RCBS Uniflow powder measure

C

condor bravo

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I had enough Amazon.com award points to acquire a RCBS Uniflow powder measure, stand and baffle at no cost so why not (to supplement my two Competition measures). The unit is indicated as small which I assume means small diameter metering unit. As a replacement a micrometer small adjustment screw is available that I assume is similar to that on the Competition model. The unit has not yet arrived but the question that comes up is the standard powder metering assembly that comes with the unit satisfactory or is the micrometer assembly a great improvement? From available information it seems like it would be.
 
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When it rains, it pours. I just posted about my Uniflow in another thread.

Mine is 32 years old; I use the (non-micrometer) small adjustment screw; and it works great for any and all applications I have ever had. I couldn't ask for more in a powder dispenser.

That's my 5-star recommendation. Grab it!
 
The unit is indicated as small which I assume means small diameter drop tube.
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In the old days 'the small' indicated the drum had the small diameter hole. In the old days the Uniflow came with both small and large drum. Now a drum cost more than the Uniflow complete cost in the old days.

F. Guffey
 
is the micrometer a great improvement? From available information it seems like it would be.
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All of my Uniflow Powder measures are micro adjust, same for most of my Herter powder measures. I use my dial caliper as a depth gage when measuring the protrusion of my adjuster stem.

F. Guffey
 
The small drum is for many loads up to +-60grain of powder - depending on the type of powder. You only need the large drum for large magnums. I have a uniflow since 1984 - excellent product. From time to time the drum gets sticky. Take it out, wipe it clean an apply a little graphite on drum. It will take another few thousands of rounds before your need to clean it again. The baffle helps to ensure even charges. RCBS has great backup service.
 
My Uni-Flo is about 10 years old, with the small drum. I load pistol and rifle from .22 Hornet up to '06, with no complaints.

Just remember, consistency is key when using it. Work the powder measure the same way every time you charge a case. If you have variations on the speed your turning the drum, it can translate to small variations in powder charge.
 
Question for Guffey if still checking the thread:
Did you micro adjust the Herter's measure by using the RCBS micrometer small replacement unit? If so, does that mean that the threads are the same or is some machine shop operation required?
 
Could someone toss in here what I should do to allow my unuflow to throw very small charges? I've not been able to get a grip on it.

When I bought it there were systems that could change from pistol to larger charges. They also sold the micrometer , but that was meant to give a repeatable number to set charges by.

What I'm looking for is a way to easily throw small charges that are consistent without doing a whole of tiny adjustments as I try to get that last tenth.
 
I don't know of any way to zero in on a load without small adjustments and repeated weighing and re-weighing drops until you get the consistent drop weight you are looking for.

You can record the setting on the micrometer in your load notes, but a subsequent loading session will still require you to start at that point and verify the charge weight. That may only require 10 drops or so, but it may require additional adjustments to re-set the measure to the desired charge weight.

If someone has a way to simplify the process, I'd like to hear it too.
 
I guess they are pretty decent, I have 5 or 6 of them for use with different things.

I have one dedicated to sit beside my Rockchucker, one sits atop my 4x4, one by my pistol cast loading table, and one with the large cylinder I tote back and forth to the range or farm when working up rifle loads. Then there is the other with a small cylinder that comes and goes somewhere in amongst all of those.

Well sometimes I use the Lyman 55 too...
 
I used the Uniflow for several years without the micrometer adjuster. A few years ago I upgraded. "What the hell was I doing before?" comes to mind. Get it. It is well worth the money. The base unit is satisfactory but the micro adjust is a great improvement.
 
Have you upgraded any with the micrometer?
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I haven't really seen the need for it with my uses. If I need to dial in something really tight I use the 55.

I usually load in the middle area of most data and for the most part I haven't really seen it wandering much with the powders I like to use.
 
Micro adjust powder adjustment device is very worth while and resembles the device on the Competition model, allowing return to previously weighed powder charges. A charge of 24 gr 4227 for example registers 775 on the micro scale for my setup. This could vary slightly from one measure to the next depending on the number of shims used (0 to 3) when setting up the scale alignment for facing the preferred direction for proper viewing. A must have for the Uniflow. I didn't check the adjustment device that comes with the Uniflow so do not know how that mechanism works in regards to returning to previously weighed powder charges.
 
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The relationship between the micrometer and the volume of powder is linear, so you can weigh a small charge of a particular powder and read the micrometer. Then do the same for a large charge. Plot both charges on a graph and draw a line through the two points. The resulting graph and the micrometer can be used to come very close to any charge for that particular power. As stated earlier you will still need to refine it, but it takes away most of the guess work.
 
Affirmative on the above; that would be the practical way to determine intermediate charges, but perhaps needing some refinement to be more precise.

Use the graph to arrive at a powder setting to get into the ballpark, or more closely probably within the infield, and then use the scale to arrive at the more exact weight if deemed necessary.
 
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