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Posted: 9/18/2016 6:10:19 PM EDT
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Looking for suggestions on a good powder measure. I am currently reloading 38/357 and I like to do 50-100 rounds at a time. Looking to speed the process up some with a good powder measure. I am currently single stage, so I would need one that is mounted to the bench. When loading 38's I use Unique which I have read is difficult for some measures to throw correctly, so take that into consideration.
I really like the Lee Auto Disk (and it's still an option) as it screws right into my expansion die and charges the case the same time it's expanded. But after looking at it there is not much as much adjustability in the charge, it's fixed to a certain amount depending on the size of the hole in the disk. I could live with some of the options but thought there would be a better powder measure that could measure out some in between charges....and that isn't too expensive. Any help is appreciated. |
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I have a Hornady LNL powder measure. Very high quality and throws consistent charges with no leaks. Came with a flat mounting plate and a powder baffle but no rotor assembly for handgun charges. I had to purchase it separately which brought the price to over $100 and so...
Had I known this I'd have gone with the RCBS Uniflow (small) which throws charges from 0.5gr to 50gr which covers all your handgun needs and all but the largest rifle calibers. It comes with a flat mounting plate but the powder baffle (part No. 90225) is a separate purchase (or you can fabricate your own there's a tacked thread on this). Amazon $95.79 free shipping the baffle is another $6.85 The Uniflow PM also comes with a "drain" (aluminum tube) which allows you to empty the powder in the hopper back into the powder container without having to remove the PM from the mount. With Hornady it's again an accessory purchase. 
ETA: when you purchase one of these you'll need to get a small tube of graphite powder for conditioning the surfaces on the inside of the measure chassis. You'll also want to get some dollar store dryer sheets. You stuff them inside the empty hopper chimney to prevent powder granules from sticking to the sides. |
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Running an RCBS Uniflow with the small drum, it came with the larger one but RCBS swapped it out for free. Running a baffle, it accurately throws my lowest charge of 4.3 grains for 380 ACP. I run it on their powder measure stand, its smooth and accurate.
Mine was bought within the last year or so and did not come with a drain. |
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Quoted:
I really like the Lee Auto Disk (and it's still an option) ... there is not much as much adjustability in the charge, it's fixed to a certain amount depending on the size of the hole in the disk. ... Any help is appreciated. If the disk is removable, you could enlarge an existing hole by drilling it to the next larger drill bit size. Drills are available for purchase one at a time and come in a vast selection of diameters. You are not limited to the crude step sizes of a drill bit set and do not have to buy a whole set to get the size you want. Similarly, you could fill an existing hole with epoxy and re-drill it to a smaller diameter. |
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Thanks guys. I looked at the Hornady and RCBS options the past few days, but I posted here because I wanted feedback from real world users with handgun charges since they can be small and difficult to meter (especially the flake powders).
I will be checking out the Uniflow for sure. Thanks for the input. I really like the Lee Auto Disk, but don't like that it's not as adjustable as others. Adjustability is nice when you are nearing the "never exceed" charge. 
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Quoted:
<a href="http://s250.photobucket.com/user/dryflash3/media/Moved%20Pics/PC160334.jpg.html" target="_blank">http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg272/dryflash3/Moved%20Pics/PC160334.jpg</a> I've had a few different PM's. I don't know your budget, I rate them as follows, RCBS, good Hornady, better Redding, best Buy the best you can afford. I happen to buy PM's when I see them for $30 and less at the funshow. Good luck with your choice. Thank you for the post and the photo. Ever come across any $30 Redding PM's?  Will check them out.
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Believe it or not. Check out the $20 Lee Perfect Powder Measure. Some people complain of leakage, but you can control or eliminate it by adjusting the tension screw in most cases. And then the handle won't turn because the friction required to make it stop leaking stops the drum from moving. |
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Quoted:
And then the handle won't turn because the friction required to make it stop leaking stops the drum from moving. Quoted:
Quoted:
Believe it or not. Check out the $20 Lee Perfect Powder Measure. Some people complain of leakage, but you can control or eliminate it by adjusting the tension screw in most cases. And then the handle won't turn because the friction required to make it stop leaking stops the drum from moving. Well, you don't tighten it to the point it won't turn. A lot of people have found a sweet spot, where it doesn't leak, or hardly leaks at all. |
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Quoted: Buy a Harrell. They aren't cheap, but they are the only measure I've owned that worked as advertised, right out of the box. Accurate to .10 grains all the time, regardless of conditions. That's my 2 cents after owning nearly every other powder measure. My Harrell's won't throw charges of less than 6 or 7 grains. Since I sold my Uniflow I can't load pistol on my single stage anymore. |
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Quoted:
Believe it or not. Check out the $20 Lee Perfect Powder Measure. Some people complain of leakage, but you can control or eliminate it by adjusting the tension screw in most cases. They actually came out with a new one that's supposed to be better, the Lee Auto-Drum Powder Measure. I've been thinking of swapping all my Auto-Disk Pros out to the Auto-Drum. In fact, I'm almost setup to load .223 and I just ordered a double disk kit but still don't have a powder thrower for it so I'm more than likely going to order an Auto-Drum for loading .223. |
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Quoted:
Looking for suggestions on a good powder measure. I am currently reloading 38/357 and I like to do 50-100 rounds at a time. Looking to speed the process up some with a good powder measure. I am currently single stage, so I would need one that is mounted to the bench. When loading 38's I use Unique which I have read is difficult for some measures to throw correctly, so take that into consideration. I really like the Lee Auto Disk (and it's still an option) as it screws right into my expansion die and charges the case the same time it's expanded. But after looking at it there is not much as much adjustability in the charge, it's fixed to a certain amount depending on the size of the hole in the disk. I could live with some of the options but thought there would be a better powder measure that could measure out some in between charges....and that isn't too expensive. Any help is appreciated. I have both the Hornady LnL and RCBS Uniflow. If I had to pick one over the other I'd pick the RCBS, but there's not much to choose from between them. The RCBS wins for me because, for whatever reason, it seems less susceptible to static causing powder kernels to stick to it. You can get the Strong Mount for the RCBS that mounts it to your bench. Alternatively, you could get the case activated powder drop and use your single stage press to charge. Not sure which would be faster, but they're probably pretty close. |
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I have the Lee PPM and it doesn't want to get along with Unique. I did some interweb reading on the PPM and flake type powders and what I discovered was the PPM worked great (especially for the price) for most powders but did not do well throwing small flake type charges. I am going to keep it in case I ever need to throw larger charges but for now it doesn't work well for me.
Quoted:
Quoted:
Looking for suggestions on a good powder measure. I am currently reloading 38/357 and I like to do 50-100 rounds at a time. Looking to speed the process up some with a good powder measure. I am currently single stage, so I would need one that is mounted to the bench. When loading 38's I use Unique which I have read is difficult for some measures to throw correctly, so take that into consideration. I really like the Lee Auto Disk (and it's still an option) as it screws right into my expansion die and charges the case the same time it's expanded. But after looking at it there is not much as much adjustability in the charge, it's fixed to a certain amount depending on the size of the hole in the disk. I could live with some of the options but thought there would be a better powder measure that could measure out some in between charges....and that isn't too expensive. Any help is appreciated. I have both the Hornady LnL and RCBS Uniflow. If I had to pick one over the other I'd pick the RCBS, but there's not much to choose from between them. The RCBS wins for me because, for whatever reason, it seems less susceptible to static causing powder kernels to stick to it. You can get the Strong Mount for the RCBS that mounts it to your bench. Alternatively, you could get the case activated powder drop and use your single stage press to charge. Not sure which would be faster, but they're probably pretty close. Yeah I think the RCBS Uniflow is what I am going to get. I found an adapter that allows me to screw it into the Lee powder thru expanding die as well. I can then manually charge it which certainly speeds up the process. Or I can bench mount it...any number of options are available for it. Seems like a good solid PM. |
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I have a pair of Uniflows (one large one small rotor) with actual RCBS micrometer adjustments on them.
You can return to a setting months later. I have two since changing the rotor destroys the zero of the micrometer. My only complaint. It takes some practice to throw consistent loads. |
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I have two Harrells - one for pistol and one for rifle.
Best money I've ever spend in reloading equipment. Quoted:
My Harrell's won't throw charges of less than 6 or 7 grains. Since I sold my Uniflow I can't load pistol on my single stage anymore. Quoted:
Quoted:
Buy a Harrell. They aren't cheap, but they are the only measure I've owned that worked as advertised, right out of the box. Accurate to .10 grains all the time, regardless of conditions. That's my 2 cents after owning nearly every other powder measure. My Harrell's won't throw charges of less than 6 or 7 grains. Since I sold my Uniflow I can't load pistol on my single stage anymore. |
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