Looking for Powder Measure recommendations

[forestswin]

I am looking to upgrade my powder measure from a Lee Perfect Powder Measure. Not sure, but doubt I'd be interested in any combination measure/electronic scale. It will be used mainly for handgun loads. I want to get a bracket and mount it on the bench and it will dump directly into the Ohaus 10-10 scale pan for awhile until I trust it, then into the cases. Looking for precision, not speed - I use a single stage press. I currently use Bullseye, Unique, WST, Trail Boss and W231 and plan to add 2400 soon.

Any and all recommendations would be greatly appreciated. Except no Lyman or Lee. I have all three Lee's they are okay - but looking for an upgrade.
thanks in advance.

 

[Broker50]

I have several, I really like the Hornady, but to have only one, it's hard to beat an RCBS with both large & small rotors. It's available as a package deal with both size rotors, too. Oh, a quality powder drop is boringly repeatable too. Benchrest shooters don't weigh powder charges, they drop 'em from a measure. It won't take many dropped charges for you to "trust" it.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

If you can stand poor customer service, the "Lyman 55" has a "hammer" on the front to shake out the really small loads of flake powder like Unique and Bullseye. Try and find a used one at a gun show. I started with one from the 1960's that was barrowed and had to be returned. Of the 7 or 8 types I've tried none could handle .9 grains of Unique in a little auto cartridge(I think it was 32 ), so I bought the Black Powder version a couple of years ago, it's not quite as smooth as the old one, but works well on small charges(and monster sized black powder charges) Ivan

 

[rodsvet]

Buy a Redding, use it your whole life, and leave it to your heirs to use for their whole life. They cost a little more but why buy something less and then be longing for one later? Just my .02

 

[gwpercle]

I LIKE THE 55 ALSO

I have been using the Lyman 55 scince 1968, mine is the old orange one. Still in use, no problems, adjustable and accurate. I bought this one because of the 3 slide adjustable cavity, you can dial in the exact load you need, and it does not matter what powder you are using it works with all of them. If mine disappeared I would get another just like it.....can't say anything bad about it......except Lyman now lists the price at $102.50 , glad I got mine when they were affordable.

gary

 

[forestswin]

Broker50 - I have quite a bit of Hornady equipment, and have been very pleased with it all. I've been looking at their LNL Powder Measure ($70 at Cabelas) and their Bench Rest Powder Measure ($122 at Midway).

Hornady says the bench rest version has all the features of their other powder measure, but more precise. But I think I read that the metering inserts are not interchangeable between the two. I have to check into them some more if they both get recommended here.

I'd like to hear about RCBS, Redding, Hornady, Dillon, Forster and any others?? Except Lyman and Lee - I have all three Lee's and Lyman is just out.

Ivan, no I can not stand poor customer service, I think I was screwed by Lyman with their 1500XP Scale. Of all the their items for them to allow a large tolerance on, their scale??? considering the possibility of KABOOMS - I'll pass on them. I guess I should edit my original post - to exclude Lyman. I have heard the 55 is very good, but they aren't getting any more of my money. I do like gun show shopping - good idea. Probably get a new one now and keep my eye out at the shows for back-ups and extra's.

 

[Ngtdog]

If money is not an issue a Redding 3br is what i would recommend. I also have the RCBS with both drums it works fine and is pretty good and you can get a micrometer conversion for it. I grew up using the lyman 55 reloading with my dad (it seems like I had to fiddle with it some to get it set up), (could have been me!), The Redding 3br is my favorite so far! Good luck!

 

[Steve in Vermont]

Buy a Redding, use it your whole life, and leave it to your heirs to use for their whole life. They cost a little more but why buy something less and then be longing for one later? Just my .02

Redding 3BR with Pistol Metering insert. Spot on, rugged, easy to disassemble and clean. While I weight every 20th load, that really isn't necessary. Once set, I've loaded thousands of rounds without making any adjustments.

 

[mikld]

Chapter 6.4 Powders And Powder Measures - Cast Bullets For Beginner And Expert

Excellent article on powder and powder measures. Scroll about halfway down for a comparison of powder measures. May surprise you.

 

[dswancutt]

I have two older Hornady powder measures that I updated to the newer style LNL rotor, one for rifle powder, one for pistol. The newer LNL meters better than the old style rotor and adding a Lyman powder baffle eliminated almost all the error in charges. It is accurate within a 1/10 of a grain (I check every 6th throw) which is good enough for me.

 

[hotrod150]

I have an RCBS "Little Dandy" measure which I really like for loading handgun cartridges. It uses fixed-cavity rotors so there's no way it can go out of adjustment or have the adjustment bumped. The charge weights it throws work out pretty good for my purposes, and the rotors tend to throw the charge weights that the RCBS chart sez they will. I have a #7 for 4.0 W231, #8 for 5.0 W231, and #9 for 5.6 W231 for my 38 spl & 9mm loading needs. I have it attached to a bracket which goes under the die lock nut right on top of the press, so I drop powder into the case right before the bullet goes on. about as fool-proof (ha!)and double-charge-resistant as you can get.

 

[johnjohn]

I have a Redding (not sure which model) and a Lyman 55, they both work well. The Lyman was bought new and the Redding from an estate sale.

 

[Broker50]

The simple fact is, there are many good measures available. Were I to buy one this week, I would look on eBay. I have bought a few there at a decent discount. A couple of tips, clean & degrease thoroughly. I like to run powdered graphite through one to break it in, eliminates powder sticking. Store the measure empty of powder with a couple of used dryer sheets in the hopper, eliminates static cling. Oh, a powder baffle makes the throw more consistent as the hopper empties, too.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I think the RCBS Uniflow is your best choice because it's a great powder measure and if something ever goes wrong RCBS has the best no BS CS available!

 

[Coastie762]

+1 for the RCBS Uniflow. Mine came as part of a reloading kit I bought in 1982 and is still in use. I've upgraded it with a powder baffle and the micrometer insert.

With the micrometer insert, settings are very repeatable and I've never had it move once it is set. I have a notebook I use to record settings for various powder types and charges. This saves a lot of time when dialing it in.

The measure still gets regular use on my bench for both rifle and handgun loads. I've thought a couple of times about picking up a different measure but never could justify it.

 

[marmax]

+1 on the Redding 3BR. I've used this for years. I prefer to use my Dillon but I don't have change over plates for every caliber I have. As long as your powder choices are ball powders, each powder throw will be spot on. It works well for unique and clays also but get both bushings for pistols and rifles.

 

[mchech]

+2 on the RCBS Uniflow. I also set it up with the micro-adj & baffle in the small cylinder. 95% of my loading is with ball or flake powders. This one is my primary and is over 40 years old. I have another Uniflow set-up with the large cylinder for loading extruded powders in heavy charges but it does not see much use. I found it at a good price and I thought it would be easier than switching cylinders. Most of my loading is handgun and 223.

I suppose there are many good powder measures out there but I find the Uniflow plenty adequate in combination with a good powder scale and careful loading habits.

 

[dla]

Chapter 6.4 Powders And Powder Measures - Cast Bullets For Beginner And Expert

Excellent article on powder and powder measures. Scroll about halfway down for a comparison of powder measures. May surprise you.

An excellent read - thanks for posting. Joe at RealGuns did a similar investigation some years ago with similar results.

A couple of points not really touched on though:

1. Impact of charge variation - I.e. how much does it matter if your charge varies from a safety and accuracy perspective.
2. Ergonomics - how does the powder dispensor "feel" to you when in operation? How easy is it to cycle?
3. Slide bar dispensers - all of the types mentioned are some form of a culver dispenser. Another popular type, (if you are a Dillon owner), is the slide-bar dispenser.
4. Bushing-style units - popular with shotgun reloading and also used by Lee in their auto-disk units. Very similar in operation to a slide-bar design.

And once again we get to see what a crappy powder Unique is - and it amazes me how reloaders will get stuck in a mental rut and continue to use and endorse such a mediocre powder when there are so many better performing powders available today.

 

[Twoboxer]

IMO measuring powder by volume, in the home, will never yield (eg) 5.2gr +/- 0.1gr every single time. For many of us they come close enough that it makes no difference. The trade-off is "precision" for speed. Having said that . . .

The Lee Perfect Powder measure - in my actual experience - too often throws far too much powder on the floor. Further, it was no more consistent for me than the Pro Auto Disk. And less consistent than the most accurate Lee product I found, the Pro Auto Disk with the micrometer Lee Adjustable Charge Bar. So that's what I use when I'm not weighing each charge.

For all rifle and some pistol loads, I weigh each charge on my Pact Dispenser/Scale combo. These products (IMO) have their own issues, and are slower than "by volume" dispensers. But they will keep you within +/- 0.1gr, the accuracy of the scales we use.

Using a dispenser would slow you down a bit while using the single stage press.

For me, using a 4-hole turret on rifle, the dispenser will give me the next charge with very little delay after I've poured, indexed, placed and set a bullet, indexed, crimped, removed finished bullet, indexed, indexed again to get past an empty hole, set next brass. For pistol there's almost no delay because the powder charge is smaller, and the sizing/decapping also must be done.

Volume or weight . . . time and production quantity . . . higher precision vs. good enough.

 

[Maximumbob54]

I have an addition to Twoboxer's post. He mentioned that the Perfect Powder Measure spills. Mine never did... But my Pro Auto sure does!!! But I still love that thing and will gladly clean up after it. I've actually had difficulty with my RCBS Uniflow where most people don't. So some powder measures are great while some have issue with them. As by the books as reloading is there is still always going to be some certain amount of it that is just voodoo.