Powder Measures?

[Josh Smith]

Hello,

I load one pistol round, the .45acp, and two rifle rounds, the 7.62x54R and the 7.92x57J.

For the .45, I use a Lee Autodisk. It charges just fine and weight variance is not more than +/-0.1grn, I've found. Still, I check it every 10 throws.

Now, I've been looking at powder measures for the rifles. Currently I use some of those Lee scoops and a Lyman (I think) powder trickler to measure each charge (46.5grns Varget for the 7.92x57J and 47grns for the 7.62x54R).

It takes a few seconds to a minute to get each charge right.

Now, I'm wondering if the powder measures are worth it? I have several hundred pulled bullets for the 7.62x54R and shoot it a lot. The 7.92x57J hasn't gotten shot a lot yet, but that's going to change soon.

Do you use powder measures, and how do you like them?

Thanks,

Josh

[BigBronco]

When loading for bolt action rifle I use a RCBS Chargemaster scale/dispenser. When loading 223 plinking ammo I throw from a RCBS Uniflow. If I want tighter groups out of the AR I go back to using the charge master. This ammo I keep separate from the plinking stuff. OH my sons get to use the piking stuff I shoot the ones weighed on the Chargemaster. And this is why the old man out shoots them.

[ejhc11]

I use this, it may be the bottom end of the spectrum but for me but its accurate for my Varget and H4895 dispenses. I do check the charges every 5th and its on the ball.

http://www.midwayusa.com/Product/540522/lee-perfect-powder-measure

[ireload]

I use RCBS Uniflow with a baffle. So far the Uniflow has been good. With ball powder barely any variation with short extruded powder like R15 it's between .1 to .2 grain variation but I still get consistent grouping.

[popeye4]

I used to use an RCBS Uniflow, but picked up a Harrell's Precision measure a couple of years ago. It is a much more precise measure than the RCBS (though I got good service from the RCBS unit). I've also been able to work up loads that are not terrribly sensitive to a couple tenths of a grain in variation, so I don't sweat using the powder measure.

[joefreas]

+1 on the chargemaster. And I use a RCBS and Lee throwers for plinker stuff.

[Endofcomment]

Hornady powder measure for a mid range culver style measure. Get it and don't look back. It seems to be more accurate my rcbs quick change powder measure.

[Dark Mod]

I dont even want to think about how much it would suck to not use a powder measure, definatley get one. You can get a super cheap Lee perfect powder measure that works fine. Your not making match grade ammo so theres no point in trickling and measuring each charge

[Paper Boy]

I have the lee powder measure for plinking stuff and the Hornady Lock-N-Load Auto Charge Powder Scale and Dispenser for my good loads

[grant22]

I've been interested in one of these, also, for my precision rounds.

Can anyone indicate which one is absolutely the best (regardless of price)? Hornady, Lyman, RCBS, etc........

[Josh Smith]

You know, I was looking on eBay since I sell the conversion service there.

Some Chinese company is shipping in Lee-style cast ones for not a lot of money.

I always have troubles bringing myself to buy Chinese so I've not tried one, but the few reviews they have are good...

Might be a prelude to trying something more expensive and American-made for those of you who can deal with China.

Regards,

Josh

[noylj]

Not reading all the messages, let me just state my opinion:
You are being too OCD about the charge weight.
For a load of 46gn, 0.3gn is not going to be reflected in the velocity or the target.
Get a powder measure and start to crank out rounds.
If you are convinced that you absolutely must control to +/- 0.1gn, then continue as you are. Even a ChargeMaster does not throw every charge at the exact target weigt, but will sometimes throw 0.1-0.2gn over. You can simply put your finger in the pan and remove about 0.1gn at a time to get the "exact" weight you want.
I am not sure about today, but historically, benchrest shooters generally had only a round idea of the charge weight. They threw all loads by volume and reported based on volume setting or what size rotor they used.
You can get a lot more out of your guns simply by using uniform and high quality bullets that are sized to your barrel's groove diameter, testing powders to determine what each gun prefers, doing the minimal amount of sizing required to chamber a round, determining the best COL for each bullet, and getting in a lot of practice.
I can not recommend the Hornady L-N-L measure enough. The metering assembly is only $10, so you can save an assembly with a note of the cartridge, powder, and powder charge it is set for and not ever have to try to get back to that specific setting. Or, you could buy the micrometer metering assembly, and keep detailed notes of setting and charge weight of each powder.

[EmmaGoldman]

Lyman 55 or Harrel's

[Desert_Rat]

I have 2 Dillons and a Uniflow. All 3 are good enough for what I do.

Titegroup from 1 dillon
4320 from the other and Unique, BLC2 or Varget from the Uniflow.

[stand125]

I use a Lee auto disk for my turret press and a Lee powder drop for my single stage, both of which are always within.1 grains of Titegroup and W231. If I am out in the field I use my Lee dippers for my Lee CLassic loaders. The most accurate is the dippers, because I load the case on an electronic scale so if I am a hair off ( which does not happen much ) I can just trickle in a few flakes of powder to get it just right . It amazing how accurate the dippers are if you use the same technique every time. When I first got my Lee powder drop I followed the instructions aqnd ran through a full hopper of powder to coat the internals, which does not take very long if you are throwing the max charge.