RCBS Competition Powder Measure

[Thomasino]

I just purchased a an RCBS competition Powder measure with the small metering drum because I was getting tired of the wavering powder drops from my standard RCBS powder drop. Got it all set up and loaded my first group of 38 Special and 3.9 grains of Winchester 231 and it is amazingly accurate. I set it up and it stays right on the money through the hundred rounds I loaded. It's got a micrometer powder adjustment on it that is so easy to find tune to the exact tenth of a grain or better it is amazing. I don't know why I waited so long to get it.



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[dogdoc]

Only difference between regular uniflow and competition is micrometer adjustment is it not? They should both offer same degree of consistency but more precise adjustment with competition?

[scooter123]

The great thing about that micormeter adjustment is that if you keep a log of your recipes and record the micrometer setting it becomes very easy to load that recipe. Note, powder density can change from lot to lot so that setting won't always be exactly correct but it will usually be within 1-2 tenths and all it takes to fine tune from there is 2 or 3 throws. I will also note that large flake powders such as Unique or any rod shaped rifle powder wont be nearly as consistent from throw to throw as ball or fine grained powders such as VV 3N37 so with these powders I suggest planning on using a trickler and hand tuning each charge thrown.

PS; the SD for Unique in this measure is 0.17 so the total range for 6 Sigma is 1.02 grains. That means that Unique will produce a maximum variation of +/- 0.51 grains in a large sample. It's why I still have a nearly full bottle of Unique purchased back in 2008. Instead of using Unique my choice for a near equivalent is Accurate #5 which meters wonderfully.

[Thomasino]

Originally Posted by dogdoc

Only difference between regular uniflow and competition is micrometer adjustment is it not? They should both offer same degree of consistency but more precise adjustment with competition?

Differences;
*small metering drum
*baffle
*micrometer
Each of these differences lead to more precision powder drops. I just loaded 250 rounds of w231 at 3.9 grains and didn't have to make any adjustment all the way through as it stayed exactly on 3.9 grains. It is so easy to make precise adjustments with it it is silly. I also did some testing at different levels such as 2 grains and 15.3 grain and again it was perfectly stable throughout. What I have experienced is when you set it and get your value it will stay there for your entire amount of loading trays. This is one of the best additions, at least so far, to my reloading experience.

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[Ivan the Butcher]

I'm sorry guys, These are great results for modern powder measurers, but the GOLD STANDARD is a Lyman 55 or the predecessor the Lyman 50. They were engineered to give consistent results with any shaped powder, including "Flake" (Unique and others) in charges as small a half grain!

The current owners of Lyman are not interested in manufacturing to tolerances that were common 50 or 75 years ago.

I have owned RCBS, Redding, Hornady, Harrell, Lyman (pre and post 1975), and several powder drops by firms that no longer exist. The King is the Lyman 50/55 series!

Ivan

[mike campbell]

I like RCBS...there's one on the right. That's a Hornady on the left. Wish I had room for 10 more Reddings.

[Gamecock]

I've been using one for many years. It's why I never bought an electric scale. No need for it. I set up using a beam scale. I will weigh another charge at end of run to verify that there has been no drift.

As scooter123 says, I keep a log. When I go to load something, I check my log first to get initial setting. Always very close (but usually not exact). Final adjustment takes a minute or two. So, I can come back to something I haven't loaded in five years, and get the powder measure set up in less than 5 minutes.

[arjay]

Brownells has the small micrometer for $35
Mighty tempting

[H Richard]

I have used the standard RCBS for over 30+ years. I keep a log on a 3x5 index card with the markings plus the # of threads between markings markings for various loads. I can get to the exact load I want within 3-5 minutes and set with my bench scale. I never saw the advantage of the extra cost for the fancy adjustment. You're still going to verify the load with a scale (I hope) every time you change loads anyway.

[Calliope]

I have the Redding version (10X) of the same thing.
Love the time saved with the micrometer head. No fussing back and forth with adjustment screws. Just dial in the setting and you're right on.

[Thomasino]

Originally Posted by Calliope

I have the Redding version (10X) of the same thing.
Love the time saved with the micrometer head. No fussing back and forth with adjustment screws. Just dial in the setting and you're right on.

Yes I agree, I set up my load of Winchester 231 at 3.9 grains and didn't change it all the way through the 250 rounds I loaded. I would check every 20 or so but they were always at 3.9 according to an electronic scale I have. I got tired of fiddling around with the standard RCBS powder drop, especially with small loads of flake powder. I would always be adjusting as I went through the loading process with the standard drop. Great investment in my opinion.

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