A look at the Lee Deluxe Perfect Powder Measure and the Quick Change Drum Set. Amazon affiliate links Powder Measure: amzn.to/3F4KMSV Quick Change Drum Set: amzn.to/3GCQ1cz
Think I've had my basic all plastic Lee measure for 20 some odd years. I'm sure these new ones are better, but I've never found myself needing to upgrade. For the money Lee makes some outstanding equipment.
With my Lee measure, I was getting load charges weights all over the place, which was driving me crazy. Finally, I took it apart and found granules were sticking to the inside of the drop tube. You gotta REALLY clean the factory lubricant off using acetone or isopropyl alcohol. Once that was done, threw consistent charges every time.
I noticed mine wasn't throwing consistent powder charges but I only use it for black powder, so I never bothered to clean it out. I'll have to try your method see if it works better.
Graphite lube on the inner drum where it rubs on the bearing surfaces definitely helps with all the Lee powder measures. It doesn't do overly well with incredibly fine powders, say Alliant 2400 (you will get leakage out the sides no matter how tight the drums are) but over all once you get them running they will be in that +/- 0.1gr range. Just don't expect precision performace from it.
This video brought to y'all from twitch streams where we told Johnny lee made a metal deluxe version when he was complaining about the handle on the plastic one, i miss twich stream nights!! Thanks for all your great content johnny, have a great Christmas and new year!
The accuracy of the CC measurement on the Lee models is dependent on several things. A big one is the downward pressure the powder in the hopper exerts when throwing a chrage. For example, a high fill pushes more powder into the cylinder per stroke than a low fill level, and this is to be expected. As a result, using the sliding conversion chart is only good if you are unfamiliar with the powder. Otherwise, you learn to adjust as you fill your cases, usually increasing the throw 1 click as you go. This style of measure is always going to require weighing nearly all your throws to be sure you are being consistent and safe if you are near a max load volume. If you want speed and consistency, IMHO you have to upgrade to an electronic dispenser like the RCBS Chargemaster Lite/Link unit Johnny has.
Thanks Johnny. I've had trouble with my Lee Perfect Powder Measure binding the fine spherical powders. Thinking seriously about making an upgrade. It was so bad I started scooping and trickling the loads.
I have both and definitely like the steel drum on the deluxe... I can get finicky, but it seems to be very consistent... Oh, and yeah, a little wipe with anti-static dryer sheets work wonders...
2 tips I use a new Downey Free (or equivalent) dryer sheet to wipe down all my plastic reloading components and my RCBS Chargemaster Link as well as any powder containers. Also, I use that powder attachment/funnel on/off gadget when switching powders to neatly dump the extra (or waste) back into the powder container.
I bought this after I got the case-activated auto-drum and they both work great and are tremendous values. I just can't see spending $300 on a Redding or such when this is nearly as accurate and so much less. I love the Lee hopper design too, is makes it super easy to put the powder back into the can when done.
That's pretty much what I do, I might sit and load 100 rounds on a busy day and I enjoy the solitude so the slowness of this method is no problem. If I were loading more rounds than that more often I would want a better system.
Thanks Johnny been looking at different powder measures for some time to add my kit. Been running just the scopes for know. Wish lee make a new list and sheer with some newer powders available on the market vs try to figure what close to one other to get ur grains right in cc
I started with the Lee Challenger Breech Lock Kit and it had the Lee Perfect Powder Measure. I took it apart every time I changed powder and cleaned it. But with H110 I just couldn't stop the leaking so I bought the RCBS Chargemaster Link and that is all I use now.
When I throw mid range charge level pistol powder I check every third of fifth throw and I also set it by averaging the weight of ten throws into on one pan, if I get 40 grains for ten throws of 4 grains I'm as close as I'll ever get and I just weigh the occasional case to make sure they stay close.
A good way i found to get rid of the static is to use a used dryer sheet, Then wipe the inside and the outside of the bottle and the other components as well
Thanks Johnny. Good stuff. Kinda weird... I've been looking at getting one of these and BOOM, here's a review of it from JRB. I run a new Lyman Gen 6 and it works really well with extruded powder... But it makes a mess with fine ball powder... The tiny granules hit the powder pan and bounce out everywhere. This thing looks like it'd be great for high volume pistol and .223 loads with ball powder... Which is why I was looking at it
I don’t go by the clicks at all, I just hold the tab and turn the wheel a tiny amount and let it set in between clicks. It’s worked out for me. And I try to slap it up and down just a little bit to make the powder move consistently. With cfeblk it works amazing. But with imr4064 it’s pretty wild. Using the Lee powder stand allows me to put my pan underneath it without worrying if anything will bounce out. Definitely worth the money if you’re gonna be using the deluxe for any serious amount of time. Otherwise it seems to be too much of a hassle. It’s the only powder measure I’ve ever used, so I may be biased, but it’s an okay powder measure. I do like that I can adjust it to throw ball powders nearly perfectly every time, but the extruded stuff, even some short cut like n540, isn’t as consistent as I would hope. Or maybe I have high standards, but I check each one for extruded stuff. With ball powder I’m confident in it and I’ll check at the end of each row, just to be sure.
After the struggle I went through tonight fighting ram shot tac, damn flake powder. Definitely going to get one of these. Hopefully it'll do that good with flake powder. Thankyou for your video. Definitely better than throwing each load by plastic spoon. 🤣 Accurate it is but dear lord it took me all dang night.
With a lot of the plastic accoutrements you can take a dryer sheet and wipe them down and that will alleviate a lot of the static cling. You may have to repeat a time or two but it drastically shortens the "break in" period for static issues. I still roll with the RCBS powder drop. I don't use it for extruded powders, none of the drops measure it accurately so why bother. I just use my Chargemaster 1500 to run extruded charges then transfer to a different scale for trickle up.
On the Red base funnel I would use a Sharpie to mark the OFF and ON positions. You have not lived till you lift it off and it is OPEN! I had it Happen on my Perfect Powder Measure ! Experience!
You can make the plastic to plastic fit even better if you take some Bartenders Friend and lap the two cones together. That removes any unevenness in the mating surfaces, and makes H110 work very well.
Great review Johnny. Always a pleasure to listen to your banter. You go through everything very well so, on the strength of your review, I'm thinking I might upgrade from my Lee perfect powder measure which, has seen dozens of KG's of powder through it over the last 30 years & never missed a beat.
My Deluxe Powder thrower was all over the place with accuracy. it had to get really broke in by getting a heavy powder dust layer i guess on it before it finally would throw consistant. yes it spills unless you tighten it heavily then it doesnt leak. but yes mine had to get heavily used before it would throw right.
The benchrest guys probably weigh each piece of powder and group them into piles by weight. Then they take a pair of tweezers and pick only the best grains from each pile until they meet their target.
I use the standard model to get an initial charge in the pan before trickle. I load 41.5 grain, use the powder drop to get 41.3 or 41.4 in the pan then trickle to exactly 41.48 to 41.51 grains. Each granule of powder weights 0.003 grains. If 1 grain changes velocity 60-70fps, 0.1gr changes velocity 6-7fps and 0.01-0.03 gr variation is just a few fps. My powder drops are more accurate than my chronograph.
The best powder measure is to get two - one for extruded 'stick' powders and one for ball powders. Still looking for the * BEST * measure for bigger stick powders, so if you know - let me know! I have a Lee PPM (old version) measure and it LEAKS LIKE A SIEVE for ball powders, but pretty good for stick. I got a Lyman Brass Smith powder measure a couple years ago and its really great for ball powders like CFE Pistol ect, but seems to do a bit of cutting with stick, at least the IMR 4064 I've tested it with so far. More testing with stick powders will give me a better picture but for ball powders its a real winner!
Thank you for the review…just received both of those powder measures….plan to use the regular PPM for my 45-70 and the Deluxe PPM for my 45 acp and 5.56/223. Good timing for me…again…thank you from Montana
Lee has come a long way, been using Lee stuff for years. When I first got into reloading ammo years ago I thought their stuff was not that great, I learned a lot . Lee makes some good stuff! My pro 1000 has at least 10000 rounds loaded and maybe more. New pro 1000 is better.
Greetings from NY John. I have the original Deluxe Perfect Powder Measure. I never used because it was to Loosey-goosey ! Maybe the new powder hopper is better b
John, I have a question, I'm wondering if you might be able to answer it? I noticed this powder measure doesn't utilize a case spout for powder being dropped, and I can't see inside it from a few angles. I am planning to purchase it. But I would like to know how that part works...? Other measures have the spout for a given case, this one does not. Can you explain how the case is introduced up into the powder dispenser nozzle? Please..
Its nice to meet another Johnny, in the world of Reloading. I enjoyed this video and the comical comments immensely. I am looking to buy this Lee Precision deluxe powder measure 90699. And I very much like your demo. However, the amazon link for the 90699 unit does not pop up, the quick change drums do. Another issue I noticed you contended with was, the powder spout pour. I wonder if a screw-on case spout is available?
Hello again, did I hear you at some point say that when you purchase this Le Deluxe kit, it must be cleaned of any oils or packing lubricants Before using? I already purchased it a week ago, but have not set it up yet. Thought I'd ask..
I wish someone would mold a new hopper to fit/incliding a baffle... That's these two models biggest/only flaw. I do much better without the weight of a whole bottle up top. I keep a hairband in my clear bottle about halfway up it and try to maintain about +/- a thumb width.
@@mattfleming86 there are aftermarket powder baffles and modified hoppers available. They are not certified by Lee obviously and I haven't used them personally so cannot comment on their efectiveness at alleviating the problem you mention. My old PPM throws very consistent stick powder charges down to the last ten fills then gets a bit erratic, but maybe I just got lucky?
@@martinrew9285 Mine throws great. The PPM is probably the BEST for extruded powders. I use a redding for ball. The baffle problem is typical of all measures. My "new" style ppm has the plastic one-way-in container (not open top) so making a baffle would be a PITA. I'm about to cut down a tall alliant bottle and just make a hopper since the bottle threads match the cap. Clear would be nice though. The problem is not the short term consistency, i.e. throw to throw. It's the bulk density of whats in the charge tube when "full" compared to like you said near empty. For me the charges start light, settle in after a few throws to heavy as things settle, and then work their way to light as the column shrinks. The baffle system means you run the handle a few times to settle the grains, and until you hit the baffle holes the weight on the tube is consistent. I often load 25-100 to a pop not touching my scales after things settle out for my semi-match grade stuff. much like a single stage version of running a dillon. A (zero hassle) reliable weight from first to last means a lot to me. An advantage of the alliant hopper im thinking of is that it'll probably hold 1.5-2 lbs :-D
I have the old style Lee PPM. When I have waste powder during set up I dump it into my trickler. The old model reservoir has a lid so I could just dump it back into the reservoir though.
I've never understood the consistent positive comments about Lee's basic powder measure. I've gone through two trying to get a working powder measure that didn't show +/- .3 grain variations. Finally gave up and bought an RCBS Chargemaster Lite.
couldnt you use the red piece and screw it on the powder bottle and use it as a funnel to fill the clear container? once filled, take the red piece off the bottle and place it on the clear tube?
The directions say to fill the container and cycle the powder thru till it's empty. That coats everything with residue, and eliminates static. It works like a charm.
The perfect powder measure is really good with stick powders too. It leaks with H110 which is basically dust. The design is the same on this one so I would expect the same minus a little lag time the groove buys you. Always good stuff Johnny.
Most ofLee’s equipment is good , I agree with you on the new hopper design but I use their auto drum it as accurate as my Hornady lock n load measure in as a matter of fact I don’t even use my lock n load measure on my lock n load progressive press any more . But l don’t like either one’s case flaring feature I’ve gone to using a Lyman “M” die it makes a squared opening where the bullets pops in firmly and straight I don’t have to hold the projectile while it enters the die just pop it in raise the handle to seat and grab the next so I’m ready to seat the next one it’s a little faster. But for all my max loads with my 45-70 and large magnum pistol cartridges I hand weigh my charges and use my Redding t7 turret press. I only use the progressive for my 9 mm 45 acp 45 colt and .223’s
I have been using the Lee deluxe perfect powder measure for about a year. I have found that the measure is extremely consistent with ball powders and very little to no leaking. With extruded powders I set it up to throw slightly low then trickle up. It speeds the process over using the dippers/trickler. I also use the deluxe perfect powder measure's brass powder charge adjustment with the Lee auto drum on my progressive; fixing the powder leaking issues I always had with that unit. I don't know if my (plastic/nylon) quick change sets are just old, but they always leak when using fine ball powders no matter how tight I set them.
I polished the internal of the Lee autodrum and took a scotch brite pad to the plastic inserts, no more leakage. However, I use it only for titegroup and CFE pistol and CFE223 (meter like water and perfect each drop). For extruded, I use electronic scale/pwder tricler. I used Hornady auto drop and now the FA intellidrop (excellent one)
I have both perfect powder measures from Lee. The deluxe and the regular. I've noticed with both of them if I'm a little more violent with the up stroke and let it bounce back a tad I get much more consistent loads.
We had Lady bugs bad until I found a spray for lady bugs that works. Found two different sprays and they both worked great just spray around the windows doors and base of house lady bugs no more.
Check your wife's spice cabinet, or your own, and you may find the same container that Lee uses for the powder container. Keep the lid so as not to spill, put the Lee lid on when ready and you have instant powder changes on the fly. Been there, done that. Edit: Rufus Teague has a spice rub that is the same container, others may as well.
They have another measure that uses those quick change drums. It's spring loaded and made for progressive presses. The quick change set I purchased for it just doesn't mate up as well and I get a lot of leakage with tight group ( one of my favorite pistol powders) and also #5 and #7 my other favorites. Out of 150 cases and not using the original drum that it came with I loose about 10 grains or so. I've done everything to make them work. So I use them for larger extruded type powders. The one you showed in this video was my next consideration of purchase. After watching this I will probably buy one. One note I'll say is that no manually operated measure will ever give you the accuracy of the electronic measure because as you said it's in the technique or operation and it's consistent handle swing.
Why do you want to put up with sub par Lee measures? I seen so many times RCBS sold for same price used and they are so much better and never leak fine powders.
@@DimaProk I actually use a Lee disk measure on one of my progressives and it's as accurate as any measure out there in the manual mechanical measures realm. And yes RCBS and Redding are fine units and so are Lyman units. The only Lee unit that I have that leaks is their newest with the changeable drums made for progressive presses. And having purchased it and the drum sets on deep discount sale prices, I'm still way under the price of a used RCBS or Redding. As far as the one demonstrated in this video, I like the adjustment stem and it's design, and with its drum being metal it will be As good or better than other measures. All of Lee's measures use the elastomer swipe to prevent cutting powder which I find I like better than steel cutting the powder kernels. As far as its accuracy any discrepancy can be adjusted with a trickler. Lee's measures are very innovative but as with most thing have room for improvement.
