Achieving Unrivaled Precision: A Deep Dive into the Lee Auto-Drum Powder Measure

For any serious reloader, whether a seasoned veteran pushing the limits of accuracy or a new enthusiast just starting their journey into the rewarding world of ammunition crafting, the consistent and precise measurement of powder is paramount. It's the critical step that directly influences accuracy, safety, and the overall performance of your reloaded ammunition. Manual powder dispensing can be tedious, prone to error, and simply not efficient enough for high-volume reloading. This is where advanced tools like the Lee 90811 Auto-Drum Powder Measure become indispensable, transforming a labor-intensive task into a swift, accurate, and automated process.

Why Consistent Powder Charges Matter for Every Shooter

Understanding the fundamental importance of powder charge consistency is the first step toward appreciating the value of a high-quality powder measure. Every grain of powder variation can lead to significant differences in muzzle velocity, which in turn impacts trajectory, point of impact, and overall grouping.

• For Competitive Shooters: In disciplines like benchrest, F-Class, or even practical shooting (USPSA/IPSC), where fractions of an inch and split seconds determine victory, absolute consistency is non-negotiable. An inconsistent powder charge can lead to flyers, costing crucial points or time.
• For Hunters: Reliable ammunition ensures ethical and humane shots. Knowing your ammunition will perform exactly as expected, shot after shot, builds confidence in the field.
• For Plinkers and Hobbyists: While ultimate precision might not be the primary goal, consistent loads contribute to a more enjoyable shooting experience, reduce frustration from unexplained misses, and ensure safer operation of firearms.
• Ensuring Safety: Under-charges can lead to squibs, dangerous for both firearm and shooter, while over-charges can result in excessive pressure, potentially causing catastrophic firearm failure and serious injury. A precise powder measure mitigates these risks by providing repeatable, accurate drops.

The Lee Auto-Drum Powder Measure addresses these critical needs by providing an automatic, case-actuated system designed for unparalleled consistency and ease of use. It solves the common reloader's dilemma: how to achieve precise, repeatable powder drops across a wide range of calibers and powder types without sacrificing speed.

What Makes the Lee Auto-Drum Stand Out?

The Lee Auto-Drum Powder Measure is engineered to deliver exceptional performance and reliability, making it a cornerstone component for any modern reloading setup. Its design incorporates several innovative features that set it apart:

Automatic and Case-Actuated Operation

This is the core functionality that defines the "Auto-Drum" experience. Instead of manually cycling a lever or dipping a dipper, the measure is directly actuated by the reloading press's ram. As the case moves up into the die, it triggers the powder measure, dispensing a precisely set charge directly into the case. This automatic action streamlines the reloading process, especially for progressive presses, but also offers significant convenience on single-stage presses by integrating the powder drop into the sizing/decapping or belling station. This hands-free operation reduces human error and increases production efficiency.

Dual Infinitely Adjustable Drums for Versatility

The included two Quick-Change drums are a highlight feature, offering immense versatility for reloaders working with different calibers and powder types.

• One Handgun Powder Drum: Optimized for smaller charges typically used in handgun cartridges, ensuring precision even at the lower end of the powder weight spectrum.
• One Rifle Powder Drum: Designed for larger charges suitable for rifle cartridges, accommodating the greater volumes often required.

Both drums are "infinitely adjustable," meaning you can fine-tune your desired powder charge from 1 to 80 grains. This adjustability, combined with the quick-change mechanism, allows for seamless transitions between calibers and loads without needing to recalibrate an entirely new setup or purchase additional specialized drums. This feature alone saves considerable time and frustration for reloaders who work with a diverse array of firearms.

The Exclusive Elastomer Wiper System

One of the most innovative and critical features for precision is the exclusive elastomer wiper. Powder shearing, especially with difficult-to-meter extruded (stick) powders, is a common issue with many traditional powder measures. When powder kernels are cut or crushed, it can lead to inconsistent charge weights and degraded performance. The elastomer wiper found in the Lee Auto-Drum gently sweeps the powder into the measuring cavity, preventing shearing. This results in:

• Superior Consistency with Extruded Powders: Reloaders who often struggle with IMR, Hodgdon Varget, or similar stick powders will find the Auto-Drum delivers remarkably consistent results, often rivaling the precision typically associated with ball or flake powders.
• Reduced Powder Spillage: The precise fit and wiping action minimize powder leakage and waste, keeping your reloading bench cleaner and conserving valuable components.

Precision Machined Body and Leak-Free Design

The body of the Auto-Drum is precision-machined, a testament to Lee Precision's commitment to quality manufacturing. This robust construction provides a stable and durable housing for the internal mechanisms. Furthermore, the labyrinth groove machined into the body mates perfectly with the precision-molded nylon drums, creating a virtually leak-free fit even when working with the finest ball powders like H110 or Lil'Gun. This attention to detail ensures that every kernel of powder is contained and accurately dispensed, preventing frustrating spills and inconsistent charges that can arise from powder escaping around the drum.

Robust Internal Mechanism

The drum's actuation is handled by a robust steel sector and pinion gear train. This gear-driven mechanism provides smooth, reliable, and precise rotation of the drum, ensuring consistent fills and drops cycle after cycle. Unlike some designs that rely on less durable components, the steel gears offer long-term reliability and resistance to wear, even under high-volume reloading conditions. All gears, springs, and levers are neatly contained within the die-cast housing, protecting them from dust, debris, and accidental damage, contributing to the measure's longevity.

Quick-Change Hopper with On/Off Valve

Efficiency is key in reloading, and the quick-change hopper with its integrated on/off valve is a prime example of thoughtful design. This feature allows reloaders to:

• Quickly Swap Powders: Easily switch between different powder types without emptying the entire hopper. Simply close the valve, remove the hopper, and replace it with another pre-filled hopper (if using multiple, pre-set up hoppers) or empty the current one with minimal mess.
• Store Powder Safely: The valve allows for easy removal of the powder measure from the press without spilling powder, making storage of remaining powder simple and clean. No more pouring powder back into original containers after every session.

Who is the Lee Auto-Drum Powder Measure For?

The Lee Auto-Drum Powder Measure is an excellent investment for a wide range of reloaders seeking to enhance their efficiency, accuracy, and overall reloading experience.

• The Progressive Press User: If you're running a progressive press (like a Lee Pro 1000, Lee Load-Master, or even a Dillon XL750 with an adapter), the Auto-Drum is a natural fit. Its case-actuated design integrates seamlessly into the loading cycle, automating powder drops and significantly speeding up ammunition production.
• The Precision Shooter: While traditionally some precision reloaders might prefer manually weighing each charge, the Auto-Drum's proven consistency, especially with difficult powders due to its elastomer wiper, can achieve accuracy levels suitable for serious competition or hunting, all while saving time. For those aiming for sub-MOA groups, minimizing powder variation is paramount, and this measure helps achieve that.
• The High-Volume Reloader: Whether you're making thousands of rounds for practice or competitive shooting, the Auto-Drum's speed and reliability are unmatched. It reduces the manual labor associated with powder charging, allowing you to produce more ammunition in less time.
• The Beginner Reloader Seeking Automation: While advanced, the Auto-Drum is intuitive to set up and use. Its automation simplifies one of the most critical and potentially error-prone steps for new reloaders, helping them achieve consistent results from the start.
• Reloaders Using Extruded Powders: If your preferred powders are extruded varieties known for being challenging to meter, the elastomer wiper system is a game-changer, ensuring smooth, consistent charges that many other volumetric measures struggle to deliver.

Integrating the Auto-Drum into Your Reloading Workflow

The Lee Auto-Drum Powder Measure is designed for easy integration into popular reloading setups. It features the same swivel adapter as Lee's renowned Pro Auto-Disk powder measure, ensuring compatibility with a wide range of Lee presses and accessory mounts. This means if you're already familiar with Lee's ecosystem, adding the Auto-Drum will be a breeze.

Setup and Calibration

Setting up the Auto-Drum is straightforward:

1. Mounting: It typically mounts into a powder-through expanding die or a dedicated powder drop die station on your press.
2. Drum Selection: Choose the appropriate drum (handgun or rifle) based on your cartridge.
3. Initial Adjustment: Use the micrometers on the drums to set a rough charge weight.
4. Weighing and Fine-Tuning: Drop a few charges into a scale pan and weigh them accurately on a sensitive powder scale. Adjust the drum setting incrementally until the desired charge weight is consistently achieved.
5. Locking In: Once calibrated, lock the setting to prevent accidental changes.

The quick-change drums make switching between different calibers or powder types remarkably efficient. You can pre-set and label drums for specific loads, further reducing setup time for subsequent reloading sessions.

Understanding the Advantages: Beyond Just Dropping Powder

The benefits of the Lee Auto-Drum Powder Measure extend far beyond its primary function of dispensing powder. It represents an investment in efficiency, precision, and the overall quality of your ammunition.

• Time Savings: Automation is a massive time saver. Instead of manually scooping, trickling, and weighing each charge, the Auto-Drum handles it as part of the press cycle. This is particularly noticeable during high-volume pistol ammunition production or when loading large batches of rifle rounds.
• Reduced Fatigue: Manual powder measuring can be repetitive and tiring. The automated nature of the Auto-Drum significantly reduces operator fatigue, allowing for longer, more productive reloading sessions.
• Enhanced Safety: Consistent charges mean consistent pressures. By minimizing variation, the Auto-Drum contributes directly to safer ammunition, reducing the risk of over-pressure events or squib loads.
• Cost-Effectiveness: While an initial investment, the long-term benefits of consistent ammunition, reduced wasted components (due to errors or spills), and the sheer volume of quality ammunition you can produce quickly make the Auto-Drum a cost-effective solution for any serious reloader. Its robust construction ensures years of reliable service.
• Adaptability: With two included drums covering a wide range from 1 to 80 grains, this single unit can handle almost any popular handgun or rifle cartridge you might wish to reload, from small .380 ACP charges to heavy .30-06 Springfield or .300 Winchester Magnum loads.

Maintenance and Longevity

The Lee Auto-Drum Powder Measure is designed for durability and minimal maintenance.

• Cleaning: Periodically, it's advisable to clean out any powder residue, especially if switching between powder types. A soft brush and compressed air are usually sufficient. Avoid solvents or lubricants inside the powder path, as these can contaminate powder or attract residue.
• Inspection: Regularly check the steel sector and pinion gear for smooth operation and ensure the drums move freely without binding.
• Storage: When not in use, ensure any remaining powder is removed from the hopper and drum, especially for long-term storage, to prevent moisture absorption or degradation of the powder. The quick-change hopper with its valve makes this process very simple and clean.

By following simple maintenance guidelines, your Lee Auto-Drum Powder Measure will provide years of reliable service, consistently delivering accurate powder charges for all your reloading needs. It's a testament to Lee Precision's commitment to providing high-quality, innovative tools that empower reloaders to achieve their best.

Product Specifications

Feature	Detail
Brand	Lee Precision
Series	Powder Measure
Model	Auto-Drum
Includes	Powder Measure Unit, 1 Handgun Powder Drum, 1 Rifle Powder Drum
Media Type	Smokeless Powder
Charge Range	1 to 80 grains (infinitely adjustable)
Weight	1.35 lbs
UPC	734307908119
MPN	90811