Good powder measure for pistol loads

[quickdraw03]

I've only got room for a single stage press right now. I have a hornady electronic measure for rifle rounds. It's a little slow for pistol. I do have the Lee volumetric measure from long ago, from long ago. It seems to leak a bit and doesn't feel like the best piece of equipment.

I would only want use the measure for pistol rounds. Thinking about a Hornady or an RCBS Lil' Dandy. I realize the Lil' Dandy uses inserts, but doesn't discourage me too much as this measure will be used for volume.

Any recommendations?

 

[varmint243]

I am a big fan of the little dandy.
Nothing to ever slip or get out of adjustment.
Buying the rotors kinda sucks but after you have them you quickly get over that.
Once you get the load you want just write down the rotor number as part of your records and it's still repeatable 10 years later.
I have one stand alone and one adapted to each of my progressive presses plus a NIB spare.
At some point I was buying them for about $10ea
The only down side using one on a progressive is the hopper being kinda small. I top off every 100rds.
I scored a whole box of rotors for like $25 at a small LGS back before Ebay.
I was happy to get them and the shop was happy to free up the shelf space.
Sadly I just don't find deals like that any more.

 

[jepp2]

It might be more than you want to spend, but the Redding 3BR with the handgun metering chamber is extremely accurate and very repeatable.

 

[bloo]

RCBS Uniflow with the small drum.


Ted

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I agree, RCBS Uniflow w/small drum...

 

[ruffbird]

I have only ever used the LEE Pro Auto Disk powder measure. It has served me well over the yrs. It will take care of most any pistol load you want to put together. It can be touchy trying to load those flake powders in the smaller cavities less than .4cc if I remember correctly.

I also use LEE dies with it, I'm not sure if you can use another brand of die with this measure....

 

[Mike_in_VA]

It might be more than you want to spend, but the Redding 3BR with the handgun metering chamber is extremely accurate and very repeatable.

+1

The micrometer adjustment is very handy as well.

 

[tomf52]

The RCBS Uniflow with the small drum and the micrometer adjuster has worked really well for me for all my pistol loads. A log book is kept with all loads and settings and is very repeatable with little effort. My go to measure for sure!

 

[Rule3]

Another vote for the RCBS Uniflow but I also recommend getting the stand also. Mounting it on the edge of the bench with the little bracket they give you is a pain. I like to see whats going on.

RCBS Advanced Powder Measure Stand

 

[Ohioron]

Ditto on the RCBS uniflow w/small drum. It is flawless and easy to use.

 

[TAROMAN]

Redding #3 with both micrometers.
Larger loads and coarse flake powders run better with the rifle micrometer.
Small micrometer measures out the tiniest loads.
I don't load .25 Auto, but have no doubt this measure could handle it.

 

[bobbyd]

I have used the Little Dandy for years and have the full complement of standard rotors as well as several customized ones. It is still my go-to measure for small runs of different loads because of the ease of setting it up. It is still one of my favorites but does fall short on a couple of different areas;
...because of the small powder reservoir, it is very sensitive to differences in powder column height and needs to be refilled constantly.
...ball and small grain powders work well but any flake-type powder (like Unique) tends to measure inconsistently.
...twisting the small diameter rotor instead of having a longer handle is both tiring and hard to do consistently and forcefully enough to assist complete filling of the charge cavity.

While I still use the Little Dandy, my measure of choice now is the RCBS Uniflow with the micrometer adjustable small drum. It is more consistent with all powders, easier to use and almost as easy to set up once you have calibrated and recorded your favorite powder charge settings. Even with recorded settings, it is a variable measure and should be rechecked with a scale every time it is changed.

 

[mikld]

Powder measure prefrences are largely personal ("what I learned on/was taught to use". brand loyalty, etc.). I had the cheapest powder measure available and used it for mebbe 20 years (a Lee Perfect Powder Measure) and it would throw loads of less then .1 gr. variation with some powders and only +- 3/4 to 1 gr. with others, just like all powder measures. I have had the Lee leak with some powders (very fine ball powders) but even while leaking, it was very repeatable. I also have a Hornady Pistol Powder Measure that uses inserts. I have mebbe 25 inserts (some have been customized to measure a specific load of a specific powder) and that too is pretty repeatable (.1 gr. variences with W231). I now own a C-H 502 which is a delight to use, but can't honestly suggest one powder measure over another as they are all pretty repeatable. But remember the primary aspect of accuracy/repeatability is the powder being measured. Check this out, scroll down about 1/2 way;
Chapter 6.4 Powders And Powder Measures - Cast Bullets For Beginner And Expert

 

[BE Mike]

I have the Lyman 1200 DPS3. It takes all the guess work out of throwing powder charges. The Dillon measures on my progressive presses do seem to be very accurate as well.

 

[Skip Sackett]

Personally, I like my Lyman #55. The reason is simple, it works, period. Large throws, small throws. It has 3 chambers that are infinitely adjustable and they are all on board, no need to store anything, just set it up and off you go.

All manually operated but, that thing will throw rocks if you need it to.....


FWIW

 

[blujax01]

Do us both a favor and buy Sarge's "Hornady powder measure with stand. $45.00 Less than one year old."
http://smith-wessonforum.com/access...dy-larue-tactical-maxpedition-items-sale.html

I keep looking at the ad hoping it's not still there. I have no use for it but he's selling the measure and stand for less than the cost of a stand. If someone doesn't hop on it soon, I'm gonna be $45 poorer!

He's an upstanding dude, I'll vouch for him.

 

[Rule3]

My RCBS is the older one that came with two rotors, I go it free at the LGS as I am such a good, pain in the *** customer. It was in the box and has some surface rust, I cleaned it up and it's dead nuts accurate, One of the drop tubes had dry rotted and crackec. Called them up and had new one in a few days, they must have got it from Dillon Just turn the screw to adjust, no inserts, extra rotors etc. Simple.
I did buy the stand which is a lot nicer than dropping powder below eye level. I only use it for rifle loads

I think all the similar designs will work as well. After Archs' problems with Lyman on Customer service I don't know about them. To many other companies out there.

 

[dswancutt]

Do us both a favor and buy Sarge's "Hornady powder measure with stand. $45.00 Less than one year old."
http://smith-wessonforum.com/access...dy-larue-tactical-maxpedition-items-sale.html

I keep looking at the ad hoping it's not still there. I have no use for it but he's selling the measure and stand for less than the cost of a stand. If someone doesn't hop on it soon, I'm gonna be $45 poorer!

He's an upstanding dude, I'll vouch for him.

Someone got it today. That was a great price with the stand. At that price, you could pick up the pistol rotor and still be in it for less than the cost of a new one.

I have two of the older Hornady/Pacific Powder measures that I have updated to the newer LNL rotors. One for rifle powder, one for pistol.

 

[Troystat]

I have a RCBS Lil' Dandy and it works well. Since I usually use only a few rotors I have found that it works well. I have picked up a few extra rotors on e-bay for a good price. Also if you have not bought anything yet you can often get the measure itself on e-bay for a great price. I don't have a stand for mine and have not felt I needed one.

 

[hotrod150]

I have an RCBS Uniflow which I like for loading rifle cartridges, but for handgun cartridges I like the Little Dandy. These days I pretty much just have one load for each handgun caliber, so just pop in the correct rotor, fill her up, & have at it.