Favorite Powder Measure?

GaryO7 · September 14, 2011, 12:47 PM

I've been out of the loop for about 10 years now and am looking for a top-of-the-line powder measure. Price is secondary. What say you? Thanks...

**Unclenick** · September 14, 2011, 01:05 PM

What kind of powder will you meter? For spherical propellants the Harrel measures are still a top choice. For stick powders, the JDS Quick Measure is the cat's meow.

For weight, rather than volume, the RCBS Charge Master and the Hornady unit have both gotten good reviews, but the RCBS has more, perhaps just because it's been around longer.

If you want the best of both weight and volume worlds, get a good electronic scale and tare each primed case before charging, then use the volumetric measure to dispense and weigh again. If it's off, dump and repeat until the volumetric drop happens to hit the nominal weight at the same time.

Hog Buster · September 14, 2011, 01:09 PM

Been using a couple of Lyman 55’s for about 50 years. Tried different brands, but never found any better.

AllenJ · September 14, 2011, 02:54 PM

RCBS Chargemaster, if you get one you'll never go back!

spclPatrolGroup · September 14, 2011, 03:22 PM

I really like the chargemaster however its not perfect. some chunky powders like Varget and H4831 often go over what you set it for.

Kevin Rohrer · September 14, 2011, 04:27 PM

My "goto" measure is a B&M clone made by Vega Tools. It's not made anymore, but other manufacturers have clones, and lots of real B&Ms are still available on Ebay. This will measure any powder accurately.

My high volume measure is a Quick-Measure, which is sort of like a B&M, but with a fixed drop tube. It will also accurately measure any powder (especially stick) of at least 8gr. weight.

The Q-M is in front of the Vega:

Lastly, I recently acquired a Hollywood, which although being 60+ years old, is accurate to the .10gr. I just got done throwing 3.1gr of Bullseye, and every charge was exactly 3.1.

Ideal Tool · September 14, 2011, 06:18 PM

Hello, Gary07..You might want to try www.sinclairintl.com. They carry the Harrells line. I have their little Schuetzen.. great for small charges. Best of luck!

Jim243 · September 14, 2011, 08:04 PM

RCBS Chargemaster 1500 all else take second place.

Jim

engineermike · September 14, 2011, 10:08 PM

If you are going electronic then I would look at the RCBS. If not then then look at the redding powder measures.

PawPaw · September 15, 2011, 07:58 AM

I've got a Lyman 55 I use for the bulk of my reloading tasks. Ball powders flow thru it like water and stick powders meter well through it as well. I have one old Lee Perfect that I've had for two decades and it's set to throw Bullseye for my .45 ACP reloads. I haven't changed the setting in years and it continues to dump the same 4.6 grains into the pan.

Hammerhead · September 15, 2011, 05:49 PM

For handgun and small rifle, the Redding 10X is fantastic. Made from cast iron and chromed steel in the USA. Has a micrometer adjustment screw for precise, repeatable settings. No static issues.
Very glad I bought Redding equipment when I started, no need to upgrade.

Did I mention they are 100% made in the USA from USA steel on USA made tooling?

jaguarxk120 · September 15, 2011, 06:12 PM

+1 for the redding

engineermike · September 15, 2011, 08:32 PM

Can't go wrong with Redding and their customer service is good too.

amamnn · September 15, 2011, 08:32 PM

If money is truly no object get the Harrell Classic Culver and stand from them at their website. That way, if your groups are not all that impressive at the range, you can still be snooty and change the subject to how expensive the equipment is--even if you decide to shoot BR, that measure will, measure up--sorry I could not resist that.............

Miata Mike · September 15, 2011, 08:42 PM

I love my RCBS Chargemaster 1500 combo.

TXGunNut · September 15, 2011, 08:46 PM

RCBS ChargeMaster 1500, RCBS Uniflow, Dillon, or Lee scoops, an RCBS trickler and a PACT BBK scale. All work well for me, depending on the job at hand. Loading a known hunting rifle load is best accomplished w/ the 1500, .45 Colt loads with the Uniflow, mass-produced pistol loads on my 550 will be metered by the Dillon, of course. Load development exercises with small qtys I do with the scoop & trickle method, even tho the 1500 would probably work just fine.

1Hobie · September 15, 2011, 09:01 PM

A decade + 3 ago i bought a Forster powder measure. It worked well for flake and ball powders, stick was like cutting bricks... but, overall it is giving me +.1 -.1, maybe a bit more at a time but the average has been workable. Repeatable technique seems to be the key.

Anyone else use one of these?

http://tinyurl.com/3ub8eav

Hobie

September 14, 2011, 12:47 PM	#1
GaryO7 Member Join Date: November 14, 2007 Location: Roseville, CA Posts: 48	Favorite Powder Measure? I've been out of the loop for about 10 years now and am looking for a top-of-the-line powder measure. Price is secondary. What say you? Thanks... __________________ Gary NRA Member

September 14, 2011, 01:05 PM	#2
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,063	What kind of powder will you meter? For spherical propellants the Harrel measures are still a top choice. For stick powders, the JDS Quick Measure is the cat's meow. For weight, rather than volume, the RCBS Charge Master and the Hornady unit have both gotten good reviews, but the RCBS has more, perhaps just because it's been around longer. If you want the best of both weight and volume worlds, get a good electronic scale and tare each primed case before charging, then use the volumetric measure to dispense and weigh again. If it's off, dump and repeat until the volumetric drop happens to hit the nominal weight at the same time. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

September 14, 2011, 01:09 PM	#3
Hog Buster Senior Member Join Date: October 26, 2009 Location: Pointe Coupee, Louisana Posts: 772	Been using a couple of Lyman 55’s for about 50 years. Tried different brands, but never found any better. __________________ Those who beat their guns into plows, will plow for those who don't.-Thomas Jefferson

September 14, 2011, 04:27 PM	#6
Kevin Rohrer Senior Member Join Date: May 19, 2010 Location: Medina, Ohio Posts: 1,049	My "goto" measure is a B&M clone made by Vega Tools. It's not made anymore, but other manufacturers have clones, and lots of real B&Ms are still available on Ebay. This will measure any powder accurately. My high volume measure is a Quick-Measure, which is sort of like a B&M, but with a fixed drop tube. It will also accurately measure any powder (especially stick) of at least 8gr. weight. The Q-M is in front of the Vega: Lastly, I recently acquired a Hollywood, which although being 60+ years old, is accurate to the .10gr. I just got done throwing 3.1gr of Bullseye, and every charge was exactly 3.1. __________________ Member: Orange Gunsite Family, NRA--Life, ARTCA, and American Legion. Caveat Emptor: Cavery Grips/AmericanGripz/Prestige Grips/Stealth Grips from Clayton, NC. He is a scammer Last edited by Kevin Rohrer; September 14, 2011 at 04:40 PM.

September 14, 2011, 08:04 PM	#8
Jim243 Senior Member Join Date: January 5, 2009 Location: Just off Route 66 Posts: 5,067	RCBS Chargemaster 1500 all else take second place. Jim __________________ Si vis pacem, para bellum

September 14, 2011, 02:54 PM	#4
AllenJ Senior Member Join Date: December 11, 2009 Location: Northern California Posts: 1,766	RCBS Chargemaster, if you get one you'll never go back!

September 14, 2011, 03:22 PM	#5
spclPatrolGroup Senior Member Join Date: August 19, 2010 Location: North Dakota Posts: 349	I really like the chargemaster however its not perfect. some chunky powders like Varget and H4831 often go over what you set it for.

September 14, 2011, 06:18 PM	#7
Ideal Tool Junior member Join Date: October 6, 2010 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,080	Hello, Gary07..You might want to try www.sinclairintl.com. They carry the Harrells line. I have their little Schuetzen.. great for small charges. Best of luck!

September 14, 2011, 10:08 PM	#9
engineermike Junior member Join Date: March 14, 2010 Location: Oklahaoma City Posts: 538	If you are going electronic then I would look at the RCBS. If not then then look at the redding powder measures.

September 15, 2011, 07:58 AM	#10
PawPaw Senior Member Join Date: December 24, 2010 Location: Central Louisiana Posts: 3,137	I've got a Lyman 55 I use for the bulk of my reloading tasks. Ball powders flow thru it like water and stick powders meter well through it as well. I have one old Lee Perfect that I've had for two decades and it's set to throw Bullseye for my .45 ACP reloads. I haven't changed the setting in years and it continues to dump the same 4.6 grains into the pan. __________________ Dennis Dezendorf http://pawpawshouse.blogspot.com

September 15, 2011, 05:49 PM	#11
Hammerhead Senior Member Join Date: May 31, 2004 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,432	For handgun and small rifle, the Redding 10X is fantastic. Made from cast iron and chromed steel in the USA. Has a micrometer adjustment screw for precise, repeatable settings. No static issues. Very glad I bought Redding equipment when I started, no need to upgrade. Did I mention they are 100% made in the USA from USA steel on USA made tooling?

September 15, 2011, 06:12 PM	#12
jaguarxk120 Senior Member Join Date: February 28, 2008 Location: Michigan Posts: 2,620	+1 for the redding

September 15, 2011, 08:32 PM	#13
engineermike Junior member Join Date: March 14, 2010 Location: Oklahaoma City Posts: 538	Can't go wrong with Redding and their customer service is good too.

September 15, 2011, 08:32 PM	#14
amamnn Senior Member Join Date: May 13, 2006 Location: WA, the left armpit of the USA Posts: 1,323	If money is truly no object get the Harrell Classic Culver and stand from them at their website. That way, if your groups are not all that impressive at the range, you can still be snooty and change the subject to how expensive the equipment is--even if you decide to shoot BR, that measure will, measure up--sorry I could not resist that............. __________________ "If the enemy is in range, so are you." - Infantry Journal

September 15, 2011, 08:42 PM	#15
Miata Mike Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2010 Location: North East WI Posts: 418	I love my RCBS Chargemaster 1500 combo.

September 15, 2011, 08:46 PM	#16
TXGunNut Senior Member Join Date: January 16, 2010 Location: If you have to ask... Posts: 2,860	RCBS ChargeMaster 1500, RCBS Uniflow, Dillon, or Lee scoops, an RCBS trickler and a PACT BBK scale. All work well for me, depending on the job at hand. Loading a known hunting rifle load is best accomplished w/ the 1500, .45 Colt loads with the Uniflow, mass-produced pistol loads on my 550 will be metered by the Dillon, of course. Load development exercises with small qtys I do with the scoop & trickle method, even tho the 1500 would probably work just fine. __________________ Life Member NRA, TSRA Smokeless powder is a passing fad! -Steve Garbe I hate rude behavior in a man. I won't tolerate it. -Woodrow F. Call Lonesome Dove My favorite recipes start out with a handful of used wheelweights.

September 15, 2011, 09:01 PM	#17
1Hobie Senior Member Join Date: November 6, 2010 Location: west central Illinois Posts: 277	Forster anyone? A decade + 3 ago i bought a Forster powder measure. It worked well for flake and ball powders, stick was like cutting bricks... but, overall it is giving me +.1 -.1, maybe a bit more at a time but the average has been workable. Repeatable technique seems to be the key. Anyone else use one of these? http://tinyurl.com/3ub8eav Hobie Last edited by 1Hobie; September 15, 2011 at 09:03 PM. Reason: better view