Need a powder measure for small charges

Status
Not open for further replies.
Twiki357

Twiki357

Member
Joined
Jan 26, 2011
Messages
2,040
Location
Prescott Valley, AZ
I’ve been reloading everything from 9mm to 44mag. I just started to work on 32 S&W Long and the powder charges for it are so small that my powder measure won’t drop a consistent charge. I’m working with Bullseye and/or Red Dot. Manual charge range is 1.8 to 2.0. I was loading (or trying to load) at 1.8 grains and getting drops ranging from about 1.4 to 2.5. Took me all afternoon yesterday to load 100 rounds with the correct charge.

I’m looking for a powder measure that will maintain consistency with these small size charges. Preferably a make and model that’s not overly expensive.

Any and all recommendations would be greatly appreciated.
 
What powder measure are you using now? Most companies offer a smaller rotor/drum to help with the smaller charges. I have the RCBS Uniflow and with the small rotor in it, I have no problems throwing sub 3gr charges of bullseye with it.
 
I have thrown charges as small as 2.5 gn of clays with Dillon's "small" bar. They sell an extra small bar too.

Hornady also sells a different insert for their measure for small charges.

What measure do you have and what powder are you using?
 
I have loaded a small amount of 25 ACP and 32 ACP using a Redding 10-X. I think I was using W231 but my loading records and myself are not in the same location at the present time.

In any case, the charges thrown were consistent. While I was near the absolute minimum for the measure's adjustment, I still had a little wiggle room to reduce the powder charges if I needed to.
 
Once you figure out what charge you are liking just make a scoop that is calibrated for that charge using a damaged brass with the correct heads tamp and piece of copper wire for a handle. Just fill it with epoxy more than needed and use a drill to remove small amounts at a time to get it to throw the charge you want. That and a powder funnel and go to town. BTW I mounted my Lee funnel to the front of a shelf on my reloading bench and I scoop with one hand and set the brass under the funnel with the other to charge. Use two loading blocks to avoid double charging (primer up=empty/charged=mouth up) and you will be safe.;) I use this method for the 32 S&W short as well. I just use my 32 ACP seating die to seat the 32 short LRN bullets.
 
I’m using a 50 year old Pacific powder measure. I doubt that the company still exists let alone a smaller drum/rotor. That’s why I’m looking for a new measure. I just want to make sure that I get one that will handle the smaller charges.
 
I'm in the canoe next to you (not exactly the same boat) I have grown to despise a few powder dispensers to the point that I no longer even attempt to use them at all. I build dippers...but with the 2 grain max load for 32swl I'm also having trouble with consistency using bullseye. I can get close but still overcharge about every 10th case. As such I haven't actually loaded ANY yet, still working on my tool (dipper) setup. My current setup is a 32swl with #8 machine screw tapped into the flash hole and a nut on the base used to lock it in adjustment (jamnut) and the case cut back significantly. I'm afraid I may have to drop down to a 25acp case or even 22 short to avoid the mounding which is my problem. I know your question is about drops, but I hope what I have done helps at least a little.
 
I have a Harrell's Shuetzen that is supposed to go down to 2 grains. The lowest I have ever tried it is 4 grains. It's pretty consistent. It's not the cheapest measure out there.
 
Just to add, to get consistent powder charges from any powder measure, it requires consistent operation every stroke.
 
Well I agree the powder measure, and operator technique are going to be a factor here. A different powder choice may improve things too. I like Bullseye and Red Dot, but I have not loaded anything below three grains for any of my hand loads. I am wondering if something else would meter just a bit better.
 
I have built dippers for all of my "usual" loads with small 5.7X28 or 9mm cases. I also have an adjustable dipper similar to what Westkentucky has, it works but needs a little perfecting. I use plastic coat hangers and JB weld to put them together....
 

Attachments

  • IMG_0585.jpg
    IMG_0585.jpg
    139 KB · Views: 43
WestKentucky Look at the Lee dippers for an idea of diameter vs charge percentage. His are designed to have no more than a 10% max if mounded up with propellant. I use this fact when using my Lee dippers. I just measure a series of mounded charges to see if it is in the range I want. The nut and screw on the back side of the brass was not the method I wanted as it becomes somewhat onerous to dip charges without bumping and banging the dipper and settling the dipped amount significantly.

The Little Dandy would work great I would think but is expensive to buy assuming getting all the rotors as well. With the Lyman 55 I find I can adjust easily for charges that are small using corn flake sized grains. BUT a fixed dipper is SO much easier IMHO.;)

OP you could go with some Trail Boss and have larger drops to contend with.
 
I have 2 small Redding powder drops. They are adjustable down to let just a few kernels to a small charge. I use them for .32ACP and other small calibers.
 
I don't own an extra small powder bar for a Dillon measure but did just go check one of my RCBS uniflow measures. The lowest charge of bullseye I could throw with it was 1.9 grains.

Then I remembered a Lyman measure (triple slide style) that I never really liked for extruded powders.

I could turn it down far enough that it would only drop a dozen kernels of bullseye (0.0 grains). Turned the skinny slide out a few turns and threw 10 charges all at .8gn.

It's the orange measure on the left of this photo.

stmounts.jpg
 
Last edited:
Make some dippers as others have noted.

It is all in how you use them.

Scoop, not not tap or shake. Use a flat edge to level it off.
 
I have great results with the Pro Auto Disk and the Adjustable Charge Bar with the "false wall" mod.
 
Jmorris that is a Lyman 55 with the knocker removed you are showing there. I have an older one that says Ideal #55 on it but it is the same critter. That is what I use for developing a load then make a dedicated dipper for most small loads.
 
These are the results with a new Lee Classic Powder measure set at 2cc with Bullseye.

1-1.3gr
2-1.4gr
3-1.4gr
4-1.4gr
5-1.5gr
6-1.4gr
7-1.4gr
8-1.4gr
9-1.3gr
10-1.4gr

And for 10 consecutive drops, again set for 2cc, 14.4gr or 1.44gr average.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

Curator
  • Locked
Powder measure for really small charges.
Replies
23
Views
5K
RealGun
RealGun
R
  • Locked
Uniflow powder measure and small charges of Bullseye
Replies
9
Views
2K
bfoster
B
S
  • Locked
Powder Measure for 2.5+ Grains
Replies
22
Views
1K
wingman
W
3
  • Locked
.25acp powder charge
Replies
21
Views
3K
stu1ritter
stu1ritter
Y
  • Locked
Accurate powder measure for Varget, H322?
Replies
3
Views
1K
HSMITH
H
Back
Top