Texan Powder Measure

Rube · September 16, 2006, 09:21 PM

I'm fairly new to reloading and started with a pretty basic setup. I bought the Lee Perfect Measure to get started, but it seems like the powder charge varies quite a bit and because of my lack of experience and confidence, I end up weighing about every other load. Today I was at a gunshow and picked up a Texan powder measure. It looks like a heck of a piece of equipment. Anybody have any experience with this thing? I've never heard of Texan (reloading equipment), and there doesn't seem to be a lot of info on the net about them. It appears to have a pretty accurate system for measurement, and a built in trickler. I'm really not sure what good the trickler does. I just assumed that you trickle powder on to a scale. Seems like the built in trickler would mean that you would have to weigh every charge. What am I missing?
Rube

Smokey Joe · September 17, 2006, 12:29 AM

Rube--I believe what you are (will be) missing is factory support. AFAIK, Texan went out of business years ago, so manuals from the company, or replacement parts, not to mention website-based support, will be nonexistant.

I made the mistake of buying a Texan shotshell reloading machine/set. After much frustration, scrapped it and bought a MEC.

Now, having said that, if the powder measure is a REAL screamin' deal, buy it, take it home, and see if it does in fact throw accurate powder charges. If so you got a bargain. If not, e-bay it, it is probably a collectors' item.

Frankly, were I you, I'd pass on the thing, unless you actually collect old reloading equipment. Powder measures from active companies like Lyman and RCBS aren't all that expensive, and they are accurate.

Rube · September 17, 2006, 08:26 AM

I guess my post was a little vague. I should have said "puchased" instead of "picked up". It was $10 so whatever happens I won't be out all that much.

hivel37 · September 17, 2006, 10:13 AM

Awhile back, I picked up an old (ancient) Redding measure. It throws extruded powder more accurately than my Redding #3. I plan to build an alternate loading bench w/only old (pre 1960) equipment installed.

Check it against your scale. It probably will work fine.

MADISON · September 17, 2006, 10:50 AM

The Texan Powder Measure went down the tubes a long time ago.
Any GOOD powder measure should be accurate to 3/10 of a grain.

I have reloaded since 1970.

September 16, 2006, 09:21 PM	#1
Rube Member Join Date: July 26, 2005 Posts: 53	Texan Powder Measure I'm fairly new to reloading and started with a pretty basic setup. I bought the Lee Perfect Measure to get started, but it seems like the powder charge varies quite a bit and because of my lack of experience and confidence, I end up weighing about every other load. Today I was at a gunshow and picked up a Texan powder measure. It looks like a heck of a piece of equipment. Anybody have any experience with this thing? I've never heard of Texan (reloading equipment), and there doesn't seem to be a lot of info on the net about them. It appears to have a pretty accurate system for measurement, and a built in trickler. I'm really not sure what good the trickler does. I just assumed that you trickle powder on to a scale. Seems like the built in trickler would mean that you would have to weigh every charge. What am I missing? Rube

September 17, 2006, 12:29 AM	#2
Smokey Joe Senior Member Join Date: July 14, 2001 Location: State of Confusion Posts: 2,106	Texan reloading equipment Rube--I believe what you are (will be) missing is factory support. AFAIK, Texan went out of business years ago, so manuals from the company, or replacement parts, not to mention website-based support, will be nonexistant. I made the mistake of buying a Texan shotshell reloading machine/set. After much frustration, scrapped it and bought a MEC. Now, having said that, if the powder measure is a REAL screamin' deal, buy it, take it home, and see if it does in fact throw accurate powder charges. If so you got a bargain. If not, e-bay it, it is probably a collectors' item. Frankly, were I you, I'd pass on the thing, unless you actually collect old reloading equipment. Powder measures from active companies like Lyman and RCBS aren't all that expensive, and they are accurate. __________________ God Bless America --Smokey Joe

September 17, 2006, 10:50 AM	#5
MADISON Senior Member Join Date: January 1, 2000 Location: Roanoke, Virginia Posts: 2,678	Texan Powder Measure? The Texan Powder Measure went down the tubes a long time ago. Any GOOD powder measure should be accurate to 3/10 of a grain. I have reloaded since 1970.

September 17, 2006, 08:26 AM	#3
Rube Member Join Date: July 26, 2005 Posts: 53	I guess my post was a little vague. I should have said "puchased" instead of "picked up". It was $10 so whatever happens I won't be out all that much.

September 17, 2006, 10:13 AM	#4
hivel37 Senior Member Join Date: August 24, 2004 Location: Hill Country Posts: 522	Awhile back, I picked up an old (ancient) Redding measure. It throws extruded powder more accurately than my Redding #3. I plan to build an alternate loading bench w/only old (pre 1960) equipment installed. Check it against your scale. It probably will work fine.