pistol powder thrower.

[golfer2b2000]

I am trying to reload pistol cartridges, and not having much luck with my good old Harrels. I see that Harrels makes one for 250 dollars, but was trying not to spend that much. Is there anything out there that does a nice job, but doesnt hurt the wallet as much?
Or how do you pistol shooters throw your powder charges. I have a trickler, but that still take quite a long time..
Thanks!!

 

[Twdmar]

What kind of pistol rounds? If you're talking short range or plinking, the RCBS one I have works well(it's very old). I now load pistol ammo on a dillon 650 with the dillon thrower. Probably just about any one can throw close enough to 4 or 5 grains to be adequate.
I load 45, 9mm, some 380. I like a powder that fills the case enough if I double charge I could see it. I also use dillon powder cop.
If you're doing something like long range pistol, I would think its more like loading rifle ammo but I don't do that.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1019622550?pid=443812
The Lyman fits your requirements.

 

[ebb]

Ive used my RCBS thrower and my chargemaster and didn't really like either for pistol cases. I have a bunch, and i mean a bunch of 38 cases to load and i am going strictly low tech and see how it works. I am going to use my Lee dippers. This is what they were made for but ive never tried them yet.

 

[watercam]

My Redding BR3 is able to drop pistol loads accurately using the rifle measure that came with it. Redding also makes a pistol-only measure but I am having very good success with the rifle measure down to 3 grains (as small as I would ever go).
I am switching back and forth between pistol and rifle on a regular basis with no issues.

 

[JEFFPPC]

My Niel Jones does not like to throw pistol powders either. But my Herters that I got for my birthday 60 years ago when I was 14 throws those powders dead nuts every time. I think it was 6 or 7 dollars. It looks pretty much like a Redding from that era. Go find an old one, it might be what your looking for.

 

[mac86951]

Try the lee perfect powder measure. Yes it's plastic; i find it does a great job with pistol powders AND Varget.

Nice off feature for dumping the hopper too.

-Mac

 

[Cryhavoc]

I am trying to reload pistol cartridges, and not having much luck with my good old Harrels. I see that Harrels makes one for 250 dollars, but was trying not to spend that much. Is there anything out there that does a nice job, but doesnt hurt the wallet as much?
Or how do you pistol shooters throw your powder charges. I have a trickler, but that still take quite a long time..
Thanks!!

RCBS Little Dandy with the adjustable rotor

 

[K22]

I have a 50-year-old RCBS powder measure that dispenses powder uniformly - I have never had to measure each load or trickle in powder for the pistol powders I've used. I do check ever 10th charge dispensed as a quality / safety check. Never had an issue and I've loaded thousands of pistol cartridges.

The key to dispensing uniformly with a powder measure is to use a powder that meters well in a powder measure. Another key is to use a smallest 'drum" made for that measure. Another key to tap the sides of the measure about 10 time when you fill it to settle / compact the powder then dispense 12 "dummy" loads to "condition" the measure, then check a dispense charge before starting the dispensing operations to make any adjustment to the measure.

If I have to adjust the setting on the measure, I always check 3 before I go into full dispensing mode.

Keeping the measure at least half full also helps but is not essential.

Powders I've used that meter well, 231, Bullseye, 2400, H110, 296.

Special note: It's critically important that you check every case once powder has been dispensed BEFORE seating bullets to make sure that you did NOT double charge any case AND that each case has powder in it.

 

[jeb405]

Not sure you need that kind of precision for handguns but +1 on the Lee Perfect Powder Measure. I did testing against a Harrels I had and the Lee was better. Not sure how, but impressive and very inexpensive. I have multiple, sold Harrels.

JB

 

[Flouncer]

The Lee measure, another yea.

 

[2tuf4u]

Redding 10X

 

[Intheshop]

I use Lyman Accumeasure's the most. With custom rotors. The RCBS pistol rotors are a PIA to make. Lyman is 1/2 the effort. Speaking of which....

Old Pacific pistol measures can still be found reasonably $$. On these,the bushings slide like a shotgun loader,and are dead simple to make. IIRC,it's 3/4" OD aluminum with a hole drilled through(end to end). No real specs other than squared ends for length. You make a dz and just drill different diameter holes in.

Compared to Lyman,and RCBS where being a rotory style,the holes aren't all the way through,and are in the "side". But,there is a guy making an adjustable rotor for the RCBS,think it's around $60?

Pacific bushings are aluminum. RCBS-steel. I've made Lyman rotors from aluminum,steel,and brass(which is what Lyman uses).... there "might" be a difference,but you're gonna be hard pressed to tell.

The "idea" or notion is that small charges of powder,need corresponding,small dia. chambers in the rotors. The Lyman full sized powder measure is worth looking at as you can vary the rotor's "slot" width. It's definitely an acquired taste....

Good luck with your project.

 

[358WCF]

I have an old RCBS Uniflow with 2 drums that is used with the small drum for pistol loading. Most of my pistol loading is for practice/plinking rounds & uses low to midrange powder charges. A tenth or two +/- wont hurt anything. I check every 10th dump on a scale & drop 50 charges into cases in a loading block for visual inspection before bullet seating. Learning to use the measure consistently could be time well spent. Ball powders are easiest, but flake powders are doable with repeatable technique.

When I do load near max or max charges, I weigh each one.

 

[Hohn]

Try the lee perfect powder measure. Yes it's plastic; i find it does a great job with pistol powders AND Varget.

Nice off feature for dumping the hopper too.

-Mac

Get the Lee auto drum. Case activated, doesn’t leak, cheap and effective.

 

[hpshooter]

"Old Pacific pistol measures can still be found reasonably $$. On these,the bushings slide like a shotgun loader,and are dead simple to make."

Second on this, still have on with several bushings and use it occasionally.

 

[snert]

I have a Redding 10x. Perfect.

 

[Twicepop]

I have a Lyman 55 that works equally as well with pistol powder as it does with rifle powder.

 

[FNSafari]

Get an RCBS little dandy and appropriate rotors for the powders and charges you want to throw. Always double check the rotors with an accurate scale.