Powder measure

[Allen]

I use a single stage RCBS press for my pistol and rifle reloading. I have the RCBS uniflow powder measure but am not happy with it. It cuts powder and I find it to be real pain to get a consistent charge from.

Can anyone tell of a good powder measure and why you use it over other types.

Thanks

Allen

[res45]

Most powder measures want throw stick powders with long extruded grains very accurately. The best thing to do is get a good throw that is close to your desired load and use a trickler to finish it off.

I don't know how consistent your measure is throwing charges but a few tenths as long as your not using Max. loads want make that much of a difference in the real scheme of things,there are a lot more variables that will affect accuracy than your powder charge being dead on every time. For instance bench rest shooters throw charges by volume not measured weight.

I use a RCBS Lil Dandy and rotors to throw 99% of my powder for pistol ammo and even some rifle loads I use with cast bullets of course I always check the loads with my scales. The only ammo I use a scale and trickler with for loading each rd. is my hunting ammo that I have a certain load tuned for that rifle,I load up 50 rds. and I'm set for a couple years.

I've found that light to medium charges with cast lead bullet in pistols and some rifle loads shoot the most accurately. For rifle and pistol loads that use jacketed bullets powders that fill the case around 85 to 90% shoot the most accurately in my guns a few tents on either side make no difference in accuracy at least with my shooting abilities.

I throw Red Dot charges for my 30-30 cast loads with my RCBS DUO measure and it not dead on the money all the time +/- two tenths usually is the norm and I get these kinds of groups with my old Sav. pump 30-30 at 50 yds. on a regular basis.

[Rapier]

Extruded powder, log or stick type, is a problem for all powder throws, but you can do a fix for better accuracy on your RCBS powder throw by replacing the original adjustment rod with the one offered by RCBS that has increments and numbers on it, similar to the Redding powder throw. Before I changed over to the better RCBS rod, I was not happy with the RCBS throw either, now it works as good as my old Redding and is my go to single stage powder throw.

I have two types of Dillon throws, a Little Dandy, a Redding, A Lyman and a PW Metalic II with one of the throws mounted on it as needed, none do great on Extruded powder. I also have the standard MEC powder/shot bar type throws, with adjustable chambers for 410 and 28 ga.
Ed

[Catfish]

I use about all ball powders for the reasons stated. Try some ball powders which are near the powders you are now useing on the burn rate chart.

[buckhunter]

When I throw charges I do not use stick powder. New Had a problem.

[dovehunter]

I use the Lee Perfect Powder Measure and it works great - very consistent from charge to charge - with ball or flake powders. I've never tried it with cylindrical powders like 3031, 4064, etc. for the reasons the others have stated. I usually only use those for near maximum loads in which I weigh each charge anyway. Maybe I'll try one of the cylindrical powders in my measure just to see how they do.

[Adam Helmer]

Allen,

I use a Lyman Model 55 powder measure and it does cut stick powder. The variance is less than two-tenths of a grain by actual scale measurement; thus, it really is no big deal for hunting guns. I went to H414 for the very reason of your post here.

The long and short of it is that "Stick" powder gets cut in the measure process. I use some stick powder and more Ball powder.

Adam

[Jack]

Every powder measure will cut/hang up with long stick powders. Hence the marketing of 'short cut' versions of some of the old standby stick powders like 4350 and 4831.
The only real cure is to switch to ball type powders. In the past, you couldn't find many ball powders that were as slow as 4831, etc, but you can now, as new ball powders have come out. Accurate Arms Magpro is but one example of a slow ball powder.

[Allen]

Thanks for the info. Will try some of the powders suggested.

Allen

[Ol` Joe]

Not a good video but it gives you the idea I hope