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Best Manual Powder Measure

Longtrain

Longtrain

Gold $$ Contributor
I’m going to loading 223’s with LT-32 and N133 powder. I have a Redding 3BR, which I’m not completely fond of, as even with mechanical arm motion I get too much variation in weights. I use it to gross weight rifle charges before trickling up on an A&D.

I attended a Bench Rest match years ago and saw most everyone had a Harrels and obviously were satisfied with their powder charges. I know that there is a rhythm to getting consistent charges, and I accept that factor. So, if I were to choose a Harrel’s which model would be best for 20-25 grs of powder?
 
I suggest the Harrells Premium Powder measure. It will drop the charge you need.
I had one which I used when shooting benchrest, and it is a very nice measure.

You will still have to develop a fixed routine to insure consistent drops. That is true for ALL measures.

The only difference in the Harrells measures is the BR is smaller but throws the same weights as the Premium 6-120 gr. The Culver is simply fancier, still throws up to 120 gr.

Harrells Powder Measures
 
I have had numerous powder measures and have tested some that were loaned to me. It is my considered opinion, base on more testing, with more different throwing techniques than you would believe, that NO measure will reliably throw 133 and stay within +- .1 gr. I believe that that is the reason that most all top competitors use some kind of electronic dispenser. BTW, I have had a Harrell measure for over two decades. They are a fine measure but for that powder no measure will do that job. Some time back, a friend told me that when he was last at the Super Shoot in Ohio, that there were only two guys in the loading barn that were throwing charges. I have recently gotten a RCBS Chargemaster Link and suitable battery pack, because I have concluded that that it the best option for short range benchrest.
 
I have a harrell’s custom 90 that I bought probably 20 years ago. At the time I was primarily using Varget. It was pretty accurate. I think that folks that have issues with them are mostly due to lack of throw consistency and long extruded powders (which don’t throw well anyways). I have moved on to an Auto trickler but I don’t load at the range.
 
Owned quite a few different ones over the year. I still have a Harrels and like using it the best. Going to get flamed for this...... the inexpensive lee works as good for non- ball Powders. The lee design works and was thought out to work well. I am just not a fan of all the plastic parts. They wear a little quick for me.

Pretty much do all my loading with an autotrickler now.
 
They all work off of gravity. I have had quite a few through yeas, I reall can’t say that one actually threw more consistent charges than the rest.

Ease of setting and smoothness of the action might be he single difference between brands.
 
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I haven't chosen to buy the high dollar powder measures .... My Lee 80.oo +- gets me a couple of tenths one way or the other and sometimes right on target ! I just finished 400 30br with n130. Not a headache at all.
 
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The Lee Perfect Powder Measure (under $30.00 just about everywhere), mentioned elsewhere in this thread, does an outstanding job of throwing consistent charges. Mine does as good or a better job when compared to others I have that set me back a great deal more. I use the inexpensive Lee almost exclusively these days.
 
JLT said:
The Lee Perfect Powder Measure (under $30.00 just about everywhere), mentioned elsewhere in this thread, does an outstanding job of throwing consistent charges. Mine does as good or a better job when compared to others I have that set me back a great deal more. I use the inexpensive Lee almost exclusively these days.
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x2. My lee cheapie will throw 100 charges of 30.5 varget 50% within 5/10th of a grain, 20% dead on and the rest no more or less than a 1/10th. With sperical I use BigGame for 30-06 and never more than a 10th and half the time within 5/10th. Most of the time when not dead on it is more under than over zero. i dont know how it can do this and I understand how it works with the wiper. I check weigh with a tuned m5 sensitive to a grain of varget tha is set with check weights. I have had the other expensive ones and these things rock. I have one for each charge as they cost so little.
 
Trick with the Lee is to find the "happy spot" where it wants the powder level to be, if you maintain the powder level you wont believe how accurate they are. For normal hunting to around 300/350y I don't even weigh them out of the Lees anymore just dump and go
 
Capt. Oblivious said:
Trick with the Lee is to find the "happy spot" where it wants the powder level to be, if you maintain the powder level you wont believe how accurate they are. For normal hunting to around 300/350y I don't even weigh them out of the Lees anymore just dump and go
Click to expand...

Yes I have noticed this. The worst is if you screw a tub on top instead of using the hopper. I have been thinking about cutting a hole in the hopper top to fit a funnel so can refill easily to keep it in that 'happy spot' range.
 
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