Author Topic: Lee powder measure kit (Read 1297 times)

Scibaer · « **on:** December 22, 2007, 11:18:19 AM »

do these work as advertised ? these little measuring cups for powder, it looks liek you just dip them into the powder, level them off and you have your charge.
seems alot easier then using the thing with the drum, micrometer and crank handle.
i'm thinking of loosing the perfect measure thing and get the dippers ( if they work well )
what say you ?

davem270win · « **Reply #1 on:** December 22, 2007, 11:59:35 AM »

Yes, work as advertised (in that you can scoop powder with them!), but you need to develop technique to get close to consistent charges, and you still need a scale to check yourself. I use them in conjunction with a scale, which puts me close to the correct load, and then use the scoop as a dribbler to get exact weight. I wouldn't want to use just the scoop to measure a MAX load, as there will be variations in weight.

If your not worried about exactness, and want a mid-range load for plinking, I guess you can use just the scoop. But I wouldn't use them for anything serious by themselves.

burntmuch · « **Reply #2 on:** December 22, 2007, 12:05:46 PM »

Like Dave said. The perfect measure works pretty good. set it for just below you load then trickle up with scale or use scale to check loads from the perfect powder measure. I used nothing but the scoops for a year. They produced descent hunting rounds.

Scibaer · « **Reply #3 on:** December 22, 2007, 12:44:43 PM »

i have the scales that came in the kit. i have made some test measures with them and they seem sticky.. i get, say a 50 gr. load set with the perfect measurer and check it with the scales and vice versa. sometime the scale hangs up and doesnt give me a good read. if i give it a little tap then it will settle back in.
maybe its just new still. i saw the dippers in the Lee catalog and thought it'd be nice just to be able to scoop out a load, and funnel it into a case.
im still haveing a hard time adjusting that micrometer tube on the perfect. so i figured that the dippers would make a good " second opinion"
does any of that make sense ? or am i Homered ? doh !
and i think i'm going to a set of digital scales, and have the beam scale for a backup.
can i use a trickler to get a more precise load after using the dippers and then throw the load from the scale pan to the brass, thru the funnel ?
is that acceptable way to handle the powder ?

Dand · « **Reply #4 on:** December 23, 2007, 09:58:33 AM »

I have a dipper set and I use them as the first 2 posters but I ALWAYS rely on my scale. I have read a number of criticisms of the Lee Scale as less than adequate. Mine is a Hornady. Unformity with the dippers is dependent on powder used and technique. Fine grained powder and ball powder can be dipped more uniformly than coarse stick powder.

As another said, for mid level plinkers the dippers might be ok but if you want to get more uniformity or load to top levels get a good scale.

I like the Lee ProAuto disk for most handgun calibers. Again with fine grained powders it is very uniform; but again if I am at the top end loads say for my 357 or 41 mag, I scale each charge.

Scibaer · « **Reply #5 on:** December 23, 2007, 10:21:23 AM »

yeah i went ahead and ordered a set of dippers and the little pull cord case trimmer and a case guage.
i have been trying to get my scales to read uniformly, but it seems to vary by 2 to 3 full grains, thats not very acceptable to me.
it could be a few factors so im sorting it out.
i see that i can get a digital scale from midway for pretty descent money, under $50 i think it was, that may be my next purchase, i'd rather have more equipement then i need and be able to cross check stuff, then not have it and be unsure.
honestly im not looking for top end loads, good uniform hunting loads is all i want for now.
i do have the Lee's perfect Powder measurer and when i figure out the micometer adjustment i'm pretty sure i'll be throwing uniform loads.
either way i'll be double checking each charge for sure

bulzaye · « **Reply #6 on:** December 23, 2007, 11:31:56 AM »

I used them for a long time. I made sure they were filled the same way every time. I got decent loads and never went to max capacity as I never saw the need for what I wanted for ammunition. I now have a lyman DPS II and love it. Best reloading money I . ever spent. Very accurate and quick push a button have a digitally scaled powder load ready. In fact I have a set of th emeasures I think I will put on the pay it forward forum.

stimpylu32 · « **Reply #7 on:** December 23, 2007, 11:46:06 AM »

I have a set that i use just about every day , just scoop the powder and pour it in to the scale pan , then top it off with the trickler , i can do that faster than i can set up the perfect powder measurer .

So i just keep the PPM set for my 223 go-to load and only change it when i change lots of powder .

stimpy

tn_junk · « **Reply #8 on:** December 23, 2007, 11:53:59 AM »

I have a couple of different scales, and a Lee powder measure, but always go back to the little dippers.

alan

p.s. I got one of those pull cord trimmer things and it's just about, IMHO, worthless, as is the Lee Powder scale.
Everything else I have gotten from Lee has been great.

Scibaer · « **Reply #9 on:** December 23, 2007, 12:32:49 PM »

well i am going to have pretty much anything Lee offers for powder handling. i guess i'll see what works for me.
stimpy's method sounds like what i had in mind, and check that against what the PPM throws.
looks like i'll need to get me one of those tricklers .. with the next order i guess..

alan, what dont you like about the pull cord trimmer ?

Scibaer · « **Reply #10 on:** December 23, 2007, 12:42:18 PM »

Quote from: Scibaer on December 23, 2007, 12:32:49 PM

well i am going to have pretty much anything Lee offers for powder handling. i guess i'll see what works for me.
stimpy's method sounds like what i had in mind, and check that against what the PPM throws.
looks like i'll need to get me one of those tricklers .. with the next order i guess..

alan, what dont you like about the pull cord trimmer ?
the scale seems solid, but it wanders up and down about 3 grains.. do they all do that ? is that an acceptable variation ?

Duckdog · « **Reply #11 on:** December 23, 2007, 01:17:32 PM »

You'll find the dippers very easy to master. You'll also find that once you get a system down, the charge does not very enough to get too worried about, unless your maxing the loads out. I have a set for my rifle reloading and a set for reloading steel shot. I rarely ever pull my powder measure out unless I can't use the dippers. I personally do not weigh every one. I weigh every 5th or 6th just for piece of mind, but I do not know why I bother, as there is never very much variation.

For my pistols, I use Lee auto disks with excellent results.

I also have a Lee scale and a RCBS, that are equally accurate. I use the the RCBS more for bullet casting due to the 500 grain capability.

tn_junk · « **Reply #12 on:** December 23, 2007, 02:36:47 PM »

Quote from: Scibaer on December 23, 2007, 12:32:49 PM

well i am going to have pretty much anything Lee offers for powder handling. i guess i'll see what works for me.
stimpy's method sounds like what i had in mind, and check that against what the PPM throws.
looks like i'll need to get me one of those tricklers .. with the next order i guess..

alan, what dont you like about the pull cord trimmer ?

For me it's slower than doing it by hand. I rigged up a contraption using an old drill motor that I use now.
I just never could get the hang of the lee thing. Maybe just my ineptitude.
As I said, I really like most everything Lee makes, 'cept that thing and their scale.

alan

Scibaer · « **Reply #13 on:** December 23, 2007, 03:08:56 PM »

well i guess i'll see, i got one coming, if i dont like it maybe i can rig it to tun from a electric motor.
thanks alan

flyboy · « **Reply #14 on:** December 23, 2007, 03:28:06 PM »

The dippers work well for me. I zero my scale with a 53 gr. varmint bullet, then use a dipper that throws a slightly smaller charge than I want. I bring the charge to weight using a few grains of powder shaken from the dipper faster than I can using my trickler.
I had a rifle powder measure once, didn't like it, but I use my little Pacific pistol measure for all of my handgun reloading.

Scibaer · « **Reply #15 on:** December 23, 2007, 03:55:01 PM »

a few other guys say they use thier dippers for tricklers too.
i'm sure i find a use for them , however i end up working up a load.

JerryKo · « **Reply #16 on:** December 23, 2007, 04:12:35 PM »

The lee zip trimmer worked good for me until I tried using it to neck turn with forester hand neck turner and sprung the return spring. Now it is pretty much useless. The neck fit was very tight and caused ME to put excess force on the Lee product. I have gone to the RCBS trimmer and have been happy with it as well. The only complaint with the Lee was it only trimmed fired brass for me, So I had to work up loads using once fired brass most of the time. I do recommend getting the universal chuck for it.

JerryKo

Scibaer · « **Reply #17 on:** December 23, 2007, 04:20:15 PM »

ok, why does it only trim fired brass ?

quickdtoo · « **Reply #18 on:** December 23, 2007, 05:11:33 PM »

I can't see anyone using the Zip Trim over a cordless powered lock collar with the Lee trim gauges, it just doesn't get any easier, short of someone else doing it for ya!!

Tim

jhalcott · « **Reply #19 on:** December 23, 2007, 05:52:49 PM »

I have the dippers and a couple other powder dispensers on my bench. I also have a pact scale and use it a lot. As for the trimmer I actually bored a hole in the stop thing ( what the collar screws on to) while trimming about 1000 45-70 cases and another 500 44mag cases.

goodconcretecolor · « **Reply #20 on:** December 24, 2007, 08:38:58 AM »

Just my $0.02 worth. I have always heeded the advice to use a good scale ever since my wife gave me a Lyman scale for my birthday (What a woman) years before the Lee scale came out. I bought a Lee scale and found it impossible to read(and I do know how to read a vernier scale, I'm an engineer) and the beam broke from a 2 foot fall to the floor. I am a fan of Lee equipment otherwise but not the scale. I used the dippers for more than 10 years before buying a perfect powder measure(which I love). But if I am just putting together a few rounds to try at the range, it's with the dippers. They make better tricklers than the real thing(I have an RCBS trickler). The Lee manual has a lot of good info on the dippers and the perfect powder measure that makes them easier to use. I firmly believe a good mechanical/balance type scale is the single most important tool on a reloaders bench. Dipped and thrown loads should always be checked on one. I have always found mechanical balances more reliable than digital scales. This is from 12 years as a quality and calibration engineer as well as 20 years of reloading. Lyman, RCBS, Hornady and Redding all make great balance type scales, even their economy versions. A set of Lee dippers and a scale of one of those 4 brands will serve you well.

JerryKo · « **Reply #21 on:** December 26, 2007, 01:25:53 AM »

Quote from: Scibaer on December 23, 2007, 04:20:15 PM

ok, why does it only trim fired brass ?

LEE's decided length has always been just a touch longer than the Winchester brass I was buying. At most I would get just a shine on a small spot on the mouth, so it wasn't even squaring it up. And the Winchester brass varied UNDER the length of the gauge which made uniformity on my first loads nearly impossible.

JerryKo

quickdtoo · « **Reply #22 on:** December 26, 2007, 05:06:43 AM »

That's easy to fix Jerry, just grind the tip of the length guage off just enough to clean up the shortest piece of brass, it doesn't take much.

Tim

Scibaer · « **Reply #23 on:** December 26, 2007, 05:59:36 AM »

it sounds like Jerry , or any one else for that matter could use more then one length guage.
one for each brass manufacturer or specific case length is needed.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #24 on:** December 26, 2007, 06:10:39 AM »

I thought about that, but the minimal amount that needs to be removed isn't enough to worry about, .002"-.003" has always been enough to clean up the worst of brass, and that isn't short enough to be concerned about, IMO, as long as all brass is trimmed to the same length, it will work fine. If a fella wanted to spend the time, a small washer made of shim stock fitted between the cutter and length gauge could return trim length to the original spec, but I've never felt the need.

Tim

flyboy · « **Reply #25 on:** December 27, 2007, 05:14:14 AM »

What quickdtoo said!

Scibaer · « **Reply #26 on:** December 27, 2007, 06:35:36 AM »

thats makes sense. as long as the brass isnt too short.
i can see where a shim washer would work, with a mic you could even tailor a guage to sit a specific size.
Tim, you should write a common sense reloaders manual. i'd buy 2 !

JerryKo · « **Reply #27 on:** December 28, 2007, 01:19:56 AM »

Quote from: quickdtoo on December 26, 2007, 05:06:43 AM

That's easy to fix Jerry, just grind the tip of the length guage off just enough to clean up the shortest piece of brass, it doesn't take much.

Tim

I thought I had posted a ? about doing that here when I first joined, but it my have been another site. Any way I was in a buying mood one day and picked up the RCBS on a deal. I do miss the simplicity of the LEE length gauges tho. I may get back to those one day. Most all my brass is fired now anyway

.

JerryKo

Tom W. · « **Reply #28 on:** December 29, 2007, 07:58:29 AM »

Some time ago a friend got the anniversary set, but he was loading for a .357. I had the turret press, and traded him for the challenger press. I used it until I got my RCBS stuff, but the dipper set I still use in conjunction with the PACT BBK II scale. If I'm loading Bullseye, 2400 or H110, the Uniflow does a wonderful job, but for hunting loads or extruded powders I'll dip my powder onto the scale, and add or subtract as needed.

I thought there was something amiss with my challenger press handle, but last night I took a 1/2 inch wrench and tightened the bolt that holds the handle. Whaddaya know! it's just like new!