Need advice on which powder measure to buy

Jorah Lavin · August 28, 2002, 03:45 PM

I'm starting to load enough rifle and .38spl cases on my Rock Chucker that the "measure each load on a scale" method is getting to be a major drag.

I've had one person suggest a Lee powder measure... any other votes for the Lee, or other suggestions?

I'm a careful operator of the scale, and feel that I'm getting pretty uniform charges, obviously I don't want to get away from accuracy...

Thanks!

-Jorah

Bogie · August 28, 2002, 03:50 PM

Most powder measures are only as good as the operator. A while back, a guy did a series of tests (published in Precision Shooting magazine), and came to the conclusion that the $30 Lee was just as accurate as the $225 Harrell measure. And he's right.

I own a Harrell and I own a Lee. The Harrell is easier to "dial up" a load with, so I use it more.

That said, I've also got an RCBS Uniflow with a bottle adaptor, micrometer adjustment, stand and 6" clear drop tube. It's also accurate, when operated in a consistent fashion. I just liked the Harrell better. It fits in my range box.

sricciardelli · August 28, 2002, 04:55 PM

Good old Lyman 55.......

(And the orange goes nicely with all the green on my bench!)

Peter M. Eick · August 28, 2002, 05:07 PM

I used the lee for many years and then switched to the rcbs uniflow. I now have 2 uniflows. The lee wore from stick powder getting past the wiper and gouging the rotating surfaces. The uniflows work very well, particularly with my Pro2000. I have one uniflow with a small micro-adjuster and the other with a large micro-adjuster (rcbs add-ons) and they work great. I just swap depending upon pistol or rifle.

Bogie · August 28, 2002, 05:59 PM

Wanna buy the Uniflow? It's for sale?

Original cost:

$50 for the measure
$30 for the micrometer
$15 for the stand
$35 for the bottle adaptor and drop tube

Used for one season of benchrest competition.

Make me an offer

Ala Dan · August 28, 2002, 06:20 PM

I currently use the R.C.B.S. "Uniflow"; but my best
experience was with an ole' Pacific DeLuxe, as made
by Hornady; as it would throw absolutely "perfect
charges" for both rifle and pistol.

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

green 788 · August 28, 2002, 08:17 PM

I have a 25 dollar Lee perfect powder measure and it's as consistent as they get with ball powders, and it does a pretty fair job with the extruded powders. It even measures IMR 4350 within abut 1%...

Lee has some pretty good ideas. The Perfect Powder Measure is only one of them.

Their loading presses are not amongst their good ideas!

You can use the extra hundred or so that you save by purchasing the Lee measure to buy more powder and bullets.

Dan Newberry
green 788

Swamp Yankee · August 28, 2002, 09:22 PM

I don't have any experience with the Lee,

But I do have an old Ohaus and a RCBS Uniflow. I find the Ohaus delivers a more consistant charge with large volumes of powder than the Uniflow. The Uniflow seems to be easier to adjust than the Ohaus.
With that said I know a lot of shooters that swear by their Lyman No. 55.
All are good and will serve you well.
Take Care

WESHOOT2 · August 28, 2002, 10:04 PM

Redding, Hornady, RCBS, Redding, Redding, Redding......and some fairly high-end precision units.

(The Lyman 55 can hate Unique. The LEE doesn't qualify to be mentioned in this class.)

Mine's a Hornady/Pacific.

Steve Smith · August 29, 2002, 10:36 AM

The basic scale sells for $1000 and the electronically controlled powder trickler option adds $400 to that for a total of $1400.

No, I don't have one.

Jim Watson · August 29, 2002, 11:41 AM

The Lee Perfect I had was a total dud. Maybe it was a lemon, others seem to do ok. But I won't try another.

I load most single stage ammo with an RCBS with micrometer insert. My old Redding No 3 is fine for rifle loads but the pistol insert is not very good. The odd looking Bonanza is accurate once you get it set, but its scale is not very convenient to adjust.

Buy Bogie's rig.

KP95DAO · August 29, 2002, 01:51 PM

My Lyman 55 is gray not orange. Of course it is also 30+ years old; but, still going strong.

August 28, 2002, 03:45 PM	#1
Jorah Lavin Senior Member Join Date: April 4, 1999 Location: Indian Land, SC USA Posts: 593	Need advice on which powder measure to buy I'm starting to load enough rifle and .38spl cases on my Rock Chucker that the "measure each load on a scale" method is getting to be a major drag. I've had one person suggest a Lee powder measure... any other votes for the Lee, or other suggestions? I'm a careful operator of the scale, and feel that I'm getting pretty uniform charges, obviously I don't want to get away from accuracy... Thanks! -Jorah

August 28, 2002, 08:17 PM	#7
green 788 Member Join Date: August 26, 2002 Location: Wytheville, VA Posts: 18	Save your money, get the Lee Perfect Powder Measure... I have a 25 dollar Lee perfect powder measure and it's as consistent as they get with ball powders, and it does a pretty fair job with the extruded powders. It even measures IMR 4350 within abut 1%... Lee has some pretty good ideas. The Perfect Powder Measure is only one of them. Their loading presses are not amongst their good ideas! You can use the extra hundred or so that you save by purchasing the Lee measure to buy more powder and bullets. Dan Newberry green 788

August 28, 2002, 10:04 PM	#9
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	Hmmmmm........ Redding, Hornady, RCBS, Redding, Redding, Redding......and some fairly high-end precision units. (The Lyman 55 can hate Unique. The LEE doesn't qualify to be mentioned in this class.) Mine's a Hornady/Pacific.

August 29, 2002, 10:36 AM	#10
Steve Smith Senior Member Join Date: December 9, 1999 Posts: 4,131	PROMETHEUS The basic scale sells for $1000 and the electronically controlled powder trickler option adds $400 to that for a total of $1400. No, I don't have one. Last edited by Steve Smith; August 29, 2002 at 12:54 PM.

August 29, 2002, 01:51 PM	#12
KP95DAO Senior Member Join Date: December 30, 2000 Posts: 699	Lyman 55. My Lyman 55 is gray not orange. Of course it is also 30+ years old; but, still going strong.

August 28, 2002, 03:50 PM	#2
Bogie Senior Member Join Date: June 6, 2000 Location: Job hunting on the road... Posts: 3,827	Most powder measures are only as good as the operator. A while back, a guy did a series of tests (published in Precision Shooting magazine), and came to the conclusion that the $30 Lee was just as accurate as the $225 Harrell measure. And he's right. I own a Harrell and I own a Lee. The Harrell is easier to "dial up" a load with, so I use it more. That said, I've also got an RCBS Uniflow with a bottle adaptor, micrometer adjustment, stand and 6" clear drop tube. It's also accurate, when operated in a consistent fashion. I just liked the Harrell better. It fits in my range box.

August 28, 2002, 04:55 PM	#3
sricciardelli Senior Member Join Date: August 13, 2001 Location: Montana Posts: 489	Good old Lyman 55....... (And the orange goes nicely with all the green on my bench!)

August 28, 2002, 05:07 PM	#4
Peter M. Eick Senior Member Join Date: August 4, 1999 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 2,991	I used the lee for many years and then switched to the rcbs uniflow. I now have 2 uniflows. The lee wore from stick powder getting past the wiper and gouging the rotating surfaces. The uniflows work very well, particularly with my Pro2000. I have one uniflow with a small micro-adjuster and the other with a large micro-adjuster (rcbs add-ons) and they work great. I just swap depending upon pistol or rifle.

August 28, 2002, 05:59 PM	#5
Bogie Senior Member Join Date: June 6, 2000 Location: Job hunting on the road... Posts: 3,827	Wanna buy the Uniflow? It's for sale? Original cost: $50 for the measure $30 for the micrometer $15 for the stand $35 for the bottle adaptor and drop tube Used for one season of benchrest competition. Make me an offer

August 28, 2002, 06:20 PM	#6
Ala Dan Member in memoriam Join Date: August 14, 1999 Location: In The HOT, Humid, and Mu Posts: 6,116	I currently use the R.C.B.S. "Uniflow"; but my best experience was with an ole' Pacific DeLuxe, as made by Hornady; as it would throw absolutely "perfect charges" for both rifle and pistol. Best Wishes, Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

August 28, 2002, 09:22 PM	#8
Swamp Yankee Senior Member Join Date: November 26, 2000 Location: Northeastern Ct. Posts: 1,019	I don't have any experience with the Lee, But I do have an old Ohaus and a RCBS Uniflow. I find the Ohaus delivers a more consistant charge with large volumes of powder than the Uniflow. The Uniflow seems to be easier to adjust than the Ohaus. With that said I know a lot of shooters that swear by their Lyman No. 55. All are good and will serve you well. Take Care

August 29, 2002, 11:41 AM	#11
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 19,170	The Lee Perfect I had was a total dud. Maybe it was a lemon, others seem to do ok. But I won't try another. I load most single stage ammo with an RCBS with micrometer insert. My old Redding No 3 is fine for rifle loads but the pistol insert is not very good. The odd looking Bonanza is accurate once you get it set, but its scale is not very convenient to adjust. Buy Bogie's rig.