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powder spilling out of thrower

nemesisenforcernemesisenforcer Member Posts: 10,513 ✭✭✭
edited December 2009 in Perry Shooter Competition Shooting and Reloading Forum
Loading up some 44 mags with H110 and the damn powder is spilling out of the side of the dispenser. Took it apart, blew it out, put it back together, still doing it.

I have a Lee brand powder dispenser (came with the anniversary kit.)

Can this be fixed or do I just have to learn to live with cleaning up powder off my table and from between my fingers?
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Comments

  • RCrosbyRCrosby Member Posts: 3,808 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Somethings wrong. Not sure what.
    I have the same measure. No spilling problems and the smoothness and accuracy are impressive. As much as I usually despise plastic and aluminum I sold my RCBS measure and use the Lee for most of my loading now.
    Where is the powder actually spilling from? I'm confused.
    p.s. Does it spill when you remove the canister to empty it after use, or during use? I assume you know that turning the canister 1/4 turn clockwise shuts off the bottom of the resevoir?
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  • nemesisenforcernemesisenforcer Member Posts: 10,513 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by RCrosby
    Somethings wrong. Not sure what.
    I have the same measure. No spilling problems and the smoothness and accuracy are impressive. As much as I usually despise plastic and aluminum I sold my RCBS measure and use the Lee for most of my loading now.
    Where is the powder actually spilling from? I'm confused.
    p.s. Does it spill when you remove the canister to empty it after use, or during use? I assume you know that turning the canister 1/4 turn clockwise shuts off the bottom of the resevoir?


    It's spilling during use when I throw the charge into the case. It comes out of the left side of the wheel (opposite side from the operating rod, same side as the adjusting screw) direct from the canister before the powder gets to the funnel. It's like the wheel is loose and letting powder flow through it instead of directly into the funnel. I tried tightening the screw that holds all the moving parts together but this just made it impossible to turn it at all.
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  • nemesisenforcernemesisenforcer Member Posts: 10,513 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Does the fact that H110 is a small grain ball powder have anything to do with it? I've never had this issue with extruded powder though with Unique and Green Dot (both flake powders) I notice some granules get into the same place on the wheel and are crushed as I charge the cases.
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  • nemesisenforcernemesisenforcer Member Posts: 10,513 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    It's also doing it with H414 (the only other ball powder I have on hand to test with.)

    No issues with H4350 (or presumably any other extruded powders.)
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  • MobuckMobuck Member Posts: 14,088 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    My Lee slider measure dribbles a little ball powder also. It's not so much as to be losing significant amounts of powder just an aggravation. I found it's more of a problem with flake type as that stuff sticks to everything. I think there's supposed to be a semisoft "wiper" in there someplace but I could be mistaken.
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  • nemesisenforcernemesisenforcer Member Posts: 10,513 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by Mobuck
    My Lee slider measure dribbles a little ball powder also. It's not so much as to be losing significant amounts of powder just an aggravation. I found it's more of a problem with flake type as that stuff sticks to everything. I think there's supposed to be a semisoft "wiper" in there someplace but I could be mistaken.


    I'm not losing tons of powder, but it is annoying.

    Put the powder funnel over each case. the funnel catches the spill. it's more time consuming but makes it cleaner and you don't waste any powder that way.
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  • gw104gw104 Member Posts: 6 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Normal operation for the Lee
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  • jonkjonk Member Posts: 10,121
    edited November -1
    I agree. The Lee Perfect Powder Measure leaks ball powders and binds. On the other hand it measures extruded powders perfectly and very accurately with no chopping.

    I use the Lee for extruded, RCBS for ball.
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  • Rocky RaabRocky Raab Member Posts: 14,438 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Yes, it is normal for that design. Frankly, a dipper is not only faster but just as accurate with ball powders.

    The newest Lee measures have a plastic "wiper" that supposedly helps, but still isn't perfect.

    Drum-type measures are a lot better about leaking, but some of them bind up a bit with very fine spherical powders. My digital RCBS dispenser runs perfectly with any and all, but I've heard some people say that even they can bind a bit.
    I may be a bit crazy - but I didn't drive myself.
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  • nemesisenforcernemesisenforcer Member Posts: 10,513 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    thanks for the input.

    I'll stick to dipping for the ball powders and use the thrower for extruded.
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