Powder measure. RCBS or Redding or....

[Bill M.]

I currently use a Lee auto drum. I am having the sticky expanding die problem with the Lee through the die expander. I have read how to fix that. But...it got me to wondering about just doing it differently.

I like the little flat mount that mounts the RCBS to the press. Does anybody use one of those and is it solid? The RCBS Competition small drum says made in USA. Is the Redding likely to be significantly better? I started out looking at the Redding but I think I like the RCBS mounting better.

Will get a Redding expander die if I go for the change. The Lyman M is not available in .357 now and they do not even make in in my main caliber (.41 Mag). Oddly I have no trouble with the Lee expander in that caliber.

So I have a couple of hundred dollars of powder measure loaded into my cart at Midway. Is hand throwing with a good measure likely to produce more uniform loads that the Lee Auto Drum?

This last batch of shells I ended up running all 50 through the expander die without powder and then went back and ran them through a second time to drop the charges. That worked better but is a pain.

 

[rkittine]

If I am going to Throw Powder Charges, it is only with a Harrells.

Bob

 

[Project355]

Very happy with the RCBS "quick change" measure. Its basically a Uniflow that has easily removable inserts rather than having to change the drum in order to change from large to small cavities. And... for some reason... its less expensive than the Uniflow, _and_ comes with both cavity inserts (which is an extra for the Uniflow).

All drop type measures are pretty much the same though. A drum, an adjustable cavity, a hopper, and handle on the drum, and a drop spout. Micrometer adjust is not what they crack it up to be, as the cavity diameters are the same, just different thread pitches on the adjuster screw. I've never _not_ been able to get .1 grain differences with fine flake powder and small charges by turning a standard screw 1/3 turn or so. There are double and triple adjustments on some of the cavities in some brands. Again, perhaps more trouble than improvement. The _real_ accuracy of a measure is the precision of the fit between the drum and the body casting of the measure. A close fit there will mean more than all the bells and whistles.

I used think that a very narrow cavity would give best consistency for small charges. More or less true, but there's a point of no return, and the powder measure folks have got that pretty much worked out. You can make, or buy a baffle for the hopper, but.... if you're not using a progressive press, or not loading 1000 rounds on a single stage, it won't make much difference. If you're loading 100, 200 rounds even, and settle the powder in by tapping the hopper and throwing a dozen or so "settling charges" before adjusting, you'll have zero or almost nil variation from beginning to end. Baffles work great if you're going from full to empty in my estimation.

 

[Kevin Rohrer]

If you want thrown-charges and don't want to spend a lot, find a Hollywood on Ebay.

 

[9mmepiphany]

The _real_ accuracy of a measure is the precision of the fit between the drum and the body casting of the measure.

I've always understood that the real determinate of accuracy in a powder measure was the consistency of process of the operator.

 

[Project355]

I've always understood that the real determinate of accuracy in a powder measure was the consistency of process of the operator.

Well yah, but that should be consistent across brands and models. So, given the same operator, the finer fitting drum takes the prize. A

 

[cfullgraf]

I like my Redding 10-X for handgun cartridges, an RCBS Uniflow with the small drum for small rifle cartridges (204 Ruger, 223 Remington, and so forth), and an RCBS Uniflow with the large drum for larger rifles (308 Win, 30-06, etc).

I prefer to have micrometer adjusters on my powder measures. The Redding comes with one, with RCBS, it is an optional accessory. It does not make the powder measure more accurate, it just makes adjusting the powder charge easier and makes returning to a known powder charge quicker.

My 2 cents worth.

 

[Project355]

I am having the sticky expanding die problem with the Lee through the die expander.

This last batch of shells I ended up running all 50 through the expander die without powder and then went back and ran them through a second time to drop the charges. That worked better but is a pain.

FWIW, since day one in the 70's for me, I've always expanded, then charged while in the loading block. I guess two items come to mind. First is, back then, I don't think there were "charge through the expander" dies on the market (that I know of at least), and more important, I like to visually examine _all 50_ charged cases before I seat the bullet, with no chance of spilling powder. So... I just run 'em under the powder measure while in the loading block, get out my little LED flashlight, and scan up and down the rows to see if there's an oddball, or if I've spilled powder. I don't usually spill anything, nor double charge, but have caught the very rare "no charge" case, and correct that as I go. Some times I'll _intentionally_ double charge one case, just to see what it looks like as a comparison to the normal charges, then empty it and recharge it after "inspection" is through. Yah, its extra work, but I can't complain.

 

[Walkalong]

the finer fitting drum

Helps it be smooth and not leak, but the design and quality of the insert or chamber that holds/drops the powder and how the measure is operating that males it better or worse.

 

[Walkalong]

The RCBS Competition small drum says made in USA. Is the Redding likely to be significantly better?

As much as I like my Redding BR-30 and 10X, I would say no, not significantly, if at all. Both make good products.

 

[rkittine]

Go to a Short Range Bench Rest Match where Nationally Ranked Shooters load and tune loads at the bench and what you will see are a lot of Harrell's powder measures. Those who pointed out, Operator input are correct. When I first got mine, I worked on getting my cadence and velocity consistent and can get great accuracy with it.

Bob

 

[edwardware]

Get an RCBS Uniflow, and be done. It leaves no significant room for improvement. You can spend much more, but you can't buy much more for a volumetric measure.

I use the Small Cylinder for every cartridge I load; .375 H&H requires 2x throws. The micrometer stem is gold for coming back to a setting.

 

[rfwobbly]

There are lots of hints to look for in a great powder measure.... metal construction, powder baffle, solid mounting, optional cavity diameters, acid resistant hoppers, etc.

But I'm with Walkalong, probably 70% of the accuracy is in the operator's technique.

 

[Catpop]

Lyman 55 here
I’m old old school.