LEE "Perfect" powder measure. Can it be improved?

[jamo002]

I hate to criticize any LEE product and I will start out by saying I have two of these inexpensive measures (bought together) and mine DO THROW ACCURATE CHARGES. (I have the best accuracy when I DO NOT double/tripple tap the lever on the up OR down stroke).

I just wish LEE offered something these $25.00 measures and my $250.00 Harrell ball bearing bench rest measure!

These little LEE measures are ackward and clumsy to use and they FEEL bad when rotating the cylinder. I've tried dusting the rotor with powdered graphite and running several hoppers of nice dirty Bullseye powder through the measure. I also backed off the tension screw 1/8 turn (please mark your screw/cylinder BEFORE dissembling the measure. MAYBE I feel a 10% improvement.

HAS anyone found a way to get these to turn smoothly, with lighter pressure on the operating lever??

For me, five $25.00 measures pre-set for my 5 favorite loads would be a lot more useful than one $125 metal powder measure. HELP!

[DougGuy]

You can make a billet aluminum adjustable bar and fit it to the older Lee auto disk measure, this one beats every other powder measure I have used for consistent charges thrown and not a speck of powder spilled anywhere.. My son made this one for me from a drawing I gave him of a bar made by the E. A. Brown company back in the 1990s.

http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/DougGuy/Reloading/be617874-cdcf-4d70-a4b3-e31a73abd212_zps8c0ad552.jpg (http://s1202.photobucket.com/user/DougGuy/media/Reloading/be617874-cdcf-4d70-a4b3-e31a73abd212_zps8c0ad552.jpg.html)

http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/DougGuy/Reloading/136_zps5db18572.jpg (http://s1202.photobucket.com/user/DougGuy/media/Reloading/136_zps5db18572.jpg.html)

http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/DougGuy/Reloading/DSC01652_zps2f6c658f.jpg (http://s1202.photobucket.com/user/DougGuy/media/Reloading/DSC01652_zps2f6c658f.jpg.html)

http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/DougGuy/Reloading/DSC01653_zpsb73e3ef8.jpg (http://s1202.photobucket.com/user/DougGuy/media/Reloading/DSC01653_zpsb73e3ef8.jpg.html)

http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/DougGuy/Reloading/DSC01656_zpsca3d2fd9.jpg (http://s1202.photobucket.com/user/DougGuy/media/Reloading/DSC01656_zpsca3d2fd9.jpg.html)

http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/DougGuy/Reloading/DSC01657_zps9a3cfd3b.jpg (http://s1202.photobucket.com/user/DougGuy/media/Reloading/DSC01657_zps9a3cfd3b.jpg.html)

[kbstenberg]

I don't have any metal working skills like Doug. What I did was to take the black rotor out that turns in the frame. put a LITE coat of any polishing compound on the tapered rotor. Re-install it in the frame. Turn the rotor a few times in place. Take it apart again clean both the rotor and the housing. You should see where the polishing compound has taken away the highest spots.
I kept going through the process until both the rotor surface and the inner hosing surface looked smooth. I think it took me 4 attemts till everything was smooth.
Before this process it leaked BLC2 tear-ably. Now It doesn't leak and it is much smoother.

[Mike Hughes]

If you were to buy five of them, you might end up with a bucket that resembles this one
110421
Here is how I fixed mine
110422

[GoodOlBoy]

I am normally a big fan of Lee products this is the MOST complained about product that they make (at least that I know of) I have seen countless number of posts on sites with the exact same issues. My understanding is that there are a few powders that actually measure perfectly through them, but VERY few. I don't know which ones. Good Luck.

GoodOlBoy

[Wizwheel]

Well, you say it "throws accurate charges", Isn't that what a measure is suppose to do? ...so what is the problem?

[Petrol & Powder]

Talking about Lee products on this forum is almost like bringing up subjects that include the labels of Glock or 1911 :shock:. Proceed at your own risk :bigsmyl2:

Lee products have their place in reloading. They fulfill the need for a supplier of inexpensive reloading equipment. There's a difference between Cheap & Inexpensive. I'm not saying Lee stuff is bad but I am saying that in order to hold prices down they must make compromises.
I have some Lee products but for most of my tools, I prefer a bit more quality than Lee provides. Sometimes spending more money buys you better quality and sometimes it just makes your wallet lighter. I think each person must decide for themselves what constitutes "adequate" and spend their money accordingly.
For some applications it just doesn't matter. For example, I still have an old Lee Auto prime that hasn't broken yet. It pushes primers into primer pockets just as good as any other tool. When it breaks (and it will break) I'll replace it with something better. In the meantime, there's no sense in spending more money for a tool I only occasionally use.
As for Lee "I guess...perfect"? powder measures........I'll leave that for someone else to bash. I purchased a Redding and never looked back.

[prs]

The OP is working with the Perfect PM and a couple above show Pro Auto PM, different animals. I have never used the Perfect, but if its reservoir case has no "butterfly" baffle as seen in the RCBS measure shown above, that would be a possible improvement for stubborn powders. Maybe the best "improvement" with any measure would be to use ball powders and consistent press action.

prs

[500MAG]

Like Petrol said, Lee is good but limited. I have worked with many Lee products but my PPM is still in the box. I am constantly amazed at the ingenuity of the members of this forum. Doug, that is one awesome aluminum bar your son helped you make. Thank God for Lee, if they didn't exist 30 years ago, I wouldn't have been able to start reloading and I curse Dillon fir making me have to switch. Lol.

[DougGuy]

I do have a Dillon 550 that uses their powder funnels, it mounts on a Lee press and works fine. Works like a PM -should- work that is.. When I got the 2 Lee PMs set up with the billet bars, the Dillon went on a shelf. You know how good a PM has to be for it to run a Dillon off the press???

Try a Dillon on your press and throw the Lee PMs in a bucket. You can thank me later. NIce pic Mike Hughes!

[mdi]

Lee is prolly the most innovative reloading tool manufacturer there is. Their "cheapness" isn't from inferior designs or materials, but like Ruger's first .22, manufacturing ease. Nuttin' wrong with a modern man made material for a powder measure drum. They are smooth operating and easier to manufacture. I believe the OP was talking about the "ergonomics" of the PPM ( not the disk type measure). With some powders (IMR 4064) the use of a PPM feels somewhat "gritty" when the drum cuts some of the "logs". But so does my C-H 502 powder measure. With other powders (W231. W748, and even my Unique) the charges run smooth as water and consistant, but like any measure will be more variation with extruded powders.

Jes my experiences with using some Lee products since 1969, got my first PPM IN 1986...

[Silverboolit]

Many of the problems that people have with LEE equipment is that they have to 'hammer ' on everything. My son-in-law has a saying "If it don't fit, hit it harder, If it breaks, it needs replacing anyway." Anything he owns is broken!!

I have used LEE equipment for over 30 years and have never had to use their warranty, or order parts to replace broken parts. Using equipment, weather from LEE or Harbor Freight , is a matter of judging the end results. I like to treat my equipment like it has to last 100 years.


Of course some of their parts could be made of better materials. Who's couldn't? Could they do a better job of fit and finish? They should.

[jmort]

My experience was to firmly move lever back and forth. It is very accurate. The "tests" I have seen comparing it to more expensive measures shows it is as accurate or more accurate than other brands. I just use dippers, no moving parts, static volume, the safest way to charge.

[500MAG]

My experience was to firmly move lever back and forth. It is very accurate. The "tests" I have seen comparing it to more expensive measures shows it is as accurate or more accurate than other brands. I just use dippers, no moving parts, static volume, the safest way to charge.
Other than on my Dillon progressives, I use the dippers too. That's how I started and they work great for me.

[r1kk1]

Lee is prolly the most innovative reloading tool manufacturer there is.

MDI I respectfully disagree. I've done some patent searches for awhile now and really am bummed that tools are rehashed, redone from older tools. For instance the Lee press mounted case trimmer is a very close copy to a Pacific tool version which is a close copy to an even older tool. The LNL bushing is very similar to another that was marketed in around 1970, and so on. The Summit press is a very close copy to the Wamadet, the list goes on.

i would love to see an original and truly innovative tool. It seems like reinventing the wheel after a patent expires with a tweak or two.

i didn't care for the PPM. It didn't last long on my bench. Hated it. Cheesy stand that I replaced and helped considerably with charges but very unfriendly ergonomics and not a smooth operating measure.

Take care

r1kk1

[Rory McCanuck]

My PPM works great with extruded powders, but leaked fine balls like H-335 or AA1680. Just made a mess.
I used some lapping compound on the rotor and knocked off the worst of the high spots, and now it is much better. It doesn't need to be cranked up right tight to not leak, and backing the screw off just a touch makes it turn nice and freely.

I tend to use other measures for balls and flakes, but the Lee is easily the best I have for extrudeds.
I have it mounted on a small board as a base for the stand.
Pushing down with my pinky to hold the case tight to the drop tube puts enough weight to hold it reasonably stable.
Nice, smooth strokes, consistency is key.
If I feel something crunch, I just throw it back into the hopper.
If it feels the same, it usually is, like within 0.1gr.

[Kilroy08]

The end result of my experience with Lee's Perfect Powder Measure was that I was a Pretty Peeved Man.

I will admit it was perfect in one regard, peeing powder all over my press.

[WALLNUTT]

My PPM does well with RL7 and 2400(about all I use it for). I use an autodisk for small pistol charges(flake) and does well for those. My old Lyman 55 gets called out for the logs.

[country gent]

WHile I have not used the lee ppm, Comparing it to a harrels is not really a fair comparison due to the way they are manufactured and cost. I have a couple Harrels and they are great measures a throw back to the culiver conversions with improvements. The Lee is an injection molded plastic unit with very little machining required. The Harrels is a lovely unit but alot of machining hand work required. Running on bearings and accuratly machined surfaces it is going to be smoother. Mine are smoother than my lymanns, RCBS uniflows, and several others. I spent a month of lunch hours at work rebuilding a Uniflow. Jig Ground and honed the housing to truely round, Made a new drum to fit the housing with sideplates limiting end play. A Carbide ring fit into drum for a hard surface cut edge. Cavity and insert ground true and smooth. A rcbs micrometer adjustment ground to fit the cavity with a cup. Smoother yes more accurate with some powders about the same as with others. Alot of work for little gain.Lap you Lee PPM drum to the housing and set it to work free. Maybe a little Molybednium powder worked into it and excess wiped off. The Lee tools do the job asked of them and are inexpensive. I wouldnt call them cheap as cheap dosnt work. You can sped alot of time modifying and improving things when better is there and ready to go.

[troyboy]

Well said country gent. Listen to what was just said.

[Elkins45]

You can make a billet aluminum adjustable bar and fit it to the older Lee auto disk measure, this one beats every other powder measure I have used for consistent charges thrown and not a speck of powder spilled anywhere.. My son made this one for me from a drawing I gave him of a bar made by the E. A. Brown company back in the 1990s.

http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/DougGuy/Reloading/be617874-cdcf-4d70-a4b3-e31a73abd212_zps8c0ad552.jpg (http://s1202.photobucket.com/user/DougGuy/media/Reloading/be617874-cdcf-4d70-a4b3-e31a73abd212_zps8c0ad552.jpg.html)

http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/DougGuy/Reloading/136_zps5db18572.jpg (http://s1202.photobucket.com/user/DougGuy/media/Reloading/136_zps5db18572.jpg.html)

http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/DougGuy/Reloading/DSC01652_zps2f6c658f.jpg (http://s1202.photobucket.com/user/DougGuy/media/Reloading/DSC01652_zps2f6c658f.jpg.html)

http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/DougGuy/Reloading/DSC01653_zpsb73e3ef8.jpg (http://s1202.photobucket.com/user/DougGuy/media/Reloading/DSC01653_zpsb73e3ef8.jpg.html)

http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/DougGuy/Reloading/DSC01656_zpsca3d2fd9.jpg (http://s1202.photobucket.com/user/DougGuy/media/Reloading/DSC01656_zpsca3d2fd9.jpg.html)

http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/DougGuy/Reloading/DSC01657_zps9a3cfd3b.jpg (http://s1202.photobucket.com/user/DougGuy/media/Reloading/DSC01657_zps9a3cfd3b.jpg.html)

Hey, I recognize that adjustable charge bar!

[Three44s]

I use my Lee PPM for extruded powders. I scale them and then trickle up.

I use other brands of measures for finer grained numbers.


Three 44s

[country gent]

Since buying my harrels measures ( ihave the smaller shutzen model and standard model) My other measures have sat on the shelf. Im thinking of a black powder model here shortly. Alot of measures work well including the Lee PPM if ran consistently everytime. One of the reasons progressive operated press powder measures are consistent is they are operated stop to stop at the same speed force everytime.

[jamo002]

Beautiful machine work! I have an old bridgeport but I couldn't do work like that. How about improving the "perfect" measure. it couldn't be done this way.

[bruce drake]

I throw charges with my LEE PPM. I finish the charge on my Digital scale with a trickler. Its all in how consistent you want your end-product.
same with other parts of the recipe to reload. mix cases versus sorted...different primer manufacturers within the same loading session...same bullet weight but different profiles/ballistic coefficients. Plinker versus Match-grade. If you take your time LEE products will give you match-grade quality.

Bruce

[orbitalair]

I don't have any metal working skills like Doug. What I did was to take the black rotor out that turns in the frame. put a LITE coat of any polishing compound on the tapered rotor. Re-install it in the frame. Turn the rotor a few times in place. Take it apart again clean both the rotor and the housing. You should see where the polishing compound has taken away the highest spots. I kept going through the process until both the rotor surface and the inner hosing surface looked smooth. I think it took me 4 attemts till everything was smooth. Before this process it leaked BLC2 tear-ably. Now It doesn't leak and it is much smoother. This. I used Turtlewax Deep Scratch remover paste on 2 units. 15 minutes of work each, and both are smooth enough to run on the LM press without leaking powder everywhere. You would think a tool guy like Lee would have figured this out, and made a tool and a QA test for this, but no.....

[jamo002]

Since buying my harrels measures ( ihave the smaller shutzen model and standard model) My other measures have sat on the shelf. Im thinking of a black powder model here shortly. Alot of measures work well including the Lee PPM if ran consistently everytime. One of the reasons progressive operated press powder measures are consistent is they are operated stop to stop at the same speed force everytime.

I have the harrells BR measure and it's worth every penny just to enjoy using it. I currently have 5 powder measures on my loading bench and the Harrell in my field box for reloading the same 20 pieces of brass over and over when shooting my 6 "Talldog" BR Rifles. (not in competetion, just for fun). I have so many other measures because I don't want to keep changing the Harrell from a rifle sized load of N133 or H322 down to an extreme of 3 gr. on Bullseye for handguns. My Redding and 2 Uniflows have smaller rotor chambers that are for handgun loads. Do you think a Harrell can even be used with nin-magnum handgun loads? Is your "Shutzen" measure much smaller than the Harrell BR measure? JAMO:shock:

[jamo002]

What a great idea! I knew I was STOOPID. I thought of automotive valve grinding compound but I knew that was probally too coarse for use on plastic and, at best, it would leave the plastic with a matte finish that might not as smooth as it was to begin with. OK, now any good ideas on a simple modification to the charging handle to make it more user frendly??

[jamo002]

What a great idea! I knew I was STOOPID. I thought of automotive valve grinding compound but I knew that was probally too coarse for use on plastic and, at best, it would leave the plastic with a matte finish that might not as smooth as it was to begin with. OK, now any good ideas on a simple modification to the charging handle to make it more user frendly??:bigsmyl2:

[jamo002]

Bruce,

Yup, I have a trickler myself , mostly for working up heavy loads. I havent been to a Benchreast match in years but 10 years ago nobody used anything but a Harrells powder measure I have personally shop .100" groups at 100 yards (on a calm day) with just a powder measure. I would argue that this prooves that trickling and weighing aren't required at all (at least at 100 yards) because, on that calm day, with a $3500 custom rifle that weighs 11 lbs, I think I had removed most other variables EXCEPT the powder measure. ALL BR competetors use really expensive jacketed custom boolets which wouod be much much more consistant that anything we can cast at home. I have seen just the boolets alone open up a group from 1/8" to 3/8" and more.

I recently saw a well done comparison test somewhere in the internet and, surprizingly, the expensive, smooth ball bearing Harrell measures like I used for my .100 group didn't even rank on top in accuracy. The would, of course, rank on top for "pleasure to use."

Maybe the guys are using weighed charges at 1000 yards, which has become popular because 100 yard BR has become just a competerion of reading your wind flags. I can remenber when I went to mt first match around 1977. Guys who shot a 1/4" group would have everybody sign the target and then take it home and frame it. Today, anything but a ragged "bug hole" is tossed in the trash can at the range. JAMO

[kelbro]

I have one set up for Varget, one for H4895, and one for IMR4064. They were all lapped with car polish. The Hodgdon powders drop within .1 grain every time. The 4064 is almost as good but not quite. Also does well with H4831 but I just don't shoot enough 270/3006 to justify a measure for those two.

[pathdoc]

My PPM drops the powders I use within as close as my beam balance scale will weigh and I cannot ask for better than that.

[Glassman66]

If any of you guys that have thrown your Lee PPM's in a bucket, I would be willing to pay to have them shipped to me. I have more time than money and am willing to work on them to make them better!



Randy

[kerreckt]

I have nothing but good experiences with my two Lee PPM. I use them to measure the extruded powders (logs) and they do a great job. I have made plastic baffles for mine from coffee container tops. Before the baffles they would throw IMR 4895 and 4064 within .2-.3grns. After the baffles, the throw is as accurate as I can weigh with my balance scale. I do my part by using it exactly the same ways each time when throwing the powder. It is more accurate with these types of powders than either my Lyman 55 or RCBS Uniflow. Great product for less than $20.00, in my world.

[myg30]

If any of you guys that have thrown your Lee PPM's in a bucket, I would be willing to pay to have them shipped to me. I have more time than money and am willing to work on them to make them better!



Randy

Out of curiosity how many have pm' ed you for your address ?
I like my lee's and some powders can measure better than others true. Ford,Chevy, if it works for you and makes you happy cool ! BMW, go for it.
I like to save some money when over spendings not necessary.
Never in a rush to reload or cast ! " It's faster" makes me cringe when I read that in a reloading post.

enjoy, be safe always.

Mike

[Glassman66]

Out of curiosity how many have pm' ed you for your address ?
I like my lee's and some powders can measure better than others true. Ford,Chevy, if it works for you and makes you happy cool ! BMW, go for it.
I like to save some money when over spendings not necessary.
Never in a rush to reload or cast ! " It's faster" makes me cringe when I read that in a reloading post.

enjoy, be safe always.

Mike


Nobody, I kinda threw that out there jokingly! I am just starting out reloading and do not have a powder drop yet. Heck, maybe I don't need one. I don't shoot large volumes so I am probably ok using dippers after I have found a load that works. I did get a trickler the other day though.

I am the kinda guy who likes to take things apart and figure out how they work and maybe make it work better. I would still be willing to pay postage on one that someone doesn't want though! LOL!




Randy

[JSnover]

I've been satisfied with everything I've ever bought from Lee (and I've bought a LOT from them), except the Perfect Powder Measure. Hated it. The action was rough, the mount was like a spring bouncing and chattering when I turned the drum, and it leaked. A lot. I replaced it with a Redding.
Now I don't even use that.
Dip and trickle:
Bought a complete set of scoops. Found one that threw within a fraction of a grain of whatever I was loading that day. Dumped it into my pan and trickled up to weight. Every charge is right on the money.
It takes a few seconds longer per case but I don't have to play around with measures anymore, never worry about bridging or any other hiccups.

[13Echo]

If you lap the moving parts, and the Turtlewax paste should be ideal, the action becomes tolerably smooth if you don't tighten the screw too much. It'll even feed fine ball powder without bad leak. It's no Harrels but it will do the job until you can afford one.

Jerry Liles

[FergusonTO35]

I had a Lee PPM for a long time, used it for pistol powder before I got my Auto Disk. I found that it was either 100% consistent or not at all. It had an annoying habit of drooling powder out from between the rotor and body. I was pretty happy with it for a $20.00 measure. Nowadays I use the Pro Auto Disk and RCBS Uniflow and am very happy with both.

[Kimber bob]

I have found that some powders like 321 and tight group meter very well. Others like unique not so much, of course unique is a much larger flake type.

[crashguy]

Thanks to all that suggested lapping the PPM... I gave it a whorl... just finished up with a test hopper full of BL-C(2) ... not a grain leaked out.

[Garyshome]

Yes it can buy a Dillon powder measure!

[Geezer in NH]

I like Lee products but pass on their measures

[HeadLead]

Just read all input on the Lee Powder Measures. I have 2 of the disk units and 1 ppm. I have used graphite on all after cleaning them and polishing what I could. I use the micrometer adjustment when needed and am very happy with consistency of powder drops. More expensive products are nice, but unnecessary if you take some time to clean up the Lee measures.

Just my 2 cents.

[dikman]

Might as well add my bit. Lapping the PPM with graphite helped and haven't had any problems with leakage. Very happy with mine, although while it works fine with my Black Powder it does not like Trail Boss!

[Lead Fred]

Lee "Perfect is....

Perfect garbage, trash, junk, crapola.

Had it, tried to give it away, the garbage man took them away.

[Dr.S]

Lee "Perfect is....

Perfect garbage, trash, junk, crapola.

Had it, tried to give it away, the garbage man took them away.
I sold mine to a guy in russia on ebay.He ended up paying like 75 bucks for the ***.
The PPm is just ****.i know they work and are cheap.If I only had 25 bucks to spend on a measure i would sell blood to get enough to buy something other than a PPM.
Mine leaked and I'm not spending any time lapping **** and putting lipstik on a pig.
In Hell I'll be working a PPM handle up & down fer sure.

[dikman]

Lead Fred, I would have happily taken it :).

[jmort]

They work just fine. Some users are challenged.

[Dr.S]

http://i.imgur.com/1tXS3ph.jpg

[44Vaquero]

125560 They have been upgraded, Ava early 2015!

[John Boy]

It's interesting to read the majority of the posts that have displeasure with the Lee Perfect Powder Measure ... my inventory of chargers is 3 B&M's, 2 Lyman #5 with micro adjuster, 2 Lyman 55's and a O'Haus. Plus a 550 B Dillon for the handgun reloads. But my Go To chargers mounted on the bench are 2 PPM's - one for BP and one for smokeless used for all my centerfire rifle reloads .... and I shoot close to 2000 rounds a year of different calibers
Other than just adjusting the tension nut for the barrel screw - they are stock, don't leak powder, accurate and easy to use. Hay, maybe I got the 2 best PPM's that John Lee has ever made [smilie=s:

[Dr.S]

I just hate plastic and the all around cheesyness of the thing. the new one looks like its a smartreloader in red. be good for scooping out the catbox.
IMO the only reason people defend them is they hate themselves,took a fat chick to the prom,I dunno.Theres some underlying reason for it.

[jmort]

If there are "issues" it is not on the PPM side of the dime. Users who are challenged may have trouble. If you can afford better, so be it. I like the Redding models, but the PPM works just fine.

[Dr.S]

If there are "issues" it is not on the PPM side of the dime. Users who are challenged may have trouble. If you can afford better, so be it. I like the Redding models, but the PPM works just fine.
well its seems this topic is pretty much exhausted.

[opos]

I use a lot of Lee equipment and have always been satisfied...I've had 2 very small issues in the past and Lee took care of them pronto and in the case of my stuff..at no charge...but I don't use the Lee Powder measure for a couple of reasons...the one I had a long while back just got everything on the bench covered with powder ..second issue was the indexing set up..I had a devil of a time reading indexing and it took a long time to get it where I wanted it..found the only way I was really comfortable with it was to set it to throw light and then trickle powder to get it just right...I never got comfortable with the measure and just went back to my old way of dipping with one of their dippers into the scale pan (a 505 as I have had that for along time), using an RCBS trickler to bring the charge to my desired level...I spent so much time fussing with the powder measure and cleaning up the spilled grains and weighing each charge anyway, that it was simpler to weigh each charge...been doing that for decades and used to it..the PPM was just something I thought I might try and find it's not what I choose to do....in no hurry for anything.

[Dr.S]

I use a lot of Lee equipment and have always been satisfied...I've had 2 very small issues in the past and Lee took care of them pronto and in the case of my stuff..at no charge...but I don't use the Lee Powder measure for a couple of reasons...the one I had a long while back just got everything on the bench covered with powder ..second issue was the indexing numbers on mine were little tiny stamped numbers in a strip of what looked like a piece of aluminum and I had one heck of a time reading them...I never got comfortable with the measure and just went back to my old way of dipping with one of their dippers into the scale pan (a 505 as I have had that for along time), using an RCBS trickler to bring the charge to my desired level...I spent so much time fussing with the powder measure and frankly was so unsure of it's reliability (my feelings...and not proven) that it was simpler to weigh each charge...been doing that for decades and used to it..the PPM was just something I thought I might try and find it's not what I choose to do....got lots of time and pretty intense about safety.
covering the bench with powder is not an issue
just lap it in LOL
sounds like yer challenged
it could'nt be the PPM
you just got a bad one
the replacement they send right away will be OK

[opos]

covering the bench with powder is not an issue
just lap it in LOL
sounds like yer challenged
it could'nt be the PPM
you just got a bad one
the replacement they send right away will be OK

Maybe at 77 with over 50 years of loading behind me makes me challenged...I might take the "just lap it in" approach to other things too (like a new car that won't shift right, etc) but I won't...like I said I like lee products but not the PPM...I don't like RCBS in some areas although I have some...I won't use Hornady for personal reasons and the old 55 Lyman is a favorite of many folks but I have no experience...

[dragon813gt]

If it doesn't work for you fine. But there is no reason to insult people who use it w/ no issues. This goes for any product. If you don't like it why are you posting multiple times in the thread? State your opinion and move on.

[charlie b]

Those of us who use and like Lee stuff are just stupid. :) ;) I accept that and continue to reload with their products. I am also cheap (which is why I reload in the first place) and don't see any reason to pay more for my reloading equip. It has worked for me for almost 30 years.

[44Vaquero]

You know one of the most interesting features on this Forum is "Clicking" on an Avatar visiting a persons page and looking at their last 15 or 20 posts! Noting at that point that 3 or 4 of their last posts are argumentative, condescending or just plain rude for no reason. Also of note said person barely has over 100 post!!

It's safe to conclude a Troll has slipped into our midst!

now to use the second most interesting feature the "Ignore" feature. Problem solved.

[jmort]

Apparently this is true. Why insult people who may use a tool for reasons of cost. That crosses the line in my book. Elitism is not a virtue.

[.30Calibre]

...mine DO THROW ACCURATE CHARGES...

I enjoy loading a lot of Accurate #7. Was gifted a Lee PPM and it leaked quite a bit of AA#7 when throwing charges. Tried the rotor lapping with JB bore paste and 'lubed' the rotor surface with powdered graphite: it appeared to leak a little less afterwards.

The Lee PPM threw very consistent and accurate charge weights though, surprisingly.

It's just that I could not get it to throw these charges without leaving a light dusting of AA#7 powder on the bench. Thought it was just me. Have yet to try Bullseye, Unique or Power Pistol through it to see how much seepage occurs.

[FLHTC]

You know one of the most interesting features on this Forum is "Clicking" on an Avatar visiting a persons page and looking at their last 15 or 20 posts! Noting at that point that 3 or 4 of their last posts are argumentative, condescending or just plain rude for no reason. Also of note said person barely has over 100 post!!

It's safe to conclude a Troll has slipped into our midst!

now to use the second most interesting feature the "Ignore" feature. Problem solved.

I use that feature like Kleenex.
The PPM works extremely well on charges under 5 grains and for those I have two PPMs on my bench. I can afford to buy anything I want but I buy what works. I have two RCBS with a large and small drum and micrometer adjusting stems but for small charges, I use the Lee every time.

[TheDoctor]

Have one, loaded about 20 rounds with it, and the darned thing broke. It came with a loadmaster, so at least I do not feel like an idiot buying it by itself. Have had great success with lee disc type measures, about as easy to use as anything. I will keep my lee autodiscs, my rcbs, my lyman, and my hornady. Even keep my dillon that I do not use anymore. But will NOT replace that "perfect" powder measure. I really like a lot of stuff lee makes, but that ain't one of em.

[gunoil]

1)Never had prob with the lee hopper, l take a carpenters pencil to everything sliding by powder while watching tv.
2)I machine off expander nipple.
3)My lee just drop powder only in my loadmaster, l expand in station 2 on loadmaster.
4)l use spring and took chain off.
5)l can change disks without removing hopper from loadmaster,
a.turn off
b.hole glass container something under & cycle powder out.
c.slide disk out the front & install other.
d.turn back on and cycle powder 5 or 6 times in glass container.

mikesreloadingbench.com

http://i1113.photobucket.com/albums/k511/putt2012/A342AEFE-C9EF-499D-9AD1-2D1D89884C61_zpsrugowtlv.jpg (http://s1113.photobucket.com/user/putt2012/media/A342AEFE-C9EF-499D-9AD1-2D1D89884C61_zpsrugowtlv.jpg.html)

[spfd1903]

I just got a Makarov 9 x 18 caliber conversion kit for the Dillon 550B. Prior to that, the PPM was used very accurately for charging the 9 x 18 cases ( and 7.62 x 25). Consistently accurate. Mounted it to 12" 2x4 and stack a couple of boxes of boolits on the back end to keep it stable. Put a big sheet of paper under the unit to catch and recycle the powder leakage. After a couple hundred rounds, the drum rotated smoothly. The leakage has not improved much but it is a few seconds to pour it back into the powder jug. Use a Lyman 55 for rifle cases.

[.30Calibre]

...Prior to that, the PPM was used very accurately for charging the 9 x 18 cases...

What powder were you charging with?

I scoured the internets at some point in the hopes of finding a forum thread that correlated powder brands folks used to whether or not they experienced leakage from the Lee PPM. Never did find a list like that.

[c1skout]

I had used my PPM for years mostly with rifle powder and never had any problems. When I started throwing Accurate #7 I had considerable leakage. I devised a work-around for the leakage, but then read here about lapping the rotor. I tore it apart and spent an hour or so with rubbing compound and toothpaste. With everything well lapped I can see that mine will always leak. There are a couple of low spots in the plastic that would need to be filled to make it truly "perfect". I put it back together and am enjoying the improved action since lapping, but my work-around to catch the leaky powder will have to stay.

125954

Just a piece of card stock, some masking tape, and a small plastic bowl. Been working for a while now.

[john hayslip]

My major problem with the PPM is the cheesy, bendable stand. I screwed mine into a Lyman stand I had - screwing up the plastic threads when I did it - and am much happier with it. I'm going to have to do the drum though. I wish the stand were better and didn't bend in use.
My major problem with Lee products is the primer feeds on their presses. I think they'll be substandard til they decide to use metal instead of plastic. That said I use their hand primers and have for years and wouldn't switch.

[dikman]

I forgot to mention that the first thing I did was weld up a more substantial stand - because you're quite right about the flimsy stand!

[zuke]

If none of us on here were not "cheap" or "stingy" or "frugal", we would not be reloading.
I bought mine as a factory second when I was 19 and it worked for me, still does. Like a lot of LEE stuff it take's time to develope a "feel" for using them. Some get it, some use a bigger hammer.By the way, I'll be 49 this year

[r1kk1]

If none of us on here were not "cheap" or "stingy" or "frugal", we would not be reloading.


8mm-06 was my first rifle cartridge. It belonged to my grandfather and was a popular rechamber when you couldn't find 57 brass. At least that was the excuse at the time, but -06 brass was very plentiful and cheap. I then bought an 11mm French Gras. I never did see a factory cartridge for that except at gun shows. The 44 mag was my first pistol then the 7mm TCU. I spent time looking for obsolete or wildcat guns and barrels.

Factory loads, there are none.

I bought a 30-06 in the early 80s. Didn't care for any factory loadings. My loads were very much more accurate than the stuff he factories put out at the time. I remember loading Barnes bullets with Norma cases, IMR 4350 and either Alcan or Winchester primers. I took a few game with it. My components were not cheap. I had to cast for the 33 Winchester, 38-56 Winchester, 38-55, etc. If ammo existed, a place called Old Western Scounger carried it.

Zuke, in the early 80s, I had a Contender barrel chambered in 35-30/30. I thought it was an original idea and was a great cast shooter. I found out that it was older cartridge that predated my grandfather. It was done to rebore shot out 30-30 and 32 Winchester barreled lever actions. Here I thought I had something and just reinvented the wheel.

I like cast in the 30-06 and carry a few loaded with Blue Dot to take out rabbits and squirrels or other edibles or pests. I wouldn't waste an expensive boutique bullet on that purpose.

I remember when Lee made moulds from .22 caliber and up and were a catalogued item! My favorite non gas checked 44 mag mould is the 255 grain custom Lee mould. I have quite a few custom Lee moulds. They work well. I have a very large number of Lee bullet sizers. I've had good luck with them although I will use a Lyman or a Star for volume production. The Lee hand press has followed me through the years while other Lee presses minus their progressive and CC series have not. The same for their powder measures except for their powder scoops.

I want to give a thankful shout out to Vaquero and Beesdad for answering Lee questions truthfully and honestly. They can tell you the strengths, weaknesses, and limitations of a tool they own. I do the same with what I own. I may not have very many Lee tools outside of moulds and sizers, but I have bought other stuff and returned it as they do honor their 30-day money back guarantee if bought from them.

To the OP, there has been mentioned of procedures or stuff you can do to help with your powder measure. Personally I would send it back and allow Lee to fix the problem. If that doesn't work then your other option is to buy something else.

take care

r1kk1

[hpdrifter]

yeah, I mounted mine on a 4 X 9" piece of lumber I had laying around. I mounted it facing the short side and always fought a little "typsy" syndrome when I actuated the drum to dispense the powder.

Finally[smilie=b:, I changed it to face the long side. Man, it works so much better.:smile: Not tippy at all.

[Cowboy_Dan]

I lapped mine today. Much smoother and leaks less. However, it still does spits one past the wiper on the upstroke. Any way to stop this?

[zomby woof]

This will improve the LEE measure
(http://www.titanreloading.com/image/cache/data/D2g/Baffles/Baffle2-600x600.jpg)

[Dr.S]

http://i.imgur.com/mPFsZ1W.gif