Thoroughly impressed with the LEE Auto Drum

1882 Views 20 Replies 9 Participants Last post by kmw1954, Feb 6, 2018

PreacherRodgers

Discussion Starter · Feb 4, 2018

I received a Lee Auto Drum powder dispenser for Christmas. Last week I gave it a try. I started with Unique powder (since it meters like crap). I figured if it will throw consistent charges of Unique it will be even better than the auto disc that I currently use.

I started with 4.5 gr of Unique for a 158 gr LRN 38sp load. The deviation was less than the .1 grains. This will put Unique back on my list of regular use powders. I have liked it in the past but HATED using it with the auto disc.

Reactions: 5

1 - 20 of 21 Posts

RedOilMan

· #2 · Feb 4, 2018

I like mine also. Have a bunch of Unique and it works quite well.

Reactions: 2

PreacherRodgers

Discussion Starter · #3 · Feb 4, 2018

Several others on this site are running them as well. It was reading their reviews that initially piqued my interest.

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Yissnakk

· #4 · Feb 4, 2018

I have 4 pretty much permanently mounted to my most used turrets and a fifth on my progressive. What will really impress you is if you ever have the occasion to load extruded powder. My RCBS hangs and has all sorts of trouble with extruded powders but the Auto Drums dish it out just as easily as ball powder. Flake is nothing compared to that

.

Glad you like it (plus, the ~$40 price tag makes it easy to get a few more...)

Reactions: 1

vaskeet

· #5 · Feb 4, 2018

I have had 3 go bad gears stripped out one will not turn back to get a new charge the other will get a 1/2charge this time and a full on next time I have gone back to the lee pro disk instead they all worked good year about a year or two

Yissnakk

· #6 · Feb 4, 2018

vaskeet said:
I have had 3 go bad gears stripped out one will not turn back to get a new charge the other will get a 1/2charge this time and a full on next time I have gone back to the lee pro disk instead they all worked good year about a year or two

Either they were set up incorrectly or you, sir have terrible luck!

I've got literally 1000's of rounds loaded with several of mine (the one on the .308 turret has only loaded several hundred so far and the one on the 7.62x39 turret will probably migrate to my Blackout setup before loading a bunch) and the only time that the charge fluctuates at all is initially, especially on turret but also on a progressive, as the powder settles due to movement. After that, I've gotten very stable charges.

Reactions: 1

william

· #7 · Feb 4, 2018

Ok Preacher, I'm going to tell Rhonda, you said it was a good deal.

Reactions: 3

BC605

· #8 · Feb 5, 2018

I love mine. You do have to make sure you get the gears meshed correctly - especially if you change drums. If you don't I can very easily see how they could get stripped out.

I haven't loaded any Unique with mine yet, but I have loaded some American Select - which I've heard others complain about metering just as bad as Unique. Worked just fine in my auto drum.

I'll be trying some 700X very shortly, and I've heard it meters LOUSY - because it is a "stick" powder. So we'll see!

Reactions: 1

Czechbikr

· #9 · Feb 5, 2018

I have one that I still use the "trigger" to reset it between drops. I really like it a lot, but it has started to "hitch" or jump on the first drop. I was using it for the 45-70 last and had to set it for a double drop as I was charging 47 grains. It would hitch on the first drop of 23.5 and then draw smoothly on the second stroke. I've been meaning to phone Lee to see what the problem might be.

Reactions: 1

kruizer

· #10 · Feb 5, 2018

Good choice Preach

Reactions: 1

PreacherRodgers

Discussion Starter · #11 · Feb 5, 2018

william said:
Ok Preacher, I'm going to tell Rhonda, you said it was a good deal.

She believes everything I say

PreacherRodgers

Discussion Starter · #12 · Feb 5, 2018

I will run some rifle loads with an extruded powder later this week.

Reactions: 1

PreacherRodgers

Discussion Starter · #13 · Feb 5, 2018

vaskeet said:
I have had 3 go bad gears stripped out one will not turn back to get a new charge the other will get a 1/2charge this time and a full on next time I have gone back to the lee pro disk instead they all worked good year about a year or two

Man, that has to be frustrating. Lee will make it right. I have been impressed with their customer service.

Reactions: 1

william

· #14 · Feb 5, 2018

PreacherRodgers said:
She believes everything I say

It cost you a signed $5.00 bill the last time.

Reactions: 1

vaskeet

· #15 · Feb 5, 2018

Yissnakk said:
Either they were set up incorrectly or you, sir have terrible luck!

I've got literally 1000's of rounds loaded with several of mine (the one on the .308 turret has only loaded several hundred so far and the one on the 7.62x39 turret will probably migrate to my Blackout setup before loading a bunch) and the only time that the charge fluctuates at all is initially, especially on turret but also on a progressive, as the powder settles due to movement. After that, I've gotten very stable charges.

All 3 worked good for over 1.5 years and thousands of round with 231 and unique. when I set them up I never changed anything on them. I went back to the Pro disk and all is fine

kmw1954

· #16 · Feb 6, 2018

Sorry but I've had mine back to Lee twice already and it is starting to act up again. I have lost confidence in it.

Reactions: 1

PreacherRodgers

Discussion Starter · #17 · Feb 6, 2018

I hate to hear that for you. I hope I have better luck.

Reactions: 1

vaskeet

· #18 · Feb 6, 2018

kmw1954 said:
Sorry but I've had mine back to Lee twice already and it is starting to act up again. I have lost confidence in it.

And here I thought I was the only one

kmw1954

· #19 · Feb 6, 2018

Love the design and the concept but it sure isn't very durable.

Czechbikr

· #20 · Feb 6, 2018

kmw1954 said:
Love the design and the concept but it sure isn't very durable.

I should tear mine down as see what the issue is. Maybe they need to move to MIM or carbon filled components in the design.

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