Good Powder Measure for throwing Unique

[max503]

I've recently begun using a Lee for 4.5 grains of Unique and it works surprisingly well, once you get used to its flimsy-ness. I work the handle with one hand while stabilizing the hopper with the other.

 

[ACORN]

I bought the adjustable rotor for my Little Dandy but the fixed rotors are handier once you have the exact powder charges correct rotor.

 

[sbrmike]

How do you get the powder into a mouth down case???

The cases are upside down in the loading block. If they are upright they already have been charged. It is a very good practice. Take an upside down case, turn it up as you run it under the powder measure, and then seat the bullet.

 

[Skyhunter]

My Belding & Mull works well if I'm loading on the single stage press. It's a bit slow, but very reliable and repeatable.
The Dillion on my 550B has never been a problem and throws repeatable and reliable charges.

WYT-P
Skyhunter

 

[Green Frog]

Back when I was loading a fair amount of Unique about the only measure I had was a Lyman 55. I don’t remember having any problems with it.
Froggie

 

[johngalt]

The first powder I used was Green Dot (large flake) and a Lee Perfect. A highly exaggerated name. Leaked all over and was very inconsistent.

 

[TAROMAN]

I pondered this question many years ago.
Was loading 357 Magnum with Unique.
Loaded 50 with charges thrown by my Redding 3.
Another 50 were weighed individually.
Shot them all over the chronograph.
The result surprised us.
The thrown charge loads exhibited lower ES and SD than did the weighed ones.
My conclusion?
It doesn't really matter.

 

[rockquarry]

I pondered this question many years ago.
Was loading 357 Magnum with Unique.
Loaded 50 with charges thrown by my Redding 3.
Another 50 were weighed individually.
Shot them all over the chronograph.
The result surprised us.
The thrown charge loads exhibited lower ES and SD than did the weighed ones.
My conclusion?
It doesn't really matter.

If you have a measure that will throw consistent charges of Unique to around .1 of a grain or so (unless you're using a maximum charge), that's close enough. Low ES and SD numbers are fine and sometimes they actually coincide with an accurate load but not necessarily. Target results are much more meaningful.

 

[Nevada Ed]

The cases are upside down in the loading block. If they are upright they already have been charged. It is a very good practice. Take an upside down case, turn it up as you run it under the powder measure, and then seat the bullet.

This;

1. It lets me know that all the cases have been primed and ready for powder.

2. next step is adding powder.

3. check all powder levels, in a good light. Twice, if needed.

4. add bullets to needed OAL.

crimp may be added or done in step number 5
per how the loader finishes the load

(with my loading, with the old RCBS single stage, loader)

 

[38SPL HV]

The cases are upside down in the loading block. If they are upright they already have been charged. It is a very good practice. Take an upside down case, turn it up as you run it under the powder measure, and then seat the bullet.

…I was having fun with your original explanation which didn’t quite say it correctly; hence, the smiley face…

I gotcha, safety first.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I have use the Lee Pro Auto-Disk with the adjustable charge bar and it worked fairly well but the very best IMO is the Lyman #55 powder measure.

 

[nbedford]

I've found while throwing with Unique its more of the technique. I use a RCBS powder measure and use two hard taps before dumping powder. Im always with in 2 tenths of a grain. You just have to be consistent with the taps. I love Unique and use alot of it

My RCBS powder measure is fairly accurate, and I need it to throw say 6.8 grains for 44 Special. But I certainly weigh each charge and if it is 1/10th of a grain low I use my old Hornady powder trickler (base weighted with a lead shot epoxy mix) to bring it up.

 

[glenwolde]

The Perfect Powder measure has always worked well for me, though there is a leaking issue with some very fine powders, which gets worse if you attempt to fix it by tightening down on the drum screw. Do not try to tighten that screw! There are YouTube videos about fixing leaks by lapping the cone-shaped drum. It worked for me. I still get a little leakage but only with the finest of powders like TiteWAD. Unique won't leak.

I've recently gone back to a Little Dandy because the size works better for me at this point as we are spending a lot of time in our RV. Portability and size matter. I had forgotten how neat they are. I first used one decades ago that came on an RCBS Green Machine. It made me prefer fixed-disk powder measures.

 

[lppd4]

I use an old powder measure that came with with RCBS Rockchucker in the late 80's. Works great with powders such as Unique and other powders that aren't extruded. I get it set to the correct charge and verify every once in a while and have never found it to vary. Extruded powders that I use in rifles I set it to throw light and trickle the rest of the load into the pan on the scale

 

[dogdoc]

Dillon measure and rcbs uniflow or hornady work good enough for me. I don’t think a tenth or two in either direction makes enough difference to matter. Your scale is only accurate to +- a tenth anyway.

 

[shil]

This;

1. It lets me know that all the cases have been primed and ready for powder.

2. next step is adding powder.

3. check all powder levels, in a good light. Twice, if needed.

4. add bullets to needed OAL.

crimp may be added or done in step number 5
per how the loader finishes the load

(with my loading, with the old RCBS single stage, loader)

Good practice. My technique differs only in that I charge one case at a time and immediately seat the bullet. I, too, use an RCBS single-stage.

 

[Skeet 028]

Actually a good balance scale can be more accurate than aa tenth. I mostly load Unique in the Dillons. My former measures were Lyman 55s I also have a micrometer RCBS and it is great with the right technique. The best I ever used with Unique nd Herco is with an old Herter's measure. Still have it...somewhere. Had a powder reservoir that looked like a mec powder bottle

 

[PapaWheelie]

I use the Lee Perfect Powder measure for Unique and have had no problems with accuracy in thousands of loads. I weigh every 10th to 15th throw or so and have never had to redo any charges.
Yes, it leaks a little. No big deal though - some powders I use don't leak, some leak a little, but the amount is small.
Yes, it's made of plastic rather than metal. I don't beat on it so durability hasn't been an issue either.
I have found though that it is very accurate with every powder I use.
I have the older version with the lid on the hopper. The newest version with the bottle hopper looks like a true PITA.

 

[BLUEDOT37]

RCBS Charge Master 1500

I use a lot of Green Dot, Blue Dot & Unique powders but no matter what type of powder I use they all come out of the same measure.

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[Marksman]

I have been loading Unique in .44 Special and .44 Magnum for many years, I shoot the same charge in both 7.5gr. so I designed and built my own measure to throw that charge. I've also used an RCBS Little Dandy measure for about as long, been completely satisfied with both.