Powder measure question

[selfshrevident]

Couldn't find any threads on this forum or google. I have an RCBS uniflow powder measure. Up until this point I have only been loading pistol rounds but I'm about to do my first batch of .223.

Question: with all the built up pistol powder residue in the powder measure, is it safe to start throwing rifle powder in there? I was maybe thinking about buying a separate powder measure just for rifle powders but I would prefer not to.

[a308garand]

Simply clean up the powder measure and use it for both rifle and pistol. A bigger issue is to make sure the drum is sized for the amount of powder you wish to throw. You can use the small or large drum, but I believe the small drum will still throw enough powder for .223 powder loads.

I completely empty the powder measure after a loading job. Cycle the drum a bunch of times, dropping the remaining powder into a cup. Even holding it upside down to drop remaining powder out through the plastic tube. This ensures it is ready for the next use.

Here is a link to show how you can tune up an old powder measure, may even give you a good idea on how to get yours cleaned out.

http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_6_42/380281_Tuning_a_Uniflo_powder_measure.html

Added: I went outside to snap a photo for you. Hitting auction sites can pay off in getting good condition, used equipment. I have a few set up to throw different loads, using tape on the cap to remind me of what the measure is set to throw. Always using a scale to confirm the amount of powder thrown...

[Davisje011]

Yep, you can empty it out and even use a little rubbing alcohol to wipe it down if you're worried about contamination.

[22popnsplat]

I would not sweat the residue , I turn over and empty the hopper into the original powder container using a funnel and then flip the handle a few times to get the last few grains out and then fill it up with the new powder.

[stevec223]

uni-flo

small drum up to 50 grs..... i use mine up to 308 ect.... have another uni-flo set up with large drum...cheers..

[ExtremeX]

I'm a bit more cautions when changing between pistol and rifle powders than rifle to rifle. I generally take it apart and quickly wipe mine down between powder changes; I have to take some of it apart anyways when switching from pistol to rifle since I use a case activated powder drop on a progressive.

Once you do it a few times the process goes pretty quick.

I use small drum for pistol and .223, I use large for .308 since I find the wider mouth gets me better results with extruded powders.

its nice having atleast two uniflows with the small and large drum if you need it.

[Bill Steele]

When changing powders in my drops, I dump the hopper and cycle the drop maybe 5 times to assure any remaining powder is gone. As far as the residue, I have found the graphite coating remaining in the drop is beneficial to reliable consistency.

[noylj]

All the residue in the measure should be graphite. If you have kernels of powder, blow air into measure to get rid of them.
The graphite is what you WANT in the measure.

[GeoffLinder]

When changing powders in my drops, I dump the hopper and cycle the drop maybe 5 times to assure any remaining powder is gone. As far as the residue, I have found the graphite coating remaining in the drop is beneficial to reliable consistency.

^^^^ This, no worries, just dump old, fill with new and cycle a few time to set charge level and verify, then good to go :-)

[selfshrevident]

Alright sounds like ill just be cleaning it out- that'll save me some money.

But I was doing some research, and came up with the question is the RCBS uni powder measure the best thing to be using for stick powders? I've never loaded rifle cartridges yet so things have been easy up to this point with flaky pistol powder.

I was able to find some Varget and noticed that its a stick powder and probably won't measure too well out of the RCBS with it being a volume based system. Hell even some people with the super crazy RCBS charge master set up don't get accurate throws sometimes with stick powder.

Any recommendations?

[NoNOS67]

I use Varget and H335 for.223. H335 is a ball powder and meters very, very nicely.

[Fjold]

I would not sweat the residue , I turn over and empty the hopper into the original powder container using a funnel and then flip the handle a few times to get the last few grains out and then fill it up with the new powder.

Me too.

I also occasionally wipe out the hopper with an old dryer sheet to cut the static cling.

[Bill Steele]

Alright sounds like ill just be cleaning it out- that'll save me some money.

But I was doing some research, and came up with the question is the RCBS uni powder measure the best thing to be using for stick powders? I've never loaded rifle cartridges yet so things have been easy up to this point with flaky pistol powder.

I was able to find some Varget and noticed that its a stick powder and probably won't measure too well out of the RCBS with it being a volume based system. Hell even some people with the super crazy RCBS charge master set up don't get accurate throws sometimes with stick powder.

Any recommendations?

Your suspicions are correct, none of the larger kernal stick powders will meter well. It isn't the drop, it is the powder. I have high expectations of my powder charge accuracy, so I drop and then trickle up. My RCBS 1010 is a dream in that mode.

As indicated above, ball powders do a lot better.

Good luck, have fun.