Need recomendation for a bench top powder measure.

[scooter123]

Have a Lee Perfect Powder Measure and my testing has shown it's just not consistent with Unique powder. It will throw 3 or 4 charges at the set weight then it will throw light then heavy. BTW, I've tried tapping the measure after each charge has dropped and that helps some but not enough. For example when set for a 6.5 grain charge it will be consistent for a small string then it will throw a 6.0 grain charge followed up by a 6.9 or 7.0 grain charge. At this point it's become a dispenser for the scale pan where I adjust the weight as needed. Hand weighing and charging 50 cases is taking about an hour, so this isn't going to cut the mustard.

BTW, I know Unique has a reputation for being a "difficult" powder but it's about all I can find for handguns right now. I also like the volume/mass ratio for Unique because it means a double charge will overflow either 40 or 45 ACP which is my preference for semi's.

Since it is tax time and I'll also be loading 308 soon I'm going to say price is no object, I would like a solution that will consistently throw a charge within 1/10 grain or less.

 

[arjay]

RCBS Uniflow. Get both a rifle and pistol thingy.

 

[Steve in Vermont]

Redding 3BR Match Grade w/Pistol and Universal meters. I can only speak for W231 powder, meters right on the money every time. Lifetime warranty.

 

[gregintenn]

Perhaps you could do a bit of polishing your Lee. I have one, and it throws very consistant charges of Unique. I loaded 250 rounds of 9mm yesterday, and weighing each charge, I think I found two charges that varied by more than 1/10 of a grain.

 

[Scheebs]

I too had trouble throwing consistent loads with Unique and Lee. Since I love Unique, I went to the expense of a Pact digital scale (which I already had) and their digital powder thrower. Now I have absolutely precise throws each and every time.
This process is a bit slower, but I don't mind the relaxed "me" time one bit.

 

[J. R. WEEMS]

Redding 3BR Match Grade w/Pistol and Universal meters. I can only speak for W231 powder, meters right on the money every time. Lifetime warranty.

I would have to concur here.

 

[chief38]

I have an RCBS that I use for my Rifle Calibers while loading on my Rock Chucker. Works fine. If you in tend to use it for pistol cartridges too, get a small powder measure wheel as well and use it while toing small powder weights.

 

[LittleCooner]

Here is my experience from last month. I was trying to reload a batch of 38 special with Unique and have used a Lyman 55 that has a bench rest insert make by Homer Culver that I have owned since the '80s. Many, many rifle rounds loaded with very accurate repeat ability. Then the small charge of Unique is all over the map or scales. Looking at the insert, it has a deep cylinder, one moving part. I dug out the other Lyman 55 from the "stash" and started throwing charges with the upper slide providing most of the volume. Wow, very great uniform charges. I am glade I did not sell it years ago when a guy wanted to purchase it.
The old Lyman 55 is a good measure, will last a life time and appears to throw great small volume charges that all weight the same. Point- if you have a shallow long chamber for the small charges, you will get repeat ability. Those deep volume chambers will not let you throw charges with the flat pie shaped flakes of Unique. The long shallow chamber of the old Lyman works great. One of the reasons that most of my Rifle loads are with a power that is spherical, so you can throw the same charge all day long without having to weigh the charges. You are trying to fill the same volume each time with a product that looks like small pancakes, so you must change to whatever works best.

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

Harrell's. See Top Rated Supplier of Firearm Reloading Equipment, Supplies, and Tools - Sinclair Intl . They seem to be a bit expensive these days, but they are VERY good measures. Keep your Lee in case you need to throw sticks, like IMR and such.

 

[gwpercle]

I can also vouch for the Lyman 55 and it's accuracy with Unique powder. Be consistent with operation and use the little " knocker " to settle the charge before you throw the handle. It has 3 micrometer slides and by using one or a combination of two or three you can find a setting for the finest pistol or coursest rifle powder. Got mine in 1969 and still using it...satisfied customer.
Gary

 

[Big Fred]

Redding 3BR Match Grade w/Pistol and Universal meters. I can only speak for W231 powder, meters right on the money every time. Lifetime warranty.

I also have the Redding 3BR Match Grade and chambers and it's great measure. I would highly recommend it. I also have an old Belding & Mull that I purchased new at lease 30 years ago. It is also a great measure.

 

[arjay]

Something to keep in mind with unique and pistol loads is that a little variation in weight and volume won't be detectable on the target for most of us.Just stay in the middle of the recommended range to be safe.

 

[LittleCooner]

If I did this correct, I just uploaded a picture of my Lyman 55 set to throw a light charge of Trail Boss, showing the top slide set for a long shallow volume in the charging arm. Note the Trail Boss is also a flat "flake" powder.

 

[Rollbar]

Harrell's. See Top Rated Supplier of Firearm Reloading Equipment, Supplies, and Tools - Sinclair Intl . They seem to be a bit expensive these days, but they are VERY good measures.

Just went to their site and it looks like its a cover for Brownells.

I clicked on the FBook tab and it took me here: https://www.facebook.com/BrownellsInc

Hum,

 

[Cdog]

Nothing wrong with the Lee. Unique just isn't the most measure friendly powder.

You can spend a lot of money on a much more expensive measure and not be any better off.

I'm a fan of the Lee Pro Auto Disk measure for handgun cartridges. For multiple reasons I ditched Unique many years ago. I used W231/HP38 for a while, then discovered Universal.

Universal is very similar in performance to Unique. It meters much better and burns more efficiently for me. It's my "go to" powder for the majority of what I load now.

 

[Harrison]

Get a RCBS Uniflow, Hornady's measure, Redding measure or the Lyman 55. They will all meter about equally. They will meter fine ball type powders to about + or - .1 gr. This is depending on YOU being very consistent in your technique. If you are going to throw stick powders like Vaget for a .308. None of them will measure stick powders that closely. Now is it necesary to be that critical with powders in 308/30-06 size cases. You will never know the difference with +- .5 gr.
Harrel's measures are great, but they are primarily ment for benchrest or long range shooters using fine grain powder. Brownell's markets Harrel measures, as does Bruno's Shooters Supply and several others that cater to the BR crowd. If you are not intending on shooting BR don't spend the extra $$$ for a Harrels measure.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I have had RCBS Little Dandy, a couple of Hornady's. I use a Lyman 55 (Black Powder version works with smokeless also) and a Redding BR-30. I believe they will serve you well for years to come. I have the RCBS/Pact digital scale and powder measure, it's OK at best. I have used some of the $400-$600 Bench rest powder drops- they are great for the powder type they were intended for! The best universal powder drop I've ever had (and still do) is the origianal push bar powder drop that came on the Dillion 450, but it has to be used in a die with a case addapter. The Lyman 55 is still the best universal. The 55's predeseser was the 50, and the only differance is the powder hopper, the 50's is cast in iron. The old time Off Hand shooters would shoot the same indexed case, loaded repeatley in a match and had fantastic groups using the Lyman 50/55 type of drop (that's the reason they have a built in shelf clamp, it went right on your shooting box). The Black Powder version holds a whole pound of BP in an Aluminum hopper instead of a half pound clear plastic. If you find either one used-buy it; if you find a second used one-but it too, you won't be sorry! Ivan

 

[novalty]

Yeah the Harrel's is a nice unit, but you got to kind of get used to how it throws. I use mine solely for rifle reloading.

For all intensive purposes it is tough to beat a RCBS Uniflow--especially for pistol charges. Mine has been very consistent with Unique and W231.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

novalty; judging by those cans of Unique and that old Nosler manual in the background you've been at this for more than a couple of weeks. Your set-up looks alot like mine, and a second Rock Chucker and a Dillion and such. I don't leave the Wilson trimmer out, people keep changeing the setting. Ivan

 

[Frank237]

RCBS Uniflow or the Redding 3BR.
As good as it gets for the money spent.

I disagree on the LEE measures being as good as anyone else's...Sorry...LEE stuff is cheap, and built to sell for the lowest price. Life is too short to not have the best or at least the best one can afford.