Powder measure/dispenser . . .

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Prof Young

New member
Loaders:

I've been using a Lee Perfect Powder Measure. It works okay, but tends to leak a little on really fine powders and it gets a little "stiff" if you tighten it up enough to not leak. So I'm thinking about a new powder measure. I'm not a high tech loader so don't really need trickle type.

So what measure do you all suggest.

Live well, be safe
Prof Young
 
The only thing I've ever used was/is an RCBS Uniflow. I got it in 1984 and it still works like the day it was made. Without doubt, it's thrown one hundred thousand rounds - maybe two. It's remarkably consistent - still.

Although I have nothing else against which to compare it; I'd say that 31+ years of pretty much flawless metering should say something.
 
Hornady or Uni-Flo are about the only reasonable choices and both are good ones.

I seem to have better accuracy with the Hornady in small charges though and I really don't know why, they are both about the same measure, I think Hornady uses RCBS design for the dispensor and RCBS uses Hornady's design for the linkage when it is press mounted and case activated.

They have some kind of agreement between them.

Those are the only two I would consider, but I admit I'm set in my ways and have always had good luck with those two.
 
You are probably talking about handgun loading, but if rifle would suggest what RCBS calls their Competition model, last pricing I think around $ 130 but be sure to get the stand that goes along with it (and other RCBS measures).
 
Prof,

The spherical propellants don't pack down as much as stick powders do, but their fine grains clog up the Perfect and also my favorite stick powder measure, the JDS Quick Measure. Some folks disassemble and deburr the casting of the Perfect and tighten it a little and claim to improve the leakage problem, but the ones I have in my range box both do best with stick powder and stubby larger grains, and I haven't bothered to alter them for those applications.

The Hornady and Uniflow and Redding drum measures all do well with the spherical powders. So do horizontal metering cavity measures like the Lyman 55 or the expensive Harrell measures. So, I expect, will the new Lee Classic cast measure, which is a metal version of the Perfect and should not have the fit and leak problems the molded plastic parts in the Perfect do. It also has the advantage that they will sell you separate metering drums so you can leave them set up for a particular load and swap them out easily. Call and ask Lee about it with fine powders and describe your problem with the Perfect and make sure it gets around that, but I'm pretty sure it will. It is new this year, and don't have one to play with yet. So I am just surmising from the description that this will address your problem and operate and adjust the same way the Perfect does, which will make it easy for you.

One thing to watch for if you switch measures is a minimum charge capacity number. The Harrells have a 6 grain minimum and my Redding BR-30 has a 10 grain minimum. These are intended for rifle cartridges. They are not appropriate for some handgun loads, obviously.
 
Invest in a quality metal drum measure from RCBS or Redding. You'll be glad you did. My Redding 10X dispenses almost all handgun powders very accurately. Unique and Trail Boss are the only powders I've tried that are less than +/- .1 grain accurate. Ball powders meter perfectly and don't leak. It will also dispense light charges of Bullseye and Clays.
 
Thanks . . .

Loaders:
Thanks for all the info. Am leaning toward an RCSB at this point. Will let you all know how it goes.
Live well, be safe
Prof Young
 
Take a look at the new Lee Auto Drum. It's getting lots of good reviews, including mine. Here it is set up for loading 221 Fireball along with the Lee Short Rifle Charging Die. For all the time I've been handloading this is my first ever press mounted charging system. So far I really like it.

 
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