sensitivity
The RCBS is still sitting in a drawer.I got it repaired,but like the LEE.
Re: Lee perfect powder measure?
"..kind of skeptic about the lee perfect powder measure. Give me some opinions."
Yeah, that's a common view. Fact is, and to the outrage of some, it's about as good as powder measures get and is maybe the best available for coarse rifle powders that are difficult to drop consistanly. Of course you could get a digital dumpster for what, 10-15 times the Lee Perfect's cost? (Not me!)
"Accuracy" of the charge is dependant on how we set a measure. No volume measuring dispenser of solids can possibly be totally consistant in weight and the coarser the material the worse the result. Most of us just set the measure so the average drop is as close as we need. Only with those rounds demanding best consistancy usually get weighed. Learning how to operate any measure makes the consistancy better. Setting a measure just below the desired charge and "trickling" it up to weigh is the normal practice and the closer, more consistant we can measure our charges the faster we can trickle them up. The Lee is good for that.
More costly (iron) measures tend to work better with ball powders because the Lee drum MUST be well adjusted or it will leak powder a little bit. But that's a user function.
ALL drum type measures - what we use - tend to allow thin flake powders (handgun and shotgun types)to get between the drum and body, and that causes binding. When (not if) it happens, they need disassembly and cleaning with a small pad of 4/0 steel wool weted with denatured alcohol to remove the powder smears.
If you really want an iron measure, look at Redding's 3BR. And if you will use it for both large rifle and handgun, add the optional pistol metering chamber. That measure system is as good as it gets unless you spend several hundreds of dollars for some others that don't drop enough for large rifle charges.
"..kind of skeptic about the lee perfect powder measure. Give me some opinions."
Yeah, that's a common view. Fact is, and to the outrage of some, it's about as good as powder measures get and is maybe the best available for coarse rifle powders that are difficult to drop consistanly. Of course you could get a digital dumpster for what, 10-15 times the Lee Perfect's cost? (Not me!)
"Accuracy" of the charge is dependant on how we set a measure. No volume measuring dispenser of solids can possibly be totally consistant in weight and the coarser the material the worse the result. Most of us just set the measure so the average drop is as close as we need. Only with those rounds demanding best consistancy usually get weighed. Learning how to operate any measure makes the consistancy better. Setting a measure just below the desired charge and "trickling" it up to weigh is the normal practice and the closer, more consistant we can measure our charges the faster we can trickle them up. The Lee is good for that.
More costly (iron) measures tend to work better with ball powders because the Lee drum MUST be well adjusted or it will leak powder a little bit. But that's a user function.
ALL drum type measures - what we use - tend to allow thin flake powders (handgun and shotgun types)to get between the drum and body, and that causes binding. When (not if) it happens, they need disassembly and cleaning with a small pad of 4/0 steel wool weted with denatured alcohol to remove the powder smears.
If you really want an iron measure, look at Redding's 3BR. And if you will use it for both large rifle and handgun, add the optional pistol metering chamber. That measure system is as good as it gets unless you spend several hundreds of dollars for some others that don't drop enough for large rifle charges.
Re: Lee perfect powder measure?
I used a Lee Powder Measure along with a digital scale that has a resolution of .02 grains. I see that it is deadly consistent about 80% of the time, but will occasionally go a tenth or two of a grain high or low. Overall it's very good for the money, I am dropping 44gr of Powder so when it drops heavy or light by .2gr that only represents a .5% change from nominal.
I used a Lee Powder Measure along with a digital scale that has a resolution of .02 grains. I see that it is deadly consistent about 80% of the time, but will occasionally go a tenth or two of a grain high or low. Overall it's very good for the money, I am dropping 44gr of Powder so when it drops heavy or light by .2gr that only represents a .5% change from nominal.
Re: Lee perfect powder measure?
I have one.
I always charge below my low and trickle up, so I only need to get close. It works well for this.
I have one.
I always charge below my low and trickle up, so I only need to get close. It works well for this.
Re: Lee perfect powder measure?
Firebird: "I used a Lee Powder Measure along with a digital scale that has a resolution of .02 grains."
Really, a resolution to 2 hundredths of a grain? What scale is that and how much do they cost?
Firebird: "I used a Lee Powder Measure along with a digital scale that has a resolution of .02 grains."
Really, a resolution to 2 hundredths of a grain? What scale is that and how much do they cost?
Re: Lee perfect powder measure?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 71firebird400</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I used a Lee Powder Measure along with a digital scale that has a resolution of .02 grains. I see that it is deadly consistent about 80% of the time, but will occasionally go a tenth or two of a grain high or low. Overall it's very good for the money, I am dropping 44gr of Powder so when it drops heavy or light by .2gr that only represents a .5% change from nominal. </div></div>
that is how i do it i love it and like he said mine is only off by .02-.03 so i sett it .05 low and have a trickler over my rangemaster 750 and take it up to the 49gr i need.
just make sure when u raise the handle u do it the same everytime as in dont just lift and dump then on the next load lift tap then dump or u will get deferent weights.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 71firebird400</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I used a Lee Powder Measure along with a digital scale that has a resolution of .02 grains. I see that it is deadly consistent about 80% of the time, but will occasionally go a tenth or two of a grain high or low. Overall it's very good for the money, I am dropping 44gr of Powder so when it drops heavy or light by .2gr that only represents a .5% change from nominal. </div></div>
that is how i do it i love it and like he said mine is only off by .02-.03 so i sett it .05 low and have a trickler over my rangemaster 750 and take it up to the 49gr i need.
just make sure when u raise the handle u do it the same everytime as in dont just lift and dump then on the next load lift tap then dump or u will get deferent weights.
Re: Lee perfect powder measure?
Acculab VIC123 from balances.com. $235 delivered on mine +/- 2 years ago. AG
Acculab VIC123 from balances.com. $235 delivered on mine +/- 2 years ago. AG
Re: Lee perfect powder measure?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Really, a resolution to 2 hundredths of a grain? What scale is that and how much do they cost?</div></div>
AccuLab VIC-123 or Denver Instruments MX-123 (siblings). Less than $300 (for a reason) from Sinclair Int'l, etc. Not exactly uncommon as a result, mentioned fairly often on various forums over the last few years. Where you been?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Really, a resolution to 2 hundredths of a grain? What scale is that and how much do they cost?</div></div>
AccuLab VIC-123 or Denver Instruments MX-123 (siblings). Less than $300 (for a reason) from Sinclair Int'l, etc. Not exactly uncommon as a result, mentioned fairly often on various forums over the last few years. Where you been?
Re: Lee perfect powder measure?
No reason not to get a nice digital scale when their only $2-300. Mine has made a distinct difference in vertical dispersion at reasonable distances.
No reason not to get a nice digital scale when their only $2-300. Mine has made a distinct difference in vertical dispersion at reasonable distances.
Re: Lee perfect powder measure?
Well, the question was about measures. But, as retired precision electronic measurement equipment in the space program, there is no digital scale on my bench nor will they be one. Had one once, it quit so I tossed it. Won't have another unless someone gives it to me or I find one in a ditch.
Well, the question was about measures. But, as retired precision electronic measurement equipment in the space program, there is no digital scale on my bench nor will they be one. Had one once, it quit so I tossed it. Won't have another unless someone gives it to me or I find one in a ditch.
