Can anyone explain this description?

T

Triggernosis

New member
It was made by a member named "testuser", who no longer appears active. It is in reference to the Lee Perfect Powder Measure.

"Hi there,

I found that the trick to accuracy with the Perfect Powder measure was consistent weight on the powder. You can build a baffle, but I've also found that placing a few washers on top of the powder column works very well.

Go to your home improvement store and buy some large carriage washers. Three should do it. Epoxy or tape them together. Don't forget to close the hole in the washers so the powder doesn't leak through. Keeping the hole closed made a difference for me!

I used JB Weld to keep the washers together and then covered the opening with some tape. My throws are much more consistent than before!"

Can anyone help me visualize this?
 
I think what he is say is, buy three large washers that are just under the inside diameter your powder reservoir. Glue the washers together and tape the holes in the washers so that the powder cannot pass through. Drop the washers on top of the powder.
That may work, but I can foresee a problem of spilling the remaining powder when one wants to pull the washers out to add more powder.
 
The best I can picture it .....

What is the interior diameter of a Lee Perfect Powder Measure's powder storage tube?
90058-600x600.jpg



Go to the local home improvement store and find a fender washer just under that interior diameter, they range from a #6 in 3/6" diameter to a 1.5 which has a 3" diameter.

Stack a few together to increase the mass

Stick the assembled fender washers in the powder tube atop any powder in the tube to weight down on the powder.


Might wanna put a leash on those fender washers though, so you can pull them up without spilling any powder.....
 
Might wanna put a leash on those fender washers though, so you can pull them up without spilling any powder.....
Click to expand...

Get one of those telescoping parts retrieval magnets at Home Depot or glue a strong magnet to a wooden dowel. Gluing a length of fishing line to the top of the washers would make a good leash also.
 
As a new reloader, I have a Lee Perfect Powder Measure. Being new, I am also being OCD about doing things safely and precisely so as to learn the correct way to do them.

I am measuring powder weight on not every 5th or 10th case, I check EVERY CASE TO BE SURE. I have had virtually NO variance when using this measure AS IS. It might be .01gr over/under but very precise, otherwise. (I check COAL on each round, too.)

So I have to admit a bit of puzzlement why this is a question at all, in the first place. :confused: If your LPPM is inaccurate, I'd look at other options for "fixing" it. Is the locking collar on the measure rod tight? Is something else moving a bit to throw it off?

I must admit the CC (volume) measure confusing. As I only load pistol cartridges, I use the trial-and-error method. I drop a charge, weigh and 'blindly' increase/decrease the rod to change weight dispensed.

Doesn't take as long as it sounds 'cause I'm mainly doing between 3 to 8 grain loads. Very little adjustment required ... plus you get a "feel" for it with use. I don't feel a need to add a weight and am surprised you'd feel a need for one.
 
Ahah! I understand now. I just tried it and it works perfectly. I was having trouble getting a consistent throw with TAC powder. After adding two washers atop the powder (with a bolt through them to aid in retrieval) I threw maybe 50 loads would not more than .1 grain variation in any of them.
FWIW, I've thrown thousands of loads of Reloder 15 and never had any problems with that powder.

Thanks.
 
I had one problem with my powder measure, it didn't throw nearly enough powder after several tries. The solution was to remove the drop tube assembly and get the spider web/nest out of it. Once cleaned of the 8 legged freak's house, it worked perfectly just like it always has.
I put a piece of masking tape over the bottoms of all my powder measures now to keep the critters out. Forget the washers, the Lee measure I have is always right on the money.
 
I believe it depends on the powder. Mine is spot-on with Reloder 15, but TAC gives it fits. The washers seem to have fixed the problem, for me.
 
The only time I ever had an issue with inconsistent charges was when I noticed some Autocomp "clumped" in the reservoir. The powder was dry, but had been stored for many months, so I am not sure why it was stuck in a clump. Maybe higher than normal humidity that day. Anyway, a vigorous shake of the powder container solves the issue.

I can't imagine adding a weight on top of the powder making a difference.

My biggest issue is with very fine powder leaking past the cone and dribbling in small amounts onto the bench. Anyone notice this?
 
Actually..... looking at the powder reservoir .... I'd take it to Home depot and
put the largest fender washer I could find to fit inside AT THE BOTTOM, and
leave the hole open.
 
I use the Lee powder measure mentioned, and all I do is keep it full and it drops reasonably consistent loads. Keep it 3/4 to 7/8 full at all times during powder dropping. When shooting for small groups, I weigh each and every load.
 
That may work, but I can foresee a problem of spilling the remaining powder when one wants to pull the washers out to add more powder.
Click to expand...

It should not be necessary to go fishing for the washers, I suggest the use of a small chain attached to the washers and lid, when the lid is removed the chain and washers come with it. If adding powder it woud not be necessary to remove the washers, simply let the lid hang over the side while the chain and washer prevent the reloader from loosing all of those loose parts.

F. Guffey
 
I have noticed with some powders that when the hopper is low the charge may vary a bit. So I also have learned to keep it half full>. I think the washer trick is a good way to go for the powders that meter erratically. Triggernosis you are a thinker. Keep up the good work. Now it's time for the powder manufacturers to make a change with their powder measurers. And that is called progress.

Maby:rolleyes:
 
I have had virtually NO variance when using this measure AS IS. It might be .01gr over/under but very precise, otherwise.
Click to expand...
Ditto.
Never had a problem with this measure with the pistol powders I use.
I did add a home made baffle, and the idea of adding washers sounds good, too.
But apparently not needed.
 
My first powder measure was a Lee PPM about 30 years ago and I have had one ever since, even though I have a couple more "sophisticated" measures around. I have not had the problem of inconsistent charges, as I realize some powder will measure to .05 gr consistently (W231) and some won't stay within .5 gr. (IMR4064). I think adding a weight to the powder hopper might work, but there are several methods that will work too (whichever method is used, it must be done exactly the same each and every time). As for removing a weight from the hopper, just remove the hopper from the measure and dump it out. The Lee PPM has the ability to close the hopper feed from the measuring part, just twist it.

Here's some info; go to post #27... http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?95131-RCBS-Uniflow/page2
 
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