Viht. N133 powder drop through a Lee Auto Drum Deluxe inquiry?

[Silver_Is_Money]

With a Lee Auto Drum Deluxe, would I be capable of dropping a stick powder like N133 accurately, or am I better off with a ball powder like 2230, H335, or Ramshot TAC?

I'd like to drop straight to a .223 case without needing a trickler.

 

[SeabeeKen]

I think you will be fine. Some need to be disassembled to adjust the gearing so the chamber fully aligns with the drop tube. Mine needed this adjustment which was only 1 tooth.
Mylee deluxe thrower can throw about as good as my harrells. Little difference

 

[charlie b]

Much better off with ball powder for that kind of thing. Stick powders can be dropped, but, I had trouble with bridging when loading .223 with Varget. Made life a bit 'exciting' at times The other part is it was only accurate to +/-0.2gn. Most charges were less than that, but, the extremes (10%) were out there a bit. For plinking loads it is adequate. Not sure where N133 fits in that. I know N140 and N540 are shorter grains so might do ok. Only way to know is to try it. Throw and measure about 20 loads and see what you get.

When used with ball powder I could get almost all drops at the target weight or 0.1 light.

The down side is the Auto Drum will 'leak' a bit when using ball powder. Not horrible, just a bit irritating. The Perfect measure does not leak (if cleaned on a regular basis), but, it is not made for the progressive linkage. I did adapt one to the press, but, it was easier to drop a charge and use a funnel on the press to pour the charge.

 

[Silver_Is_Money]

Much better off with ball powder for that kind of thing. Stick powders can be dropped, but, I had trouble with bridging when loading .223 with Varget. Made life a bit 'exciting' at times The other part is it was only accurate to +/-0.2gn. Most charges were less than that, but, the extremes (10%) were out there a bit. For plinking loads it is adequate. Not sure where N133 fits in that. I know N140 and N540 are shorter grains so might do ok. Only way to know is to try it. Throw and measure about 20 loads and see what you get.

When used with ball powder I could get almost all drops at the target weight or 0.1 light.

The down side is the Auto Drum will 'leak' a bit when using ball powder. Not horrible, just a bit irritating. The Perfect measure does not leak (if cleaned on a regular basis), but, it is not made for the progressive linkage. I did adapt one to the press, but, it was easier to drop a charge and use a funnel on the press to pour the charge.

The matter of leaking with ball powders concerns me. A good deal of my wanting to go with N133 is due to this concern. I may try Ramshot TAC first to see how badly the Auto Drum Deluxe leaks.

 

[KMW 1954]

As to the issue of the Lee Auto Drum leaking.

I have 3 of them and use them all with both pistol and rifle types of ball powder. Don't know how many here are familiar with Accurate 2460 but it is the smallest, finest grain ball powder I have come across and have used. It is so fine that it jambs up my Powder trickler. Makes it very difficult to turn the knob.

At the rate I use this 2460 I have used up almost 12# loading just 223 and 6ARC. All measured and poured from a Lee Auto Drum measure. So, I find it hard to believe this is an anomaly. Also, in all my honesty, I have to say I myself spill more powder all over the bench and machine than this thing as ever leaked.

I have also used these measures to load AA#2 into 380ACP cases. Again, zero leakage.

But again, this is only one person's experience using a Lee Auto Drum Measure and very fine-grained ball powders.

 

[charlie b]

Also, in all my honesty, I have to say I myself spill more powder all over the bench and machine than this thing as ever leaked.

LOL Yeah, I am not a very neat person when it comes to powder either. My AutoDrum either left remains or It was a bit too tight to function well. If cleaned regularly it was better.

Like I stated, try it with the powder you want and see if it works for you.