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08-27-2020, 01:41 AM
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AA #2 and powder throwers
I just tried running AA #2 through my Lee perfect powder measure that I have had forever. The powder is so fine that it comes out of the sides of the drum while you are throwing a charge, making it completely unusable as it drops large amount of powder all over the desk.
As anyone else had experience with trying to meter out AA #2?
I'm a little concerned about how badly this stuff gunked up the Lee, as shortly I plan on trying to meter it through my Dillon powder measure when I start using it for more pistol calibers.
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08-27-2020, 01:55 AM
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I don't have a Lee, but a Lyman 55 (actually 2 of them). At one time I used AA#2 for loading .44 Special, no problems with the Lyman.
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08-27-2020, 05:40 AM
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I have a number of Dillon powder drops. My original is a push bar, instead case mouth activated. The tolerances are very tight which means no powder leakage. The newer ones leak a little on WW296/H110.
Aluminum pop can is .004" and makes a great shim to tighten the gap up. Cut off and recycle the ends of the rinsed out can, then regular scissors will cut it into usable strips. (I usually do 2 or 3 cans at once, and keep the shims with my scope base assortment) A regular paper hole punch make perfect screw holes.
Ivan
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08-27-2020, 05:56 AM
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No problems with an RCBS and AA 2. Besides metering great, what I like is that it doesn't static cling to the plastic parts of the measure in dry winter air.
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08-27-2020, 06:12 AM
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I have 3 of those Lee powder measures and IMO they are JUNK. The reason I have 3 is because they are so fiddly to set that it was easier to just get one for each load recipe and avoid fussing with re-setting one. Accurate #5 put those Lee powder measures on the Junk Heap because of the leakage. It forced me to purchase an RCBS Competition Powder Measure. Which works so well with any type of powder that it is the ONLY powder measure that I would recommend.
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08-27-2020, 06:36 AM
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Yep, my ancient Uniflow lets a tiny amount escape. Not enough to be of any concern.
The Little Dandy doesn't seem to have a problem.
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08-27-2020, 09:32 AM
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Lee makes a lot of good, utility grade stuff. OTOH, they make some very cheap trash, and IMHO a plastic powder measure falls into the latter category. As with all things, YMMV
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08-27-2020, 10:04 AM
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AA #2 , and #5 are fine almost ball like and flow like "water" the problem is you measure ...Leaks... the powder is actually too fine for the Lee's generous tolerances .
You will need another measure . My Lyman 55 handles both AA#2 and AA#5 just fine ...no leaks and very consistent throws .
Powder Scoops work well with these two also ...that can get you by untill you get another measure
Gary
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08-27-2020, 10:14 AM
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I have used the LEE Perfect Powder Measure for years . I had to learn that it does leak the real fine powders , Accurate , Ramshot etc . I only use mine to measure out the flake powders from Alliant . There , it works fine . For the finer powders I just use scoops , either LEE or make one . Regards , Paul
Last edited by cowboy4evr; 08-27-2020 at 11:36 AM.
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08-27-2020, 10:16 AM
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My RCBS has never leaked using any kind of powder.
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08-27-2020, 10:29 AM
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My lee "auto powder drum" leaks h110 like crazy and I hate it... i have an RCBS uniflow I'm going to start using strictly for rifle.... but think I need to upgrade all together...
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08-27-2020, 11:23 AM
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No problems with the old Pacific.........
but doing light trap 12 Ga. on the Mec Jr with Bullseye powder is a different story, even with bushings !!
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08-27-2020, 11:26 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SquarePizza
I'm a little concerned about how badly this stuff gunked up the Lee, as shortly I plan on trying to meter it through my Dillon powder measure when I start using it for more pistol calibers.
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Accurate powders are a great test to separate the good measurers from the bad. You've just discovered the bad, and will soon find your concern is unwarranted with the Dillon.
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08-27-2020, 12:08 PM
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Powder measures & scales you don't want to go cheap . A good measure with a ball type or short grain extruded ( like VV ) can throw very accurate charges . Often once set , you can weigh every 10th throw & be spot on . Flake type & large grain extruded not as precise but unless looking for max charges are close enough for casual use . Prudent is set measure to throw just short of selected charge weight & finish up by trickling into scale pan .
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08-28-2020, 06:04 AM
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Dillon powder measures leak a small amount of AA #2 or #5 powder. When I load 500+ rounds, there is visible powder on the the press. Not a problem in my opinion. For ZERO powder spillage, you need an all metal powder measure. My 2 RCBS Uniflow measures, one is large (rifle) , one has small (pistol), do not leak powder at all. How much I spill is a different story.
I do not want to dump 500 pistol charges into small cartridge cases 1 at a time. I can live with the spillage / mess, perfection is not required.
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Last edited by Engineer1911; 08-28-2020 at 04:15 PM.
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08-28-2020, 09:37 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by boatbum101
Powder measures & scales you don't want to go cheap . A good measure with a ball type or short grain extruded ( like VV ) can throw very accurate charges . Often once set , you can weigh every 10th throw & be spot on . Flake type & large grain extruded not as precise but unless looking for max charges are close enough for casual use . Prudent is set measure to throw just short of selected charge weight & finish up by trickling into scale pan .
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+1 to this ^
On of my favorite powders is the late, lamented H108. It is similar to AA #9 and I have frequently stated that it meters like water. I use an old B&M Visible Measure with a custom micro drop tube. Would I dream of trying to measure precise loads of this with a plastic measure? Not at all!
I also use a variety of rotor type measures (Little Dandy, Accu-Measure, Pacific Pistol) and have never had problems with leakage. Then there are the Lyman #5 and 55 measures... are you beginning to see a pattern? My measures tend to be all metal, and that’s because they are machined precisely and work.
As Brother Boatbum said, “...you don’t want to go cheap.”
Froggie
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08-28-2020, 04:07 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Erocksmash
My lee "auto powder drum" leaks h110 like crazy and I hate it... i have an RCBS uniflow I'm going to start using strictly for rifle.... but think I need to upgrade all together...
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The Lee Disk powder measure works well with very fine powders.
My Lee powder drum will now handle fine powders, but I had to EXTENSIVELY tweak it to get there.
I left the so called "Perfect Powder Measure behind decades ago. It shouldn't even be on the market.
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08-29-2020, 12:00 AM
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My Lee Autodrum leaks a little bit using AA#2. Not enough to worry about. My old Autodisk leaked a good bit more...
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08-30-2020, 01:27 PM
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My Hornady powder thrower works fine with Accurate powders as well.
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09-26-2020, 02:20 AM
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Accurate #2,5,7, and 9 have always worked great in my Dillon 550B. They're my go to powders. I check the charge every fifty rounds or so and it's always spot on.
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09-26-2020, 06:10 AM
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I haven't used my Perfect powder measure in a while, but I don't recall it leaking with W748 ball powder. I left it set to 23g or whatever the charge is for the .223 I was loading and it was "perfect."
Now the Auto disk measure does leak ball powder. None have ever leaked enough to be a problem. I have 5 or 6 of them I leave setup for various calibers I load frequently.
You may want to call Lee to ask if there's an adjustment or maybe a seal that needs to be replaced. Their staff has always been very helpful and obliging to me.
Found the following at Titan Reloading site. I hope this is helpful.
"Perfect Powder Measure Leakage
To eliminate leakage, disassemble the measure and clean thoroughly. Dust with powdered graphite or mica, and re-assemble. Work the lever back and forth to spread the powdered lubricant over the mating surfaces. Disassemble and observe the wear pattern on the cone shaped mating surface between the metering chamber and body. There should be even wear across the whole surface. If not, dust with lube and try again, with the tension screw slightly tighter (or looser, depending on the appearance). If you can't get an even wear pattern return the measure to the Lee factory for repair/replacement.
Lee's address is;
Lee Precision Inc,
4275 Hwy. U,
Hartford, WI 53027.
To get the proper tension on the screw that holds the rotor assembly to the base, place the lever in the up position and tighten the screw until you cannot move the lever up and down. With an empty powder measure, begin loosening the screw until the lever begins to move downward. Once this occurs, you have achieved the correct tension."
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Last edited by Cdog; 09-26-2020 at 06:23 AM.
Reason: Additional Info
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09-26-2020, 08:35 AM
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Ditch the Lee measure and get a Lyman 55 ...it will measure any powder AA#2 , AA#5, Titegroup , HP38 , Unique , Red Dot , 700X , 4895 , 3031 ...just to name a few that I've used .
It's how the unit is designed and the tolerances that make the difference ... drum type measures like the Lyman 55 , usually don't "leak" .
Gary
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09-26-2020, 02:52 PM
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Try a Lee auto disk. Been using on for years to load pistol cartridges with a wide variety of powders. No problems.
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09-26-2020, 03:21 PM
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Yeah, my Lee powder measure leaked but only with very fine powders, WC820 was one (but I don't throw it around). I just lapped the drum and tightened the drum adjusting screw, and not being of the "Lee Hater" mentality, I tried the fix, and it works quite well on my very accurate, repeatable Lee Perfect Powder Measure. Yep the PPS is inexpensive but like a lot of tools, first one must be smarter than the tool...
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10-01-2020, 09:04 PM
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My 3 Dillon powder measures work flawlessly with all AA powders from AA #2 to AA 8700. I have had some minor leakage with Hodgdon BLc-2. My RCBS Uniflow measures work on any powder -- ball, flake, or extruded. Unique doesn't measure perfectly and long grain extruded powders can get a little crunchy.
I wore out 2 Lee disc powder measures, both the original and the new and improved 2nd generation. Don't waste your time or money on inexpensive powder measures. Spend the money and buy quality -- the same brand as your press -- Hornady, RCBS, or Lyman.
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10-02-2020, 08:45 AM
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I have loaded #2 with my FCBS Uniflo, it works fine, the RCBS doesn't leak with any powder I've used. I've not used it in the Dillon so I can't say about it. I use WST and Titegroup in the Dillon but they may not be as fine as #2.
Last edited by pistolpete10; 10-02-2020 at 08:46 AM.
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