[Bountyhunter]

I just got a used Lee perfect powder throw. I got it off eBay so that might be my problem. It throws very inconsistantly. It'll throw....

9.3
9.3
9.3
9.7
8.6
9.2
9.7

Stupid shit like that. Is this common with these or did I buy a POS?

 

[Deadeye]

Are you tapping on it? You should tap it twice with the chamber up, then drop the charge & tap it twice to make sure it all dropped. If you notice the 1st. three charges are even then it gets off, because the powder isn't flowing down fast enough. If you give it a couple of good taps (always tap the same it'll give you better consistency) it should meter better.

P.S. If your already tapping it, then never mind!

 

[Bountyhunter]

I wasn't tapping it. I'll try and if it still doesn't work, I'll tap it with a 250 grain 45 Colt load. :evil:

 

[Montanan]

I have one and it sits in a box, simply because certain powders did not meter and flakes I would find on the reloading bench etc. I would have to weigh almost every load, and I figure What the ____.

I have an older powder flow that has a baffle in it, that seems to meter very well. But I want more than very well, and if the load I want is 20.5 then that is what I expect not 20.6 or 20.4 etc.

So I purchased the Frankford Arsenal digital scale, and actually I don't mind weighing each load, simply becuase I know it will be consistant time after time with each load. This little scale is so easy to use and caliberate using my brass dish from my RCBS Beam Scale.

 

[sheepdog]

I used to have an RCBS powder dropper and I'd crank up hard enough to jolt it and down hard enough to jolt it...ensuring the dispensing chamber got full and empty...but I just had an idea...you know the small paper paks of dessicant that are in everything you buy? what if you put one in the hopper with the powder to keep the humidity down...would that help it not clump and stick????

 

[Bountyhunter]

It's not clumping it just doesn't drop consistantly. It jumps almost a full grain for no reason. I guess I should have kept my $15 plus shipping. Now I know why it was being sold. I'll keep using a dipper and weighing each load. It's worked for me so far. :|

 

[Wizard]

My Lee Perfect measure is 13 years old, and still throws consistant charges (verified by a Lee balance scale, and a RCBS 750 digital scale). When I do use it, I also give it a little tap.....

 

[Terry_P]

I have an old RCBS hand thrower that my father had for who knows how long. It may be off a tenth or two depending on the powders. With the pistol powders it usually isn't off more than a tenth a throw. If you smack it one time and gently work it the next it'll be off more with rifle powder. Having said that I don't know how the Lee's operate but there must be some sort of drop tube system and I would call Lee and politely whine a lot and see if they can figure out the problem. It may be a common one with that patricular model and they may have a fix that they'll send you for little or nothing.

 

[jimbo1096]

Bountyhunter, I would believe the problem may be more in tequinque than the powder measure. With any hand operated measuring device you have to pull the handle the same and make that little knock at each end of the handle movement. You will always have some variation with these measures, but with pistol handloads it will not be a major problem. A baffle is also needed as well as maintaining an adequate level of powder in the hopper. Ball powders measure more evenly, with large flake types the most difficult.
Also make sure the hopper and measuring device are clean and free of any oil or moisture.
Use the Lee powder measure for your plinking and medium loads, and still measure every 10 or 15 to verify it is accurate. You may gain more confidence with it as you use it more.

 

[Bountyhunter]

I'm going to continue using it and weigh each load. I'm hoping I'll get it figured out. It'll throw up to 5 times right on the money and then go all over the place. It might also be the powder. It's Unique and it's the only powder I have.

 

[deputy125]

maybe a dis-assemble and a clean.................

 

[Bountyhunter]

I just used it to load about 100 rounds of 45 Colt. It works ok for pistol rounds I guess. I never look for exact measurments anyway. I just don't want to go much over or under for safety reasons. It throws probably 9 out of 10 throws good enough to use. I'll measure each throw though. I think it might be the Unique powder. It's kind of big and flakey compared to some other powders. I would think that it would throw more consistant with a finer powder.

I always load to + or - .2 grains. Everything I loaded today was between 9.0 and 9.4 with 9.2 being optimum. Most were 9.1 - 9.3. I'm only looking for paper punchers mostly. I also figure that the rounds would be plenty good for self defense type situations. 200 grain RNFP at about 900 fps should stop even a large man.

 

[Terry_P]

Sounds like a electronic dispenser is in your future. I'd still give Lee a call and see what they say. They may send you new internals or tubes. They may also have some advice that will help your process. With the manual thrower I try to use the same stroke with each drop. Unique should meter well as it doesn't hang up in the operating parts. A courser powder like a rifle powder will give you fits as you can feel the thrower grinding the powder as you drop it.

 

[Bountyhunter]

I do want the electronic dispenser. I just don't have the funds right now. I just ordered hammers and extra pawls to modify for my Vaqueros.

 

[XLCH]

I do want the electronic dispenser. I just don't have the funds right now. I just ordered hammers and extra pawls to modify for my Vaqueros.

That will be a small $100.00 package when you get it :lol:

 

[Bountyhunter]

Yeah I know. It was $80, but still. :?

 

[b.roberts]

I don't think your inconsistant throws of Unique is "unique" to the lee powder measure. My Lyman powder measure is the same way with Unique. Practice has improved the consistancy of the throws, but I still get +/-.2gr variations. I am not loading max in my rugers, so plus or minus a .2gr does not bother me for plinking ammo. When I load heavy hunting ammo, I weigh each charge.

 

[Bountyhunter]

I figure the same thing. For plinking or SD in a pinch they'll be fine.

 

[Snuffy]

I use the RBCS UNI Flow works prety good for me. Powders do differ in weight from lot to lot, also if your loading outside then you have humidity to deal with.
For pistol ammo I use the lee auto disk, but I got the accessory that you can adjust it to the weight ya want. I think it was around 30 bucks total through Mid Way.