I remember reading a thread about this measure somewhere. Couldn't find one here, so I thought I would post my initial impressions.

I got tired of making do with preset powder volumes and leaking with my auto disc. Actually, after deciding to order the auto drum, I took apart and cleaned the auto disc, and leakage pretty much disappeared. I decided to pull the trigger on the auto drum anyway. Still tired of presets.

Got the measure yesterday. Unpacked and mounted it. Appeared to be pretty well made, with a metal body and nylon drum. Seemed pretty clean, so I used it as is. Thinking I should have cleaned it first, but a little late now. Anyway, I used it to load 50 rounds of .357 using Titegroup at 4.7 grains. I weighed each charge individually. The first few throws were pretty consistent. As the run progressed, I started getting a few varying as much as .3 grains. I pressed on, and by about 25 it settled down again to no more than .1 off. By the last 20 it was spot on each throw. No leakage. I probably threw an additional 30 that went back into the hopper. No leakage at all. I'm thinking the inconsistency I got early on may have been avoided by a careful cleaning first.

I then loaded the hopper with HP38. I didn't actually load anything, but every throw except the very first one, was 4.3 on the money. I threw a bunch until I got tired of reading the same number off the scale.

I am cautiously optimistic about this measure. I really like the ability to choose the exact amount of a throw, instead of the closest.

Another plus is that it is quieter than the auto disc. Sometimes the auto disc will flop back and forth a little when making the round of my turret press. The auto drum doesn't have a heavy section sticking out to force rotation.

At $36, I can afford to purchase another one or two to leave them installed on a turret. It's easy enough to swap, but would definitely be convenient to have a permanent setup.

So far, I am a happy camper.

I bought one also and like it. There is a long thread on another forum about it but I guess we can not link to it.

I tested it a lot (as did others) with funky powder like Unique and it is dead nuts accurate. I have not yet tried stick powder in it,

Hp 38, Longshot, Bullseye and even Unique meter very well. I even tested it at 2.0 grains.

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Still Running Against the Wind

Interesting. I'm a red cool-aid guy and never even knew this measure existed. Is this an old or new product in the Lee line? Although I'm pretty well content with the Pro auto disk set-up, this does look interesting. The gadget guy in me might need to play with one.

FWIW, I rarely get leakage with the Pro disk set up as long as I keep the poly wiper clean. Additionally, I've solved the "adjustability" issue by modifying a spare set of disks so they split the difference between the factory presets. A few swipes with a jewelers file in each hole gets me there. Modified disks are then marked for ease in duplicating loads..

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Dave

Thanks for that. I have one on backorder. The Auto Disc adjustable charge bar isn't gonna cut it for 5.56, .44 Magnum & .454 Casull.

It is brand new you can get one here. Videos also

LEE AUTO-DRUM POWDER MEASURE

LEE QUICK CHANGE DRUMS

It has a "safety" button which shuts it off after each drop if you use it on say a single stage.

It is easily remove (in the manual) I think it is more of a hazard for a squib than a over charge but regardless, just take it off and away you go. My only issue with it is the hopper just sits in the cast unit and feel loose to me and that if I knock it it will fall out. I put a small piece of tape on it and it fits snug. Other than that is very accurate and turns and shuts off like the other LEE powder measure (it is the same hopper). It does leave powder in the cast unit so no baffle is needed. It comes with two powder rotors so you can leave it set to two powders. You can buy a extra set of 4 rotors for cheap so have them set for a total of 6 powders.

http://leeprecision.com/cgi-data/instruct/90811.pdf

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Still Running Against the Wind

Question: The auto disk tends to need a powder measure riser (or two) to clear the Safety Primer tray. It appears this one may not. Your experience?

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Dave

Running a SS press and Ive been looking for a good way to measure instead hand weighing each round on my beam. This looks like it might be a good option. Would I just mount it on a stand? Think this would be a good way to speed up the process? Loading .45 & 9 pistol.

Yes, you need the riser same as the other.

Page #6, auto disk riser.

When in doubt read the manual above (yes, real men can read them just do not admit to it)

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Still Running Against the Wind

This is designed as a press mounted measure. It screws into the top of your Lee expander/powder drop die. If you are loading rifle calibers, you will need a rifle powder drop die. For a stand alone, the Lee perfect powder measure, or the new classic powder measure are available. I have one of the perfect powder measures. It is infinitely adjustable, and fairly accurate. It does leak some with certain powders. It is also inexpensive. The new classic measure is a good bit more expensive, but is made of cast iron and brass. It is supposed to be a rather good measure, but is still rather new. I believe the stand is sold separately, whereas the ppm comes with one, although it must be attached to a board, or bench.

There are any number of powder measures on the market that are designed to stand alone (and come with a stand) to do exactly what you are looking for (off the press.), The Lee Perfect Powder measure comes to mind as one of them. I've used it quite a bit for load development. Lyman, RCBS and others make higher end / higher cost versions but in the end, the all work.
In my experience, using a trusted powder measure of this type that allows you to weigh only every 10th round or so ( over the use of a balance scale for every round) will likely give you the best bang for the buck. A digital scale would help too as it's instantaneous. That said, if you find you need even more speed, the Turret press will get you to 150 rounds/hr without sweating.
hth

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Dave

This looks very interesting. Currently for pistol ammunition I load on a Lee 4 hole turret press. I use to use the auto disk powder measure but found it slightly inaccurate aand messy in so far as the leaking was concern. I now weight each charge with my RSBC charge master. It's not much if any slower then using the auto disk measure and there is no inconsistencies in charges. I do have one problem and that is in transferring the powder from the scale to the powder thru die. Sometime I will get a little out of sync and pour the powder thru when the ram is still down Big problem and quite messy. This may help me in that?? My ability with a hang gun is not so good that .1grisgoing to effect my accuracy. I still use the old cast frame turret, do ya'll find the newer press better?

I reload on a pair of newer Classic Turrets ( and love them!). I like it allot better than my old cast aluminum based turret press. It's seems much sturdier, smother and has better features but I'm not sure how that would effect powder throw /leakage on it's own. I can say that the newer ( square hopper) Pro powder measure is MUCH better than the old style. The Pro measure uses a replaceable polymer wiper on the interface between the disks and the hopper. Virtually eliminates leakage in all but the finest of powders in my experience. Upgrading your measure is where I would look to cure you woes.

That said, while I'm content with my Pro Auto Disk measures, I just ordered one of these drum measures out of curiosity for comparison. I think it may add some versatility in reloading rifle calibers in particular.

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Dave

I've been using one for a while now. Excellent product!! Very consistent throws and you can dial in whatever you want, as opposed to the goofy disc holes in the Pro Auto disc measure.

One thing to note, if your funnel wants to turn "off" while rotating on a turret press, this is what John Lee told me a few weeks ago:

A review of the Lee Auto Drum Powder Measure

I received the Auto Drum PM and the additional set of Quick Change Drums from Titan Reloading. I washed all the parts with TSP and blow dried them with a DataVac. No prepping with graphite was done, but the hopper were rubbed down with a used drier sheet. Before starting each set of measurement with each new drum and powder the unit was cycled with that powder 10 times. (Fine tuning the grains measurement took place during these cycling's)
These measurements were done with the unit mounted on a 550B cycling the case thru the sizing station and then advancing that case to station #2 the powder station. The Lee powder thru expander die or the Lee rifle powder dies were used.

Unique set for 4.0gr:
1- 4.1gr
2- 4.1gr
3- 4.0gr
4- 4.0gr
5-4.0gr
6-3.9gr
7- 4.1gr
8-4.1gr
9- 4.1gr
10- 4.0gr

Unique set for 10gr:
1- 10.1gr
2- 10.0gr
3- 10.1gr
4- 10.1gr
5- 10.0gr
6- 9.9gr
7- 9.9gr
8- 9.9gr
9- 10.0gr
10- 10.1gr


Bullseye 4.6gr
1- 4.6gr
2- 4.5gr
3- 4.6gr
4- 4.6gr
5- 4.5gr
6- 4.6gr
7- 4.6gr
8- 4.5gr
9- 4.5gr
10- 4.5gr

2400 set for 26.3gr:
1- 26.2gr
2- 26.3gr
3- 26.2gr
4- 26.4gr
5- 26.3gr
6- 26.3gr
7- 26.5gr
8-26.2gr
9-26.3gr
10- 26.3gr


IMR 4895 set for 44.8gr
1- 44.8gr
2- 45.1gr
3- 44.8gr
4- 44.9gr
5- 44.8gr
6- 45.0gr
7- 44.9gr
8- 44.7gr
9- 45.0gr
10- 44.9gr


IMR 4350
(Used the same drum as above for the IMR 4895 and it's adjustment for this set of measurements of IMR4350)
1- 38.2gr
2- 37.9gr
3- 38.0gr
4- 38.2gr
5- 38.2gr
6- 38.1gr
7- 37.9gr
8- 38.1gr
9- 38.4gr
10- 38.3gr

I felt the activating and reset of the measure was smoother than the Dillon PM. The Auto Drum's chain reset as it come out of the box needs some work for the 550B. I used alligator chips to fine tune this chain reset and it's not ideal. Any suggestions welcome.

I had no leaking of any powder tested.