QuickMeasure tested

[kgunz11]

So I read here on the forums about the "Quick Measure" powder throw and it caught my interest so I decided to purchase one. I contacted Tim Johnson from Johnson Design Specialties and spoke to him about the accuracy potential of the QM using Re-15, Varget, and 4831SC. Tim was a very pleasent guy to speak with and informed that the quick measure would throw the Varget and Re-15 to within .05 gr and the 4831SC to within .1 gr. I was excited to receive the QM from the UPS guy and was eager to try it out. I have a match coming up and have to load 200 rounds of .308 ammo so I was thinking this little jewel was going to make life VERY easy. I also shoot 50 or so rounds each Sunday after church at John Whidden's range and the ability to knock out some ammo on Saturday afternoon in a matter of minutes was an appealing idea. I purchased the "BR" model and a few extra charge tubes and they were shipped out immediatly.

I went into the reloading room and got everything geared up to start throwing some test loads to measure for accuracy of the tool purposes. My RCBS 1500 Chargemaster/scales stay plugged in for aclimation reasons and I recalibrate before each loading session. I pulled out 25 pieces of brass to use for my test lot and got them set up in the reloading block. I threw 100 charges to get familiar with the tool before using the scales to compare the charges for accuracy.

First thing I'd like to mention is the instructions are somewhat sketchy. I was able to get everything up and going but I'd like to see the instructions written for the common man, not the engineer type. After getting everything assembled and adjusted I began throwing charges in my target range of 43.2 gr of Re-15. I think it is a common thought that while Re-15 does not throw like a ball powder, it still meters pretty well. After throwing the 100 charges to get familiar with the tool I was ready to throw 25 and measure them on the digital scales. Scales are now calibrated and zero'd out. These are the results:

1. 42.7
2. 43.1
3. 43.4
4. 43.2
5. 43.0
6. 42.9
7. 43.2
8. 43.2
9. 43.0
10. 43.2
11. 43.2
12. 43.4
13. 43.4
14. 43.4
15. 43.1
16. 43.4
17. 43.1
18. 43.1
19. 43.2
20. 43.4
21. 43.3
22. 42.7
23. 43.1
24. 43.0
25. 43.2

So out of 25 charges thrown we actually hit our target charge only 7 times. We were within the .1 gr expected accuracy 6 times. That means that were more than 12 charges .1 gr from our target weight. To me, that's only a 50% success rate. Not real happy with those results. I am not going to send the package back yet, I want to give it some more time. My next tests will be with Varget and then with H4832SC.

Does anyone else here have any experience with the Quick Measure? Is there some kind of learning curve? I tried to make it a point to keep my technique the same for every charge thrown. Am I holding my mouth wrong or something?

 

[daj]

Re the QM:

I had much the same success rate with Varget so I throw low and trickle up.

Positives: It does not cut kernels or jam and is fast and quiet to use.

Negatives: More spillage than a Redding and more hassle changing loads - unless you have separate inserts,they're cheap enough) calibrated to each of your loads.

 

[Rustystud]

kgunz11:

I bought a Quick Measure and at first found simular results. I played with it and tinkered with it. I made a few modifications. I put a longer clear guard between the measure and the powder funnel. That stopped the spillage of powders. I ran a boring reamer down the drop tube removing some anodazation roughness. I actually opened up the oraface in the bottom of the funnel. I have several different sizes for different size case mouths. I opened up the groove in the measure tube so the O ring would grip the measure tube better, I also used one of the O rings to hold the measure tube set screw. I have mine set up on a Dillon 550. I found a slight delay in the stroke cured my measures ills. It took a learning curve bet I now am throwing loads under 35 grains with .05 accuracy and loads above this at .1 accuracy. I agree the directions take about 10 readings to understand.

Rustystud

 

[kgunz11]

But guys, I paid $270.00 for this thing. I should not have to throw low and trickle up, my $20 LEE throws better than this thing on average and if I wanted an occasional trickle I would have went that route.

And why would I pay $270.00 for a powder throw that was not a finished product? Boring reamer? The only one of those I have wont fit in the powder tube and belongs to my wife!:nono:

I think I would have been better served using the money from the QM to buy the Denver Instuments digital scale and used it when needed. I am looking for a quicker alternative to the RCBS Chargemaster or the Lee perfect powder throw with equal accuracy. I have not found that in the Quick Measure.

 

[EdwinD]

kgunz11,

PLEASE let us know when you find a solution.

I own a chargemaster and Denver Instruments APX-153

thanks,

Edwin D.

 

[Cagie1]

Someone else did a test on the QuickMeasure . He found that it didn't work any better than a conventional powder measure.Actually it was worse. He sent it back and got a refund.
Frank

 

[shcal]

I've owned a QM for several years and I have come to the conclusion that it is good for some things and not for some other things. I agree with just about everyone's experience. I find that for throwing stick powder like Varget or H-4350 it is decent and does not cut the powder. For powders like N-135 I use a Harrells thrower. I have not found a really good all-around powder measure and I have just about given up on electronic scales, any of them that are priced under a very professional lab scale just don't work. I have resorted to using my old Redding oil reservoir balance beam scale for measuring weight and then trowing powder close to the weight with either the QM or the Harrels. However, If I am loading for varmint hunting with say N-135, I adjust the QM and just throw into the cases.

As Rustystud said, a hesitation at the top of the throwing processes will eliminate the spillage. I never have spillage anymore, it takes some familiarization to get use to the QM just like the Culver type throwers.

 

[pintopete]

I started out using a brand new Uniflow and later added the baffle and micrometer adjuster. I was very dissatisfied with its consitency especially with the lincoln logs. I read about the Quick Measure and bought one. I have always been very happy with Tim and the customer support. I think that aspect is exceptional. Now on to the measure. I think the measure is a very ingenious device basing the charges on volume using a window to control the flow and access to the measure chamber. From a practical user standpoint it is kind of a very well made gadget or contraption for lack of a better description. It requires the user to learn a specific system of tubes, funnels, adapters etc. It has at times been quite tedious. Like other users I have had to modify some of the parts such as the brass funnel adapters that are specific to a caliber range. The powder was getting caught or trapped in the space in between creating inconsistent charge weights. I re-machined the parts to limit or eliminate this space. I start out by adjusting the measure tube to achieve a specific desired weight. Then I usually throw a few more and weigh them. Then I go to filling cases. During the process I test about every tenth charge. I have never found it to be off as much as your test, but then I did not do a test like that. I have found that I am within a tenth. I usually use H322 and H4895 powders. Recently I have used IMR4064. These are all for different applications of course. If I had it to do over again I would still consider the Quick Measure, but I would look at the digital measures as well. After purchasing all the accessories to the Quick Measure I am sure I have spent a lot of money.

 

[kgunz11]

Thanks everyone for the replies.

PintoPete,
In your case you were able to take the product and perform modifications to make it work properly, I am not interested in doing so. I expect it to work as advertised and that was for it to throw Re-15 and Varget to within .05 gr. Heck at this point if it would throw to within .1 I would be tickled pink. It wont. I just got back from my reloading room after tinkering with it for another hour and got basically the exact same results with Varget. I stood there over the digital scales with a piece of brass in hand and threw charge after charge after charge. I am just not satisfied that the product works as advertised. In fact it does not work any better than my $20 Lee powder throw which cost $250 less than what I was charged for the Quick Measure.

My experience with the QM has been about the same as everyone else that has commented. I agree that it was a good concept, but it is flawed in the fact that it is not performing to the level it was sold to me.

If you bought a .5 MOA gauranteed rifle that shot 1 MOA with every powder, bullet, case, primer, and charge weight you ran thru it, would you not expect someone to correct the problem? I am going to pack the QM back up and return it to the manufacturer and gracefully ask for a refund.

 

[kgunz11]

An update on the Quick Measure.

I returned the unit to Mr. Johnson and he polished the tube and certified it. It was throwing within 1/2 a tenth accurate after he returned it.

 

[memilanuk]

That's certainly encouraging to hear!

Would you mind posting the raw numbers for say, 10 or 20 throws so people can see the data for themselves?

Thanks,

Monte

 

[kgunz11]

Monte,

I actually passed the Quick Measure to John Whidden and Lamar Jones to try out and test additionally. They have the capacity to measure it's accuracy within .001 grains. Will update you later when I have the data from them.

Have you joined the new forum yet?
www.ThePracticalMarksman.com

 

[memilanuk]

Cool. Looking forward to seeing the results!

 

[BillMcCall]

kgunz11

I use a Quick Measure and have had no problems with mine. I am interested in refining its operation though and am curious to know which tube was polished.

bill

 

[Rustystud]

Bill:

I ran a reamer down my Quick measure dro tube. It made a considerable difference. I also put two O rings arounf the measure tube and set screw. I am loading 308s and I had Tim Johnson send me a longer sided clear plastic,tube) powder measure funnel.

Rustystud

 

[BillMcCall]

Rustystud

When you opened up the drop tube were you using an extruded powder?

Thx Bill

 

[Rustystud]

Bill:

I have loaded IMR-4350, H4350, N-160, RE-15, and Varget. The smaller kernel size the more accurate the Quick loaders is. I found it takes a learning curve to operate it. I have mine set up on a Dillon 550 operated as a turrent loader instead of progressive. I still dump and weigh and trickle. I use a floating sizer and seating die. No concetricity issues. The quick measure will throw =/- .1 99% of the time. It is better than my culver type measures for extruded powder but not good enough to not measure and trickle after dumping for 1000 yard shooting.
Nat

 

[BillMcCall]

Rustystud
On an earlier post Nat you mentioned receiving a longer funnel, were you having a powder bridging problem using the supplied funnel? I use H4895 for light bullets and Varget for the heavier bullets in 308s, no problems. I agree with the learning curve, ounce you’ve got your stroke down you can flat load powder. I use mine by hand it’s just quicker. I’ve also stopped loading by weight. I’ll use weight to set up a load after that its volume.
Thx Bill

 

[Rustystud]

Bill:

The original clear tube part of the powder funnel used in the progressive loader set-up was only about 1 inch tall with loads for a 308, the amount of powder dropped would not go from the measure tube into the powder funnel fast enough and as the powder funnel dropped away it would allow a few grains of powder to spill/bounce over. Tim Johnson at Quick Measure sent me a 2 inch clear plastic outer tube to extend the time the dropping powder was shielded. I hope this has explained what I was speaking of.

When I use the Quick Measure I allow the measure to be open for about 3-5 seconds to fill the measure tube. Then I lower the powder funnel about 1/2 inch and allow it to remain stationary for about 2 seconds. This allows the powder to clear and drop down the tube. I have the bead chain down through the drop tube. As I allow the handle to go up I move it up and down for about a 1 inch between the bottom and top of the stroke. This makes the bead chain go up and down breaking any powder bridge.
Hope this has not muddied up the waters more. I find there is a significant importance to have the right powder measure tubes I have bought the additional half tubes.
Nat

 

[Loupeznik]

I got my Quick Measure the other day and worked up a few loads for .308 Win. Measured with a Dillon beam scale, I could not perceive a difference between throws in to a case on a Dillon 550. I could not be happier with this measure. I did balk at the price initially, but I also did not want to weigh every load as my application is for NRA Highpower. I want to spend my time shooting not reloading. On paper, my best load was five rounds inside of 3/4 of an inch. This was shot with an AR-10 with Varget powder and V-max bullets,cheap). I had forgotten my rest so all loads were shot a 100yds in the prone with a sling.

Previous to this I had used a Lee Perfect powder measure. It is not perfect.

I would recommend the Quick Measure to anyone who doesn't want to weigh every charge.