The Accurate Reloading Forums
Lee Perfect, RCBS Uniflow, Lyman No.55 Powder measures?
21 March 2008, 19:05
Red C.Lee Perfect, RCBS Uniflow, Lyman No.55 Powder measures?
I am looking at some powder measures/dispensers on Ebay and there are three that are in my price range: Lee Perfect Powder Measure; RCBS Uniflow; Lyman No. 55 Powder measures. Which do you suggest?
To be so inexpensive, Lee really tauts their Perfect Powder Measuer. Does anyone have any experience with it?
Red C.
Everything I say is fully substantiated by my own opinion.
21 March 2008, 23:29
Allan DeGrootI have both a Lyman/Ideal #55 and a Uniflow.
of the two the Lyman is in a plastic bag outside in my shed, the uniflow is mounted to my bench.
that should tell you all you need to know.
Though I should admit that the Lyman is comming inside to have it's plastic hopper removed, as I intend to convert it into a black powder measure by putting a brass tube on it.
The Lee? I can't imagine it works as well as a uniflow measure, very little of the lee stuff I've used works
as well as advertised and most of it I've used doesn't seem to hold up as well.
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22 March 2008, 00:26
2 dogsi got a lee and a rcbs the lee works better most of the time.
I have a Lee that looks like junk but works very well! I just received a Redding -vintage- that seems nice enough.
But you can´t beat Lee on the price/quality ratio.
22 March 2008, 04:17
Winchester 69The Lee PPM has a great rep for stick powders, but leaks with others. Check MidWay's customer reviews.
The Lyman is a pain to adjust, but has its band of followers. The UniFlow is the most convenient. Get a baffle and micrometer adjusting stem.
22 March 2008, 08:48
dellorothe lee only leaks with ball powders. nothing works better for some stick powders, if not most.
23 March 2008, 03:05
Jim C. <><IF you get a Uniflow with a baffle AND the micrometer adjustment chamber it will work ok. Or get a Redding or Hornady's clone of it and KNOW you have a good measure.
The Lee is perhaps the best measure available for stick powders and common uses. Not too great with ball powders tho but nothing is perfect across the board.
All of my Lee stuff works fine, some items are better than others but that's true of all brands. There is a mixture of tem brands of die, there brands of presses and two brands of powder measures on my bench. But my powder trickler is a home made tool because after trying five popular brands of commercial tricklers I never found one I really liked nearly as well as what I could make.
23 March 2008, 19:39
NashcatI have a Lyman 55 on the bench and a Uniflow in the junk drawer. Just my opinion.
Nashcat
23 March 2008, 20:31
bartsche
As noted the Lee does tend to leak ball powders. This, However, can be greatly controlled with a little screw adjusting ,
lapping and cleaning. Not perfect but really usable.

roger
Old age is a high price to pay for maturity!!! Some never pay and some pay and never reap the reward. Wisdom comes with age! Sometimes age comes alone..
31 March 2008, 19:45
Red C.I purchased a new Lee Perfect Powder Measure and have been very happy so far in spite of it having a cheap look with all that plastic. It is, nevertheless, measuring out accurate charges. I hope it holds up. Thanks to everyone for your input.

Red C.
Everything I say is fully substantiated by my own opinion.
01 April 2008, 04:44
Doctor DI've got the Lyman, and a Uniflow which I use occasionally when I have to change settings. I think the Lyman is easier to set up.
I have several Lees. They are all duct tapped and zip tied for particular loads. I used to check on the scales every few throws. They were always dead on. No problems with stick powders. Haven't tried them with ball.
My dad told me once that if you're gonna kill a rattler with a chainsaw, use the top of the bar.
01 April 2008, 04:58
Hunt-ducksBUY A REDDING better then all 3 of the others.
01 April 2008, 12:18
homebrewerI have been using my Lee for over 20 years. I like how it uses an o-ring on the powder cylinder to set the volume of powder it throws. Once the little, knurled ring on the graduated stick is tightened and the o-ring is squeezed down onto the top of the cylinder, it never varies. I know this to be true because I check every so often. I weigh the charge on my RCBS Rangemaster 750 scale and it never varies from what I set it at so many hundreds of rounds in the past...