looking for a reliable, versatile powder

[cfullgraf]

If and when we have another panic as was started with the 2008 election, powders get in short supply.

Since I had alternate loads and the powders on hand, I was able to continuing shooting and reloading through the height of the shortages.

I'd have several alternate powder choices, loads worked up for them and some inventory of the powders on hand.

There are a couple powders that I used prior to 2008 that I have still not seen any inventory in the retail outlets.

 

[justin22885]

are there any good powder dispensers that can accurately meter longer extruded powders with the precision most measures can meter ball?

 

[cfullgraf]

Harrell Precision powder measures meter stick powders well.

If you operate a drum style powder measure the same way every stroke, they meter well. You just have to get over cutting a kernel once in a while.

I like to use a baffle in my drum style measures. I find they work better if you use the small cavity for hand gun powder charges and the large cavity for rifle charges but some folks have success using the rifle cavity for hand gun charges.

 

[MEHavey]

Glad to see another Harrells fan.
Great measures, ...and really good guy in person too (as is so often the case in this business.)

 

[Laphroaig]

Belding and Mull Visible's work well with large grain extruded powders. The actual measure isn't made anymore but they are available on ebay and gunbroker fairly regularly. You still can get charge tubes from the manufacturer, Belding and Mull in Phillipsburg PA.

http://beldingandmull.com/visible_powder.html

Laphroaig

 

[MEHavey]

Here is the exact same [moderm] B&M-type design:
https://montanavintagearms.com/product/reloading/black-powder-measure/

Absolutely marvelous.

 

[justin22885]

heres the tradeoff i see.. ball powders, easy to meter, tighter groups, but more temperature sensitive so point of impact may change while groups generally stay on target

extruded powders, more difficult to meter, groups will open up with high volume reloading using a powder dispenser, but point of impact should remain the same given the temperatures

pick a tradeoff i guess?.. what are some of the more reliable ball powders out there that meter well, but not as temp sensitive as winchester 748?

 

[justin22885]

so, these B&M style dispensers, how much longer does it take to reload with them vs conventional measures?.. can i still churn out a bunch of cartridges quickly?

 

[Laphroaig]

It is slightly slower because the measure dumps the powder into a brass tube (set to a constant volume) that you have to move and then dump into the case. I dunno, it might add a couple of seconds to each charge.

My experience that it can help with powders that are difficult to throw in conventional drum measures. If I'm having problems, and they can be fixed by taking a few extra seconds per round, I don't mind.

Mine is very accurate. It might have something to do with the built in baffle, aka the visible chamber.

Laphroaig