Inconsistent Powder dispenser

[Mungo]

I’d be very grateful for advice.

I have a Lee Perfect Powder measure, and just cannot get it to throw anything approaching consistent charges.

I know I probably shouldn’t expect too much, but it varies by up to a grain from charge to charge, which seems excessive.

Does anyone have any advice on how to improve this? I know many people use them and get very good results.

 

[One on top of two]

Are you using long kernel powder like rs62 ?

 

[Mungo]

Are you using long kernel powder like rs62 ?

RS60

 

[takbok]

Mine struggles with N160 (still produces accurate ammo though) but is much better with ball/finer powders

 

[One on top of two]

Hmm that should be ok i would have thought. I alway had issues with mine when using extruded powers to some degree .

Ball powders always worked fine

 

[Phil fox man]

I give mine a tap each time I cycle the lever to level the powder in the dispenser.usually either spot on or 1/2 grain out with n140 or cf223.
phil.

 

[enfieldspares]

I always was told that the Lee rubber ring type worked well with stick powders and not so well with ball powders. For sure when I had an RCBS Uniflow it used to "bridge" when using Hodgdon H4831 but worked well enough with Vihtavouri N140 or N150.

 

[nun_hunter]

I had the Lee then moved onto the RCBS competition thrower which was more accurate, so much so I didn't need to weigh charges. That's now in a box as I got a good deal on a Chargemaster Litebut otherwise it was as good and definitely faster once set up.

Consistency was key, making sure the thrower was used with the same rhythm and amount of force each time. Keeping the powder level consistent (a baffle plate works best) and using ball powder all meant that the charges were consistent.

The Lee was never as consistent as the RCBS so I couldn't throw the charge direct into the case but not awful.

I read that ball powders worked better in a thrower and extruded worked better in an auto trickler, which I have found to be the case

 

[308tikka]

Thirty years since I used a lee (I started young…) but with other makes, ive found the baffle not being in place properly has an effect.

Check weigh until you get consistency - a lot of inconsistency is in the way you throw lever-I used to have this little double tap method which worked well. Also case fill capacity vs throw-if too full it might be less consistent - so a tall powder drop funnel allows a consistent fill.

 

[Mungo]

I had the Lee then moved onto the RCBS competition thrower which was more accurate, so much so I didn't need to weigh charges. That's now in a box as I got a good deal on a Chargemaster Litebut otherwise it was as good and definitely faster once set up.

Consistency was key, making sure the thrower was used with the same rhythm and amount of force each time. Keeping the powder level consistent (a baffle plate works best) and using ball powder all meant that the charges were consistent.

The Lee was never as consistent as the RCBS so I couldn't throw the charge direct into the case but not awful.

I read that ball powders worked better in a thrower and extruded worked better in an auto trickler, which I have found to be the case

Are you interested in selling the RCBS!

 

[LeftHandGuy]

Did you follow the setup advice and run a full pound of powder through it before expecting consistent results? IIRC something to do with establishing a layer of graphite and working any static out? Either way I did that with a pound of Unique and it's been really consistent ever since.

 

[Mungo]

Did you follow the setup advice and run a full pound of powder through it before expecting consistent results? IIRC something to do with establishing a layer of graphite and working any static out? Either way I did that with a pound of Unique and it's been really consistent ever since.

So initially no, I failed to do that.

But after getting irritated, I went back and re read the instructions, saw this, and did it. Didn’t seem to do anything.

 

[Steff]

I‘ve got a Harrel style powder measure. In other words, it doesn‘t get any better. And still, even with ball powders I would get inconsistencies of up to 0.5gn.
So I always made manual corrections by adding/removing kernels. How tiering!
Eventually I bought an Autotrickler and AND FX-120i scales.
Apart from being more accurate loading has become so much more comfortable now.

 

[Qwertyzmate]

One quick check...

Is the central screw tight enough in the centre of the throw arm? I can adjust the tension/resistance of the lever with minute changes on this screw.

Some powder like it to be quiet snug, CFE specifically will force its way to leak out if there is any freeplay at all.

When the tension is correct, all my powders drop +/-.2

 

[LeftHandGuy]

So initially no, I failed to do that.

But after getting irritated, I went back and re read the instructions, saw this, and did it. Didn’t seem to do anything.

Oh well. I can't say if it made any difference since I only even started checking once I had "run it in" so to speak.

Is RS60 ball or stick? I have put Unique, Win296 and Vectan BA9 through it all with about the same consistency. I haven't tried it with a "stick" type extruded powder.

 

[Mungo]

One quick check...

Is the central screw tight enough in the centre of the throw arm? I can adjust the tension/resistance of the lever with minute changes on this screw.

Some powder like it to be quiet snug, CFE specifically will force its way to leak out if there is any freeplay at all.

When the tension is correct, all my powders drop +/-.2

Good suggestion. I’ll adjust this and see what happens

 

[Mungo]

Oh well. I can't say if it made any difference since I only even started checking once I had "run it in" so to speak.

Is RS60 ball or stick? I have put Unique, Win296 and Vectan BA9 through it all with about the same consistency. I haven't tried it with a "stick" type extruded powder.

RS60 is a stick, I think. Kernels are little 1.5mm long tubes.

 

[hybridfiat]

I have only ever used a Lyman Thrower for pistol cases (as we load so many 200-300 per session) so I don't know if this is any help, I always throw the lever aggressively so it shakes the powder into the measuring tube and out again completely. Bang, bang, sort of.
They seem to throw very consistently.
Can I just ask, how many cases you load at a time?
Maybe it's just me but if I'm loading 60 or so rifle cases, I weigh each load using scales and a teaspoon.
Dump almost a load into the bowl and then turn the spoon sideways and tap tap tap with a finger and let the last few trickle in.
Perhaps I'm a bit weird or OCD.

 

[Mungo]

I have only ever used a Lyman Thrower for pistol cases (as we load so many 200-300 per session) so I don't know if this is any help, I always throw the lever aggressively so it shakes the powder into the measuring tube and out again completely. Bang, bang, sort of.
They seem to throw very consistently.
Can I just ask, how many cases you load at a time?
Maybe it's just me but if I'm loading 60 or so rifle cases, I weigh each load using scales and a teaspoon.
Dump almost a load into the bowl and then turn the spoon sideways and tap tap tap with a finger and let the last few trickle in.
Perhaps I'm a bit weird or OCD.

I don’t load a great deal at a time - usually batches of 20. Primarily because the thrower IS so irregular. I have to set it to throw 2 or more grains under to make sure it never goes over, and then trickle up. It’s slow and tedious, which is why I tend to only manage 20 or so before I get fed up.

 

[martin_b]

Cut the head of a cheap electric toothbrush then tie wrap the body tightly to the Lee turn it on and give it a go. The idea is that the vibrations will even out the powder flow and packing density.