Consistant and accurate powder measure?

[00Scot]

I have been out of reloading for over ten years so I'm hoping that someone has come up with a powder measure that can throw an accurate and consistent throw each and every time. What I'm looking for is a perfect throw each and every time so I know that I can set it and not have to measure each and every load for accuracy.

It didn't exist 10 years ago that I know of. So I am hoping that it does now.


Does this powder measure now exist?

 

[woolenmammoth]

its the operator that has to throw the charge consistently, with a powder that meters... that said, harels measures are amazing but I still get variance using mine however its not the measure, its me...

 

[Jay Christopherson]

I think you'll find that Harrell's Precision powder measures will get most of the votes if you want the "gold standard" for powder dispensers. It certainly works well for me.

However, no measure is going to give you a "perfect" throw each time. Even Harrell's depends highly on your ability to repeat the same motion in the same way each time and even then, you will find some variation. It's just that for what I do and in my experience, that variation falls within acceptable limits. As long as the variation doesn't take me out of the X-ring, I'm pretty happy.

 

[BoydAllen]

Some designs are better than others, but none produce "perfect" results. What do you call perfect, and how are you measuring? Consistency of throws is a result of particle size, technique (consistency and type) and measure design. In order to improve technique you will need to do a lot of practice with a very good scale.

 

[superlight93]

Get yourself a RCBS Chargemaster. I have not touched my measures since the Chargemaster has found a permanent place on my bench.

 

[7stubby]

+1 on the RCBS Chargemaster. Haven't looked at a regular powder measure in years and won't be going back either. Anyone want to buy a Redding 3BR Powder measure?? ;D

 

[mikecr]

Another ChargeMaster user, & recommendation for one.
But if you want to try a Harrell's, I'd sell you one likw new, half price.

 

[bozo699]

I have the RCBS and it is very fast for a electronic dispenser and after several upgrades it will throw within 1/10th and sometimes less of a grain of H-4350, for 1K BR I need all the help I can get even if it is mental, I have a 5-10 that is about half way tuned up, I feel it weighs more consistent charges then the 1500 chargemaster does. I use the chargemaster to throw my initial charge then trickle up to weight with the 5-10, if I still had a Harrels I wouldn't be using the chargemaster,my ES and SD has been reduced by using the balance beam scales, if I was shooting sort range BR 300 yards and under I think the Harrels would be the fastest and consistent for competing, for 600 and further I think I would buy a good beam scale, just my $.02 worth.
Wayne.

 

[artbosco]

Consistent and accurate powder measure?

I'm hoping that someone has come up with a powder measure that can throw an accurate and consistent throw each and every time. Does this powder measure now exist?

It's here: http://www.natchezss.com/product.cfm?contentID=productDetail&prodID=rc98923&src=BA183

 

[kentuckytroutbum]

Get yourself a RCBS Chargemaster. I have not touched my measures since the Chargemaster has found a permanent place on my bench.

Ditto!

 

[Scott Harris]

Get yourself a RCBS Chargemaster. I have not touched my measures since the Chargemaster has found a permanent place on my bench.

+1

My "gold standard" Harrell's could not throw long-grain powder within +-0.60 grains and has been replaced by electronic scales.

 

[338Lapua]

ChargeMaster combo... and you could then weigh those charges on a Denver MXX-123

 

[bozo699]

ChargeMaster combo... and you could then weigh those charges on a Denver MXX-123

Yes you could and probably should as the 123 is far,far more accurate then the rcbs chargemaster combo.
Wayne.

 

[DaveWhite]

It depends on the powder, then to a lesser degree the operator and what expectations you have for the load.

I've used a Harrells for about ten years now and it is a fine piece of equipment. I only use it for my long range loads (.308) and varmint loads (.22-250). With the latter loads I don't weigh my charges and with long grain powder such as Varget, I know there is +/- 0.3 grains variation.

With ball powder, I would bet this measure would throw +/- 0.1 grains consistenty.

For pistol and schuetzen loads (with ball powder), I have an old Redding that throws +/- 0.1 or so, but it is lightening fast when taking the measure to the loading block for high volume loading of small loads.

For some larger calibers, I have a very large capacity RCBS measure that comes out of storage when the weights are approaching triple digits, but a coffee scoop and my Acculab scale could likely get those loads sorted out just as quickly and for ten or twenty rounds it does not make much difference.

So, as above, it depends...

 

[ridgeway]

I had the Chargemaster, but recently sold it. It wasn't bad and threw to the advertised accuracy. This was AFTER the straw modification.

What I have now is a GemPro 250 scale. I throw light on my Harrells and trickle up to desired weight. I can get to the nearest .02 grain faster than the chargemaster. I am looking to add the electronic Omega trickler to my charge process.

 

[00Scot]

Thank you all for your input. The answer was pretty much what I expected. Things are nearly the same accuracy wise as they were 10 years ago. Harrells was the tops then and seems to be the tops now for a standard mechanical measure.

I do have an old digital pact dispenser with the matching scale. I tried it a few times then packed the dispenser back up and just stuck with the digital scale and used a RCBS uniflow measure which was never consistant. But again a lot of that was probably me. The pact dispenser was just too slow.

I gotta look into the chargemaster. Would this thing be any quicker then the Pact that I already have? I believe the Pact that I have is the same one RCBS painted green and repackaged as its own. Again this about ten years ago so I couldn't tell you the model info on either of them.

 

[00Scot]

Some designs are better than others, but none produce "perfect" results. What do you call perfect, and how are you measuring? Consistency of throws is a result of particle size, technique (consistency and type) and measure design. In order to improve technique you will need to do a lot of practice with a very good scale.

By perfect I'm talking about the same exact powder charge each and every time. That way I could just dump the charge in the case without having to measure it and know that it is the same exact charge for each and every load I make.

I know it is nearly impossible. But I thought I'd ask the question just in case something revolutionizing came along in the last ten years.

 

[00Scot]

Get yourself a RCBS Chargemaster. I have not touched my measures since the Chargemaster has found a permanent place on my bench.

How quickly will this chargemaster throw a charge? And is it spot on all the time? Bcause my old Pact took for ever when it would work. I just decided it wasn't worth the time I wasted waiting for it to get the charge correct. Then I still had to trickle to get it exact anyway. It ended up not being worth the time to mess with it and I just threw my own charges anyway with the regular measure.

 

[woolenmammoth]

chargemaster is very accurate and fast enough. if I have to load tons of cases, I'll throw and trickle and use the chargemaster at the same time, can fill a few hundred cases in no time like that...

 

[sailhertoo]

Think of the money we'd make if we could design a powder measure to throw perfect every time. I know theres a way, just got to contemplate on it some more. :