Opinions on Powder Measures

rkaine

rkaine

CGN Regular
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Location
Hamilton, Ontario
Hey.....looking for everyone's input on powder measures...I have the lee measure, came with my reloading kit, and I am not happy with it - it leaks powder when I dispense...sent it back to lee, and they replaced a part, however still leaks.....not sure I want to send it back a 2nd time....

So....what is your opinion on the different powder measures (hornady, lyman, etc.) I am not looking at an electronic dispenser, just a good simple mechanical one.

Does not need to mount on a progressive press (I don't have one yet) but could be one in future, so would like to think about adaptability.

Cheers

Ron
 
For the money, one of the best I have ever used is the Bonanza Benchrest Powder Measure, marketed by Forster. I think Wholesale and Russells both carry it...

I found it to be considerably more accurate than RCBS and others.
 
I use a Lyman measure I snatched off of Ebay. Works pretty damn well.

I used to use my Lee measure (it came with my anniversary kit). It was fine for extruded powder like 4895, but it sucked with ball powder, like H110. Ball powder always leaved. I got tired of it faling on my floor. I still have to admit that with extruded powder, the measure was pretty damn accurate.
 
I have noticed that ball powders seems to stick to some plastics, especially when they're been sitting there for a while. They'll even discolour some plastics after a time. I figure it must be the nitroglycerin content
 
Had good, accurate luck for many years with RCBS measure and their micrometer option - whatever they call it.

Now, saved up and got a Harrell - pretty uptown unit!
 
I've had an RCBS Uniflow for about 23 years now, it's always worked good for my purposes (rifle only). Plus RCBS's service if needed is hard to beat.
 
X4 on the Redding 3BR. I have 2 of them....one set up for rifle and one for pistol. Both are on Sinclair mounts, and have the the Sinclair adapter that lets you screw Hodgdon and Accurate powder bottles directly on the measure. For other types of powders you screw on Nalgene bottles. Very handy setup if you switch powders a lot.
 
I have had a Lyman 55, a Hornady, and the Redding BR-3. The Redding tops this list by a long shot; I would expect the RCBS version to be comparable to the Redding.
The internal resivor seat of the Redding assures no leakage with even the smallest sized ball powders, and the zero backlash measuring chamber is highly reproducable, permitting rapid and accurate 'return' charge settings.

The Hornadys external resivor seat will leak small ball powders.

The Lyman 55 is versatile, however, plenty of backlash in the cylinder adjusting screws, requiring lots of time in fiddling with the setting and checking the charges with your gravimetric scale; not convienient.
 
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For rapid loading of my 'standardized' handgun loads the RCBS Little Dandy measure is unquestionably zee cats ass. The interchangable fixed volume charge rotors are virtuly invariant in their charge thowing capablity, and you can change the rotors 'on the fly' without having to empty the reservoir.
 
X5 for the Redding. I have the Match Grade with both the rifle and pistol chambers, it has been 13 years no regrets, good product.
bigbull
 
I have had a Lyman 55, a Hornady, and the Redding BR-3; and can endorse the Redding by a long shot; I would expect the RCBS measure to be comparable to the Redding.

The Redding BR-3 has an internal powder reservoir seat which will not permit any leakage of even the smallest ball powders. The measuring chamber piston has zero backlash which allows a highly reprodceable 'return' charge capability.

The Hornady has an external powder reservoir seat that fine ball powders can leak through (annoying).

The Lyman 55 is a versatile measure, however the screw adjuster for the cylinders has an over abundance of backlash, necessitating in excessive fiddling of the cylinder adjuster and checking with your gravimetric scale (inconveinient and quite time consuming at best).

Now for high rate 'standardized' pistol reloading I utilize the RCBS Little Dandy Powder Measure. This unit relies on interchangable fixed volume charge rotors to dispense the volumetricaly measured charge which is virtualy invariant on a gravimetric basis. The charge rotors can be easily changed without emptying the powder reservoir.........this unit is the cats ass for consitency, convenience, and rapidity of charging.
 
Rod B said:
The Lee is fine for extruded powder but really binds & sticks with fine ball powders.
Click to expand...

I was looking to buy some Hodgdon Universal, it's ball powder like all their pistol powder.. I won't meter well ? (Lee 1000)
 
I was commenting on the Lee Perfect Powder measure. This measure has a rotating drum with a silicone wiper seal.

The powder measure used on the Lee Pro 1000 is their "Auto disk" which meters by using various sized sliding disks.

Stephane, you should be fine using the Auto Disk with ball powders.

With some of the coarse powders eg: Unique, 700X etc. you will find that actual charge weight varies a little more than with the ball powders.

Hope this clears things up.:)


Rod.
 
I have had a Lyman 55, a Hornady, and now have the Redding BR-3. The Redding beats them all by a long shot!

The Redding has an internal reservoir seat that positively prevents any powder leakage, and the measure plunger has zero backlash permitting a very accurate 'return' charge setting after changing settings; very nice.

The Hornady has an external reservoir seat and will leak small ball powders; very annoying.

The Lyman 55 is a versitile measure, however, the cylinder adjusting screws have plenty of backlash necessitating in lots of screwing around with the setting in conjunction with your gravimetric scale; quite inconvenient.

For high production of my 'standardized' handgun loads I use the RCBS Little Dandy Measure which utilizes interchangable fixed volume rotors which can be easily changed without emptying the reservoir. You only need to establish what charge weight any given rotor will throw once. The fixed volume rotors are virtuly invarient, they need not be checked all the time, just make sure you are using the rotor you think you are using. The Little Dandy is a no fuss, simple, rapid volumetric measure for pistol charging.
 
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