Which Powder Dispenser?

[500Stroker]

I am going to upgrade my my powder dispenser, I dont have the budget for a Neil Jones but I can maybe swing one fro Harrel's. I load Varget and IMR 4350.
Which Harrels would be best to work with these powders?
Thanks in advance
PS I dont want to use a digital dispenser, I have tried them and they are not my cup of tea.

 

[JamesnTN]

Neither of the drop dispensers I’m aware of will drop extruded powders consistently and accurately.

 

[R.Morehouse]

I have used the Harrels to throw and trickle up....But i guess you can use any of them for that....

 

[shortthroat]

My Redding BR measure drops ball powder within ,2 grain is able to drop extruded powders easily to within .3 gr. It sometimes but not always cuts one of the extruded grains and that is why I give a lower precision for these powders. I weigh each charge and set the measure to drop about .5 gr. low and then use use my "hand" trickler (a Wendy's plastic spoon) to get the exact charge. There is no need go for even a simple trickler because you still have to use a spoon should you overshoot the mark. The digital scale samples at about 3 sec intervals so you have to patiently work toward the final load.

For the last year or so I have been loading H-1000, Retumbo, and RL-25 extruded and Ramshot Magnum ball for .338 LM in a semi-auto. The Redding measure cannot drop a full load--it drops a maximum somewhere around 60 gr. Thus I measure powder in two drops into the pan and then weigh the charge topping it off as above. I have the Redding measure set so that two drops give me ~.5 grain less than the full load that is somewhere around 90-95 gr. depending on the bullet I am using.

I will emphasize that you absolutely MUST weigh each charge unless you are just loading hunting rounds that will usually be fine within .5 gr. Considering the cost of brass, powder, Federal 215 GM or Winchester LRM primers and 250 or 300 gr. MatchKing or Berger hybrid bullets, not to mention the time that is required to prepare the brass, measuring each round is just good procedure. I honestly don't know how .22 or .308 shooters can handle those tiny cases and little bullets, much less find their brass. For .338 that part is simple, just pick up the biggest brass.

 

[Stumpy1]

If you are only throwing stick powder, give the Lee Perfect Powder measure a try. The plastic one is around 25 bucks, and works amazingly well. I don't know if the deluxe is any better, but it seems to be made of metal, so probably feels more substantial during use.

I know many folks laugh at Lee products, but this one impressed me.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000NTMJLG/?tag=accuratescom-20

Hope this helps,

Frank

 

[jimmymac]

I am going to upgrade my my powder dispenser, I dont have the budget for a Neil Jones but I can maybe swing one fro Harrel's. I load Varget and IMR 4350.
Which Harrels would be best to work with these powders?
Thanks in advance
PS I dont want to use a digital dispenser, I have tried them and they are not my cup of tea.

I hear good things about the Bruno's knockoff of the Neil Jones measure but I don't have any real world experience. Maybe someone who has one will chime in here.

I know you don't want to go electronic, but I've had great success using the Lyman Gen 6 compact. Since I got it, I've totally abandoned my manual powder dropper.

I set the Lyman to drop .1 grain light, then I transfer the powder over to my Redding beam scale for final trickle and weight. While I'm trickling, the Lyman is throwing the next charge. By the time I finish trickling, the Lyman is usually finished up with the next charge as well, so there ends up being a nice rhythm to my reloading cycle.

 

[JRS]

I hear good things about the Bruno's knockoff of the Neil Jones measure but I don't have any real world experience. Maybe someone who has one will chime in here.

I know you don't want to go electronic, but I've had great success using the Lyman Gen 6 compact. Since I got it, I've totally abandoned my manual powder dropper.

I set the Lyman to drop .1 grain light, then I transfer the powder over to my Redding beam scale for final trickle and weight. While I'm trickling, the Lyman is throwing the next charge. By the time I finish trickling, the Lyman is usually finished up with the next charge as well, so there ends up being a nice rhythm to my reloading cycle.

I had the Bruno and a Neil Jones. It was OK, but not a Neil Jones. I have a Harrell and RFD, and the RFD is the most consistent powder measure I have used.

 

[jimmymac]

I had the Bruno and a Neil Jones. It was OK, but not a Neil Jones. I have a Harrell and RFD, and the RFD is the most consistent powder measure I have used.

Thanks. RFD? Help me out here.

 

[JRS]

Thanks. RFD? Help me out here.

Bob Dodd. He produced the powder measure, actions, small O frame press (now made by John Loh), front rests, etc; etc. His craftsmanship was as good as machinery and human hands can produce

 

[jimmymac]

Bob Dodd. He produced the powder measure, actions, small O frame press (now made by John Loh), front rests, etc; etc. His craftsmanship was as good as machinery and human hands can produce

Thanks. You speak in past tense, so I'm assuming he is out of the business or no longer with us?

 

[JRS]

Thanks. You speak in past tense, so I'm assuming he is out of the business or no longer with us?

I believe he is alive and kicking, but moved on from the gun stuff, to custom knife making for a few years. His knives exhibit the same fine craftsmanship he is known for. It appears he learned to make his knives from one of the best…. D'Alton Holder.

 

[Shrek]

If you are only throwing stick powder, give the Lee Perfect Powder measure a try. The plastic one is around 25 bucks, and works amazingly well. I don't know if the deluxe is any better, but it seems to be made of metal, so probably feels more substantial during use.

I know many folks laugh at Lee products, but this one impressed me.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000NTMJLG/?tag=accuratescom-20

Hope this helps,

Frank

The plastic Lee Perfect Measure is the one you want. I used a perfect for years dropping large stick powders then got the bug for a “nicer” measure. I bought the new Classic Cast Lee thinking it would work just as well. It didn’t. The cheap Lee Perfect Powder Measure is back on my bench.

 

[dmoran]

@500Stroker -
Varget and H4350 size extruded powders will not throw very accurate in any thrower, and are prone to have kernal crunch. The inexpensive Lee Perfect will rile any expensive thrower with the larger extruded powders like your asking for, but none of them will throw to 1-tenth consistently. "Throw light and trickle up" will be needed for accurate charges regardless of what thrower - IME.
Donovan

 

[seymour fish]

I hear good things about the Bruno's knockoff of the Neil Jones measure but I don't have any real world experience. Maybe someone who has one will chime in here.

I know you don't want to go electronic, but I've had great success using the Lyman Gen 6 compact. Since I got it, I've totally abandoned my manual powder dropper.

I set the Lyman to drop .1 grain light, then I transfer the powder over to my Redding beam scale for final trickle and weight. While I'm trickling, the Lyman is throwing the next charge. By the time I finish trickling, the Lyman is usually finished up with the next charge as well, so there ends up being a nice rhythm to my reloading cycle.

Have one from Bruno. plus minus a tenth with ball to 3 tenths with coarse stick. Quality piece