What do you use to measure powder/charge casings?

I have modified those plastic scoops at times to measure the correct amount of a certain powder I want to use, or use the Lee PPM which is infinitely adjustable - but wouldn't it be possible to buy additional discs and modify to measure the amount you want? Not being familiar with the Lee Auto Disc specifically, but I know the discs on the shotshell reloader could be, either by adding material to reduce the volume (electrical tape around the cavity works) or drilling out slightly larger...

I keep a couple Lyman 55 measures one set to drop a favorite handgun load 5 grains Unique - and the other a favorite Rifle load 20 grs. 2400 .
During one of the powder shortages , 2012 I think my three standby's ...Bullseye - Unique - 2400 ... were nowhere to be found ...so I started trying other powders ...700X , Red Dot , W231 , Acc #2 , Titegroup ...
Acc #5 , Universal , Power Pistol ... Acc #7 , 4100 , W630, N110 . But since II didn't want to reset my measures ...it took me a while to get them set "just right" ... with my powder scale I weighed the new powder charge I want to use then I made some scoops for the new powders .
and truth be known ... the scoops are very accurate and since I load in batches of 50 or 100 it's no slower to use the scoops. I use some of the Lee scoops but many I make from an old brass case , cut down to size or adjust the volume with a thin cardboard filler glued into the bottom .
I like to see the powder as I pour it in each case and I get to double check the charges before the bullet is seated ... actually I check them 3 times before bullet seating ... I had a no powder squib 48 years ago and it has made me real careful about case charging .

the Hornady and dillion powder measures can be adjusted to any volume between min and max. the Hornady is also easy to mount on a bench to load individual cases when single loading. Either works great with ball or small stick powder, they can be finicky with long extruded powders. I use the Hornady when single loading rifle or when testing loads.

Mr_Gun_Guy said:

For many years, to charge my casings, I used the scooper that came with the dies. I was only loading .44 sp/mag at the time and the scooper worked nicely with the Blue Dot powder I was using. Then I added .45ACP to my line-up and found the scooper to be lacking, so I started measuring each load, one by one. It didn’t take long to realize that I needed to find a different method and I selected the Lee Disk measure, and it was a revelation for me at the time. Not only would it automatically measure each charge but it would dump it right into the case when I used the expanding die. Holy Smoke! I was in heaven! And so life went for a long time…

Now, however, I’ve gotten more interested in reloading and I’m adding a lot more calibers (and hope to add more going forward) and I’m looking for something that will do all that my Lee Disk does but with more accuracy. The limitations of the disk are such that I find myself having to choose the disk closest to what I’m looking for rather than putting in exactly the amount of powder I want. If I were a long range shooter I’d be happy to just load manually because of the smaller number of loads, but I’m a handgun guy and I load as many rounds as I can each time and don’t worry too much about the fractional details as I might with long distance shooting.

Is there a better option that will do everything I want (automatically measure and charge each case) but do it more accurately (not just the closest disk)? What do you all use?

Click to expand...

Lee makes a Micrometer Adjustable Charge Bar that makes the Auto Disk more finely adjustable. I have one that I don't use. PM me your mailing address and I'll send it to you to try out.

Ppm and auto drum. Dump, weigh, drop in case usually, but lately have added the auto drum to my classic turret for higher volume handgun loading. Still weigh every 10.

I have 4 powder measure but mostly just use 2. I have a C-H 502 that is very repeatable with most powders and some (Universal) meters to less than .1 grain variation. I haven't used any "log" powders in a while but .2 max seems normal. The other powder measure I use is a Lee PPM. Very repeatable and with some powders (Universal, W231) no more than .15 gr variation. I do not mount my powder measures on my presses, and I weigh a lot of charges (every charge when working up a load and when a specific powder varied a bit). But consistency is the key. I try to make every charge as identical as the others as I can...

I too used a dipper for quite a while and today occasionally use one, with a scale, for small batches When I used dippers a lot I could get very small variations charge to charge when I was "on a roll"...

I have done some powder measuring experiments over the years including using powder dippers or scoops if anyone prefers. Personally for repeatable accurate loads I like a good scale but dippers also do work. I have just found dippers to be less repeatable.

Powder dippers are based on the VMD (Volume Measured Density) of the powder. Lee publishes powder VMD charts which list the powder VMD for all the popular powders available to reloaders. Just as an example Hodgdon H 335 powder reflects a VMD of 0..0645 so if I use a 2.8 cc dipper it works out as 2.8cc/0.0645vmd = 43.41 grains of powder weight. So here is what it looks like over 10 sample dips.



The measured weights were done on a calibrated scale. Nominal would have been 43.4 grains but the average was 44.7 grains over 10 dips checked.





The dipper was leveled for each dip.





When loading what I want as precision ammunition my choice is to place some known accurate check weights on a scale making dure my scale is accurate. I generally use an old Lyman M5 scale. I use a RCBS Uniflow (or Lee) powder throw to throw a charge just below my desired weight and then use a trickler to get my nominal weight. Yes, it's a bit long and drawn out but it gets repeatable consistent loads.

I have no clue if the following is true but from this link it mentions the VMD of powder can change lot to lot and manufacturers allow themselves some error lot to lot. When using a dipper it may be wise just to calculate the VMD of the powder you have rather than rely on a chart. It's easy enough to do.

A few years ago I was given a RCBS Chargemaster 1500 as a Christmas gift and I really like it. Also being old and retired I am never in a hurry to charge cases.

Ron

I’ve evolved from the Lee thing that came with my turret press kit, to Lee disk, to the Perfect and Deluxe perfect, to an RCBS Uniflow.

I now use the Uniflow occasionally but mostly a dipper+electronic scale+trickler combo. I’m a low volume loader and like exact loads.

For pistols and rifle that uses a powder that meters smoothly I use a powder measure thats set up by my RCBS Chargemaster and checked by an old Herters Beam scale, probably made by Redding.

For extruded powders I use the Chargemaster, once again checked by my old Herters beam scale.

In the past I have used Lee plastic dippers, dumping the powder into the scale pan and using a trickler to bring it up to the correct weight.

Mr_Gun_Guy said:

For many years, to charge my casings, I used the scooper that came with the dies. I was only loading .44 sp/mag at the time and the scooper worked nicely with the Blue Dot powder I was using. Then I added .45ACP to my line-up and found the scooper to be lacking, so I started measuring each load, one by one. It didn’t take long to realize that I needed to find a different method and I selected the Lee Disk measure, and it was a revelation for me at the time. Not only would it automatically measure each charge but it would dump it right into the case when I used the expanding die. Holy Smoke! I was in heaven! And so life went for a long time…

Now, however, I’ve gotten more interested in reloading and I’m adding a lot more calibers (and hope to add more going forward) and I’m looking for something that will do all that my Lee Disk does but with more accuracy. The limitations of the disk are such that I find myself having to choose the disk closest to what I’m looking for rather than putting in exactly the amount of powder I want. If I were a long range shooter I’d be happy to just load manually because of the smaller number of loads, but I’m a handgun guy and I load as many rounds as I can each time and don’t worry too much about the fractional details as I might with long distance shooting.

Is there a better option that will do everything I want (automatically measure and charge each case) but do it more accurately (not just the closest disk)? What do you all use?

Click to expand...

Okay so, first, the usual disclaimer: don't do what I do. It might not work for you. Probably won't, in fact. I'm me and for some reason the craziest things just work for me. You're you and probably prefectly sane and normal so, don't do what i do 'cause it won't work.

Now that that's out of the way... I use dippers. Lee mostly, some that came with kits, some that I bought, some are the old red cubic-inch, the even older black cubic-inch, and I have whole stacks of the yellow CC dippers. I've trimmed some for custom loads and filled some to get the between measures. I have my own spreadsheets and charts for my measures which include VDM calculations from my powder lots. I update the sheets when I change lots. I label the modified dippers, leave the unmodified dippers alone, and sometimes make one just for a specific cartridge - like a black powder charge - which gets put in a Lee 4-die set die box along with the set of dies and a load card for just that load.

I got a RCBS Uniflow not long ago and have been kinda trying it out. Meh. It's okay but not the bee's knees they're made out to be, IMO. I can run a dipper and trickler faster and get better consistency. I weigh every charge - always have, always will, not changing - and can throw a charge so most don't need trickling up, so the Uniflow doesn't really save a step.

Good question.

I use my Hornady LNL Powder Measure for a few ball and flake powders that I KNOW drop accurately - HP-38, CFE-Pistol mainly. Nearly all others I used the Frankford Arsenal Intellidropper. I've never relied on a Lee powder dipper to do more than scoop powder for topping off a load I have on one of my scales. Yes, even though I trust my Hornady and FA powder measure/dispensers, I still check random charges to validate them. I lost my Lee powder dipper when I gave away my Lee 9mm dies.

GeoDudeFlorida said:

Okay so, first, the usual disclaimer: don't do what I do. It might not work for you. Probably won't, in fact. I'm me and for some reason the craziest things just work for me. You're you and probably prefectly sane and normal so, don't do what i do 'cause it won't work.

Now that that's out of the way... I use dippers. Lee mostly, some that came with kits, some that I bought, some are the old red cubic-inch, the even older black cubic-inch, and I have whole stacks of the yellow CC dippers. I've trimmed some for custom loads and filled some to get the between measures. I have my own spreadsheets and charts for my measures which include VDM calculations from my powder lots. I update the sheets when I change lots. I label the modified dippers, leave the unmodified dippers alone, and sometimes make one just for a specific cartridge - like a black powder charge - which gets put in a Lee 4-die set die box along with the set of dies and a load card for just that load.

I got a RCBS Uniflow not long ago and have been kinda trying it out. Meh. It's okay but not the bee's knees they're made out to be, IMO. I can run a dipper and trickler faster and get better consistency. I weigh every charge - always have, always will, not changing - and can throw a charge so most don't need trickling up, so the Uniflow doesn't really save a step.

Good question.

Click to expand...

I may have read something like this before from you and it’s why I went to mostly dippin, weighin, and tricklin (sounds like a urological problem).

Incidentally, I’ve noticed with a 4.5gr goal of Bullseye, the Uniflow will give me mostly 4.5 but also a fair share of 4.4s & 4.6s. Now that may be fine for gubment work but I’m retired from there and now expect better.

Reloadron said:

I have done some powder measuring experiments over the years including using powder dippers or scoops if anyone prefers. Personally for repeatable accurate loads I like a good scale but dippers also do work. I have just found dippers to be less repeatable.

Powder dippers are based on the VMD (Volume Measured Density) of the powder. Lee publishes powder VMD charts which list the powder VMD for all the popular powders available to reloaders. Just as an example Hodgdon H 335 powder reflects a VMD of 0..0645 so if I use a 2.8 cc dipper it works out as 2.8cc/0.0645vmd = 43.41 grains of powder weight. So here is what it looks like over 10 sample dips.

View attachment 1079318

The measured weights were done on a calibrated scale. Nominal would have been 43.4 grains but the average was 44.7 grains over 10 dips checked.

View attachment 1079319

View attachment 1079320

The dipper was leveled for each dip.

View attachment 1079321

View attachment 1079322

When loading what I want as precision ammunition my choice is to place some known accurate check weights on a scale making dure my scale is accurate. I generally use an old Lyman M5 scale. I use a RCBS Uniflow (or Lee) powder throw to throw a charge just below my desired weight and then use a trickler to get my nominal weight. Yes, it's a bit long and drawn out but it gets repeatable consistent loads.

I have no clue if the following is true but from this link it mentions the VMD of powder can change lot to lot and manufacturers allow themselves some error lot to lot. When using a dipper it may be wise just to calculate the VMD of the powder you have rather than rely on a chart. It's easy enough to do.

A few years ago I was given a RCBS Chargemaster 1500 as a Christmas gift and I really like it. Also being old and retired I am never in a hurry to charge cases.

Ron

Click to expand...

That is some fancy picture taking BTW

CQB45ACP said:

I went to mostly dippin, weighin, and tricklin (sounds like a urological problem).

Click to expand...

Well, from what I'm told, it could lead to one.

I still use my Lyman #55 that I got in 1978 from the whole press kit I ordered from the Gander Mountain catalog. It was $276 bucks for that Turret press kit, alot of money for a poor 15 year old farm boy. Used that press till about 10 years ago when I had just too many calibers to load for.

CQB45ACP said:

I may have read something like this before from you and it’s why I went to mostly dippin, weighin, and tricklin (sounds like a urological problem).

Incidentally, I’ve noticed with a 4.5gr goal of Bullseye, the Uniflow will give me mostly 4.5 but also a fair share of 4.4s & 4.6s. Now that may be fine for gubment work but I’m retired from there and now expect better.

Click to expand...

I always set my Uniflow to throw just under my target weight and trickle up, weighing every charge. With the small diameter cylinder it's almost always +/- 0.05 grains, but I like precision in my charge weights. Plus I find there's something zen-like about getting the beam scale pointer to line up as close as I can to the zero mark.

barnfrog said:

I always set my Uniflow to throw just under my target weight and trickle up, weighing every charge. With the small diameter cylinder it's almost always +/- 0.05 grains, but I like precision in my charge weights. Plus I find there's something zen-like about getting the beam scale pointer to line up as close as I can to the zero mark.

Click to expand...

Oh I use an electronic scale. Zen-like is fine but beam scales aren’t my cup of tea. I don’t know how but I can usually get within a couple hundredths using a dipper so not much to trickle. I have so much ammo already loaded and I’m shooting less, I don’t need the Uniflow volume for now.

actually, no, I can get within a couple of tenths, not hundredths

I have two sets of Lee dippers - I've taken a razor knife to several of the dippers in one set and cut them down until they "dipped" the weight of some of my favorite charges. Then I wrote the charges on the sliding chart that came with the dipper kit.
I also have a few "homemade" dippers - straight-walled handgun cases soldered to pieces or heavy-duty wire, and epoxy dripped in them until they, again "dipped" the weight of some of my favorite charges.
My powder "bowl" is one end of an empty welding rod container that I got out of the garbage dumpster at work probably 40 years ago. It works great!
I have an RCBS Uniflow - haven't used it in years. But then again, I load on a single-stage (RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme) press. I really enjoy handloading, and I'm in no hurry.

CQB45ACP said:

That is some fancy picture taking BTW

Click to expand...

Thank you. I tried to get pictures that weren't out of focus.

Ron

I use a chargemaster and weigh every charge. Maybe your next step would be using a manual trickler. Scoop under and trickle up... works well even on extruded powders that give measures a hard time. Any standard measure works well with pistol powder because generally they are ball or flake...

CQB45ACP said:

Oh I use an electronic scale. Zen-like is fine but beam scales aren’t my cup of tea. I don’t know how but I can usually get within a couple hundredths using a dipper so not much to trickle. I have so much ammo already loaded and I’m shooting less, I don’t need the Uniflow volume for now.

actually, no, I can get within a couple of tenths, not hundredths

Click to expand...

I don't really load high volumes, either. I'd still be scooping if I hadn't had the chance to pick up a Uniflow cheap. Motive and opportunity, as they say. I wouldn't go so far as to say it's just a gadget, but it's certainly not a necessity.

barnfrog said:

I don't really load high volumes, either. I'd still be scooping if I hadn't had the chance to pick up a Uniflow cheap. Motive and opportunity, as they say. I wouldn't go so far as to say it's just a gadget, but it's certainly not a necessity.

Click to expand...

I agree. I like mine just don’t use it like I did a while ago.

I can actually dip, weigh, trickle as fast maybe faster than Uniflow, weigh, adjust/trickle.

Reloadron said:

Thank you. I tried to get pictures that weren't out of focus.

Ron

Click to expand...

Well you accomplished that and then some!

I have an old Ideal 55 measure (now a Lyman), an old Pacific measure and the Lee PPM. I also have several sets of Lee scoops. Add to that many custom size scoops I have fashioned out of brass and copper electrical wire for handles. Those are either filed down or filled with epoxy to measure a settled on load that I often use. With the scoops I have attached a funnel to the first shelf above the bench behind my loading area. I have an old plastic container that I added a piece of wire across the top that I use to level the scoop with after dipping. Hold brass under funnel with left hand and scoop/level/pour with right hand, then drop charged case in second loading block. I batch load everythimg and spot mesaure charges when I feel the need. I can go as fast doing this with scoops as using one of my measures.