LEE Auto drum Finally out!!

2 more tests with the pistol drum in measure #2. With 2 notoriously difficult to meter powders. Unique and IMR 800-X

First Unique, target charge is 6.5
6.5
6.6
6.4
6.6
6.7
6.6
6.6
6.5
6.5
6.5
6.6
6.5
6.7
6.8
6.5
6.6
6.5
6.6

Wow, .4 grain variance for unique? This was for my 45 again with the MP 200 SWC
Now for the 800 X target charge is 7.2
7.2
7.3
6.9
6.9
7.1
7.2
7.1
7.1
7.5 tossed it back, max is 7.9
7.2
7.2
7.2
7.1
7.2
6.9
7.0
7.1
7.0
Well, one high at 7.5 otherwise pretty darn even for such a hard powder to get to meter well. .6 under the 200 SWC is probably better than these old eyes can see to shoot. Pretty happy with the performance for pistols, I can see a couple of more in the future.
 
I know about the shipping options. Mine ranged from $10.55 to $118 depending on who the carrier is and how fast I wanted it. The $10.55 was for USPS 3 day Priority mail and was the lowest price quoted.
 
If it solves the issues I've had with my Auto Disk Pro leaking fine powders like AA 7 and WW 296, I'll be all over the darned thing.
 
Would warm soapy water work versus cleaning with denatured alcohol?

Thanks
Click to expand...

I'd bet it would work quite well. It may even be better than alcohol. It would tend to cancel the static as well. Just have to be sure it is dry before use. An air hose to blow it off would be handy.
 
If it solves the issues I've had with my Auto Disk Pro leaking fine powders like AA 7 and WW 296, I'll be all over the darned thing.

I loaded 50 rounds of 357 Magnum with 296 and 50 rounds of 357 Magnum with BE-86 this morning. No leakage at all with either powder.:)
 
"If it solves the issues I've had with my Auto Disk Pro leaking fine powders like AA 7 and WW 296, I'll be all over the darned thing."

This is my thinking also.

I use a lot of AA #5, 7 and 9 and my Lee Pro Auto Disk leaks a little. If this new measure doesn't leak I will be all over it.

I appreciate everyone here posting reviews of their experiences. It helps all of us make decisions.
 
I've got one coming. I load 357 mag with AA #9. I will post back here with what I find.

Even my Dillon powder measure leaks with AA #9. Works fine with AA # 5 and AA 2230, but #9 leaks. Weird.
 
OK. So tracking said it would be here Monday. I got it today on Saturday. I set it up on my single stage for testing it out. Really dislike that double charge prevention feature, but it can be disabled. I also don't think much of the quality of the plastic parts. I wonder what the life span of this measure will be? The main body is cast aluminum. The outside is finished OK. The parts that matter are finished well. The performance is very good. This measure proved to be very accurate and consistent.

Powder was Accurate Arms #9
Target charge was 12 grains
Results of 10 charges thrown
12.0
12.0
12.1
12.0
12.0
11.9
12.0
12.0
12.1
12.0

I then measured 10 charges all together and it came out 120.1 grains.

I then went ahead and cycled this measure until there was half a hopper of powder left to see how much leakage there would be. AA #9 leaks the most for me and there was a very small amount of leakage with this measure. The leakage was 1/4 that of what I get with the Dillon measure.

I am pleased with the measure over all. Now to see how long it will last. The plastic parts just feel brittle to me.

I did all this without dis-assembling it to clean with anything or treating it with graphite. Straight out of the box onto the press and tested.
 
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.

Edited to correct a typo. I had listed the #1 IMR4895 as 48.8 and edited it to read 44.8.
 
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Arrggggg. They are testing me.
I got my measure back from LEE the other day.
He did not state what he did. They did not replace it.
Just stated " You powder measure is all set to go"

Ahhh no its not. It does operate now, but only for a couple loads then the drop tube resets short of the hopper.
I will mess with it some more. Then Monday they will hear from me.:mad:
If they think I am spending another 7 bucks to ship it to them again.
hahahahahaha thats funny
 
Ok I fixed it. I took it out to the shop and took it completely apart.
I adjusted the gears one tooth lower. That fixed it.

I did get a little test in.
set at 4.2 gr of CSB-1 ( flake powder similar to unique)

Of the ten drops I tested only two were not the set weight. and those two dropped at 4.3gr

Not bad with flake.

I tried some extruded. A5744 is my main cast bullet powder.

Set at 18.4
These were not as consistent as the flake powder.

I got no drops lower than 18.4 and one as high as 18.7
Since 5744 is a pretty thick and long strand. I think it did ok.
No crunching, no cutting, Nice and smooth.

Should work fine for my cast AR plinking loads.
 
snuffy said:
2 more tests with the pistol drum in measure #2. With 2 notoriously difficult to meter powders. Unique and IMR 800-X

First Unique, target charge is 6.5
6.5
6.6
6.4
6.6
6.7
6.6
6.6
6.5
6.5
6.5
6.6
6.5
6.7
6.8
6.5
6.6
6.5
6.6

Wow, .4 grain variance for unique? This was for my 45 again with the MP 200 SWC
Now for the 800 X target charge is 7.2
7.2
7.3
6.9
6.9
7.1
7.2
7.1
7.1
7.5 tossed it back, max is 7.9
7.2
7.2
7.2
7.1
7.2
6.9
7.0
7.1
7.0
Well, one high at 7.5 otherwise pretty darn even for such a hard powder to get to meter well. .6 under the 200 SWC is probably better than these old eyes can see to shoot. Pretty happy with the performance for pistols, I can see a couple of more in the future.
Click to expand...
I'm thinking everyone would benefit from using a baffle in the hopper
I don't get any variances when running a big flake like 700X
http://www.shootersforum.com/attach...-powder_baffle_instructions_and_templates.pdf
I've been dropping 2.5gr charges of 700X for 38spl wadcutters
And with the baffle its perfection
 
I'm thinking everyone would benefit from using a baffle in the hopper
Click to expand...

I have the new Auto Drum but haven't used it yet.
That said, the first thing I did, after wiping with a dryer sheet, was find the baffle I bought from Titan Reloading a few months ago for the new hopper and install it.
And it seems I'm not the only one. They no longer have it listed on the site so I'm guessing they ran out again.
 
Just ordered an Auto Drum for myself.

I'm torn between putting it on the Classic Turret, or using it to get the old Pro 1000 running again (from which I stole the powder measure to get the turret press running).

(Interesting. FS Reloading, which I have dealt with before and recommended, now seems to have only UPS as a shipping option. $17 to ship a ~$35 part? No thanks.)
 
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