tell me about powder measures

[mekender]

ok, tell me which powder measure to go get...

im just starting out so i dont need the best on the market... but i dont want a POS either...

the one ive used in the past had an adjustable nozzle and you rotated the handle for each dispensing... was pretty cool and accurate through over 100 rounds loaded so i kinda like it...

ive heard bad things about tricklers... so measures might be better for me

[Netpackrat]

They all suck.

[mekender]

They all suck.

well, should i just count grains with tweezers?

[cu74]

They all suck.

well, should i just count grains with tweezers?

Well, if you have superior eyesight, a steady hand and lots of patience, I suppose tweezers would work - but I wouldn't go that route. A dipper is lots faster.

NP wasn't being as sarcastic as you might think - "suck" is a pretty appropriate term for mechanical powder measure performance. Some meter extruded powders well but not cylindrical powders, others do the opposite. I have not heard of any affordable one that does well with all powder types. (Someone will no doubt weigh in soon with another opinion.)

I use a Lee Pro Auto Disk on a turret press for all of my handgun loads. Depending upon the powder, I can get +/- 0.1 to +/- 0.3 grains load accuracy. I consider +/- 0.2 acceptable for most handgun shooting. When I am using a powder that doesn't meter "well enough", I load light and finish off the loads with a scale and a powder dipper. (Some folks swear by tricklers - I swear AT mine. I can use a dipper and tap with a finger and get correct loads much faster.)

For rifle loads, I use the scale and dipper exclusively. More time-consuming than a mechanical powder measure, but I'm already batch loading anyway. I use a single-stage press for all necked rifle loading.

[survivalist]

I have used the Lee powder measures for many years and have had very good luck.
I do not shoot paper but know those who do and they swear by them.
I know one man who takes his reloading gear to the range with him to make "specials".
He uses lee loaders and dippers exclusively.Says they grow on you.

survivalist

[mekender]

do you use the powder through die?

and these dippers... im assuming that you are talking about the little measuring dipper?

[cu74]

do you use the powder through die?

and these dippers... im assuming that you are talking about the little measuring dipper?

Yep, Lee powder-through expander dies - the powder measure screws onto the top of the die. Dippers are indeed the little measuring dippers - the tiny plastic measuring cups with long handles that Lee ships with each die set.

[Fivetoes]

I use a RCBS Uniflo. It can be a bit crunchy on stick powders but if I am consistant with how I use it, it is very consistant in turn.

[mekender]

ok well i am looking at loading 9mm ammo and probably 7.62x39 and 5.56... eventually some .40 or .45 and possibly some .308/7.62 in the future...

i dont have any plans for a precision rifle any time soon... just looking to save some cash on plinking

[cu74]

Chris - thanks for the detailed info. That's the kind of "stuff" that needs to be passed around more often, and not just for newbie edification either.

To the original post, "...im just starting out so i dont need the best on the market... but i dont want a POS either..." I'm afraid the RCBS Chargemaster may be too costly to fit the "beginner" criteria. (Cabella's, admittedly not the "low cost leader", lists it at $310.00)