Curious about the Lee Perfect Powder Measure

[rwsmith]

I never use mine....

... I thought it too flimsy and replaced it with an RCBS uni-flow. But for a 'portable' set up I'd probably use it. I would try the Little Dandy.

 

[22lrfan]

Please show your mods!

I searched on eBay and bought an old Lee Safety Disk powder measure, which is the hand operated precursor to the Lee Safety Disk and Autodisk. It uses the disks, but you operate it with a throw lever by hand. Perfect for a travel loading kit and very repeatable.

Here is a an eBay listing (not mine) that includes the now rare Lee Safety Disk (it is the small powder throw on the left) and a Perfect Powder measure. I wrote to Lee asking for an updated version of the small Safety Disk but they ignored my email.

Lot of 2 Lee Powder Measures "Safety Disk" & "Perfect" for Ammunition Reloading | eBay

The mods I did to it are really simple. I drilled and tapped a hole in the front to hold a small aluminum tab. This stops the travel of the disc. Loosen the screw and rotate the tab out of the way to change the disc.

I drilled a couple of holes in the throw lever so I could install a piece of wood to operate it.

https://smith-wessonforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=680419&stc=1&d=1715049320

 

[22lrfan]

I used a piece of silicon tubing to attach the drop tube. This came off of another powder measure but I don't remember what brand.

I hold it in my right hand, sit it on the case in the loading block and flip the lever with my left hand. It only take a few seconds to charge each case. I've loaded thousands of rounds with it.

 

[scooter123]

I have to wonder if any of the above giving positive reviews have ever tried to use one of these with Accurate # 5 or H110? Because if that had they would not be giving the Junk a positive review. With a fine grained powder they leak horribly and will also jam solid. First time I tried one with Accurate #5 it jammed after 5 powder throws and the only way to clear it was to take it apart. Note, if it was due to a "bad Sample" make it 3 "bad Samples" because I had 3 because getting them set was so damned fiddly it actually made some send to purchase more.

What I did was toss them in the trash and purchase a RCBS Competition Powder Measure. Which doesn't leak or jam with a fine powder, it's very easy to set, and works perfectly.

I will also note that I'm a Manufacturing Engineer who has been using Statistical Process Control methods since 1982 so I have run 30 piece Capability Studies for every single powder I use. Truth, there is not one single volume based powder measure that is truly consistent. However the granule size and shape can have a huge influence on the Standard Deviation for thrown charges. If it looks like Unique in structure the SD will be 0.17 grains no matter what brand of measure you use. If it's fine like H110 or Accurate # 5 the Standard Deviation is 0.034 grains. If you are loading with a rifle powder like Varget use a trickler or electronic measure, because a SD of 0.4 allows too much variation in thrown charges.

Finally I will state that "runs" are meaningless, they are actually statistically predictable. If you don't believe that take your "run of 10" powder and throw 50 charges and weigh every one of them. All those "fliers" you see are not "fliers", they are part of the statistical sample group and why using Statistics is so useful.

 

[RMFnLA]

I have one, use it mostly for CFE Pistol and Blue Dot powders.

I do check weighs every 25 rounds or so; works absolutely fine.

 

[glenwolde]

The source of many complaints about the Lee Perfect Powder Measure do stem from its leakage with fine grain powder. The usual response to the leakage is to tighten the screw holding the drum in. This usually makes the leak worse, as it is too easy to over-tighten and warp the plastic cone-shaped drum.

If it leaks, try removing the drum and lap it to its recess with some sort of abrasive paste. This usually helps a lot more than just trying to tighten the screw. You really have to feel your way when tightening the screw that holds it in. Not a task for honor graduates from the Bigger Hammer School of Technology.

 

[mus]

I've got a couple + one 'Deluxe' version (which also accepts the Quick-Change drums, very handy).
Apart from the issues noted above using super fine powder such as H110, they work flawlessly for my purposes (bench loading only, 9 mm, 38 Special/357 Magnum, 223 Remington).

 

[gwpercle]

Powder scoops work with all powders ... even Unique .

They don't leak and they don't get knocked out of whack .

Think about it !
Gary