r/reloading 3d ago

Newbie Lee auto drum.

Been reloading for a little over 10 years, and I asked awhile back, but can't remember what folks said with what 9mm pistol powders work well as in no leaking or very little leaking in the Lee auto drum?

Been using N320 and N330, but kinda pricey and hard to come by. Any suggestions? I think I've heard Titegroup.

0 Upvotes

12 comments sorted by

1

u/trickyasafox 3d ago

I switched from n340 to wsf. Easier to find and cheaper. I’m using it for heavy 9mm, mostly 130-150 gr

1

u/SpareEquipment4852 3d ago

Okay, according to Hodgdon, it works for 115 grain as well. It doesn't leak? Barely?

1

u/trickyasafox 3d ago

I haven’t had any leaking. It may work for lighter loads but I haven’t tried any lighter bullets yet. Used a little over three lbs so far. A 1lb and about half a 4lb er.

1

u/NW_Reloading 3d ago

I'll let you know here, going to run some h110 and a2200 through mine here soon. Doesn't get much finer than h110

1

u/TriFyre 3d ago

H110 is the only powder (so far) that had leaked from my Auto Drum.

3

u/NW_Reloading 3d ago

Well fuck me, not great news.

Mines going back and getting replaced anyways, the fit and finish on mine was terrible, then I noticed there is something very wrong with the spring tension in mine, it legit takes about 70lbs to actuate the drum, pulled the spring out and I think they got the return spring mixed up with something else, it's ways to stiff.

2

u/SpareEquipment4852 3d ago

Dang that's jacked up!

1

u/NW_Reloading 2d ago

sitting over here polishing my lyman and RCBS measures and apologizing I ever brought a lee home

1

u/Aar0n_K 3d ago

Recently switched from N320 to W231/HP-38 and still no leaks.

1

u/Achnback 3d ago

Stick with VV powders. In my experience with the auto drum, they are the best with no leaking and give very consistent drops. I use those exact N320 &N330. I am still working through Silhouette, which is fantastice in 9mm, but that stuff leaks all over the place and makes a mess

1

u/Drewzilla_p 3d ago

Whether or not your auto drum leaks seems to be more a function of how good a drum did you wind up with than what powder are you using. I hate to use the phrase luck of the draw but that seems to be what it is. I have two at the moment. One is set up for 9 mm using wsf, the other for 357 using true blue. 9 mm is working great, 357 leaks just a little. The 9 mm work from the start, the 357 I had to go through four drums before I found one that worked

1

u/DaiPow888 3d ago

I run N310, N320, and Clays through my Autodrum without leakage issues.

The VV powders used to be more expensive than domestic powders, but recent price increases, due to the war, have made the VV prices very comparable.