Experience with Harrells Premium Powder Measure

[RCC1]

I have a few loads I developed for my .223's and .308's that I have been loading and storing for awhile. I am looking to possibly speed up the process and the powder measuring part is the slowest piece of the puzzle.

Any own a Harrell's Precision premium powder measure?

I have been told they are very accurate and repeatable.

Opinions?

 

[Jet]

With practice and consistency you can likely throw within 2/10ths of a grain. Some powders meter better than others. If your accuracy requirements can handle that big a spread then you will be fine.

Good Shooting

Rich

 

[Homerange]

For hunting accuracy: RCBS Chargemaster.

 

[Richard Coody]

I have a few loads I developed for my .223's and .308's that I have been loading and storing for awhile. I am looking to possibly speed up the process and the powder measuring part is the slowest piece of the puzzle.

Any own a Harrell's Precision premium powder measure?

I have been told they are very accurate and repeatable.

Opinions?

I had one. Hated to sell it. They are a beautiful tool that operates so.smoothly. a work of art.

Now as far as accurate powder charges not so much. If you practice a lot and learn the technique you might get where you can throw them +/- a tenth.

If you use an OCW test and find a wide node plus or.minus a.tenth might be fine. Many short range benchresters still use them and identify their.charges in clicks on a harrells powder measure.

No doubt using a powder measure to drop charges is the fastest way to charge cases.

I am going to miss that tool.

 

[RCC1]

For hunting accuracy: RCBS Chargemaster.

I have one but don't use it. I have a Lyman Gen 5 that I use.

 

[RCC1]

I had one. Hated to sell it. They are a beautiful tool that operates so.smoothly. a work of art.

Now as far as accurate powder charges not so much. If you practice a lot and learn the technique you might get where you can throw them +/- a tenth.

If you use an OCW test and find a wide node plus or.minus a.tenth might be fine. Many short range benchresters still use them and identify their.charges in clicks on a harrells powder measure.

No doubt using a powder measure to drop charges is the fastest way to charge cases.

I am going to miss that tool.

I could live with +/- 1 tenth.

 

[NA Woody]

I have a few loads I developed for my .223's and .308's that I have been loading and storing for awhile. I am looking to possibly speed up the process and the powder measuring part is the slowest piece of the puzzle.

Any own a Harrell's Precision premium powder measure?

I have been told they are very accurate and repeatable.

Opinions?

I use one and would not part with it. Easy to set for different loads by using the click adjustment.

 

[spclark]

I've used a Harrell's for years to short-load everything I shoot. First used a fired 308 case to trickle up, then a gen 1 Omega, now one of Adam's automated devices. Used to take an hour for 50 308's, now it's maybe 20 minutes.

I have a Lyman gen 1 I bought thinking it'd be a blessing. Still have it, original box too! Can't even give it away

 

[powderbrake]

With practice and consistency you can likely throw within 2/10ths of a grain. Some powders meter better than others. If your accuracy requirements can handle that big a spread then you will be fine.

Good Shooting

Rich

I completely agree.

I have done extensive testing of Herrels, Niel Jones, RCBS, Dillon,Lee, for various uses on my reloading. Herrels and Niel Jones are easiest to set up. I have checked many charges on a scale with .02gr resolution, (50 to 100 throws) and the best I could do is +_ .2 grain. Maybe it's me or my technique, but I consider any measure to be +_.2gr. When I need better, I weigh charges.

 

[dickn52]

Have one, but ran into some bridging issues last time I used it. I have no idea what to do about it either. .380 loads with 3 gns of N320.

 

[ASbobcat]

I have a few loads I developed for my .223's and .308's that I have been loading and storing for awhile. I am looking to possibly speed up the process and the powder measuring part is the slowest piece of the puzzle.

Any own a Harrell's Precision premium powder measure?

I have been told they are very accurate and repeatable.

Opinions?

Have owned on for more than 20 years and it is the most valuable piece of reloading equipment I own.

I have tested thrown charges with this measure against weighed in many different calibers and powders. The thrown charges are ALWAYS more accurate.

The only time I use my scale now is when I buy a new powder. Otherwise, I just look at my reference chart that I keep for each powder, dial it in and start loading.

The only caution is: DO NOT LEAVE POWDER IN THE MEASURE FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD (overnight). It WILL corrode the internal brass parts.

 

[RCC1]

I appreciate all the replies. I ordered one today.

 

[Tiratore]

Some advantage in weighing individual charges of H-4198 in a 20 VarTarg. The difference corresponds to a difference in charge SD of about 0.07 grains. I ran the same test with the same powder in a .222 and found no difference between weighed and measured charges. Depending on the powder used, and the volume of the case, a measure could save you time with little or absolutely no measurable effect on performance.

 

[dogdude]

I've had one for a few months, works great if you only use ONE powder, having to take the powder container off and dump the remaining powder out and and moving the handle back and forth to make sure ALL the powder is out got to be a PITA... if I'm missing something please post or PM me. Thanks'

 

[langenc]

I completely agree.

I have done extensive testing of Herrels, Niel Jones, RCBS, Dillon,Lee, for various uses on my reloading. Herrels and Niel Jones are easiest to set up. I have checked many charges on a scale with .02gr resolution, (50 to 100 throws) and the best I could do is +_ .2 grain. Maybe it's me or my technique, but I consider any measure to be +_.2gr. When I need better, I weigh charges.

What brand of scale do you use to weigh .02 (0.02 gr) of powder?? Maybe I dont understand .02 resolution??

Ive been to Neil Jones place and those are great powder measures as are the other prods he makes.
If you want a real set of dies just get one of his sets. Custom made for your guns chamber.

 

[XTR]

What brand of scale do you use to weigh .02 (0.02 gr) of powder?? Maybe I dont understand .02 resolution??

FX120i, resolves to a single kernel of stick powders, 0.02gr. Today that's the standard for long range F class.

I use a Harrell's for my initial charge and trickle up. It definitely does better with some powders than others. N150 is my worst. Plus or minus .2 with the occasional .5 outlier.

 

[RCC1]

I've had one for a few months, works great if you only use ONE powder, having to take the powder container off and dump the remaining powder out and and moving the handle back and forth to make sure ALL the powder is out got to be a PITA... if I'm missing something please post or PM me. Thanks'

I will only be using CFE 223 in it.

 

[ShootDots]

I use the Harrel every time I load for a competition. However, I use it to only get "close" to my desired charge. Then I pour the powder into the pan sitting on an FX-120I and trickle up with an Omega. I have been using this powder measure for years.. If you use a ball powder, it is RIGHT ON THE MONEY... The larger the kernel, both in physical size and weight, the more variation in charge weight. I have seen as much as 1/2 gr variation. L-O-N-G "stick powder" i.e. IMR 4831 or IMR 4064 are the worst. H4831 and H1000, although not long, have heavy kernels. They are not good by any stretch for running straight out of a measure. If it is strictly for hunting loads, the RCBS Chargemaster is just fine.

 

[Alex Wheeler]

I use it for fireform loading, varmint ammo, pistol ammo, I do not consider any powder thrower accurate enough for any competition or hunting purposes. My competition and hunting are longer range. Under 300, I guess it would be ok.

 

[Matt in Virginia]

fwiw,
Not a Benchrester, however, the most accurate rifle I own, including my Sako A1 6PPC Single Shot, is a .223AI that LOVES H335 which is obviously a ball powder. My Harrells Premium throughs wallet groups with that powder in that rifle and continues to do so... Will it throw 4064 to the same accuracy? No. Does it make it a useless tool? Answer that yourself... That Tony Boyer determines whether a rifle will shoot with Harrell "Clicks" and not "grains" says something... That a tool is not a veritable Swiss Army Knife of reloading does make it a useless tool.. Granted I was disgusted with ALL powder measures until I found their niche...fwiw & imho.

I had my RCBS Chargemaster for almost nine years. Sold it for within $75 of what I paid for it and I think they guy who bought it got a deal. Can't say that for a friend who owns a Lyman. I've played around with my/his Chargemaster and my dandy trickler and then weighed it on my Sartorius 64-1S. All I can say is sometimes RCBS really gets things right... The dispenser was NOT as accurate as the scale for sure, however, the scale was spooky accurate...ime.

Regards, Matt.