Powder drop malfunction

[richs]

I've resisted loading the past year because of the lack of primers. I just primed 200 5.56 cases, and started reloading them. As I always do, I tested the first few cases after the powder drop in my press... every case was light on powder. So I dissected the drop (A Lee Auto Drum) and tried again. Same result. I'm about to byte the bullet and replace the thing, since it's mainly only for my 5.56/.223 loads.
Anyone have any ideas what may be wrong?

 

[Jackie Graham]

What grain? Also, are you using the cylinder for large or small loads?
I am not that familiar with the Lee setup. I know RCBS and Dillon have a different bar / cylinder for larger rifle charges.

 

[richs]

I've used this for thousands of loads without issue, most all for 5.56/.223. It's sat idle for a long time, and I'm wondering if it just needs to be rebuilt or replaced.

 

[richs]

OK, call it user error... there was an obstruction in the powder drop causing it to not hit full stroke. I had "modified it" with a plastic shield because my other drop tends to "leak" powder so I installed it when I set it up a long time ago, but hadn't loaded any shells... I'm also in the habit of visually checking the level in EACH shell... but since I hadn't used this configuration, none of my prior loads are questionable.

BTW, the plastic shield was made from a plastic Jim Beam bottle...

 

[Paxdad]

Photos???

 

[C ountry]

I've resisted loading the past year because of the lack of primers. I just primed 200 5.56 cases, and started reloading them. As I always do, I tested the first few cases after the powder drop in my press... every case was light on powder. So I dissected the drop (A Lee Auto Drum) and tried again. Same result. I'm about to byte the bullet and replace the thing, since it's mainly only for my 5.56/.223 loads.
Anyone have any ideas what may be wrong?

Yes. Cheap powder measure.