Lee Auto Drum Powder Measure Problems

[varanidguy]

Hey all, I was wondering if anyone has any experience with the Lee Auto Drum Powder Measure.

I received one from Midway on Wednesday, finally got around to messing with it today. I cannot get the darn thing to work for loading .223. It spills...constantly. Raise the case in for a charge, it dumps powder, as the ram is going back down, powder spills EVERYWHERE.

I think it's bridging. Loading with AR-Comp, goal weight is 24 grains.

Set it up for .308, still using AR-Comp, goal weight is 40 grains...I can't get it to spill a single little blip of powder! It dumps in the correct charge of 40 grains just about every time! I must have done over 100 powder dumps before even loading ammo with it to see if it would spill or how much the measurement would vary and it performed flawlessly! About 80% of the time it was right on the money at 40 grains, and like I said, no spillage or leaking whatsoever...

What gives? I'm at my whit's end trying to figure out what the deal is with .223...Does anyone have any advice?

The measure is screwed into a Lee Rifle Powder Through die, the long version. I have tried it with and without their rise, and this happens regardless of the riser.

 

[quaid]

Sounds like the powder has dumped out of the powder measure and is sitting in the die. Sounds like it's not flowing into the case mouth.

Are you using a fast stroke up and down? Perhaps more time is needed to allow it to flow in the small .22 neck?

Lee also now sells both a large and small powder through rifle die in a two die set. The one I bought years ago was only one die.

You may also try dissembling and removing some of the extra machining grease Lee generously leaves in every die... For... Rust prevention... Wink wink. Don't forget to add some sort of rust preventative measure after spraying with brake clean.

 

[SARuger]

I use IMR 4064 in my .223 loads and have never had that issue. But, when rammed up for the charge, I do the BUMP-BUMP-BUMP with the handle to ensure the case gets the whole charge. Stick powder is tricky


Also, if you haven't done it yet, disable the safety feature. It doesn't allow the hopper to fully rotate to dump the stick powders.


I have 8 Auto Drums and have no issues with any of them.

 

[varanidguy]

quaid, I was going slowly, trying to give the powder time to drop. Most of the powder makes it into the case, but it seems like about 1/3 just spills when the case exits the die. Like you said, it's almost as if it is hung up in the die for some reason, which is why I'm thinking it's bridging, then dumps and spills everywhere.

First thing I did with it was take it apart, clean it, then lubed with graphite. This problem is only happening with .223 so that has to be it...but why?

I saw that they sell a "short" rifle charging die, but should that make much of a difference?

 

[Axis II]

I have one with short die and use h335/ball powder. it doesn't leak but wont throw a consistent charge. one time its 23, 22.7, 23.1, 22.8. got some graphite and if it doesn't work I'm getting ride of it.

 

[kcofohio]

I saw that they sell a "short" rifle charging die, but should that make much of a difference?

I doubt that the short die will make a difference. Your powder bridging is more in the neck area of the 223 and not in the die. As SARuger said, try the tapping method.

 

[judgedelta]

You might take a wrench and tap on the die a couple of times before you raise the handle. If the problem goes away, you will know that it's bridging.

 

[Rule3]

Do you have the insert in the right way?

 

[varanidguy]

I have one with short die and use h335/ball powder. it doesn't leak but wont throw a consistent charge. one time its 23, 22.7, 23.1, 22.8. got some graphite and if it doesn't work I'm getting ride of it.

That's no good. I hope it meters better for you. Mine meters perfectly for the .308. It's extremely consistent, always being within .1 grains and usually right on target.

 

[varanidguy]

Do you have the insert in the right way?

haha Yes, I do. I double checked right now.

Upon further inspection, taking the insert out and comparing its hole that the powder goes through and the neck of the case, the neck of the case is a slightly smaller diameter than the hole, but not small enough to fit inside. Could that little lip that is there be causing the powder to bridge?

I will try the tapping method and see what happens. Does Lee make a smaller insert for the powder through dies to accommodate 22 caliber cases?

 

[kcofohio]

Just remember with the tapping method, be consistent from throw to throw. Or you could find your weight varying.

 

[varanidguy]

Okay guys, I figured it out! No tapping necessary.

With the mouth of the 223 being barely smaller than the opening of the insert for the rifle charging die, just the slightest amount of too much force caused the case mouth to bevel inwards by a c-hair. Just enough of a lip to bridge the powder and have it spill...everywhere.

Once I noticed this, I changed my downward force accordingly, and the problem miraculously disappeared. I had to take a break most of the day because I was frustrated, and I don't want to load frustrated for fear of making a mistake. The bevel inwards was small enough to miss, but upon close inspection of the case, it was there...it wasn't even enough to prevent the seating of a bullet, but it did what it did.

So, if anyone is using the Lee powder through dies for rifle, and you're loading .223 with an automated powder dropping system that requires a bit of force to make it actuate, look out for this. Obviously YMMV.

Thank you to everyone for chiming in and giving me advice and ideas. It is sincerely appreciated!

 

[kcofohio]

And don't we all like a happy ending!

Glad you solved the issue, varanidguy!

And I see I was wrong, it was before the neck.

 

[snuffy]

Rubber hammer breaks anvil

If you can't figure it out after reading this thread, you're one of those that can break an anvil with a rubber hammer.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=788169

A LOT of people have had great results with the auto drum!

 

[varanidguy]

And don't we all like a happy ending!

Glad you solved the issue, varanidguy!

And I see I was wrong, it was before the neck.

Yes, but it was still the case that was causing it, albeit through my own fault.

 

[varanidguy]

If you can't figure it out after reading this thread, you're one of those that can break an anvil with a rubber hammer.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=788169

A LOT of people have had great results with the auto drum!

Yes sir, I figured it out, and now it's metering perfectly so long as I do my part. Thank you, though! I will read through that thread to gain some more information.