Started to do some loadin usin IMR4198...for the first time. Low and behold this type of powder, stick powder?, is not very friendly to my 2 powder dispencers. One is a RCBS the other an older Ohaus. Powder seems to need to be sheared during the process. Makes for a pain in the unowhat. Anyone know of a brand of powder measure that handles this type of powder? Thanks in advance.
Power measure for stick powders
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The Glockodile
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As far as I know, only the Johnson Standard Quick Measure has been purpose - built to handle these kinds of powders.
They have adapters to make them work with Dillon presses.
Pricey, though.
They have adapters to make them work with Dillon presses.
Pricey, though.
Highland Lofts
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On stick powder I throw and weight each charge.
For stick powder I raise the handle, release just a tad while holding the handle up then finish it up.
Then I put the powder tray on the scale and finish it off with a Hornady electronic powder trickler.
For stick powder I raise the handle, release just a tad while holding the handle up then finish it up.
Then I put the powder tray on the scale and finish it off with a Hornady electronic powder trickler.
lordpaxman
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Indeed. I’ve run stick powder through an RCBS, Hornady and Dillon measure, but they all dispense. What exactly is the problem you’re trying to solve?
I've been throwing IMR4198 through a Belding and Mull Visible. I think it works pretty well with the big extruded grains because the opening from the visible chamber to the tube is smaller than typical rotary type measures. They are still available from time to time on Ebay.
savagelover
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Use the lee dippers. Easy. I got rid of the powder measure yrs ago
Lefty38-55
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I heartily 2nd the recommendation of the Belding & Mull design, it's all I use, for rifles anyway!
I also bought some thick wall 1/2" OD brass tubing and I custom make my own charge tubes. I could ship one some 4" lengths if needed ...
I also bought some thick wall 1/2" OD brass tubing and I custom make my own charge tubes. I could ship one some 4" lengths if needed ...
I started off with an RCBS powder measure & had big problems with stick powders like Varget ect. because it was trying to break the sticks in two to get a load of powder.
Then I found the cheap Lee perfect powder measure with the soft lips that doesn't break the sticks.
Just remember to keep the handle down until you need another charge, then raise the handle to pull the next charge & down to dump. If you keep the handle up any vibration will cause the powder to settle & cause erratic powder weights.
Then I found the cheap Lee perfect powder measure with the soft lips that doesn't break the sticks.
Just remember to keep the handle down until you need another charge, then raise the handle to pull the next charge & down to dump. If you keep the handle up any vibration will cause the powder to settle & cause erratic powder weights.
wasa
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I second the use of Lee dippers for stick powders. I have both red and yellow sets and are my go-to method for flake & stick powders. Ball or spherical powders for pistol or small (223) rifle I use the Lee AutoDisk. Good enough for putting holes in paper or clanging steel for me (powder for hunting rounds get weighted every time!)
YMMV
I find that the Lee Perfect Powder measure does a great job with stick powders. I have no idea why that cheap measure works so well, but it is my bench-mounted measure.
It did leak with fine grain powders, but it wore in. If it leaks ans bench-mounted, just put paper below it to collect the leakage. When Dien, disassemble and clean it out. Do not tighten the fir with kernal of powder leaking. I sprayed the rubbing surfaces with a little graphite spray.
If you think you need better than +/- 0.05 gr accuracy, get an RCBS ChargeMaster.
It did leak with fine grain powders, but it wore in. If it leaks ans bench-mounted, just put paper below it to collect the leakage. When Dien, disassemble and clean it out. Do not tighten the fir with kernal of powder leaking. I sprayed the rubbing surfaces with a little graphite spray.
If you think you need better than +/- 0.05 gr accuracy, get an RCBS ChargeMaster.
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Blue68f100
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For extruded powder I use too dispense low and trickle up. Now I just use my RCBS CM1500, set my charge and be done.
VinnAY
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My Lyman55 cuts on the drop but I haven't seen it mean anything of importance to my powder charges. Its a mere annoyance, at best, for me.
NMexJim
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Use Lee powder dippers to get close for dumping on a scale, and then trickle each charge to the tenth. Better for ES and accuracy anyway.
CoalCrackerAl
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4198 got clogged in my RCBS uniflo. I think it was because I have the smaller end on it for .223. I use my Lyman brass smith drop for it now. It has a .30 cal and up end on it.
Ironicaintit
Member
Pretty much every one of the rifle powders I use is in the form of extruded tubes.
I use a uniflow and it does shear off some sticks a lot of the time.... Throw the lever with enough zest to get through it in one motion, and its fine.
Despite the crunchiness, it throws fairly accurately, but i still weigh each one because ocd.
I use a uniflow and it does shear off some sticks a lot of the time.... Throw the lever with enough zest to get through it in one motion, and its fine.
Despite the crunchiness, it throws fairly accurately, but i still weigh each one because ocd.
NMexJim
Member
My experience is that if you shear enough big extruded powder you may get some damage to your powder drop rotor. I ruined a Lyman that way (brass rotor back in those days), so try not to shear too much anymore. I'm using an LNL now which would probably stand it, but why mess around? Once you're set up and in the swing of using powder dips and a trickler, it's pretty fast anyway.
Megawatt maker
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Nobody makes one that works for stick powder, AND can be mounted to a press..forget about one being case activated on top. Not for stick.
The only one that I've found so far is the Cheapo Lee perfect..and while it can be jury rigged to a press..it's so dang flimsy I'm not sure I want to.
I use two electronic trickles so it at least speeds the process up some. One is dispensing while I pour the second one. Still not as fast as a press mounted measure..but it's a compromise that also comes with the benefit of extremely accurate charges.
The only one that I've found so far is the Cheapo Lee perfect..and while it can be jury rigged to a press..it's so dang flimsy I'm not sure I want to.
I use two electronic trickles so it at least speeds the process up some. One is dispensing while I pour the second one. Still not as fast as a press mounted measure..but it's a compromise that also comes with the benefit of extremely accurate charges.
It has rubber wipers in it that dont cut kernels.
The Lee PPM works fine on a progressive. I know a few guys that run them on automated progressives and they run with no issues. I would stick with a rotary drop for fine ball powders though as the Lee PPM will sometimes leak the fine stuff.
nettlle
Contributing Member
If I am going to drop powders directly from the powder measure into the case I don't use stick (extruded) powders. There are some powders other than stick that meter very well out of powder measures. Those are the ones I use in powder measures.
Highland Lofts
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I'll stick with my RCBS and Hornady powder measureres.
I did that with the old Hornady pistol measure, made my own bushings from 1/2" brass rod. The measure worked very well.
Anything with a -M was me. If I needed one between 8 and 9, I bought an 8, modded it and it became an 8-M, but some
were made from scratch from 1/2" rod. I even modded it & the Projector press so it dropped charges automatically.
