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Posted: 6/30/2013 6:48:32 PM EDT
| What are some of the top powder measures today? I had a Lyman 55 years ago that was pretty good. C&H makes a good one I hear. Will be loading everything from 9mm to 308 WIn using all kinds of powders. |
| The Lee perfect powder measure that came with my kit seems to be doing okay so far. I didn't trust it at first because I was using IMR 3031 which is extruded. I learned that as long as I don't feel a binding when working the handle its fine. If I do feel a binding (a stick of powder got caught in there somewhere) than simply empty that cartridge back into the hopper real quick and move on. If it binds the load always comes out hot. But I don't think its fair to blame the $20 powder measure though when I already knew extruded powders don't meter well. |
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Did the OP even specify manual or electronic?
I have heard the Lee throws stick powder with less fuss than the manual RCBS Uniflow but it's accuracy with these powders are not close to what either is capable of with finer granule powder like flake and ball type. I've also seen many posts asking "How do I get my Lee Perfect Powder Measure to stop leaking ball powder all over the place". In fairness I have also read many replies that try to explain how. So I'm guessing its possible. I really like my RCBS Uniflow and have no complaints. I know it will not throw stick powder accurately and I can live with that. That's why I have a trickler and since about 4 years ago a Chargemaster 1500. BTW: I don't know enough about the other manual dispensers to rate them but from what I have seen since being here on this forum I would not contest dryflash3's rating. This guy knows these things well. |
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this is going to be one of those it depends answers....
it depends on what powders you are using. I've used the RCBS Uniflow for years and it doesn't really like long sticks and suprisingly the trailboss donuts. The stick powders I can power crunch throught them, set the measure light and trickle up. Anything shorter than RL15 is good, ball powders measure spot on, flake powders are mostly very good but a few flakes might migrate between body and drum. IMR 4064 is crunch city. The Lee is supposed to be pretty good for the price but doesn't like the finer stuff. IIRC it is supposed to work real good with varget. Must be due to it's looseness or something that just works with it. Common comment but I never had one. I'm not sure there's much difference between the RCBS, Redding, Lyman, Hornady, and even the Harrells benchrest type. They're all rotating drum types. I've used my Uniflow and a buddy's older Redding. The redding was a touch smoother and the drum was a better fit in the body. FWIW. Even with their issues I wouldn't want to reload without a measure, even with the give trouble they're still buttloads faster than without. i can remember the days of a cup and a teaspoon and a scale and then Lee scoops. I am NOT going back. 
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| A surprise is that I purchased a new CH powder measure a year ago and just started using it this week. It works like most others but the accuracy is fantastic. I threw 25 drops and it was dean on for 20 of them and off by /2gr for five. I was using Hogdon's Universal which is a flake powder. I like the Dillon measures the best so far but like many others they tend to leak a little with ball powders like 296 and H110. The RCBS Charge master is fantastic but I'm looking for a measure that can be mounted in a press (Progressive) to spead up loading. |
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Then you also need to consider the case-activated linkage that is available for them....and powder-through expanders if you want to expand & charge in station 2. If such isn't made for them, and you can't modify some other brand's existing linkage or mechanism to handle that, then the powder measure isn't going to work so good on a progressive.
Dillon, RCBS, Hornady, and Lee have such....CH and Redding, no....unless you can mod and convert as I said. I think Dryflash3 was going to work on the Redding using either the Hornady or RCBS linkage.....don't know if he ever got around to it. Some have used the Lee P.M. and powder-thru expanders on other progressives, but I don't know of anyone posting detailed results. Hornady linkage and PTX expanders can be added to RCBS Uniflows....we Pro 2000 users did that until RCBS got off their large corporate butts, and started making really good Powder-through expanders for their own powder dies and linkage.......now they are pretty much cross brand changeable with Hornady's (with minor adjustment changes) since the Hornady Powder Measure and the Uniflow are nearly the same. (Hopper size excluded). I agree that RCBS should make the mic standard and get rid the the stupid Greek screw. But Dryflash3, so should Hornady; if you buy a separate Hornady P.M. you have to pay extra for the mic as well...I have three Uniflows now.....one with Hornady linkage, two with RCBS linkage....had to buy two case-activated linkage kits, and 2 mics...the P.M. that comes with the Pro 2000 comes with one....just like Hornady. Mic'd Uniflows are indeed nice. Now I need to order a large Hopper for the one I load rifle with....which is even bigger than Hornady's. But I agree, Hornady can keep the #2 spot for hopper size...one Redding model can keep #1 for the cavity design...(only the model that has a rounded bottom charge cavity). |
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I have a Hornady for which I have a few different metering inserts and drop assemblies which I really like for quick caliber changes. Seems real consistant. I have been using for about 14 years with no complaints.
I have an RCBS uniflow that I have had for about 16-17 years which has been fine. I now only use it for .40s on my L-N-L AP because of the ability to meter small loads. For .308, the one caliber I single stage, I use a Lee scoup and finish trickle with a redding trickler for precision. I only use spherical powders because they work better through the measure. |
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