You're going to get a phonebook's worth of suggestions but there's nothing magical about a powder measure. The size of the chamber has a lot to do with the repeatability of the measure when working with small handgun charge weights. The type of powder is also a key factor.

A ball powder in a small chamber with a baffle in the hopper will give the best results with small amounts.

Despite all of the praise, I'm not a big fan of the old Lyman 55 and I prefer the models with the cylinder shaped chambers.

 

Plus one on the phone book.................

I use an RCBS and a Pacific, (Hornady), both are dead nuts accurate once I set them for the desired charge. Both are close to 50 years old, maybe that's why they function so well, who knows.

Good luck in your search.

 

I have always used RCBS equipment, their standard model powder measure for single stage pistol cartridge loading. I would like to have a more accurate and repeatable powder measure, but don't want the match grade equipment.

My new-to-me RCBS Uniflow arrived last week, and I loaded 100 rounds of .38 special and another 100 .45 auto.

I was astounded by the accuracy. Every charge dropped was dead-on, and after 10 individually weighed I weighed every fifth charge. All of this was plinking ammo and I use a single-stage press as well.

Have more recent RCBS measures (mine seems to be 20+ years old) given more trouble? How inaccurate is your current measure?

 

I have and use 2 RCBS Uniflow powder measures, one is the large cylinder (rifle) the other is the small cylinder (handgun/Hornet) both have the micrometer adjustable screws. I have found them to be quite accurate and one is over 55 years old, I bought it used in '63 the other has the small charge cylinder which came with the first measure.

 

I have a dual drum (either small or large cylinder setup) RCBS Uniflow that's about 30 years old. I've been quite impressed with its consistency with ball, flake, and short stick powders. It does ok with long stick powders, such as IMR4064.

I've been considering getting another Uniflow with either the small or large cylinder setup only. Then I can have one measure always set up for small, and the other for large.

 

I am quite satisfied with my Lyman 55.

It is very consistent with ball and flake powders. I only use one stick powder for the .204 and I hand weigh those anyway for absolute accuracy.

As I develop a load I record the settings on the Lyman and keep it in my load record book. Returning to the exact weight will take a tweak or two but then you're good to go.

 

#MeTwo
It's one of the few that can handle flake powders like Unique and IMR stick rifle powders ....If you know how to set it up and operate it !
Been using since 1968
Gary

 

a word for the Lee Perfect Powder Measure

I've only been reloading for a while, maybe 2000 rounds, but I got the Lee perfect powder measure to start with the separate magnetically dampened scale. I've not checked the scale against another to see if the 3.5 gr is totally accurate, but I will say that when I load 100 rounds I re-measure the load on the scale four or five times and it's dead on.

 

Check out Redding, I love my 3br.

 

I too love my 3BR, enough so that I bought a 10X for my handgun loading.

The 10X is terrific ... unless I put 700X or Clays powder in it because then it binds up and grinds to a halt on the flakes.

You said you did not want/need to go to a 'match grade' measure and that might be a good thing. For flake type powder I find myself frequently using my RCBS Little Dandy, the 'looser' tolerances seem to be much happier with that kind of powder, it works well and never goes 'out of adjustment' but you can spend a fortune on the rotors to get the volume/weight of powder appropriate to each load. The "chart" has been just an approximation as to what is dropped in my experience.

Bruce

 

There are only two popular types of mechanical powder measures. Just about all of them use a rotating drum …. ie Lyman 55, RCBS Uniflow, Hornady Lock-n-Load, Redding, etc. Of the rotating drum types, the Lyman 55 is the most accurate with most powders. It's baffle has a coarse, medium, and fine adjustments whereas most other measure have just one adjustment.

The other type of powder measure is a "slider" where the powder bar has an adjustable baffle and slides from the hopper to the drop tube. My Dillon RL550 has this type of powder measure and drops flake powders like Unique far more accurate than my Lyman 55 or Uniflow. These Dillon powder measures can also be used on any press with 7/8x14 threads.

Before you can compare different powder measures, you must test them with the same powders. Ball powders such as AA#5, W-231, H-110, etc drop very uniform from virtually all powder measures. Some powders are like dropping cockleburs …. like IMR 800X. I have never found a powder measure that drops extruded rifle powders accurately enough to suit me. The longer the powder pieces (looks like pencil leads) the worse they drop. I use my Uniflow in conjunction with a trickler and weigh each powder charge when using extruded rifle powders.

There's a lot to be said about "technique". When you develop a uniform movement for each powder drop, chances are the charge weight will be more uniform. The Lyman 55 has a nifty device that really helps. It is a "clanger" that taps the unit each time it is operated. This helps powder to settle in the baffle, thus a more uniform drop. Another trick that works is to keep the powder hopper at about the same fullness. I pour powder in the hopper until it is about half full. After each 100 rounds of handgun ammo, I'll top it off back to half full. With rifle loads, I do much the same except I top it off after 50 rounds.

In all honesty, there's really not much difference in drop accuracy between brands with a rotating drum. I would rate the Lyman 55 a little better than other brands because of the clanger and the three baffle adjustments. I would also rate the Dillon better for flake powders than any rotating drum type powder measures.

 

I use the new version made by lee called the auto drum, not the auto disk, but auto drum and it's been great. I use it on my hornady progressive press and with most powders it fluctuates up or down .1 grains which is really good considering the price. I've loaded maybe 10,000 rds of ammo using it and have been so happy that the hornady powder drop that came with my press sit on the shelf not being used. The quick change drum system is convenient for me because spare drums are cheap and I can setup each one for a specific favorite load I want. When I want to switch loads I just unscrew the drum and screw in the next drum.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1016832532/lee-auto-drum-powder-measure

 

As Lowegan mentioned technique is about as important as anything with powder measures ,I use a "double tap"method on return stroke which seems to add to consistency of charge weights with either Uniflow.

 

I am looking at the Hornady unit. I was told by one of their tech support people that it has a .3 grain error (+/-.3 gr from setpoint). That seems like a lot, but probably no worse than what I amusing.

Anybody have a suggestion? Thanks.

I have 2 of the Hornady measures. One is a old one I've had for 30 years and one is the one that came with my LNL AP a few years back.
Look the same and both are way better than +/- .3gr.

I'm one of the lucky few that can even use Unique in mine and both keep to around .1gr with the pistol rotors.

 

I vote for the Lyman 55. Mine dates back to the sixties and its still cranking. The thing that makes it work for me is the little knocker that settles the powder after each charge. I have tried a Hornady and a Lee with a progressive press and I have reverted back to my Forster Coax single stage press and the Lyman 55. I did treat myself to a Lyman Gen 6 powder dispenser for rifle charges.

 

Down to the wire, I was between RCBS Uniflow and Hornady LNL for my RCBS Turret.

I opted for Hornady since I already have 4 of the same for my other processes.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

 

I have an older Lyman 55 that is perfect with ball and flake powders but requires under weight charges and a trickler for the stick powders. If not loading for accuracy work, it could be used with stick powders as it usually throws charges within +/- .2 gr. On the other hand I have a Hornady Lock `n Load that won't throw two charges within .3 or .4 gr. of each other with ANY powder! It must be an exception to the rule because they still sell them and a lot of people like them. But if they were all like mine they would have junked them years ago (mine is an early 90's model). I can throw charges that close with my Lee dippers! The slider on my Dillon is another measure that throws perfect charges with ball and flake powders and the short cut stick powders. I don't think I've ever tried it with the long stick powders like IMR 4350 but I'm sure it wouldn't care for them. I would guess that being consistent with how you throw your charges is the most vital part of the game, however.
Cheers,
jc aka crkckr

 

I use the Auto Drum by Lee. I do not use fine powders so have not had any issues. .1 grns. +/-. Only reload pistol/revolver rounds so far with it but will soon try 300 aac. I did have one issue with leakage but took apart and made sure wiper was sealed properly and no issue after.

 

For me I've found the Uniflow to work great with ball and other fine powders. Look up dryflash's and other's recommendations about tuning, polishing, and tweaking the Uniflow style powder measures. It helps.

However, on the stick/extruded style powders I wasn't impressed with the Uniflow consistency at all. Surprising to me I found the Lee Auto Drum to do quite well on those powders but not so great with the ball/fine powders.

The perfect balance has been to go with each powder measure for the two styles of powder they do well with, and I've been very happy with the results.

 

Sometimes it's down to the powder type. I'm happy with the Dillon units when it comes to medium flake and ball powders. But the Dillons aren't very impressive with large flake (like Unique) or the stick powders.

I've adjusted by buying powders that meter will with the Dillons. Of course, sometimes I don't have a choice.

 

I have the Redding 3BR and an ancient RCBS trickler.
A repeatable technique is a big plus, especially with non-spherical powders.

 

I have two Dillons for my .223 and .308 tool heads, Lee Disk measures on all my handgun tool heads and an RCBS for those I load on the RockChucker and Lyman turret.

 

I've got the Hornady unit, and really enjoy it.

Pros:

It can use two different sized plungers/housings for pistol and rifle, which can consistently throw down to the 1+/- .1 gr range, or you can put the rifle system in and throw up to 65ish grains.

It can take a micrometer stem which allows you to very precisely adjust your throw volume/weight

Cons:

It rusts easier than any other measure I've ever used. I use a dry-film lubricant for long-term storage, and graphite for short-term.

 

I no longer reload, but I did for over 40 years. My first powder measure was a Lyman # 55 and over the years I used just about every brand of measure made, even the Harrell "Classic". They all "worked", but I always went back to the Lyman 55 and if I ever start up again I'll probably get another one.

 

I have used the Harrell culver type powder measure (primarily for rifle cartridge reloading). It is acceptable for stick powders, but I don’t use it with flake powders. The Dillon powder measure on my 550C does okay with flake powders.

 

I also acquired a quick-measure from Johnson designs specialties. I haven’t tried it yet, but it looks interesting. Does anyone else have any experience with this measure?