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  #1  
Old 09-18-2009, 10:40 PM
ancient-one ancient-one is offline
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Default Lee Perfect Powder Measure

Have any of you used one? If so, I would appreciate your opinions, good, bad or otherwise.
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  #2  
Old 09-18-2009, 10:48 PM
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I have two of them. They are cheap, and feel that way, but both of mine are dead on every time and easy to use and adjust. The Uniflow is a much better measure, but for $19 the PPM is hard to beat.
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  #3  
Old 09-19-2009, 07:33 AM
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Using the word perfect in a sentence with Lee and powder measure is an oxymoron. I use and like other Lee products, however their powder measures are junk. Get an RCBS Uniflow or a Redding if you want top of the line performance, both are built with precision to last a lifetime.
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Old 09-19-2009, 07:42 AM
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Default Lee Perfect Powder Measure

Sorry Marksman but I'm with Landric. They don't have a quality "feel" to them but mine is dead on drop to drop with the right powder. Universal is just incredibly accurate in mine. It's even dropped flaky 700X with good enough consistency.

It takes some break-in, like a pound of powder through it, but it smooths out and continues to improve with use.

I could certainly have bought more expensive but, I don't think I could have bought better.

Get one. You'll like it.

All the Best,
D. White
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  #5  
Old 09-19-2009, 08:23 AM
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Mine works great, if it ever wears out I'll buy another.
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Old 09-19-2009, 09:57 AM
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I'll agree with you on this one Marksman! I have a Lee PPM and never use it anymore, if you get any other powder meter you will see just how bad this thing really is. It is at it's worst with large grain powders, they make the plastic rotor very hard to turn because it doesn't cut them easily.

I have two Uniflows, one of which is mounted on a progressive setup, and an old Lyman 55. I would recommend either one of them before the PPM.

Lee makes a lot of cheap products, they work to a point, but I have yet to see one that is better than the products Lee claims they are. If money is a concern and that is all you can get, then there isn't anything else you can do. If you are just being frugal and think you are doing yourself a favor, you're not.

Of course this is just my opinion based on my experiences with the product in question. Others will vary, as always.
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  #7  
Old 09-19-2009, 09:59 AM
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Mine works so well, I bought another so I could keep it set for one powder and one for another.
I just adjust it by trial and error, the numbers are too hard to see. I can tweak it within a few slight turns of the micrometer.

As mentioned, break it in with a full canister. I filled it up, opened it to the largest setting and just turned the handle till empty.

It is very accurate, believe me I sat there and dropped and weighed hundreds of samples.
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Old 09-19-2009, 11:29 AM
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Smile powdermearsure

Love mine have 2rcbs uniflows yet the lee workks flawless even with long extruded powder like 4831
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Old 09-19-2009, 11:41 AM
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FWIW, here are the 79 reviews from Midway. The other more expensive brands are probably better built, are they that much better? plus you need to buy the stand also. Did everyone buy the Lee because it is cheap? It obviously works for some.
Not everyone can have a Lexus or Mercedes.

Lee Perfect Powder Measure - MidwayUSA
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  #10  
Old 09-19-2009, 12:06 PM
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I bought one a while back. I was wanting one just to set up for 3.5 gr Bullseye load and leave it. It worked OK but I just didn't have confidence in an all plastic powder measure. Ended up giving it to my nephew. He already had one Lee and didn't have a problem with it. I looked around and found a used RCBS for my Bullseye load.
If you're looking for an inexpensive measure the Lee is hard to beat. It does work. I prefer a powder measure with a metal body and rotor though. Just comes down to personal preference and how much reloading you're planning on doing.
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  #11  
Old 09-19-2009, 12:57 PM
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Sir, when I was shooting NRA high power a lot, I bought one mainly because it was cheap and had a reputation for accuracy. The "cheap" part was correct, the "accuracy" part less so.

I found it to be inaccurate with stick-type rifle powders, specifically IMR 4895 and VV N540. It would vary by as much as half a grain from charge to charge, though usually less than that, say 0.2 to 0.3. It was closer with the Vhita Vouri, presumably because of the shorter "sticks," so I plan to try it with ball-type powder and see if that goes better. If not, I'll just pitch it--an inaccurate measure is worse than no measure at all.

Hope this helps, and Semper Fi.

Ron H.
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  #12  
Old 09-19-2009, 01:18 PM
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My first reloading kit was the Lee Anniversary, which included the Perfect. I found it to be horribly inaccurate and it leaked powder everywhere. Powder would get into the rotor, giving it a gritty feel and making it difficult to operate the handle in a smooth consistent manner.

I was only able to get it to drop powder somewhat consistently by only using small flake or ball powder like W231. I would turn the rotor to fill the tube, tap the measure a couple times, turn the rotor to dump the powder, tap a few times again, and repeat for the next load.

I quickly moved up to something better.
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  #13  
Old 09-19-2009, 10:54 PM
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Thanks to all for giving me your opinions.
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  #14  
Old 09-19-2009, 11:04 PM
Schofield Schofield is offline
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Well I'm a little late in replying but as a reloader of 40+ years experience I have to say that I may have thrown more Lee equipment in the dumpster than many people my age have owned.

I can't figure out that company. I know people who swear by their gear but my experience has been very negative.

I will say that I own a few sets of their dies and they have served me well but the "Perfect Powder Measure" lasted two days before I tossed it.

Many will disagree but I say if the price of any tool DOES NOT make you squirm it probably is not good enough.
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  #15  
Old 09-20-2009, 12:02 AM
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From my still limited experience it works up to 0.1 grain with Lil'Gun. Just did throw and weigh one hundred loads of Lil'Gun. So for this load I will use it to throw the loads.

For rifle loading I throw somewhat less then I need and trickle up the rest. So absolut accuracy is not needed - and I doubt that any powder measure no matter of what brand comes close to the accuracy of throwing and trickling.

Fritz
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  #16  
Old 09-21-2009, 04:26 PM
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I have always found mine to be very accurate. For the price it cannot be beat. It does tend to scatter a few grains of powder here and there, but I can live with that. I have never seen any need for a more expensive measure when this one works so well.

Last edited by norad45; 09-21-2009 at 04:29 PM.
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  #17  
Old 09-21-2009, 06:30 PM
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Don't have any experience with the Lee ppm, but when I asked my reloading mentor about measures he recommended the Redding model 3. What I ended up getting was a Redding master measure thats older than me on Ebay for less than $40. With BLC-2 it's dead on once I get it set up.
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  #18  
Old 09-27-2009, 02:06 AM
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My measures are the Uniflow (had it since the mid 70's) and a Lee Perfect (owned it for three years).

For really coarse powders, I also use an older RCBS powder dispenser (made by PACT).

I use the measure that fits a particular project the best. Sometimes it's the Uniflow and other times it's the Lee.

The leakage mentioned is with really fine powders and the Uniflow works best with those any way so it does not bother me.

Where the Lee shines is with powders coarse enough to bother the Uniflow (grain shearing) but not so coarse to require a powder dispenser or just punt and use a scale and trickler.

Three 44s
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  #19  
Old 09-28-2009, 04:39 PM
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I don't have a lot of money so I bought a Lee PPM. It works well for me even though it feels like junk. Hey, as long as it keeps working I'm happy with it. It's always right on.
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  #20  
Old 09-28-2009, 05:08 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ArchAngelCD View Post
I don't have a lot of money so I bought a Lee PPM. It works well for me even though it feels like junk. Hey, as long as it keeps working I'm happy with it. It's always right on.
True, it does not feel substantial but it does work and I have found it to be very accurate. I have never seen it "leak" as others mentioned.
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  #21  
Old 10-05-2009, 12:55 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by OCD1 View Post
True, it does not feel substantial but it does work and I have found it to be very accurate. I have never seen it "leak" as others mentioned.
I haven't had any "leaks" either.
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  #22  
Old 12-06-2009, 09:02 PM
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Default Lee PPM and 700X

Just got a PPM and have been running powder through it to break it in as the manual states you should do. It is pretty consistent now. I am getting ready to reload using 700X. I place the primed case on the digital scale, zero it and then reweigh after adding the powder. I have the setting at 5.0 grains and for the most part the amount of powder placed in the case is within .1 grains, but every sixth or seventh case the weight might be off by .3. Is that normal using a powder like 700X or do I need to break it in some more. With other powders, such as H4895 it seems more consistent.

I am on the side that does not object to the use of nylon in its construction. I use Lee dies and their Challenger press. Many years ago (40) I got started in reloading using their classic hand reloading kit in .45 acp.
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  #23  
Old 12-08-2009, 02:15 AM
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Default it works

not great.......... would I buy it again...... no
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  #24  
Old 12-08-2009, 11:12 AM
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Mine is pretty accurate with some powders,but it does leak small ball powder all over the place. It would be a lot better if the mount wasn't a wet noodle.
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Old 12-09-2009, 01:42 PM
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I really like mine. It has worked great for 15 years. It is more consistant with some powders than others. I always set it barely light, weigh each charge, and trickle up to the desired weight. This is not the most efficient way to reload, but it makes accurate ammo. For plinking, I feel mine is accurate enough to set it and forget it. I've never had a "leaking" issue. I've used it with stick, ball, and flake powders.
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  #26  
Old 12-10-2009, 07:49 PM
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Default retired mine

after using it for several months. I replaced it with a Redding 3.
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  #27  
Old 12-10-2009, 08:23 PM
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Leaks with very fine flake powders, looks like a cheap piece of plastic. I would spend the money for a good powder measure, UNLESS YOU'RE USING 4350 OR ONE OF THE OTHER LONG-STICK POWDERS. For those powders, the cheap plastic Lee is probably the best powder measure made, although the Belding & Mull isn't bad, either. The only thing better than the Lee (for long sticks) is the Prometheus, which is really just a superfast way of weighing every charge.
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  #28  
Old 12-12-2009, 05:59 PM
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Default powder measure

I use the Lee auto disk measures I have several set up for pistol on turrets.I am setting one up now for rifle with the double disc.I dont have trouble with them and minor variance wont make a difference in pistol at 50 yds.I use 700X in pistol and 2.5 for 38 and 3.6 for 45acp.the rifle will be AAC2520 for garand.I would think that a prudent person could adjust the measures so they dont leak.and factory ammo has as much variation as you people get and more.if win is doing 1,600,000 45 acp a day I am sure none are spot on.some people are to picky and waste time on things that dont count.do yo weigh every case every bullet,no why not.
I should put my name in for all this "junk" being thrown away.I have had tools from 1937 on and still like the day I got them.I have my gilbert toy soldier caster and pot still works.
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  #29  
Old 12-13-2009, 10:55 PM
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I have two of them. I load with Unique primarily and they work just fine. The powder scale double checks the powder charges each 10 rounds. The Lee products work fine for me.
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  #30  
Old 12-13-2009, 11:19 PM
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I have one. I even bought the double disk kit for it. Planned on using it some but haven't. I have another measure I like really well for use on my Lee Turret Press. A Lyman #55. It can be adjusted much faster and easier than using the Lee disks. Although the infinite adjusting bare helps, it still has it's limitations.

One feature I like about it though is the auto dispense. The Lyman won't do that. I suppose you could even use it on a Dillon but their stuff works pretty well.

The shut off is smart, that way you can change the disks and not have to dump the powder back into the bottle.

What about the disk to weight calculations? Anyone noticed if they are right on with a scale or not? Mine have all be extremely light.
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  #31  
Old 12-14-2009, 03:45 AM
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I have been extremely happy with mine. Works like a charm on extruded powders. Accuracy for mine has been dead on.
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