8 year update on my Lee PPM. I made a few upgrades.

Since I first made this, I now have a metal bandsaw.
[Imgur](https://i.imgur.com/DxnKOCQ.jpg)

Here's a look from the back/left. You should be able to see how it all goes together. A 3/8" rod is threaded on both ends, so it screws into the sheet steel. The powder measure bracket is welded to a "door hinge" that fits over the rod. It's a door hinge, not an axial bearing, so there's some slop that can make it seize up. That's where the spring comes in. The spring ensures that the measure lifts before it seizes and locks up. Then it securely locks the measure wherever you let go. You have to put the handle in the up/fill position and push it back while also pushing down, to make it go down. The steady rest makes it easy to control the movement while doing so.
[Imgur](https://i.imgur.com/44HNSYl.jpg)
The piece of brass is slotted and soldered in place, so the measure only moves up/down and doesn't just swing around.


I found my extra PPM when I was digging through the garage, looking for a bullet mold. The original micrometer was also laying in the box. I thought I could make it fit back in, pretty easy.
[Imgur](https://i.imgur.com/4MdTWwf.jpg)

A section of 1/2" OD 3/8" ID bushing keeps it aligned (section of the same hinge that I used for the Z axis). It's epoxied in there. The notch keeps it from spinning round when you adjust it. There's a piece of steel rod epoxied on, to make it latch with the magnet.
[Imgur](https://i.imgur.com/Of9K3xI.jpg)
The bushing takes up some of the space. So all told, I lost about 2.5cc of capacity. Down from the stock 7.6cc maximum to just over 5cc max. It's too long to use for block-loading, now that I shortened the nozzle. But it might be handy for working up a new load.

I also improved the drop tube nozzle. I discovered I could make my own 20 caliber neck-forming die by drilling a hole in a piece of steel and pushing a case through.
[Imgur](https://i.imgur.com/6onIJmy.jpg)

Now I can drop it all the way into the neck of a 223 case without aiming so hard.
[Imgur](https://i.imgur.com/yEOuZMk.jpg)

In the up position. No hands, due to auto-locking feature.
[Imgur](https://i.imgur.com/qtxax5R.jpg)

FYI, for this to make more sense, I'll show more of the support system. I can load all my calibers with this, using the plastic inserts that come with factory ammo. I take from my stockpile of sized and decapped cases. Then I can expand and prime them on the SS, and I insert the case into the tray until it's filled. For rifle and 357, I insert them neck up, ready to fill. For short pistol cases, I insert them mouth down until ready to load. Like this.
[Imgur](https://i.imgur.com/jXQmgLV.jpg)

Then I can use my short-case tray to load 50 at a time. This one is for 45/40 etc. I have another one for 9mm/380.
[Imgur](https://i.imgur.com/NqEZ3dZ.jpg)
[Imgur](https://i.imgur.com/e91nuMa.jpg)
[Imgur](https://i.imgur.com/Z62DrGF.jpg)

With this system, I can get distracted and start as many unfinished projects as I want, until I run out of ammo trays. And they store compactly and securely. Some of these cases have been sitting here for years!
[Imgur](https://i.imgur.com/in3ej7c.jpg)