Redding Competition powder measure BR30

[Tozguy]

How do you like your BR-30 measure? They look good to me but before buying would like to hear pros and cons from anyone who has used one for a while.
Thanks

 

[LHSmith]

I had one when I first started BR, sold if to a fellow BR competitor after about three years. I got a Harrells because that's what most used at the matches. I would say it's just as accurate as a Harrells ( a sentiment echoed by a couple of IBS record holders). One thing to consider, however, is that if you want to use Nalgene bottles via a Sinclair adapter (instead of a fixed reservoir that is standard on the Redding) and also upgrade to long drop tubes (Sinclair) you are beyond the cost of a Harrell 90 and darn near the cost of the Harrell Premium. Also the Harrells has a integral mounting clamp.

 

[Scott Harris]

I've had the Redding and a Harrell's. Performancewise, there was no difference for me. To be honest, I'd just get a cheap Lee version if I had to do it again. With extruded powders, I was getting up to .7grain variance with the Harrell's, which made it kind of useless for long range shooting. Weigh everything now with digital scales. The Chargemaster is within +-.1 grain and my Acculab is +.04 grain.

 

[Tozguy]

Thanks for the thoughts on the Redding. Part of my interest in it stems from using a Lee. However, the plastic lip at the top of the cavity is starting to be buggered from cutting the occasional kernel which makes me wonder about its durability. I like the design hence the look at Redding's BR30. Humidity can be a problem around here so metering by volume seems to be preferable to weighing. The Culver is also on the short list. The caution on the cost of add-ons for the Redding is also appreciated.

 

[george]

one thing they all have in common is to get consistent drops you MUST use short cut or ball powders.

 

[boltman13]

I bought a Redding BR30 about 8 years ago. About 5 years ago I added the Sinclair powder bottle and drop tube set up. I am completely satisfied with my system. I use it to load at the range for Hunter Benchrest matches. I use short length stick powder mainly. Other shooters using Harrells powder measurers are also very satisfied with their results. I don't think you would go wrong either way.

 

[Tozguy]

The powders to be metered are generally..H322, Varget, VV135, VV140. I think it is mostly a Varget kernel that gets chopped by the measure. Are these considered short stick powders? Loading at the range is also a requirement for me. Thanks for the help folks.

 

[in2deep]

Varget is a long powder and is very hard to meter and gives inconsistent throws in any measure and the cheap Lee works better than most others due to the soft wiper arm that doesn't cut the long kernels as bad but longevity may be a question but for about $20. it's a bargain and loved by many for throwing extruded powders....... but most will weigh each charge on a scale due to the inconsistent throws with these types of powders.
Hence the popularity of the RCBS Chargemaster.

 

[Laurie]

Mike,

I covered this in the February to April issues of the free online magazine Target Shooter:

http://www.targetshooter.co.uk/

and go to the past issues section in the sidebar. You can read them online or download the whole issue free as an Adobe PDF.

I tested half a dozen measures with a variety of powder types. The Redding came out well. You don't have the individual drum-click fine adjustment that the Harrells measures have that usefully equate to 0.1gn of most powders.

As noted, the Lee Perfect is the bargain measure and works very well with most powder forms. There's a lot to be said for buying a bunch and keeping most of them permanently set for your main loads instead of buying one expensive measure.

Laurie,
York, England

 

[in2deep]

If you throw alot of Varget and just don't have enough toys already the Quick-measure powder measure is even more accurate than the others and uses a unique design to avoid cutting the long kernels and once you get a consistent rythm it's probably the most accurate thrower made for long-kernel powders but like all of them it's sensitive to user error and repeating the same cadence on the handle from throw to throw.
It often hits spot on tossing 29.8 grains of Varget which is no easy task but due to the nature of Varget and it's use mostly for long range shooting most people still weigh it but the Quick Measure and the Lee measure save a little time by requiring a little less trickling.

Laurie... thanks for the link look forward to reading about it.

 

[nhm16]

As noted, the Lee Perfect is the bargain measure and works very well with most powder forms. There's a lot to be said for buying a bunch and keeping most of them permanently set for your main loads instead of buying one expensive measure.

This is what I do. I mount them to 6-8" long pieces of 3" wide strips of solid oak flooring (the installer left a fair bit of it a while back, and I keep finding uses for it), which I then clamp to the bench as needed. I weigh every charge on an Acculab VIC-123 anyways so there's no gain to be had for spending $$$ on a pricey powder measure.

 

[Tozguy]

Laurie,
Thanks for the articles on powder measures in Target Shooter, very good reading..well done! On reaching the cover of the March issue I momentarily forgot what I was looking for but soldiered on to your article albeit with brighter eyes.
The Lee Perfect does suit my needs quite well. At first I would throw and trickle but eventually realized how consistent the Lee can be. Now I just throw with confidence. Adjustment of the cavity has become second nature to me for different loads and powders. My load data always includes the Lee setting which has almost taken on more meaning than the actual grain weight of the charge. Having a second Lee Perfect on hand as a backup would probably be enough to hedge any durability issues that could arise.
Thanks again folks for the excellent help, Mike

 

[Stugots]

Taged For Future Reverence.