pistol powder measure

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  • Last Post 28 October 2019
2frogs posted this 25 September 2019

looking for a simple easy to use powder measure..for hand gun loading

open to any ideas or suggestions

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RicinYakima posted this 25 September 2019

Two ways to look at it. RCBS little dandy is about $45 plus shipping and taxes, with rotors $12 plus again each. If you buy 14 rotors, you could buy a Harrell's small  that will last two lifetimes. Little Dandy's are dead accurate for volume. Harrell's are five click for each 1/10 grain of bullseye. FWIW

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M3 Mitch posted this 26 September 2019

I have several old Lyman 55 powder measures, the ones with a small slide and a bigger one, I have had good results from them on down to .32 ACP. 

For 45 ACP, I find the measure that came with my Dillon 450 works fine.  I have not done a statistical analysis of thrown charge variations with either of these measures. Mitch

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tony1960 posted this 26 September 2019

Mitch, apart from the ones attached to my Dillons I have two RCBS Uniflows, both around the 30 y.o. mark. I can measure from as low as 1.2gn WST/231 etc and have used them up to 10gns Unique with great results. They can be a little fussy and not particular user friendly when ducking between half a dozen loads, which is why I have two. The incrememnt scale is haphazard but effective once you get the touch and will return close to your previous volume if you take a micrometer reading prior to changing.

Good strong robust measures though.

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Rich/WIS posted this 26 September 2019

Do you want an adjustable measure or a fixed rotor measure? Any of the ones mentioned will work but you will need to use a scale to set the adjustable measures every time you change powder/loads.  The fixed measures are nice as it is easy to change the rotors and other than initially checking the drop weights with a scale to ensure they drop what they are supposed to no adjustment is needed.  I have several Lyman 55's that I leave pre-set for the charges of Red Dot and Blue Dot I use in my rifles and an old Forster/Bonanza fixed rotor with the rotors I use for Bullseye in 45 ACP and mouse fart loads for the rifles. Have the RCBS adjustable for the few full power rifle loads I use for hunting.

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Eutectic posted this 26 September 2019

It depends on what you want to load. For charges over about 5 grains any of the mentioned measures will work great. I like the RCBS Uniflow with the small cylinder, but others are just as good.

For under 5 grains you want a smaller diameter measuring chamber and the RCBS Little Dandy is super if you can live with fixed rotors. If you must have an adjustable, the Redding 10X is made for small charges, and is outstanding. At ~200$ it is pricy, but I probably have that much in the Little Dandy and a set of rotors.

With any measure and small charges you want to avoid large grain powders. Red Dot, Unique, 800X simply do not measure precisely enough. Bullseye, Power Pistol, Tight Group and any of the small grain powders measure much more precisely.

A good small charge measure working with a small grain extruded or ball powder will give you the precision you need for match grade ammunition in 38 or 45 and loading small cartridges like 380 and 32 auto.

Steve

 

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R. Dupraz posted this 26 September 2019

Check out the Hornady lock and load powder measure. I have been using one for maybe ten years now. They also make a small charge insert and drum for loading small charges as an extra accessory. I have both inserts and drums and have found them both to be reliably  accurate when loading for rifles and pistols.

https://wwwhornady.com

 

R. 

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2frogs posted this 30 September 2019

bought the Lee and itiswithin a tenth either way..I like it..thank you for your imput

 

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dbosman posted this 22 October 2019

I like the RCBS Little Dandy that uses fixed rotors.

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Bud Hyett posted this 23 October 2019

All my measures have the metal powder baffle reversed. With a funnel dropping into the measure to keep a constant head pressure and a practiced rhythm for manipulating the handle; you can get very accurate..  

RCBS Uni-Flow with two cylinders for rifle and pistol. 

  • Works well, particularity with the correct cylinder
  •  Must develop a rhythm to get repeatable drops

Redding: 

  • Works better, there is only one cylinder
  • Must develop a rhythm to get repeatable drops

QuickMeasure (Alice's favorite):

  • Works well with medium to large charges.
  • Design prevents loading with pistol powders under 9.0 grains.
  • Very accurate
  •  Setup takes time (only used for large volume reloading)

Farm boy from Illinois, living in the magical Pacific Northwest

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John Alexander posted this 23 October 2019

If you would like to see the results of a lot of careful testing of eight different powder measures and how they compared, read Joe B's series of tests in his book Cast Bullets for Beginner and Expert (starting on p. 221 in my edition).  

Joe found CH4D, and Redding were best with Harrell, and B&M close behind for average repeatability on five types of powder. But also found that there wasn't a really big difference in repeatability between the measures tested.

He also found that the "head" or powder height in the reservoir made no difference in the charge weights thrown.  Thus the baffles some makers provide to achieve a constant head were not found to be of value.  After reading Joe's report I tried to disprove this finding since it seems like the head should make a difference. However, I couldn't find that it made any difference for the several powders I tried either.  Of course neither Joe's or my testing shows that baffles do any harm either.

P.S: Anybody with curiosity about facts based on testing and a ton of cast bullet lore should have Joe's book. The book took Joe years to compile with help from almost 100 contributors -- several of them hanging around this forum.  There is no more complete book on cast bullet shooting.  Your friendly local Cast Bullet Association has them for sale.  Visit the CBA store on our website.

John

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RicinYakima posted this 23 October 2019

John, As you and Bud said above, getting good results depends more upon the skill of the operator. What sold me on the Harrell is the easy repeatability of the fine micrometer adjustment, better than anyone else's. Write down the three digit number and get exactly repeatable volumes. Ric

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Bud Hyett posted this 24 October 2019

Thinking about this subject a little more, there is brief reference in several quotes to powder selection. Possibly subliminally, I have gone away from many powders that give problems in measures. The old standards like Bullseye and Unique seem to deliver the performance I want and they go through the measure reliably. Hodgdon's 4831 SC works as well as their 4831 and goes through the measure much easier. 

Before SR 4759 was dropped from production, I decided to drop it because of metering difficulties. The time spent undercharging and then dribbling powder on a scale to get what I wanted was excessive. I found equivalent accuracy with Reloder #7 in .45-70 for all velocity ranges and bullet weights.

With the great choice of powders today, I think one can find a powder that contributes to the ease of measuring as well as the choice of measure. 

Farm boy from Illinois, living in the magical Pacific Northwest

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max503 posted this 25 October 2019

bought the Lee and itiswithin a tenth either way..I like it..thank you for your imput

 

 

Is this what you got, and if so how do you like it?  Does it work well with small charges for pistol?  Like down to 2 grains, as advertised?

I'm thinking for $30 it might be worth it.

https://leeprecision.com/perfect-powder-measure.html

Perfect Powder Measure

 

Perfect Powder Measure
Details SKU 90058 Weight 1.34 lbs MSRP: $30.98   Lee Precision local dealers Lee Precision local dealers Options

 

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2frogs posted this 25 October 2019

just what I got..Works great I think..I always keep a little powder in a small dish just In case I need a pinch..Hate those powder tricklers..Just add a pinch with your fingers..works fo me..Never in a big hurry when loading..

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M3 Mitch posted this 25 October 2019

just what I got..Works great I think..I always keep a little powder in a small dish just In case I need a pinch..Hate those powder tricklers..Just add a pinch with your fingers..works fo me..Never in a big hurry when loading..

 

If you are weighing individual charges for a handgun, in my opinion that's way overkill.  With a good powder measure you can charge directly into the case.  I like to charge powder, maybe make a visual check on powder level, then seat the bullet immediately.  Some people like to charge cases in a loading block.  I don't even own loading blocks, just use MTM type ammo containers.  Empty brass stays open end down until I charge powder and then seat a bullet.

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jchiggins posted this 25 October 2019

 I've used the Lee PPM for about 10 years; I think it is a bargain..... works quite well.  Will probably get another one.  I use them for load development and other small runs when I'm experimenting.  The Dillon powder measure works well (with the mods to convert it to older style) for volume loading my standard recipes.

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jimkim posted this 26 October 2019

I have a Dillon, a Uniflow, a LNL, a Lyman 55, a Lee PPM, and a Lee AutoDisk. This part really bugs me. For really really small(1.3-3.0 gr) charges of BE, my PPM is the most accurate measure I have. I have weighed a hundred 1.3gr BE charges in a row with it. It was dead on according to my 505, on every drop. It's the only one I own that will do that. It will drop 13.0gr(my Uniflow does too) of RD or BD perfectly, as well. I don't use it with fine ball though. It still leaks, a little with AA#7. For standard 3-9gr charges of ball, my AutoDisk gets the nod. My 55 binds will AA#7, so I haven't tried it with other ball powders. My Dillon leaks, and binds up with AA#7 as well. AA#7 is my testing powder for ball. If it binds or leaks it, I don't use that one with ball.

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BigMan54 posted this 28 October 2019

I know the Harrell is still made. But is someone making the Belding & Mull ?

I know My Dad loved his.

Long time Caster/Reloader, Getting back into it after almost 10yrs. Life Member NRA 40+yrs, Life S.A.S.S. #375. Does this mean a description of me as a fumble-fingered knuckle-draggin' baboon. I also drool in my sleep. I firmly believe that true happiness is a warm gun. Did I mention how much I HATE auto-correct on this blasted tablet.

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