Found eleven RCBS Little Dandy Pistol Powder Measure Rotors. What are they and are they worth anything. I believe all are new in box and each has a number applied to it. I assume each number is for a different powder charge.
Little Dandy
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.38SuperMan
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I have one of the powder measures and several drums that were my dads but have never used it. You're correct that each drum throws a specific volume of powder but the weight thrown depends on the specific powder. I'm not sure if I have it or just saw a chart that gives the charge thrown for each drum and powder. Best thing since some powders have changed over time like Nitro100NF is to throw charges with various drums with the powder you use and do your own chart of weights. As to any value, probably no real value. I've never known of anyone that used them and I've never seen one other than the one I have. I don't think my dad used it much either. But the way people are today there might be a cult following and people paying a hundred dollars for each drum. I'd just do a search and see what I found. Try eBay and see if any have sold.
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I have a Little Dandy and have been using it Extensively for Decades
It is very repeatable for everything other than stick powders
When I am doing load development I am comfortable with charging 12 or so cases without weighing each one.
I buy rotors all the time at gun shows for about $5 each. They can often be found for sale on eBay for $5 - $10 in really good condition
Myself, I would never pay $100 for a NIB rotor but there might be some crazy people out there
I also have a few things that I load for on my single stage press and the Little Dandy is how I throw powder. I have a taken a power drill to some duplicate rotors so as to get closer to the charge I want in these cases.
The Chart is only good for older powders. Just verify what it is throwing before you start
It is very repeatable for everything other than stick powders
When I am doing load development I am comfortable with charging 12 or so cases without weighing each one.
I buy rotors all the time at gun shows for about $5 each. They can often be found for sale on eBay for $5 - $10 in really good condition
Myself, I would never pay $100 for a NIB rotor but there might be some crazy people out there
I also have a few things that I load for on my single stage press and the Little Dandy is how I throw powder. I have a taken a power drill to some duplicate rotors so as to get closer to the charge I want in these cases.
The Chart is only good for older powders. Just verify what it is throwing before you start
mckenney99
Member
I also have used the Little Dandy for many years for small batches (50-100) of pistol rounds. I generally have the cases in my MTM loading blocks and just move the Little Dandy from case to case and charging is very quick. While the chart is a "guide" once you get the drum chosen and the dispenser filled and powder settled, I found that it throws very consistent charges. I have probably 8 or 9 drums.
OP
I quickly counted and have eleven of them. I'll have to see if there are any duplicates or all different. They are new in the box and will check on ebay for any sales. Thanks for the info.
Patrick L
Member
I bought a Little Dandy used with a complete set of every bushing (at the time) in the late 80s for something like $35??
They have subsequently added a few bushings beyond the original 1-26, but I found that I have more than everything I need. Truthfully I only use like maybe 4 of the 26? Greatest virtue is if you settle on a load, that thing can NEVER get out of adjustment.
They have subsequently added a few bushings beyond the original 1-26, but I found that I have more than everything I need. Truthfully I only use like maybe 4 of the 26? Greatest virtue is if you settle on a load, that thing can NEVER get out of adjustment.
Green Frog
Member
Unless there have been more released very recently, there are 28 rotors made for the Little Dandy, 00-26, with 00&0 being more recently introduced for very tiny charges. I'm anal compulsive enough that I "had to have" the complete set of rotors to go with my Little Dandy (and a spare) although I have to admit I've only used about a third of them. 
The charts that RCBS provides give a close approximation of the charge they will drop, but once the dropped charge has been accurately weighed one can count on the next one being the same as well as all the rest that follow. Note however that when the powder reservoir gets very low, the charges dropped may become noticeably lighter. Just as a comparison, I have used mine to load for a bench rest match just to see if it worked. I didn't win, but I was competitive!
Froggie
The charts that RCBS provides give a close approximation of the charge they will drop, but once the dropped charge has been accurately weighed one can count on the next one being the same as well as all the rest that follow. Note however that when the powder reservoir gets very low, the charges dropped may become noticeably lighter. Just as a comparison, I have used mine to load for a bench rest match just to see if it worked. I didn't win, but I was competitive!
Froggie
Patrick L
Member
Green Frog,
I guess they were the only two. I have 1-26, which was all there were way back when. I guess they decided the needed a few smaller? I only knew there were a few more, I never bothered to find out exactly how many since I knew I didn't need them.
I guess they were the only two. I have 1-26, which was all there were way back when. I guess they decided the needed a few smaller? I only knew there were a few more, I never bothered to find out exactly how many since I knew I didn't need them.
Mike in Reedley
Member
Midway has RCBS LD drums for $14 new. I use mine for .38 spl.
I have four set up all the time, I only use for pistol/revolver and never needed a rotor above #9. there was a guy making adjustable rotors but never tried one. You can find the most recent rotor chart on RCBS site
Green Frog
Member
That was "Bailey boats" over on the casting site where they can't spell. I think he still has them from to time. I thought of buying one just for the sake of completeness. (Yep, I'm OCD!)
I think that's right, just the two "tinies" for total cat sneeze loads in cases like 25 ACP and 32 S&W I guess. I admitted to being OCD, and I think I really have used them, but those little charges just really don't have much I the way of applications!
Froggie
Marksman
Member
I've been using a Little Dandy for more than 20 years, anymore that's all I use for my handgun loading. I have presses dedicated to the calibers that I load for, each has its own Little Dandy along with a chart showing which rotor to use for various charges.
shil
Member
I have one. I bought it MANY years ago. I liked it when I used it, but changed my loading procedure to throwing a charge from my Uniflow (also bought MANY years ago) and then immediately seating a bullet. I weigh the charges no less frequently than every tenth. I won't get rid of the Little Dandy, though.
Model19man
Member
I bought mine used on eBay a couple months ago. It came with 10 rotors from 1 - 10. I had to give $40 plus shipping for that. Then I bought the 0 and 00 rotors new for $18 each with free shipping new.
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Use mine all the time for my favorite handgun loads. Very consistent and easy to use, no fiddling with adjustments!
Green Frog
Member
To show you how long and extensively I've fooled around with the Little Dandy, I bought most of my NIB rotors for $2-3 each at gun shows, etc. In fact, once upon a time, many years ago, I found what was then a near complete set of 25, neatly packed away in a plastic case MTM made to hold a box of 12 ga shot shells. IIRC, it cost me a princely $20! 
Froggie
Froggie
Wayne24263
Member
My Little Dandy is all I ever use for handgun loads. As mentioned though the chart will get you in the right zip code, but a scale is mandatory.
Toter
Member
I have one I use for pistol loading. I have a Redding BR-30 powder measure I use all the time, but it will not throw charges of pistol powder down to 2-6 gr. That's where the little Dandy comes in. I always validate the charge thrown with a scale.
I have used them for years loading handgun rounds. Very versatile and quite accurate once you get a rhythm going and don't seemed to be bothered by powder type (flake, ball or grain) as much as drum measures are. If you have all the rotors there are unlimited combinations available and if you pick up some extras you can grind and polish them into custom throws for whatever powder you are using.
The Little Dandy is a great name for the unit and it along with the bench mounted primer seater, IMO, are the two most usable tools RCBS has ever built...
The Little Dandy is a great name for the unit and it along with the bench mounted primer seater, IMO, are the two most usable tools RCBS has ever built...
Marksman
Member
I made a lever handle for my Little Dandy, twisting the rotor knob got to be too fatiguing for my fingers over an extended loading session.
Yes it does get difficult during long loading sessions especially for older hands. I never made a handle but the round die locking rings bring the diameter up some and that helps.
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I have a Little Dandy and 14 rotors. It is all I use for loading handgun cartridges like many on here.
I found that the RCBS chart is very conservative so I made my own for Unique and Red Dot. Winters are long and dark.
Once that is done it is almost too easy. Great product that gets a lot of use.
I found that the RCBS chart is very conservative so I made my own for Unique and Red Dot. Winters are long and dark.
Once that is done it is almost too easy. Great product that gets a lot of use.
About 30 years ago I bought one on the advice of my favorite local gunsmith. Was shooting mostly swaged .38 HBWC, cast .38 BBWC, and cast .38 SWC. The #2, 3, and 4 drums got a lot of use with my Bullseye and 231. Great loads. Tried a few boxes of magnums and jacketed bullets with the bigger drums but could never get consistency with slower powders, like 296. And true, it would not throw extruded powder well at all, only ball and flattened ball, like Unique. But sometimes even the Unique would vary. Sold my press, dies, and the Little Dandy to a co-worker 20 years ago, who was working with his daughter getting into cowboy action shooting.
Now I have a new Lee press and a Lee drum loader, lots of pre-adjusted drums, a good RCBS scale, and all is good. Including classic magnums and extruded powders, and well as newer ones like Universal. And the new measure drops Keith .44spl loads of Unique without any checking but the first few to check the weight with the scale.
Now I have a new Lee press and a Lee drum loader, lots of pre-adjusted drums, a good RCBS scale, and all is good. Including classic magnums and extruded powders, and well as newer ones like Universal. And the new measure drops Keith .44spl loads of Unique without any checking but the first few to check the weight with the scale.
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