Advice about powder charges

M

Mr_Marsh23

Inactive
So I'm really new to the loading scene and i picked up the lee single stage kit with the super crappy plastic "perfect" powder measure. Everything else with the kit so far has been pretty good. My question is that lee has a deluxe model, has anyone had any experience with the all metal deluxe model? Or should i break down amd pick up a different one?
 
I'd spring for something much better like the RCBS Uniflow. Dunno if they still sell them with two drums but if not order the missing size and be done with it. Small drum for handgun loads and some rifle loads and the large drum for rifles.
They're good and with reasonable care will out live you. I only use mine these days for handgun loads preferring the RCBS Chargemaster for loading rifle cartridges. The Uniflow is much faster for charging handgun loads.
Paul B.
 
My first powder measures were the plastic Lee flavors along with a Lee Safety Scale. The measure and scale were soon replaced with better components. The Lee stuff works and works fine for the buck but I prefer my RCBS Uniflow and my Lyman M5 scale. I also use some newer stuff but overall prefer the better quality metal tools.

Before a Lee Delux model I would look at the offerings from RCBS, Lyman and other manufacturers. Not slamming the Lee stuff but just mentioning there is better out there for a slightly higher cost. Got a quality powder throw and a quality scale, a few good check weights are also a nice to have.

Welcome to the Firing Line forums. :)

Ron
 
So I'm really new to the loading scene and i picked up the lee single stage kit with the super crappy plastic "perfect" powder measure.
Click to expand...

You say how new you are yet you're dogging the Lee powder measure? I am new, also and have been using a Lee Perfect Powder Measure all along. Mine works fine. What do you find so objectionable about it? :confused:

Maybe it's not the Lee powder measure....
 
I would suggest that you master the basics before you worry about equipment upgrades. I started with the Lee single stage kit, still have the Perfect Powder Measure and beam scale and both work perfectly fine. I've been loading for about 5 years. I eventually moved up to a 3 hole turret press (after a few years of experience) and most important, an Inline Fabrication riser (not essential, a present to myself). I also added a Lyman Universal Case Trimmer when I added a rifle to the inventory. Done, no more investment in loading equipment.

Some guys are very particular about their equipment and there is nothing wrong with that. Some find things that work and concentrate their dollars on other aspects of the hobby such as supplies, other weapons, etc. It's all about personal preference and budget.

Spend some time on your bench, in your data, understanding the burn rate chart and how it relates to your calibers, and reading the Firing Line and other loading sites. Make sure you are comfortable with the safety aspect of the hobby, which gives you time to save, plan and shop for what you might want next.

Best to you. Be safe.
 
Thanks for all the advice guys i have been looking at the rcbs uniflow so i think i will go with that one. And im not really dogging the lee stuff im perfectly content with everything else but i am using fine powder because i load 300 blackout and 9mm right now to the powder measure leaks therefore wasting alot of powder.
 
The Perfect is famous for leaking fine grains of powder our of the box, and for doing better than the Uniflow and other drum measures mentioned with stick powders because of the patented wiper. A lot of folks have tightened up their Perfects to work better with fine powder. Mainly disassembling and deburring the drum and body and adding some graphite and tightening the fit. But YMMV.

I seriously doubt the metal drum on the cast version will exhibit any of this leakage as the metal parts have machined surfaces and won't warp like plastic can. Since the Lee cast measure also has the patented wiper, it might actually be the more versatile option. But I don't have one, so I can't say from experience. It's just a guess. Try calling Lee and asking if the cast measure avoids the problem of fine powder leakage that you've had with the Perfect. They might even walk you through getting the Perfect to behave better.
 
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