Powder measure help

[brettkeating]

I have an RCBS Uniflow powder measure. I don't really get very consistent charges out of it, even though I believe I've tried just about every piece of advice I've read in various forums. This is especially a problem for flake powders at small (around 4 grain) charges.

I've tried wiping everything with a dryer sheet beforehand. I have not tried adding a powder baffle to the dispenser (how much can this help when static electricity remains a problem?). I haven't tried lining the dispenser with a dryer sheet. I have cleaned off and lightly lubed the parts several times.

What exactly has been useful in this regard? I see suggestions for using dryer sheets but no accurate instructions for placing them in the dispenser. Should I just plaster a few around the edges of the dispenser cylinder walls? Seems messy.

Also, are powder dispensers like the Uniflow simply a bit too inaccurate for small charges of flake powders?

As always, I appreciate the freely shared knowledge on this forum Sorry if this question has been answered before.

[bubbala]

i don't think they need any lube at all. powder contains all the lube you need.
first thing i would do is clean off any lube and then run about a pound of powder through the tool.
i can't say for sure that's the problem but it's a start.
p.s.my redding pistol measure handles flake just fine.

[stilly]

I have an RCBS Uniflow powder measure. I don't really get very consistent charges out of it, even though I believe I've tried just about every piece of advice I've read in various forums. This is especially a problem for flake powders at small (around 4 grain) charges.

I've tried wiping everything with a dryer sheet beforehand. I have not tried adding a powder baffle to the dispenser (how much can this help when static electricity remains a problem?). I haven't tried lining the dispenser with a dryer sheet. I have cleaned off and lightly lubed the parts several times.

What exactly has been useful in this regard? I see suggestions for using dryer sheets but no accurate instructions for placing them in the dispenser. Should I just plaster a few around the edges of the dispenser cylinder walls? Seems messy.

Also, are powder dispensers like the Uniflow simply a bit too inaccurate for small charges of flake powders?

As always, I appreciate the freely shared knowledge on this forum Sorry if this question has been answered before.

These questions come and get answered all the time. But the details change so you need to examine what the cause of this fluctuation is. If it is 800-X powder or varget or something like that then I say it is your powder. Sorry Charley, trade it for ball powder.

The OLD uniflow sucks compared to the lock n load powder dropper or the new RCBS Quick Change uniflow drum/rotor dropper they got. You might be able to get a different tube, but maybe not. I was looking for a uniflow and I happened upon the lock n load. I did not know that the uniflow did NOT allow the quick change of the powder tube. GOOD for me I guess I got lucky with my choice.

You need to make it work. Check your powder, FLAKE stuff is okay, but wrinkled flake sucks. I think BLUE DOT meters GREAT along with all ball powders, but stuff like IMR 800-X will make you need to trickle in the powder unless you are creative and get a vibrator attached and use it like a concrete vibrator...

One thing that I do with powders that do not meter properly is this:

Start the scale- American Weigh Gemini Pro 20Gram milligram scale
Put a primed shell on it and tare it out
put the shell on the press, flare and charge.
weigh the shell again
trickle if necessary
once powder charge is correct, put shell back on press and seat the bullet...

That can be done rather fast with this digital scale and the batteries will last for about 6+ months. Once you get a rhythm going you will find it easy, but just not as fast as full blown turret loading.

[pacrat]

I have an RCBS Uniflow powder measure.

Are you using the appropriate drum and adj stem for light pistol loads?

There are 2 different sizes. When dropping light charges with the large stem/drum they are inconsistant.

JM2c

[Javi]

I own a Uniflow but have only run two different pistol powders throught it: IMR Trail Boss & Hodgdon Titegroup. I cleaned it up when I got it but didn't have any dry lube to put on it. I bought the highly recommended baffle(Don't know why it doesn't come with it..) & the small measure stem.

It took a while for powder to stop sticking completely but it did eventually. I find the Uniflow to be very accurate. I'm happy with it!

[rdfact]

Graphite powder works wonders to prevent the powder from sticking to the powder measure.

[ducky_0811]

I have the same issue with unique out of my Lyman powder measure....it does great for my rifle loads but 5.1gr of flake is just terrible

[Bastard]

I polished the crap out of a old Pacific (Hornady) one some time ago, can't say that it helped any but it did give me something to do for a while... just make sure that you have the correct drum/stem in it, although some I have heard that some people have had better luck loading difficult pistol powders with the rifle stem.
Clean it out with some alcohol and let it dry, then run a pound or two of powder through it to get it properly "seasoned".

[huckberry668]

what's the error range? I remember I was getting .1 grain difference when I used Green Dot, Unique and Herco. HP38, W231 or other flattened ball powders work just fine. 4 grains of flake powder with a large/rifle drum can be a problem.

A few things to consider:

1. Absolutely no lube on any part of the powder measure. In fact, degrease the drum, cylinder and piston. I cleaned up the burry edges with steel wool.
2. vibration can cause variations. mount the powder measure separately.
3. use a baffle and tap the powder hopper to settle the powder before running it.
4. I tap the handle twice on top and twice on bottom for each charge with consistant force.
5. I reduce rifle charge to half so I'd throw twice for each charge.
6. Use a pistol drum for pistol charges.

['ol shooter]

what's the error range? I remember I was getting .1 grain difference when I used Green Dot, Unique and Herco. HP38, W231 or other flattened ball powders work just fine. 4 grains of flake powder with a large/rifle drum can be a problem.

A few things to consider:

1. Absolutely no lube on any part of the powder measure. In fact, degrease the drum, cylinder and piston. I cleaned up the burry edges with steel wool.
2. vibration can cause variations. mount the powder measure separately.
3. use a baffle and tap the powder hopper to settle the powder before running it.
4. I tap the handle twice on top and twice on bottom for each charge with consistant force.
5. I reduce rifle charge to half so I'd throw twice for each charge.
6. Use a pistol drum for pistol charges.

Yep, all of that.

[MrElectric03]

Also wondering what range you are getting. My old uniflow meters imr 4198 down to +\- .1 gr. That's the only powder I use it for though.

[krwada]

This is the correct approach for your Uniflow

what's the error range? I remember I was getting .1 grain difference when I used Green Dot, Unique and Herco. HP38, W231 or other flattened ball powders work just fine. 4 grains of flake powder with a large/rifle drum can be a problem.

A few things to consider:

1. Absolutely no lube on any part of the powder measure. In fact, degrease the drum, cylinder and piston. I cleaned up the burry edges with steel wool.
2. vibration can cause variations. mount the powder measure separately.
3. use a baffle and tap the powder hopper to settle the powder before running it.
4. I tap the handle twice on top and twice on bottom for each charge with consistant force.
5. I reduce rifle charge to half so I'd throw twice for each charge.
6. Use a pistol drum for pistol charges.

You need to check all the stuff that Huckberry recommends. The technique for throwing consistent charges is extremely important ... especially for pistol

[stilly]

what's the error range? I remember I was getting .1 grain difference when I used Green Dot, Unique and Herco. HP38, W231 or other flattened ball powders work just fine. 4 grains of flake powder with a large/rifle drum can be a problem.

A few things to consider:

1. Absolutely no lube on any part of the powder measure. In fact, degrease the drum, cylinder and piston. I cleaned up the burry edges with steel wool.
2. vibration can cause variations. mount the powder measure separately.
3. use a baffle and tap the powder hopper to settle the powder before running it.
4. I tap the handle twice on top and twice on bottom for each charge with consistant force.
5. I reduce rifle charge to half so I'd throw twice for each charge.
6. Use a pistol drum for pistol charges.

The exception to this is the Hornady Lock N Load. Sometimes using the pistol tubes can cause certain powders to bridge easier. But those powders will already be an issue when it comes to metering. IMR-800X is an excellent example.

[noylj]

I have never had any flake powder bridge in my Hornady L-N-L power measure and it has been the most consistent at weight thrown of any powder measure I have. This is not to invalidate your experience, just that it isn't universal.
I have read of many folks who don't check the rotor in their powder measure and are using the large cavity rifle for small charges for pistil
EVERY powder measure needs to have a hopper full of graphitized powder run through it or some powdered graphite.
The measure must be completely cleaned of any oil, grease, or rust preventative prior to use. Plastic parts should be washed in warm soapy water and air dried (do not rinse--you WANT the very slight residual soap on the plastic). The use of Hornady One Shot Cleaner and Dry Lube does wonders.
I don't notice any loss of accuracy in the throw from press mounting.
+/- 0.1gn is totally insignificant, even for .32 S&W Long.
I would think that throwing two charges to get the weight you want would mean two chances for weight variation. If two is good, would ten be better?
Almost all rifle loads can't see a difference of +/- 0.2gn--the fluctuation is simply too small a percentage of the charge being thrown.

[peacedivision]

3. use a baffle...

Amazed what a difference this $5 piece of metal makes. It really should come with the uniflow