how accurate are Harrels powder measures??
- Thread starter Ogre6br
- Start date
P.
My Harrels is a great measure. Throws powders like Benchmark great. Unfortunately with Varget it can still be off sometimes a couple of tenths. Might not be a worry at 100/200 but further out yes it is. If your skating on or near a max load this isn't good.
Don't get me wrong, I love the way it operates but I still weigh every charge on my Denver Instruments MXX-123.
Danny
My Harrels is a great measure. Throws powders like Benchmark great. Unfortunately with Varget it can still be off sometimes a couple of tenths. Might not be a worry at 100/200 but further out yes it is. If your skating on or near a max load this isn't good.
Don't get me wrong, I love the way it operates but I still weigh every charge on my Denver Instruments MXX-123.
Danny
I have a Harrels and to be quiet Honest I think I can drop charges from a sppon as accuratley, Now it is a fine piece of work, and it can at times throw some good charges but the bottle needs to be about 2/3 full once it drops below this it goes all over the place and at full it's not so accurate either. My Redding BR-30 unfortunately is more accurate than my Harrel.
I was hoping to do a test on consistency between my Harrel, a bruno and my BR-30 but Lester either forgot or just plain didn't want to know how acurate or inaccurate his was compared to these 2 I own. I may break down and just buy his just to run a test and post the results here.
If you plan on dropping extruded powders forget it i don't know of any that'll do it accurately. fine grain and ball powders should be no problem to get within +/- .2 grns
Just pay attention and repeat the stroke the same ea time.
I was hoping to do a test on consistency between my Harrel, a bruno and my BR-30 but Lester either forgot or just plain didn't want to know how acurate or inaccurate his was compared to these 2 I own. I may break down and just buy his just to run a test and post the results here.
If you plan on dropping extruded powders forget it i don't know of any that'll do it accurately. fine grain and ball powders should be no problem to get within +/- .2 grns
Just pay attention and repeat the stroke the same ea time.
James,
I for one would really like to see that test run, hope you can do it.
On my Harrells I found a simple way to keep the powder at that ideal 2/3rds level. I just leave a funnel,mines a red Forrester, which I don't think they sell anymore) sitting in the top of the hopper. All I have to do is keep powder in the funnel and it in turn keeps the powder level constant at 2/3rds.
In my opinion a powder measure is a tool for getting the charge close to be finished weighed on an accurate scale like the MXX-123.
Danny
I for one would really like to see that test run, hope you can do it.
On my Harrells I found a simple way to keep the powder at that ideal 2/3rds level. I just leave a funnel,mines a red Forrester, which I don't think they sell anymore) sitting in the top of the hopper. All I have to do is keep powder in the funnel and it in turn keeps the powder level constant at 2/3rds.
In my opinion a powder measure is a tool for getting the charge close to be finished weighed on an accurate scale like the MXX-123.
Danny
Danny,
I'll e-mail Bruno and see if he'll send me one for a review comparing it to the Harrel and Redding.
Downsde of this if he won't his cost 395.00 and thats steep, I know where a Jones is but heck it's 350.00 those guys must really be proud of what they have.
I just sent Lester an e-mail and we'll see what happens, I'll see about geting a Jones measurer as well.
You guys tell me what powders you like to see tested I'm sure I have it
I'll e-mail Bruno and see if he'll send me one for a review comparing it to the Harrel and Redding.
Downsde of this if he won't his cost 395.00 and thats steep, I know where a Jones is but heck it's 350.00 those guys must really be proud of what they have.
I just sent Lester an e-mail and we'll see what happens, I'll see about geting a Jones measurer as well.
You guys tell me what powders you like to see tested I'm sure I have it
Danny,
I have all those powders on hand I don't have any 135 though never had need for it.
I sent Bruno and Neil Jones e-mails asking for there units to run a test on for this site and I have not yet heard from them.
If I don't hear from them soon I'll give a call. They may be at a match someplace.
I do have a harrel and BR-30 here and may purchase a Lee just to throw in there to do this testing with.
I have all those powders on hand I don't have any 135 though never had need for it.
I sent Bruno and Neil Jones e-mails asking for there units to run a test on for this site and I have not yet heard from them.
If I don't hear from them soon I'll give a call. They may be at a match someplace.
I do have a harrel and BR-30 here and may purchase a Lee just to throw in there to do this testing with.
Harrel Measure
I don't have a Harrel Measure but a 1000 or more BR guys swear by them or swear at them not sure which. Never met a powder measure I didn't like. Liked a few better than some of the women I've known. A powder measure does 1 thing throw powder and since gravity is free it's almost guaranteed most any measure will do the job.
I have a Jones, Redding, Lyman, RCBS, Culver. Culver and Jones operate the easiest but all will throw a 1/10 with small grain powder. What else can you ask for. Buy the Harrel with the ball bearings.
Stephen Perry
I don't have a Harrel Measure but a 1000 or more BR guys swear by them or swear at them not sure which. Never met a powder measure I didn't like. Liked a few better than some of the women I've known. A powder measure does 1 thing throw powder and since gravity is free it's almost guaranteed most any measure will do the job.
I have a Jones, Redding, Lyman, RCBS, Culver. Culver and Jones operate the easiest but all will throw a 1/10 with small grain powder. What else can you ask for. Buy the Harrel with the ball bearings.
Stephen Perry
I find the Harrel's have about the same accuracy performance as my plastic Lee. Any powder measure I've tried will throw consistent enough charges if you learn how to "talk to it". And, no, I'm not kidding, my $20 Lee is just as accurate as my Redding 3BR ... not as pretty, not as professional, but it has the best powder hopper set-up ever put on a powder measure. My advice, though, is to buy the Harrel's because it is very prevalent in BR shooting to want to be seen with the "proper" pieces of equipment and the Lee will never fill that bill.
BoydAllen
Gold $$ Contributor
A couple of things that I like about my Harrell are the roller bearings, which make the action more consistent, and the clicks, which are the finest,smallest increments) of all of the Culver style measures that use some sort of ball detent system. I use my best technique to throw a whole set of cases by holding the loading block on the palm of my left hand, and then visually inspect them as to powder level, re throwing any that look different from the rest.
Stephen,
I've yet to see any powder measurer throw,drop) powder within .1 grns You would be really surpised if you dropped your charges and weighed them on a set of lab scales to verify the charge.
I've said for a long time that a .1 grn difference in charges does make a difference and it looks as if from this weeks articles that those guys out west seem to believe this as well. If you shoot comp. why leave any doubt? This is why I'm so anal on my reloading procedures down to using pin guages in the ID's of my cases in making sure everything is equaled.
For the varmint hunter it may not matter.
I've yet to see any powder measurer throw,drop) powder within .1 grns You would be really surpised if you dropped your charges and weighed them on a set of lab scales to verify the charge.
I've said for a long time that a .1 grn difference in charges does make a difference and it looks as if from this weeks articles that those guys out west seem to believe this as well. If you shoot comp. why leave any doubt? This is why I'm so anal on my reloading procedures down to using pin guages in the ID's of my cases in making sure everything is equaled.
For the varmint hunter it may not matter.
James,
I agree completely. I've weighed 100 thrown charges of Varget from my Harrell's on my MXX-123 and I can tell you the extreme spread is abysmal. I've had charges over a full grain off!
Fine grain powders like Benchmark or Ball powders it's much better, problem is I don't use those powders. It isn't to time consuming to weigh the charges anyway, so that's what I do.
I've been told that the $22.00 Lee Perfect powder measure will beat the Harrell's hands down throwing Varget! Anybody out there able to verify this?
Danny
I agree completely. I've weighed 100 thrown charges of Varget from my Harrell's on my MXX-123 and I can tell you the extreme spread is abysmal. I've had charges over a full grain off!
Fine grain powders like Benchmark or Ball powders it's much better, problem is I don't use those powders. It isn't to time consuming to weigh the charges anyway, so that's what I do.
I've been told that the $22.00 Lee Perfect powder measure will beat the Harrell's hands down throwing Varget! Anybody out there able to verify this?
Danny
Danny,
I bought a Lee just to run this test with so I'll give a full report on it's accuracy.
Sad news on the Jones powder emasurer he won't send one to run the test with. I'll copy and paste his reply.
James,
I appreciate your interest. My measure has been tested many times and been written up several times in publications. It always comes up on top of any other measure. It has been recommended by Sierra in their last three reloading manuals. Any shooter who has one will verify that. It has set the standard for over 25 years in the accuracy shooting sports and no one else has duplicated it. I cannot send measures to everyone who wants to test them. The measure has proven itself over many years and the quality has remained the best.
Thank You for your Inquiry.
Neil
So much for that one Now if only Bruno will reply.
If I had the needed funds to purchase one of ea I'd do it to run this test but thats near 800.00 prob more after shipping to do this and I just can't see forking out that kinda money.
One would think they be glad to get exposure from such tests and the possibility of making more sales if they feel theres are better than others and it's proven to be so. But then maybe they have doubt???
I bought a Lee just to run this test with so I'll give a full report on it's accuracy.
Sad news on the Jones powder emasurer he won't send one to run the test with. I'll copy and paste his reply.
James,
I appreciate your interest. My measure has been tested many times and been written up several times in publications. It always comes up on top of any other measure. It has been recommended by Sierra in their last three reloading manuals. Any shooter who has one will verify that. It has set the standard for over 25 years in the accuracy shooting sports and no one else has duplicated it. I cannot send measures to everyone who wants to test them. The measure has proven itself over many years and the quality has remained the best.
Thank You for your Inquiry.
Neil
So much for that one Now if only Bruno will reply.
If I had the needed funds to purchase one of ea I'd do it to run this test but thats near 800.00 prob more after shipping to do this and I just can't see forking out that kinda money.
One would think they be glad to get exposure from such tests and the possibility of making more sales if they feel theres are better than others and it's proven to be so. But then maybe they have doubt???
I have a Lee and was very disappointed with it throwing 44.8 grs could be .2 either way sometimes more but when i was throwing charges down in the 16grs of benchmark it was near enough to spot on every time.
So i bought a Harrell's and have been mainly throwing the charges for my 30BR at 32.8 if you are consistent with the handle it will throw consistently i have found you have to hesitate at the top to let the powder fill properly to get really consistent loads and it also can be up to .2 out but not often and i have their cheapest model.
James,
Maybe you could ask if he would sell at cost someone on the forum may be interested in buying it and let you have it for the test first.
So i bought a Harrell's and have been mainly throwing the charges for my 30BR at 32.8 if you are consistent with the handle it will throw consistently i have found you have to hesitate at the top to let the powder fill properly to get really consistent loads and it also can be up to .2 out but not often and i have their cheapest model.
James,
Maybe you could ask if he would sell at cost someone on the forum may be interested in buying it and let you have it for the test first.
My Harrel consistently throws within 1/10th of a grain when I am using ball powders. Long grained powders are normally within 2/10ths. I don't know of another measure that will do better than that.
Also...when I ordered the measure, I tried to pay and was told to try it out first and send the $$ if I liked it, or send it back if I didn't. How many places will do that? Great guy to deal with and stands by his products.
Chris
Also...when I ordered the measure, I tried to pay and was told to try it out first and send the $$ if I liked it, or send it back if I didn't. How many places will do that? Great guy to deal with and stands by his products.
Chris
I shoot 100/200 BR & mainly use 133. I have a Jones, A RCBS &
a needle bearing Harrel Powder measure. I have done drop tests on
all of them, they all seem to have about the same inaccuracy. I
don't have the test results in front of me, but with 133 they
were all off up to .4 & once in awhile even more. On a average
they were all off about .1 to .2. I bought a RCBS Chargemaster
& tried it at a match this last weekend, the jury is still out,
but it can't hurt to have the same amount of powder in each case.
Dick
a needle bearing Harrel Powder measure. I have done drop tests on
all of them, they all seem to have about the same inaccuracy. I
don't have the test results in front of me, but with 133 they
were all off up to .4 & once in awhile even more. On a average
they were all off about .1 to .2. I bought a RCBS Chargemaster
& tried it at a match this last weekend, the jury is still out,
but it can't hurt to have the same amount of powder in each case.
Dick
I have too many measures.... I've fallen for every claim any of these guys have made at one time or another. Including Harrell's and Hart's.
I've yet to find any measure that does anything "magic". Most of them are "good", none of them are "great" and none of them are worth over $100.00!
None of them are worth a damn with stick powder. Any of them,including the $65 RCBS) will throw amazingly accurate charges with ball powder.
I friend of mine made me eat crow by demonstrating that his Lee measure,the sliding disc one) threw more accurate charges than my Harrell's... I think he paid $40 for it.
The best machined and designed ones out there don't throw charges any better than the old Redding's, Lyman's etc. They maybe easier to "adjust" but if you wanna pay an extra 100-200 bucks for an inaccurate measure that's "repeatable".... go ahead!
If you demand perfect charges as I do, by an electronic dispensor and only spend your money once. Wish I had.
I've yet to find any measure that does anything "magic". Most of them are "good", none of them are "great" and none of them are worth over $100.00!
None of them are worth a damn with stick powder. Any of them,including the $65 RCBS) will throw amazingly accurate charges with ball powder.
I friend of mine made me eat crow by demonstrating that his Lee measure,the sliding disc one) threw more accurate charges than my Harrell's... I think he paid $40 for it.
The best machined and designed ones out there don't throw charges any better than the old Redding's, Lyman's etc. They maybe easier to "adjust" but if you wanna pay an extra 100-200 bucks for an inaccurate measure that's "repeatable".... go ahead!
If you demand perfect charges as I do, by an electronic dispensor and only spend your money once. Wish I had.
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