Need a better powder measure

Bishopus

Bishopus

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Edmonton, AB
So I have an RCBS 'uniflow' powder measure, and I don't like it.
uniflow.jpg


Takes forever to get it set up, and it seems to go out of adjustment whenever I tighten it down. It's always 15 minutes of trial and error before it's set up to throw charges, and usually it goes out of measurement halfway through a big loading session. It also loosens up constantly, so I have to tighten it down every dozen or so throws. Total PITA.

I'm only using the measure for pistol rounds, but I'd really like one that had a more precise measurement system than 'screw it in a little further', that locks down when it's supposed to lock down, and throws nice uniform loads.

Anybody have a measure they just love? Is it worth spending more for the benchrest brands?
 
Lee Pro Autodisk. Cheap, consistent and instantly repeatable. (don't laugh, it actually functions very well).

Since it appears you are using it in a single stage press, you can flare the case mouth and dump powder in one step.

I also use a couple Hornadys with micrometre adjusters. ;)
 
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SandRoad said:
Lee Pro Autodisk. Cheap, consistent and instantly repeatable. (don't laugh, it actually functions very well).

Since it appears you are using it in a single stage press, you can flare the case mouth and dump powder in one step.

I also use a couple Hornadys with micrometre adjusters. ;)
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i have the cheepo lee perfect powder measure that came in the lee challenger/50th anerversary kit....it works not bad but i still hear you on the trial and error setup....:mad: theres a chart with the measure to convert the type of powder your using to cubic centimeters to be measured by the powder measure but i find it simpler to just set my scale to the right grain weight and then trial and error it from there becasue i find i need to fine tune the measure even when i calculate the CC's anyway so....
 
Redding makes a decent measure out of the box but it still prefers short pistol type powders for the best repeatable accuracy. It usually only takes @ 6-7 tries to dial it in. It works well with RL-19, and the new SC powders.
 
There is an article in the current Handloader magazine, where they compare different ones, and the Belding and Mull came out on top. I'm sure the Harrel/Culver types would be right up there as well. So if you don't care for the elec. 1200 system, those are the ones to look for, downside??? They are expensive but, prolly outlast the owner.
 
.Ben said:
i have the cheepo lee perfect powder measure that came in the lee challenger/50th anerversary kit....it works not bad but i still hear you on the trial and error setup....:mad: theres a chart with the measure to convert the type of powder your using to cubic centimeters to be measured by the powder measure but i find it simpler to just set my scale to the right grain weight and then trial and error it from there becasue i find i need to fine tune the measure even when i calculate the CC's anyway so....
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The lee perfect powder measure is a different animal than the disk measures and find it doesn't work nearly as well. I have one of the perfect powder measures set up for black power only. (it is modified so all the metal/plastic bits are grounded).
 
ben hunchak said:
There is an article in the current Handloader magazine, where they compare different ones, and the Belding and Mull came out on top. I'm sure the Harrel/Culver types would be right up there as well. So if you don't care for the elec. 1200 system, those are the ones to look for, downside??? They are expensive but, prolly outlast the owner.
Click to expand...

Where can you find Belding/Mull products? They are supposed to have casting products as well right?
 
Before you toss your RCBS, try a micrometer-adjustable metering adapter, "98902 - UPM MIC ADJUSTMENT SCREW SM" or "98901 - UPM MIC ADJUSTMENT SCREW LG", and put a baffle in the powder column, "90225 - POWDER BAFFLE". You can call RCBS to ensure that you're getting the right part numbers, then find a canadian distributor (or online retailer in the US).

My Uniflow has worked flawlessly for about thirty years. Throws as consistently as any normal measure (not counting such monstrosities as the Prometheus), and the settings are completely repeatable.
 
acrashb said:
Before you toss your RCBS, try a micrometer-adjustable metering adapter, "98902 - UPM MIC ADJUSTMENT SCREW SM" or "98901 - UPM MIC ADJUSTMENT SCREW LG", and put a baffle in the powder column, "90225 - POWDER BAFFLE". You can call RCBS to ensure that you're getting the right part numbers, then find a canadian distributor (or online retailer in the US).

My Uniflow has worked flawlessly for about thirty years. Throws as consistently as any normal measure (not counting such monstrosities as the Prometheus), and the settings are completely repeatable.
Click to expand...

I will have to try this because I don't get consistant drops from my RCBS. I was thinking of selling it and buying three cheap Lees as they work well for me.

What kinda cost are these parts(ball park)?
 
Mac......I think it would be a good unit but can't be used for Black Powder, same with the Lyman 1200(No BP)......Ben
 
Thanks guys. I have a Chargemaster which I love like one of my children, but it's too slow and unnecessarily precise for high-volume handgun reloading.

Maybe I'll look into one of the units from Harrell's. Seems like they take adjustments a lot more seriously than RCBS.
 
the micrometer metering screw and baffle will solve your problems. I still prefer my RCBS Unilfow to my Dillon one, even after adding the Uniquetek micrometer screw to the Dillon.
 
I never had problems with my RCBS uniflows. It depends on the powders too - stick powders can be hard to set up because of shearing and resulting irregularities in throw weight . I wound up getting micrometer adjustwent screws and record the readings- makes changing back & forth easy.

If you do a lot of different loads the easiest system is an electronic dispensing. package. I use PACT who also make (do they still?) the RCBS systems.
 
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