Best powder measure?

[AL45]

I've been using the Lee perfect powder measure for several years with no problem. Last night I was dispensing True Blue, which is like fine sugar, and no matter what I did, it leaked bad. I read where many others have had the same issue with this powder. Is there a powder measure that is guaranteed to be leak proof? Thanks.

[mehavey]

I don't know of any no-exceptions guarantee in life except Brat Pitt as Mr. Black.

That said, I been using two of These for near 30 years for every powder under the Sun --
Not only no leaks ...ever, but most consistent measure I've ever seen.


.

[totaldla]

Originally Posted by mehavey

I don't know of any no-exceptions guarantee in life except Brat Pitt as Mr. Black.

That said, I been using two of These for near 30 years for every powder under the Sun --
Not only no leaks ...ever, but most consistent measure I've ever seen.


.

Which powders?

[bobn]

ancient history, i know. ohaus duo measure along with their 505 scale are reloading musts. used on line sources.

[mehavey]

Which powders?

Over that 30 years.... everything you see below:
("Some" more that others)

Accurate No.2
Accurate No.5
Accurate No.7
Accurate No.9
Accurate 4100
Accurate 5744
Accurate 1680
Accurate 2015
Accurate 2200
Accurate 2495
Accurate 4064
Accurate 2520
Accurate 4350
Accurate 3100
Alliant BULLSEYE
Alliant RED DOT
Alliant UNIQUE
Alliant POWER PISTOL
Alliant HERCO
Alliant 2400
Alliant Reloder- 7
Alliant AR-Comp
Alliant Reloder-10x
Alliant Reloder-12
Alliant Reloder-15
Alliant Reloder-17
Alliant Reloder-19
Hodgdon Clays
Hodgdon TiteGroup
Hodgdon HP38
Hodgdon Universal
Hodgdon HS-6
Hodgdon Longshot
Hodgdon H110
Hodgdon H4227
Hodgdon Lil'Gun
Hodgdon H4198
Hodgdon H322
Hodgdon Benchmark
Hodgdon H4895
Hodgdon H335
Hodgdon VARGET
Hodgdon BL-C2
Hodgdon H380
Hodgdon H4350
Hodgdon H4831
Hodgdon H4831 SC
Hodgdon Retumbo
IMR 4227
IMR 4198
IMR 3031
IMR 8208 XBR
IMR 4064
IMR 4756_EXPimental
IMR 4895
IMR 4320
IMR 4350
IMR 4831
IMR 7828
IMR 7828 SSC
Norma 200
Norma 203B
Ramshot TAC
Vihtavuori N310
Vihtavuori N320
Vihtavuori N340
Vihtavuori 3N37
Vihtavuori 3N38
Vihtavuori N105
Vihtavuori N110
Vihtavuori N120
Vihtavuori N560
Winchester 231
Winchester 296
Winchester 748
Winchester 760

At the moment.....

[Unclenick]

Harrell makes very nice equipment, though not as budget-oriented as Lee's. The plastic-bodied Perfect is famous for leaking fine spherical powders. You can tighten the drum fit to cut that down, but expect friction to increase. Molded plastic pieces don't have the geometric precision of machined metal parts. However, if you like the way the Perfect works and are comfortable with using the design, you can buy the more expensive Deluxe version of it which has a precision machined die cast zinc drum and brass rotor. These have closer fit.

[Shadow9mm]

Have you considered the pro version of the lee? Metal instead of plastic.

I will sai i had problems with h110, small spherical, in both my lee perfect powder measure and my hornady thrower. Grittyness and binding.

[AL45]

Actually I do have the metal, deluxe perfect powder measure. No matter how tight I get it, it leaks the True Blue powder. Never had any trouble with any other powder.

[AL45]

I haven't noticed any leakage with H110.

[Unclenick]

That's a new one on me. I'll have to look at mine, but with metal, it should be possible to use non-embedding lapping abrasives like aluminum oxide to lap the barrel and rotor to a leak-proof fit. You would need to remove the polymer wiper during the lapping.

[m&p45acp10+1]

I used the Lee for years. I just accepted that it leaked some. I just had a sheet of paper on the bench for clean up. I then was gifted a Hornady APS electric dispenser/scale. I used it for years, until it broke due to a drop to the floor (my fault.) I would advise checking out an RCBS measure with the stand. Lyman makes a more budget friendly model, as does Smart Reloader. I have no experience with them. The RCBS has worked with H335 which leaked from the Lee. It also does well with Bull's Eye which leaked from the Lee as well.

I use the RCBS for mostly pistol. I have an auto dispenser for rifle loads.

[totaldla]

Originally Posted by Shadow9mm

Have you considered the pro version of the lee? Metal instead of plastic.

I will sai i had problems with h110, small spherical, in both my lee perfect powder measure and my hornady thrower. Grittyness and binding.

I use the metal version - works well. Doesn't leak. But, I don't use it to dispense pistol loads. The worst powder I throw with it is H335, which has a lot of fines.

[totaldla]

Originally Posted by mehavey

Over that 30 years.... everything you see below:
("Some" more that others)

[B]Accurate No.2
Accurate
At the moment.....

The issue is how it handles powders that are very fine (Enforcer/aa4100) or have a lot of fines left in (H335).

I'm happy for you that you used lots of powders over the years.

Btw, Joe at realguns did a review of the Harrel 20yrs ago - did you happen to read it?

[mehavey]

FWIW: (1,000 words)



Now YMMV.....
But the Harrells perform magnificently from cutting the largest of grains,
down to/including sealing against leakage of the finest of "dusts."

That, and
- The polyethylene(?) powder bottles are impervious to all powder components, airtight, and openable at top to dump powder back in without dismounting/then re-seal,
- The bottom of the measure attaches/dettaches to any shelf in seconds for powder changes
- Adjustment is by positive-click/recordable/repeatable/precision vernier for your records between different loads/different powders.

This one of those cases where you truly do get what you pay for.




Incidentally, I also have the Lyman 55, the Redding BR-30, and the MVA Belding & Mull design (for BP in this case).
But the Harrells are the workhorses.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~



.

[rc]

The steel measures are far better than that plastic one Lee makes. I started with one more than 30 years ago but once I went to RCBS stuff after a year or two, I have had no serious leakage issues like I did with the Lee once the screw came lose holding the plastic drum in place. The plastic lee unit also can't handle stick powder very well. All steel measures just cut the powder as needed. Lee makes stuff that is perfect for the starter who is not sure if they want to be serious about reloading, it is not perfect for the enthusiast who plans on cranking out a lot of ammo over the years and it is far too fiddly for my taste. I like die lock rings and powder measures that stay adjusted and just work.

[Shadow9mm]

Originally Posted by AL45

Actually I do have the metal, deluxe perfect powder measure. No matter how tight I get it, it leaks the True Blue powder. Never had any trouble with any other powder.

good to know, thanks!

[pete2]

I've been using an RCBS Uniflo for about 50 years, no leaks. 296/H110 is about the finest powder I can recall. HS7 was pretty fine.

[AL45]

Thanks for the replies.

[snoeproe]

I prefer to use the Lee hand dippers to the lee powder measurer. I like hand load my powder then trickle up.

[Unclenick]

The metal drum powder measures usually do quite well with fine powder. I also have a Redding BR30, and it usually throws sphericals almost perfectly consistently, but it is designed for rifle loads of between 10 and 50 grains. They now make a 1-25 grain pistol version of it, the 10X. But it's still a considerable sum of money; enough so that the Harrell starts to look attractive.

[LeverGunFan]

Sinclair International used to sell a kit consisting of a new drum and the BR-30 metering chamber that fit the Redding 3BR measure. That allowed 3BR users to have the functionality of the BR-30 without buying a complete BR-30 measure. The Redding 10X measure has a unique drum and metering chamber, would be interesting to see if the 10X drum fits one of the other Redding measures such as the 3BR or the BR-30. That would also be less expensive than buying a complete 10X measure. Redding does sell accessory metering chambers, but unfortunately doesn't sell drums as component parts.