Do you think the diameter of the smaller pistol/handgun metering cavity in a drum style powder measure makes a difference in how consistent the powder measure operates.
It is a given that the large cavity drums designed for rifle do not do well, for the most part, with handgun size powder charges.
I have four different drum style powder measures, an RCBS Uniflow, Redding 10-X, Hornady L-N-L and a Midway Indispensable. (The Midway indispensable powder measure was discontinued in the 90s. I bought it on close out because it came with two micrometer adjusters on the metering drums.)
The diameter of the pistol cavity, or small cavity drums that I have for each measure is:
Uniflow 0.4975" diameter
10-X 0.374" diameter
L-N-L 0.311" diameter
Indispensable 0.308" diameter
i stopped using the Uniflow for small handgun powder charges a decade or so ago when i bought the Redding 10-X. Ditto for the Indispensable. I do not specifically remember, but I would guess the handgun powder charges were not very consistent. I use the RCBS with the small metering cavity for small rifle charges like 223 Remington. The Indispensable had the rifle cavity installed for large rifle cartridges like 30-06.
The Redding meters very well, including flake powder like Unique and 700-X. In fact, I have modified a second 10-X for use on the progressive.
On the progressive, the L-N-L will throw a light charge once in a while that is not picked up by the powder cop die but leads to a noticeably lighter discharge in the gun.
I wonder if the smaller diameter cavities cause inconsistencies with flake powders. Do you think there is an optimum diameter?
Any thoughts or observations on this?
Thanks.
It is a given that the large cavity drums designed for rifle do not do well, for the most part, with handgun size powder charges.
I have four different drum style powder measures, an RCBS Uniflow, Redding 10-X, Hornady L-N-L and a Midway Indispensable. (The Midway indispensable powder measure was discontinued in the 90s. I bought it on close out because it came with two micrometer adjusters on the metering drums.)
The diameter of the pistol cavity, or small cavity drums that I have for each measure is:
Uniflow 0.4975" diameter
10-X 0.374" diameter
L-N-L 0.311" diameter
Indispensable 0.308" diameter
i stopped using the Uniflow for small handgun powder charges a decade or so ago when i bought the Redding 10-X. Ditto for the Indispensable. I do not specifically remember, but I would guess the handgun powder charges were not very consistent. I use the RCBS with the small metering cavity for small rifle charges like 223 Remington. The Indispensable had the rifle cavity installed for large rifle cartridges like 30-06.
The Redding meters very well, including flake powder like Unique and 700-X. In fact, I have modified a second 10-X for use on the progressive.
On the progressive, the L-N-L will throw a light charge once in a while that is not picked up by the powder cop die but leads to a noticeably lighter discharge in the gun.
I wonder if the smaller diameter cavities cause inconsistencies with flake powders. Do you think there is an optimum diameter?
Any thoughts or observations on this?
Thanks.