new product: lee classic powder measure

[greyling22]

so lee is coming out with a high end powder measure. Looks interesting, especially if it actually hits market closer to 50 than 100 bucks. http://leeprecision.com/classic-powder-measure.html I don't know that it will be any better than anybody else's, but I'm always up for more competition and choices.


what I really want is the loadmaster classic, with a cast iron priming chute that fixes the priming issues with that press.

 

[splattergun]

I came across that yesterday. Looks like FSreloading will sell it for $75. I can't find anyone that has it in stock yet. I will be interested in user reviews.

 

[berettaprofessor]

No thanks. I'll stick with the Lee Auto Pro. This looks too much like the Perfect Powder Measure and I hate the micrometer on that thing.

 

[snakeye]

I agree I will stay with my Lee Auto Pro also...I runs good...and works...no since changing a good thing

 

[Walkalong]

Looks interesting.

 

[KansasSasquatch]

It might fix what I didn't like about my Lee PPM, the excessive plastic. Then I could leave my Hornady measures setup for my LNL instead of having to mount one on a stand for load development. But for $95....no thanks. Not even at $75, I'd just buy another Hornady, or a Lyman or RCBS, for that price.

 

[GLOOB]

No thanks. I'll stick with the Lee Auto Pro. This looks too much like the Perfect Powder Measure.

The PPM is a great design, hampered by crude fit/finishing and powder in contact with moving plastic parts. This measure looks very nice. All the best features of the PPM, but with brass and cast iron where it counts. And quick change metering inserts. And at least it has a true click micrometer. Pretty nifty, I say. The powder funnel looks interesting, as well.

I'm not lining up for one, but that's only because I already have a measure with almost all of those features. It's a highly modified PPM. I wonder if someone over at Lee has seen it on this forum, lol.

 

[ngnrd]

I'd give it a thorough look if I were in the market for another powder measure. As described, it has some interesting features.

 

[Rule3]

Plus $35 or so for the stand.

 

[Walkalong]

I wonder if someone over at Lee has seen it on this forum, lol.

I bet a royalty check is in the mail.

 

[roachcore]

Will it work on the LCT

 

[daboone]

Hand on review of the Lee Classic Powder Measure

Before starting this evaluation of the Lee Classic Powder Measure (CPM) I took this new PM totally apart and thoroughly washed, dried (including the hopper) and pre-lubed it with graphite. The Hopper was rubbed down with a dryer sheet. Then a full hopper full of Bullseye thru it before evaluating. There's no question that this Classic Powder Measure (CPM) is stouter. There is at the very top and very bottom of the stroke a little bit of looseness. This allows you, if you want, to rap the the crank handle/metering drum into into the housing. (kinda like the knocker idea). This isn't documented as a technique however it is possible. I did try it but thus far found it unnecessary. There is on this remake of the PPM a knob to adjust the tension of the chamber rather than a screw. It could be nice to easly adjust this tension for different types of powder however I didn't find it necessary for the evaluations of the listed powders.

Unfortunately I have run out of IMR4350 and don't have any fine ball powders like H110/296 so I can't tell how it will dispense at those extremes. I expect powders like IMR 4350 will still be inconsistant.

First up was Bullseye. Now admittedly Bullseye is an excellent metering powder. There was no tapping or snapping the measure or handle just a full and complete stroke from top to bottom giving it a couple of seconds on the fill side. The first 10 drops of Bullseye set at 4.1g were all separated by a mere .01g. Second powder tested was HS-6. The results were the same as Bullseye with a .01g difference in only 2 out of the 10 drops. I did no further testing of Bullseye or HS-6.


The following results are grouped by the specific powder for 10 individual weights and then by a 10 consecutive dispensing to check the average dispensing weight.

Unique Data:
Measure adjusted for 3.5g of Unique with approximately 2 second fill time. Individual weights as listed for each dispensing.
1- 3.5g
2- 3.6g
3- 3.6g
4- 3.6g
5- 3.6g
6- 3.5g
7- 3.6g
8- 3.6g
9- 3.6g
10-3.5g

Then 10 drops of 3.5g of Unique were performed with approximately 2 second fill times and measure in bulk for a total of 36.8g or 3.68g average.


Measure set for 10g of Unique. Individual weights as listed for each dispensing.
1- 10g
2- 10.1g
3- 10g
4- 10.1g
5- 10.1g
6- 10.1g
7- 10.1g
8- 10g
9- 10g
10- 10g

Then 10 drops of the 10g of Unique were performed with approximately 2 second fill times and measure in bulk for a total of 100.5g or 10.05 average.


2400 Data:
Measure adjusted for 6.1g of 2400 with approximately 2 second fill time. Individual weights as listed for each dispensing.
1- 6.1g
2- 6.1g
3- 6.2g
4- 6.1g
5- 6.1g
6- 6.2g
7- 6.1g
8- 6.1g
9- 6.1g
10-6.2g

Then 10 drops of the 6.1g of 2400 were performed with approximately 2 second fill times and measure in bulk for a total of 62.2g for a 6.22g average.


Measure adjusted for 13g of 2400 with approximately 2 second fill time. Individual weights as listed for each dispensing.
1- 13g
2- 12.9g
3- 12.9g
4- 12.9g
5- 12.8g
6- 12.8g
7- 12.8g
8- 12.9g
9- 12.9g
10- 12.8g

Then 10 drops of the 13g of 2400 were performed with approximately 2 second fill times and measure in bulk for a total of 129.6g for a 12.96g average.

H4895 Data:
Measure adjusted for 44.8g of H4895 with approximately 2 second fill time. Individual weights as listed for each dispensing.
1- 44.8g
2- 44.8g
3- 44.9g
4- 44.9g
5- 45.0g
6- 44.8g
7- 45.1g
8- 45.2g
9- 45.1g
10- 44.9g

Then 10 drops of the 44.8g of H4895 were performed with approximately 2 second fill times and measure in bulk for a total of 451.3g or a 45.13g average.

Trail Boss Data:
Measure adjusted for 14.6g with approximately 2 second fill time. Individual weights as listed for each dispensing.
1- 14.6g
2- 14.4g
3- 14.6g
4- 14.6g
5- 14.5g
6- 14.4g
7- 14.6g
8- 14.8g
9- 14.6g
10- 14.5g

Then 5 drops of the Trail Boss 14.6g were performed with approximately 2 second fill times and measure in bulk for a total of 73.3g or a 14.66gg average.

Measure adjusted for 4.5g with approximately 2 second fill time. Individual weights as listed for each dispensing.
1- 4.5g
2- 4.4g
3- 4.3g
4- 4.4g
5- 4.4g
6- 4.4g
7- 4.4g
8- 4.2g
9- 4.3g
10- 4.4g


Certainly the values listed above speak for themselves as to the performance with various powders. This is the new CPM's best virtue, it is as consistent with flake powder as it is with stick tested.

 

[savagemann]

Thanks for taking the time to document this. Great stuff!

 

[Rule3]

Excellent review and thanks for posting all the data. I know it takes time and effort to do this. I always found my old LPP did better with stick powder than the RCBS, it didn't cut at all. Glad LEE made a more substantial unit.

Not being critical but for clarification Grains are Gr , gr,grs, not just g.

 

[Artofgolf]

Thanks, daboone

Very helpful review for throw accuracy.

 

[higgite]

Thanks for the review and testing, but I'm a little confused by some of your results. For instance, how can you say that the PM is adjusted for 3.5 gr of Unique when 7 of 10 drops are 3.6 gr? Wouldn't that be more accurately called "adjusted for 3.6 gr"? Is there some kind of indicator on the PM that says you should be getting 3.5 gr of Unique but you're getting 3.6gr?

 

[RugerOldArmy]

For 4895...it is no better than a Dillon measure. Pretty much the same with 2400.

It might have been nice, if it worked better with extruded powders.