Lee Auto Drum

[reomack]

Bought one of these and set it up to load 223 on my LCT press. After much fiddling I started loading using H4895 and measuring every 5th round. Target was 25 gr. The largest variance was 2/10 ths with most being either on or only 1/10 th off. Pretty impressive for a stick powder with this inexpensive measure. Happiness is!!

[farmerjim]

Mine does the same with H4895, but I only check each 10th round.

[kmw1954]

I too have an Auto Drum and so far it has worked well with HP-38. I now have a pound of Ramshot Silhouette which is much finer grained to try thru it to see how consistent it is or if it will leak.

[jmort]

Big fan of the Auto Drum
What is interesting is that is you do 10 drops, and divide by 10 you will be dead nuts on your target weight. Any given charge will vary, say up to .2 grains as noted, but they all even out. Not for precision shooting competitions, but good enough for me.

[kmw1954]

jmort, using HP-38 I've been holding +/- .1gr which to me is very consistent and can't expect much better.

[flashhole]

Another Auto Drum fan here. I have two and keep one dedicated to the small drum and one dedicated to the large drum. Mine don't leak with any powder I use and they are amazingly repeatable for what they are. I use them with 40 S&W, 221 Fireball, 223 Rem and 45-70 on the LCT press.

Anyone upgraded to the brass drum yet?

[jmort]

^^^
Have not seen that, but would try it out for sure. If nothing else the brass drum would look nice.

[jmort]

jmort, using HP-38 I've been holding +/- .1gr which to me is very consistent and can't expect much better.

I agree, you can't expect much better than that from an automated powder drum

[reomack]

Where could a fellow find a brass drum?

[dragon813gt]

Where could a fellow find a brass drum?

Not available. It's part of the deluxe perfect powder measure.

[Gillie Dog]

Lee will provide you with the brass drum if you would like one. Like said, they are the drum for the Deluxe Perfect Powder Measure and the discontinued Classic Cast Powder Measure.

Just not shown on line I guess. Email them for price quote and part number. AM3279 was part number for Classic Powder Measure and I do not know the part number for the Deluxe Perfect Powder Measure drum. You can also get spare wipers for the measure housings if you desire.

They do interchange with the Auto Drum just fine. I have seen no accuracy difference between the brass drum and the plastic drum.

GD

[flashhole]

https://fsreloading.com/lee-precision-brass-drum-am3279.html

[dragon813gt]

https://fsreloading.com/lee-precision-brass-drum-am3279.html

Figures, the one site I didn't check [emoji23]
I don't see any advantage to the brass drum. I'm batting .500 w/ my Auto Drums. Still haven't had the time to retest the first one I bought. Second one is working perfectly.

[kmw1954]

I just finished running test loads using Ramshot Silhouette which is a very fine grain powder and I did get a little leakage at first but I think that was because I hadn't tightened up the nut sufficiently after cleaning out the old powder. What I swept up when finished wouldn't even move my scale.

[Grmps]

I got several Quick change drum kits.I mark and just save the drums with my favorite loads, storing them with the corresponding turret and shell plate.

FYI I did have 1 Lee Auto Drum lock up on me (it would stick in the charge position) occasionally at first then it got progressively worse. Really had to keep an eye on the powder in the case. I sent it in and they replaced it. All is well again.

[Bookworm]

I too have an Auto Drum and so far it has worked well with HP-38. I now have a pound of Ramshot Silhouette which is much finer grained to try thru it to see how consistent it is or if it will leak.

I've run AA#9 thru my Auto Drum. Leakage was negligible, and this is a very fine grain powder.
Accuracy of the charge was excellent. Every time I weighed, it was dead on.

[Moonie]

https://fsreloading.com/lee-precision-brass-drum-am3279.html

Holy poo, they sell the brass rotor for more than they sell the entire measure...

[opos]

I really like my Autodrum...I disconnected the chain as I use it on a Classic Turret and it works best that way...I mostly use it for my handgun calibers but have loaded several "stick" powders and it works as near perfectly as anything I've used...no dribbles or messes either...I'm a fan!

[rondog]

Mine works just ducky too.