RCBS Powder Measure

riden

riden

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I am planning to buy one as I am sick of weighing every load.

I am buying RCBS, as I already have the stand.

Is the micrometer adjustment ( http://www .rcbs.com/default.asp?menu=1&s1=4&s2=7&s3=68)necessary??

How easy is it to change powder charges?

OK, I admit it. Never used one, never seen one used.
 
I use one of these and I am quite satified. If you record the setting of a given charge it pretty simple to dial it back in. I find when using a coarse powder like IMR 4350 I still need to trickle a bit of powder into the scale to get the uniformity that I want. If you are that sick of weighing maybe you should consider one of the electronic dispenser scale combos. I will definitely be looking into one of those in the future.
 
I don't think you need the micrometer adjustment for regular hunting / shooting loads. Like ckid already mentioned course powders like 4350 don't always measure consistently. Most guys set their powder measure just a bit short of the desired powder charge weight, then top them up to the exact weight with a powder trickler. From my experience, ball powders measure very consistently, so I don't bother with a powder trickler with that type of powder. From what I've heard the new short cut powders measure quite consistently too.

As for the powder measure it's self, it's very easy to use. There is a dial that increases / decreases the powder charge, so all you have to do is make a few adjustments until the powder charge is what you want it to weigh. Then load up!
 
If you're sick of weighing each charge, I'd recommend looking at the rcbs chargemaster - it does the measuring and weighing for you. Almost as fast as a powder dispenser, and you have the peace of mind that all charges, of any powder type, are accurate +/- 0.1 grain.
 
You don't have to weigh hunting charges. If one of your throws "hangs up" on a couple of grains, just put the powder back in the measure and try again. This assumes that, by 'hunting', we mean deer at a couple of hundred yards as opposed to groundhogs at 500.

Benchrest guys (up to 300 yards) don't weigh every charge - so why would you?

The micrometer is essential if you shoot multiple calibres (or are changing charge weights regularly for other reasons), otherwise you won't need it.
 
It also depends on what you're loading. The 22 Hornet, for example SHOULD be weighed. As a percentage, 0.1 gr error is a lot greater in the Hornet case than an '06, for example. Further, for 'hunting charges,' quantity isn't a huge issue anyway, so you're not going wrong weighing. Plus, when you're working up loads, you need to set your dispenser up every few rounds, weigh, and trickle anyways.

My personal rule of thumb is to weigh all rifle cartridge charges, and use a dispenser for handgun cartridges. But that's just me.
 
My experience only - Get the micrometer. The adjuster that comes with the measure isn't consistant. You still must weigh to get a reference setting on the mic, and to see how much to adjust for small increment changes. Then, however, forget the scale and use the measure. I've found better accuracy with this method than weighing. The benchrest guys, as previously mentioned, use this method. Scale can be used as a safety check once in a while, but only to see that something hasn't gone way out of whack. In many years of using my RCBS, I've never had a problem.

My $.02

D.
 
I have both the RCBS Unflo & the Lee Perfect Powder Measure.

The Lee is great for extruded powder but binds on ball powders.

The RCBS is great on ball & flake powder but somehat rough on extruded.

If you are using IMR4350 or other extruded powders exclusively, then the Lee might be the more economical choice.


Rod.:)
 
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