Group project

Good luck. I’m interested in what you end up with. I’m not pushing colors here but the Dillon does a pretty good job on flake powders.

Very interesting, I have had issues with stick powders in my Hornady, RCBS, and herters. So now I just use them in my Hornady auto charge. But, that means all single stage reloading.

I pound of powder is a LOT of powder in a measure... and I hesitate to think what might happen if a primer detonated or some such. Further, I think you would get the same results with less powder... and a simple baffle.

My original Hornady powder drop had 2 volumetric inserts... a full sized one, the size of the hole in the actual rotor, and an insert that held about 1/3rd the volume of the rotor hole... for smaller, lighter charges. It was a good combo and served me well for many years.

KY DAN said:

I want to build a powder measure that will be able to dispense flake powder…both accurately and at any grain setting….

I would like to get your thoughts regarding this project before I build anything.

Click to expand...

I would suggest setting a goal that is quantifiable. “Accurately” is qualitative and subject to interpretation. This is how we wound up with each and every measure already on the market…

Is this kinda like reinventing the wheel??

Many many accurate powder measures on the market.

Rule3 said:

Many many accurate powder measures on the market.

Click to expand...

See, that’s what I was talking about.

KY DAN said:

. . . both accurately and at any grain setting.

Click to expand...

Accuracy =/= Precision. Accuracy of any measure is entirely dependent on the user setting it up. You're probably thinking of precision.

KY DAN said:

. . . able to dispense flake powder(unique, red dot, blue dot, green dot, anything similar).

Click to expand...

My UniFlow dispenses all those, with more than enough precision for me, and likely near the mechanical limits for a volumetric measure. A gravimetric measure is the next step.

KY DAN said:

The tube I think should hold a pound of powder for constant pressure.

Click to expand...

I think you want consistent overhead pressure (easily achieved with a baffle) not high initial pressure.

If you don't have one, I suggest a UniFlow (or Redding's competitor if you like lighter green) with a baffle, and run it with an absolute minimum of slapping against the stops. I have found that after settling the overhead with a throw or three, minimal disturbance yields the greatest precision.

One main fact overlooked is operator methods. For consistent powder charges, the powder measure must be used consistently. Every charge must be done in the same manner, as much as humanly possible. Same speed, same "force", same powder level, as the preceeding charge.

The most consistent powder charges I can remember was with my Lee PPM and W231. After I got warmed up and on a roll I measured 10 charges and got less than .1 vatiation,weighed on my Lyman/Ohaus D5, then I got one .1 gr light, a few more dead nuts, then .1 again. Of course the W231 had a lot to do with that...

KY DAN said:

I want to build a powder measure that will be able to dispense flake powder(unique, red dot, blue dot, green dot, anything similar) both accurately and at any grain setting.

I have thoughts on the matter regarding a star machine works slide style measure with a built in vibratory mechanism.

The tube I think should hold a pound of powder for constant pressure.

I would like to get your thoughts regarding this project before I build anything.

Click to expand...

Are you have difficulty metering those powders?
Do you want a stand alone measure or for on the press??

Blue Dot has always been an issue but not that bad,

The Measure on the Hornady LnL AP is pretty darn "precise" and good enough for anything I load.

I also have a old RCBS Uniflow with dual rotors, It is when they mad soil metal stuff. It also is right on

Some will say I am crazy, but I tested the LEE PPM with lots of powder and it meters stick powders BETTER than the RCBS, It looks cheap but it works very well. Other than Lee has stopped with the Red hopper and gone with the stupid clear bottle which is annoy. BUT you can screw a 1lb powder container on it. Of course there is no way to see how much powder is in there?? DUH, same as them changing the round primer trays, another DUH!

If you want to spend more money there are lots of high priced options out there



https://harrellsprec.com/index.php/products/premium-powder-measure

Rule3 said:

Some will say I am crazy, but I tested the LEE PPM with lots of powder and it meters stick powders BETTER than the RCBS

Click to expand...

They'd be the people who never tried for themselves. The polymer wipe in Lee's PPM reduces cutting of stick powders, and it's slightly more precise than the steel/steel cavity in my experience.

On the other hand, I was entirely unable to run H110, regardless of tweaking tension, etc. That's why I use a UniFlow now.

edwardware said:

They'd be the people who never tried for themselves. The polymer wipe in Lee's PPM reduces cutting of stick powders, and it's slightly more precise than the steel/steel cavity in my experience.

On the other hand, I was entirely unable to run H110, regardless if tweaking tension, etc. That's why I use a UniFlow now.

Click to expand...

None of my Lee powder measures have leaked., PPM, Pro Disc and Auto drum. I recently had an issue with the auto drum but it was not leaking,
Just loaded some 380 Auto with 3.2 gr HP 38 on the Auto drum and it is spot on

I run two lee PPMs. I lapped the rotors to the bodies and it helped with leakage. Through they still leak a bit, it's nothing like before. And it stopped the binding from having powder twixt the two parts. This all with h110.

It does do very well with stick powders. 3031 being my main stick powder.

If I run it the same every time, I don't get .1 variation, I get less than that. It meters unique well even. My method is up with a light knock and down with none.

There is a little shelf on the wiper, if you jostle the measure about .2 grains of powder will fall off the wiper. I've yet to experiment with removing the shelf portion of the wiper but I will.

Variables and numbers.

How about picking out a powder or powders and measure X number of Y grain charges. Record the results and post. I have lots of different measures I could test, enough different powders and there is a huge range in charge weights, could take me the rest of my life to just gather the data, to have something to go by. Then we would know the most repeatable measure we have using, _._ grains of ____ powder.

I’d probably pick a load that an auto disk would throw and adjust the others to that setting.


Then there is the whole defining “accuracy”, can everyone/device accurately weigh to the resolution reported, and “would it make any difference” end of things.

KY DAN said:

I want to build a powder measure that will be able to dispense flake powder(unique, red dot, blue dot, green dot, anything similar) both accurately and at any grain setting.

I would like to get your thoughts regarding this project before I build anything.

Click to expand...

You can certainly try but as many already posted, you would be reinventing the wheel that many already tried and produced not just for everyday reloading but for precision match shooting.

I have reviewed several powder measure comparisons and 0.1 gr to 0.2 gr variance seems to be the average. Based on this comparison which included some hard to meter flake/stick powders, I decided to buy C-H 502 Micrometer (Now CH4D) powder measure (I now have Redding also) - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/powder-measure-reccomendations.863943/#post-11398909




My own testing of C-H 502 produced following 10 drop spread in powder charges - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/c-h-502-micrometer-powder-measure-10-drops.834894/

• Alliant Unique - .24 gr
• Alliant Red Dot - .22 gr
  
• IMR Target - .22 gr
• Alliant BE-86 - .14 gr
  
• Alliant Promo - .12 gr (Yes, the reblended powder with mostly large round flakes now meter much better)
  
• Nobel Sport Vectan Ba 9.5 - .12 gr (Similar grain structure as N320 but cut shorter)
  
• Winchester W231/Hodgdon HP-38 - .12 gr
• Lovex D032-03/Shooters World Clean Shot - .10 gr (Comparable powder to AA #2, fine ball powder)
  
• Alliant Sport Pistol - .08 gr (With more consistent granule size smaller than W231 like N320 diameter but cut thinner, best metering powder along with Bullseye)
  
• Alliant Bullseye - .08 gr

With large flake powders like Unique and Red Dot, I am not sure if you could improve upon average weight variance of 0.1 - 0.2 gr from current production powder measures.

As others have said, a pound of powder in a powder measure reservoir. IMO anything over 1,500gr is excessive unless you're loading the 50 BMG. (a pound is 7,000gr)

It sounds like you are trying to match what the Lyman #55 does. That powder measure has 3 control pieces. It is extremely accurate IMO with ball, flake and stick powders. I think its the best powder measure available with the exception of the very high end competition measures costing several hundred dollars.

ArchAngelCD said:

It sounds like you are trying to match what the Lyman #55 does. That powder measure has 3 control pieces.

Click to expand...

One can Al set them up differently to throw the same charge weight. Long wide/short deep and numerous combinations between.

The only powder I have had a problem dispensing is stick powder & I fixed that by buying the Lee Perfect Powder Measure.

For those larger flake powders, I think the sliding bar approach is probably a good choice. My drum type work well for spherical, small flake, and small/short extruded powders. But I find them wanting with large flake.

KY DAN said:

I have a ton of red dot and unique 30ish pounds ... these powders suck in my 550 style measures.

Click to expand...

I have Dillon 550 and C-H 502 measure with standard threads will mount right into the tool head (One of many reasons why I bought it along with more consistent powder drops with various powders).

I do have to actuate the powder measure manually but it's an option for you to consider if you can't trade Red Dot/Unique for other powders.

I do like Red Dot for 9mm and 45ACP and many like Unique.

Have you considered putting a "powder trade" thread in the "Buy/Sell/Trade: Reloading components" category? - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?forums/buy-sell-and-trade-reloading-components-and-gear.50/

KY DAN said:

I have started looking for the ch, I am a big fan of their products

Click to expand...

Defiant to globalization, C-H (Now CH4D) is last of all American "Made in USA" reloading equipment manufacturer behind Lee Precision - https://www.ch4d.com/products/equipment/powder-tools/502

And will hold nearly a pound of powder with optional 10" production hopper

design something that actually weights the powder, and shows a green light if it is correct, red if not correct - with an adjustment based on your tolerance down to .001 grain if you're really pickly. so, the process could be

common volume measure dispenses charge into a pan or 2nd chamber that weights the charge
some method to quickly trickly or abort that charge if it is not within tolerances

I've never used a mechanical powder measure, so for what it is worth, I just don't trust it - and don't load enough to spend time figuring it out, vs. time actually loading and shooting, but it is on the list as they say.