quick review-new lee auto drum powder measure

[Dudedog]

Ordered one today from Titan.
Looks like Lee may be selling extra drums in the future. Titan listed them (not in stock yet) at $15 for 4. Would be nice to have extras and have them set for that price.

Will post some test results when I get it. It would be nice not to have to mess with the double disk kit when loading .223 on my Lee turret.

 

[drband]

I agree that it meters well but doesn't the lose fit of the hopper bother you guys?? I also do not care for how much powder it holds in the unit (not hopper) so changing powders the who;e thing needs to be unscrewed and dumped.



I fixed the loose fit with a piece of tape, I wrote to Mr Lee and he did not seem to concerned. Figured they could make the force fit tighter.



Just picky I guess.

My hopper fits in place very snugly. I had to push it in with good force to get it to seat in the metal cup. It will not be coming out easily. I wonder if you got a bad hopper?

 

[dave333]

Ordered one today from Titan.
Looks like Lee may be selling extra drums in the future. Titan listed them (not in stock yet) at $15 for 4. Would be nice to have extras and have them set for that price.

Will post some test results when I get it. It would be nice not to have to mess with the double disk kit when loading .223 on my Lee turret.

You may want to check again, I just ordered the 4 drum kit about an hour ago. Titan is still showing about 137 in stock at this time.

 

[RussellC]

I disconnected (removed)the stupid "safety". I actually think it stands more chance of a no charge then a double charge,

Agreed. And then your barrel has to be "unplugged" of the bullet...Whats involved in deactivating this feature?

Thanks,

Russellc

 

[RussellC]

My hopper fits in place very snugly. I had to push it in with good force to get it to seat in the metal cup. It will not be coming out easily. I wonder if you got a bad hopper?

It just slides in. Really isnt anything to be snug...If yours was really snug, I hope you didnt cram it in not noticing there is a little plastic ridge that goes in a groove on the part you slide it into? That would make removal difficult! As well as insertion...it should just slide in with no force whatsoever.

Russellc

 

[Rule3]

Agreed. And then your barrel has to be "unplugged" of the bullet...Whats involved in deactivating this feature?

Thanks,

Russellc

It's in the manual (yes real men can read the instructions)

drband,

"My hopper fits in place very snugly. I had to push it in with good force to get it to seat in the metal cup. It will not be coming out easily. I wonder if you got a bad hopper? "

Thanks maybe I do have a badly formed bottom piece of the hopper??

Does everyone else have a issue with the hopper fitting tightly or snug????

 

[Rule3]

It just slides in. Really isnt anything to be snug...If yours was really snug, I hope you didnt cram it in not noticing there is a little plastic ridge that goes in a groove on the part you slide it into? That would make removal difficult!

Russellc

Yes the little ridge. When lined up properly mine just falls in and is pretty sloppy?

 

[RussellC]

Why anyone would use the LEE powder measure on a Dillon 550B is beyond me,

Kind of defeats the purpose of a progressive press and the colors clash.

I dont have the Dillon YET, but I would imagine a good reason would be, assuming it works just as well, it that its half the price, and my plan with Dillon is to have a measure on every head I use...one for each caliber.

Otherwise, if it doesnt work well with Dillons I will have to buy three of the Dillon units. Color matching doesnt work into my reloading list of concerns! But it must work!

Russellc

 

[RussellC]

Yes the little ridge. When lined up properly mine just falls in and is pretty sloppy?

Well, the only other powder measure I've had was the Pro Auto disk, and it has screws to hold it. Mine just slides in, not "sloppy" loose but I dont think I will get the turret going fast enough to make it fly off, but I suppose you could accidentally whack it hard enough, and that would make a mess.

Mine slides easily in, but it isnt wobbly loose. Not snug, and certainly not tight. I am certain the poster who had to force it in didnt line up the key and groove...

PS: I just checked it...if I push it does move a little side to side, but the "wobble" doesnt show in use...

Russellc

 

[RussellC]

It's in the manual (yes real men can read the instructions)

drband,

"My hopper fits in place very snugly. I had to push it in with good force to get it to seat in the metal cup. It will not be coming out easily. I wonder if you got a bad hopper? "

Thanks maybe I do have a badly formed bottom piece of the hopper??

Does everyone else have a issue with the hopper fitting tightly or snug????

The little key and groove are not there to make it tight, just there so you can turn the hopper to shut or open it without the whole thing just turning. Which is indicative that it must have been intended to be somewhat loose, if it was tight, there would be no need for the key and groove, right?

I think the poster who has it so tight it had to be forced has just crammed it in without aliening the small key and groove. Again, if it was meant to be so tight you wondered if you could get it apart again, why would it need the key and groove? Dont line them up? not that big of a key, you could cram it in...and that would explain both the hard insertion as well as doubts about removal. Mine is not the least bit tight. I just checked it...there is a little bit of wobble, I dont notice it in use...

Russellc

 

[Rule3]

The bottom (black part) can fit tight and the hopper will still turn on and off inside of that part. As I mentioned with the slot and ridge lined up, I put a little piece of tape on the black bottom part and it is now snug.

Per a e mail to LEE they say that is the way it is made.

 

[drband]

The little key and groove are not there to make it tight, just there so you can turn the hopper to shut or open it without the whole thing just turning. Which is indicative that it must have been intended to be somewhat loose, if it was tight, there would be no need for the key and groove, right?

I think the poster who has it so tight it had to be forced has just crammed it in without aliening the small key and groove. Again, if it was meant to be so tight you wondered if you could get it apart again, why would it need the key and groove? Dont line them up? not that big of a key, you could cram it in...and that would explain both the hard insertion as well as doubts about removal. Mine is not the least bit tight. I just checked it...there is a little bit of wobble, I dont notice it in use...

Russellc

I definitely DID line up the key and groove. The base on my hopper is just a good tight fit. As far as a wobble, I noticed the screw that holds the black hopper base on the hopper did not hold the hopper in the black base very tightly (hopper wobbled a bit & looked like it might not fit tightly enough to keep powder from leaking when turned off). I added a tiny washer under that screw & that tightened up the hopper/base assembly nicely.

 

[kcofohio]

So far I have reloaded 200 rounds with Titegroup through the Pro-Drum. No signs of linking powder.

4 different loads with 50 rds. in each. 2.9, 3.0, 3.9, and 4.5 gr. I checked the weight of the 1st 10 throws and the last 5 on each. All loads stayed within +-.1 gr.

Using the Pro-Drum on a turret, I don't see how the loose fit of the hopper to the housing is a concern. The hopper remained in place. As long as I don't have a brain fart and pull the hopper off before shutting the hole.

Maybe my next order I will order the extra drums. Or just buy another Pro-Drum.

It looks like I may retire both the Pro-Disk and the PPM.

 

[tightgroup tiger]

I am retiring my pro-auto disc. I loaded 100 rounds with it in my pro1000 two day ago for the first time in a long time and I could feel the recoil changing constantly while shooting them. It's really old (about 25 years) and doesn't have the accuracy it use to have.

I like the idea of the new design over the sliding disc for the auto progressives.

I'm watching this thread to see if this new measure works as advertised. I expect it will but still haven't seen a lot of proof of it.

Time will tell.

 

[Rule3]

I am retiring my pro-auto disc. I loaded 100 rounds with it in my pro1000 two day ago for the first time in a long time and I could feel the recoil changing constantly while shooting them. It's really old (about 25 years) and doesn't have the accuracy it use to have.

I like the idea of the new design over the sliding disc for the auto progressives.

I'm watching this thread to see if this new measure works as advertised. I expect it will but still haven't seen a lot of proof of it.

Time will tell.

How much proof do you need?

It works, and meters very well/consistent with different forms of powder.

Only thing I have not tried yet is stick powder but I do not use much of it,

 

[someguy2800]

quick question for anybody that has used one with a Lee turret, did you need to use the riser to clear the auto prime like you need with the auto disc? going to order one tomorrow.

 

[KW-HD Rider]

I loaded about 125 9mm test rounds using Power Pistol and CFE Pistol today with excellent accuracy and no leakage. I did not use the riser and it cleared the auto prime with a few mm to spare. Will try some other powders soon but I am pleased so far.

 

[digid]

I used mine for the first time tonight loading up some 357 mags with 2400.
It was very consistent during testing, but once I put it on the lee turret it would throw about .3 - .5 high with the turret going around. (I was working up some test loads so weighed them all.) If I dumped them and redid the powder die it was very consistent with out having the turret move. I am a little disappointed. Need to play with it a bit more. This is my first work with 2400. I also have a Dillon 550b, and have never had that issue with the Dillon powder measure, or the Lee auto disk which I have 4 of on the Dillon also.

 

[tightgroup tiger]

Rule 3,

It was very consistent during testing, but once I put it on the lee turret it would throw about .3 - .5 high with the turret going around. (I was working up some test loads so weighed them all.) If I dumped them and redid the powder die it was very consistent with out having the turret move. I am a little disappointed. Need to play with it a bit more.

That's the type of proof I'm talking about, practical application. With all of you buying it, I'm sure the strength and weaknesses will be forth coming when you actually start using it, like Digid just did.

 

[kcofohio]

quick question for anybody that has used one with a Lee turret, did you need to use the riser to clear the auto prime like you need with the auto disc? going to order one tomorrow.

I would get the riser. I saw you question this morning. I took the riser off and mounted the Pro-Drum. It barely had clearance around the dies. If your dies are any higher (.032") the the linkage assembly will not clear. If the linkage is positioned outward, you could hit the priming unit.

 

[kcofohio]

Last night I ran 100 reloads with AA #2. 50 at 3.1 gr. and 50 at 4.2 gr.

It was holding the weight within .2 gr.

I also saw very few specks of powder on the turret plate. Maybe 10 granules. Not bad for running around 350 gr. of AA #2 through it.

 

[kcofohio]

I used mine for the first time tonight loading up some 357 mags with 2400.
It was very consistent during testing, but once I put it on the lee turret it would throw about .3 - .5 high with the turret going around. (I was working up some test loads so weighed them all.) If I dumped them and redid the powder die it was very consistent with out having the turret move. I am a little disappointed. Need to play with it a bit more. This is my first work with 2400. I also have a Dillon 550b, and have never had that issue with the Dillon powder measure, or the Lee auto disk which I have 4 of on the Dillon also.

I have learned with the turrets that when setting the powder throw weight, I need to imitate the movement of the turret process to settle the powder. The rotating movement will settle more powder in the cavity, thus giving higher weight than just stationary movement.

But that is me.

 

[someguy2800]

Thanks for the heads up on the riser, I just order one with an extra set of drums and a riser. We will see how it likes 700x. My uniflow and lyman gen 6 dispenser handled it fine.

 

[Rule3]

Rule 3,



That's the type of proof I'm talking about, practical application. With all of you buying it, I'm sure the strength and weaknesses will be forth coming when you actually start using it, like Digid just did.

That is one report out of how many?? I do not think that result is reliable. (no offense to the OP) I have used the Pro Disc system for many years. I have run this new powder measure with several powders and it is more accurate than that account, especially with a powder like 2400. How was the powder weighed???

I set it for 2.0 grains of Bullseye just for testing, and got tired checking the weights on a Dillon (ohaus) beam balance. It was dead on. Using a cheap Hornady electron pocket scale it varied by +/- .1 grain. It was as accurate as my RCBS Uniflow.

For $40 it's pretty darn accurate

PS: Why not look at snuffys post #19 instead?

 

[snuffy]

Wow, first we have a poster who reads this thread asking how/does it work? If this thread isn't enough proof, then take a look at these threads;

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?287611-The-long-awaited-Lee-AUTO-DRUM-POWDER-MEASURE-is-available

http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=566930

quick question for anybody that has used one with a Lee turret, did you need to use the riser to clear the auto prime like you need with the auto disc? going to order one tomorrow.

No you don't need the riser for the auto drum, when using it on top a powder-through-expander made by Lee. That's as far as the pistol calibers go. For rifle calibers, you will need the rifle charge die, then the auto drum will be high enough to clear the safety prime. It tucks itself nicely alongside the dies, then because of it's slimmer profile it clears the safety prime.

I used mine for the first time tonight loading up some 357 mags with 2400.
It was very consistent during testing, but once I put it on the lee turret it would throw about .3 - .5 high with the turret going around. (I was working up some test loads so weighed them all.) If I dumped them and redid the powder die it was very consistent with out having the turret move. I am a little disappointed. Need to play with it a bit more. This is my first work with 2400. I also have a Dillon 550b, and have never had that issue with the Dillon powder measure, or the Lee auto disk which I have 4 of on the Dillon also.

It's plainly obvious that you've never loaded anything on a turret using a powder measure like the auto disc or this new auto drum. They all throw charges a bit heavier because of the vibration of the turret turning. Another thing, I'll bet your bench isn't too solid. That would allow for more vibration if the press is able to bounce while in the act of loading. ANY measure will throw heavier charges when mounted on a turret, you simply have to anticipate it, measure it, and allow for it.