I've been reloading 9mm thru .357 mag. handgun rounds with my RCBS Uniflow powder measure using the small drum and a Micrometer adjustment screw and like it just fine. I am now setting up for reloading .223 and .308 rifle rounds. I bought another Uniflow for the bench (the other lives on my progressive press) and only have the larger size drum with it. If I were only doing .223, I would buy another small drum and Micrometer adjustment screw, but I don't think the small drum will hold enough powder for .308. I know with this type of powder measure, it is best to use the smaller drum to keep the charges more consistent with smaller loads (at least it's true for small handgun loads). I would rather not have to swap the Uniflow hardware when switching back and forth (or buy them), but if I will get better results, then so be it. Anybody do both .223 & .308 with the large drum? If so, how consistent is it for the .223?
Which RCBS Uniflow drum for .223 & .308?
- Thread starter gargodude
- Start date
Smoke & Recoil
New member
The RCBS Uniflow large drum works just fine with .223....I use mine
right down to 3.5 grains of Blue Dot.
Hey, I'm not talking about Blue Dot in .223, so don't go there.
right down to 3.5 grains of Blue Dot.
Hey, I'm not talking about Blue Dot in .223, so don't go there.
Last edited:
FrankenMauser
New member
I use the large drum for everything.
It meets my needs for all rifle cartridges - .223-class on up to .30-06-class.
I also use the large drum for handgun loads, but not very frequently. One of these days, I'll buy another powder measure for that.
Below about 4.5 grains, it chokes to death on flake powders; but that's really just a byproduct of the design (in that situation, the clearance from the center of the rotor piston to the bore is about 70% of the thickness of a powder flake - so it's about like trying to force a loaf of bread through a clothes ringer
). And, those light charges are below the advertised minimum, anyway.
It meets my needs for all rifle cartridges - .223-class on up to .30-06-class.
I also use the large drum for handgun loads, but not very frequently. One of these days, I'll buy another powder measure for that.
Below about 4.5 grains, it chokes to death on flake powders; but that's really just a byproduct of the design (in that situation, the clearance from the center of the rotor piston to the bore is about 70% of the thickness of a powder flake - so it's about like trying to force a loaf of bread through a clothes ringer
). And, those light charges are below the advertised minimum, anyway.Usually the only issues you will have are with the thicker longer stick powders, and I doubt you will be using them in these two calibers anyway. I have loaded a TON of .243 rounds using the small bore cylinder. I have 5 or 6 Uniflow measures and use them for different things.
Like you I have one mounted on my progressive, one on the bench, and the others do duty for range work or other small jobs. I use the large cylinder most of the time except on my progressive press where I use the small on due to loading mostly 10mm and 45 ACP. That said though, I use the one for test loads at the range which has the large cylinder in it for my 357 through 454 loads, up into my rifle calibers.
Like you I have one mounted on my progressive, one on the bench, and the others do duty for range work or other small jobs. I use the large cylinder most of the time except on my progressive press where I use the small on due to loading mostly 10mm and 45 ACP. That said though, I use the one for test loads at the range which has the large cylinder in it for my 357 through 454 loads, up into my rifle calibers.
