Armory Sponsor
Posted: 7/24/2010 2:29:13 PM EDT
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Whats everyone using for a powder measure? Im not satisfied at all with the Lee PPM.
Its not consistent and powder comes out through some of the cracks. |
Hornady Lock-n-Load Powder Measure on my LnL Press:
and an RCBS Uniflow (I have an older version) for single stage work: 
Notice how similar they are? Now check out this Redding measure: 
Yes, they're all basically the same design - and basically the same design as your Lee measure. The difference is the Hornady, RCBS, and Redding are all made with metal parts throughout-except for the reservoir, of course-with no need for an O ring to seal anything. Another thing to note is whether the metering cylinders accept micrometer adjustment inserts, and what other features are available (the Hornady unit retains the metering insert with a plunger, so you can pop out the insert and swap in a drain insert to easily and cleanly drain the reservoir when you're done loading). Shop around-I listed these in order of increasing price per Midway's site. |
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I like my hornady, you can swap out the powder measure inserts to keep with certain loads. For example, I've got two measures- one set for my IMR PB 45 acp load and one for my ramshot tac load for 223. when I swap out setups on the lock and load, I can swap out more quickly. My hornady is smoother than the RCBS that I use for single stage.
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| The Hornady PM is a good one, it throws just as good as my Redding BR3 and much better than the Uniflow I have, the Hornady has an O-ring around the rotor that makes it smoother and more consistent since you don't get the wiggle between the body and the rotor like with the Uniflow. |
| The RCBS Uniflow can be made more useful by removing the hopper and replacing it with a piece of 2" PVC. Mine holds a little more than a pound and is about 10" high. I actually broke mine by accident while moving about 25 years ago but it was a useful improvement. |
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Sorry for the hi-jack, but this is just the info I was looking for too...
Can any of you Hornady users help me out? I'm new to reloading and using the same Hornady measure pictured on this thread. I've only reloaded .223, using Benchmark "ball" powder. I can't get my hornady to throw consistant at all. it's all over the place, usually within +/- .8gns. I've wiped it with dryer sheets, washed it out with soapy water, torn it down completly, lubed it, inpected it...no signs of any problems, no defects that I can see, no evidence of any static. I love the product, but if I can't get it to throw consistant, it's gonna have to go. I've tried different techniques as well, I don't think it's operator error. But like I said, I'm new to reloading and I guess it could be me. But I've tried lots of different techniques, with no change in results. Please help! |
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Quoted:
Sorry for the hi-jack, but this is just the info I was looking for too... Can any of you Hornady users help me out? I'm new to reloading and using the same Hornady measure pictured on this thread. I've only reloaded .223, using Benchmark "ball" powder. I can't get my hornady to throw consistant at all. it's all over the place, usually within +/- .8gns. I've wiped it with dryer sheets, washed it out with soapy water, torn it down completly, lubed it, inpected it...no signs of any problems, no defects that I can see, no evidence of any static. I love the product, but if I can't get it to throw consistant, it's gonna have to go. I've tried different techniques as well, I don't think it's operator error. But like I said, I'm new to reloading and I guess it could be me. But I've tried lots of different techniques, with no change in results. Please help! First Benchmark isn't a ball powder, though it's a pretty fine cut extruded powder it isn't going to meter as good as a ball powder(H335, Tac, BLC (2), AA2230 are some ball powders). I usually get +/- .1-2 gr with Benchmark, I use a lot of it loading 55gr V-max on my LnL AP. I tried using different types of dry lube and they always caused powder to stick in the rotor or inside the lower section of the hopper causing big variances in my throws so I ended up just wiping everything down clean and dry to where there was no sign of powder sticking anywhere to get the best throws from the measure. Also I coated the rotor and metering insert in my measure with dry molly and baked it in the oven for an hour or so to dry and harden the lube so it wouldn't scratch off, now it's like a Teflon coating almost since it's slick as glass and nothing stick to it anymore, the measure went from throwing +/- .2 grains with H335 to no variance at all, I loaded 100 rounds the other day with H335 and out of the 100 I weighed probably 15 charges and every one weighed exactly 25gr's(not one was +/- even .1 grain) I say just keep working with it because you are not going to get a better one, even my Redding BR3 throws with the same varience as the Hornady and the RCBS is twice as bad as the Hornady or Redding will ever be, so unless you go to something like a Charge Master(what I use for precision loads) the Hornady is as good as the gets without going much more expensive for a Harrell or similar. |
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Quoted:
Thanks for the info...where can I get this "dry molly" you speek of??  I used Zep dry moly on mine if you can find it but I have also used this brand in the past and it worked very well. http://www.kpg-industrial.com/products/dry_moly_lube/ |
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Quoted:
Sorry for the hi-jack, but this is just the info I was looking for too... Can any of you Hornady users help me out? I'm new to reloading and using the same Hornady measure pictured on this thread. I've only reloaded .223, using Benchmark "ball" powder. I can't get my hornady to throw consistent at all. it's all over the place, usually within +/- .8gns. I've wiped it with dryer sheets, washed it out with soapy water, torn it down completely, lubed it, inspected it...no signs of any problems, no defects that I can see, no evidence of any static. I love the product, but if I can't get it to throw consistent, it's gonna have to go. I've tried different techniques as well, I don't think it's operator error. But like I said, I'm new to reloading and I guess it could be me. But I've tried lots of different techniques, with no change in results. Please help! Welcome to Arfcom. 
PM tips, Never use any type of oil to lube measure. If you did, take apart measure and wipe down the drum with Rubbing Alcohol and a clean rag. Wipe out the body of the measure (cast iron part) and the "piston" attached to the adjustment shaft. Let it dry. Get some paste wax. I use Johnson's paste wax. Was used on wood floors to wax the floor in days past. Put a layer of the paste wax on all the moving surfaces you just cleaned. Let it dry. Wipe off the dried wax with a clean rag. Reassemble measure. Notice how smooth the PM operates. Now mount to a surface that will not move when PM is operated. Very Important. Now on to technique, Fill hopper with powder, tap side of measure lightly about 6 times, watch the powder settle in the hopper. Secret #1 Throw 10 charges, returning powder to hopper. Just keep throwing charges until pan is full, dump as needed. Secret #2 Now that the powder is settled, work on your throwing technique. Use the same speed and force for every throw. This will take some practice, but is easy to learn. . Secret #3 After making a powder adjustment, throw 5 charges, return them to the hopper, to resettle the powder. then throw a charge and weigh. Do this every time you adjust the powder throw. When you get the measure set on a charge, write down the number on the micrometer. Next time you can dial the number in and be very close. Don't waste your money on one of those powered trickler/scale things, you don't need one. Good luck. |
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Let us know how it goes SuperFLY91, some practice and you should see improvement.
Your goals should be, ball powder + or - 0.1 gr. Flake powder, + or - .2 gr, extruded (stick) powder + or - .3 gr. Some PM p0rn to add to this thread. 
Left to right, Uniflo, tuned Redding, stock Redding, Hornady PM. Right after this pic, the LNL (lock and load) bushing went on to my stock Redding. 
So it will fit here in the female LNL bushing. Haven't made a new handle for it yet, but will soon. |
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