rcbs powder measure
- Thread starter terrya
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I also have an RCBS powder measure. It is generally accurate, but not nearly as accurate as my RCBS Charge Master 1500 combination electronic powder dispenser and digital scale. Unless you want to lay down the cash for the Charge Master combo (WELL WORTH IT!), your best option is to buy the micrometer adjustment screw available in small (for pistol) or large (for rifle). I have added one to my uniflow powder measure and it seems to work very well.
wcwhitey
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They sell a baffle for the hopper that will improve accuracy of the charge. Only a couple bucks. It doesn't let the level of the powder affect the charge. Worked for me. Basically though it is different from powder to powder, ball powders are the best, no deviation. If you are using extruded rifle powders you can use it for plinking ammo but if you want to get perfect charges (+/- .2 grains) you are going to have to trickle.
800X is notorious for metering inconsistently. Try another powder.
RCBS makes a good measure. It will do MUCH better than .5 variance with most powders. You should be able to, after throwing a few charges to let the measure settle in, get .1 variance with most flake powders and less than that with most ball powders.
What caliber are you loading for?
RCBS makes a good measure. It will do MUCH better than .5 variance with most powders. You should be able to, after throwing a few charges to let the measure settle in, get .1 variance with most flake powders and less than that with most ball powders.
What caliber are you loading for?
dagger dog
Member
terrya,
If your measure is new make sure you disassemble it and give it a cleaning, mine was shipped with a lot of oil on the interior and it caused a problem dropping consistant charges, also after cleaning you may want to dust it with powdered graphite, or mica dust on the interior, just a good light dusting and blow off the excess. A powder baffle is offered, it helps metering of the problem powders, along with keeping the hopper near full.
If your measure is new make sure you disassemble it and give it a cleaning, mine was shipped with a lot of oil on the interior and it caused a problem dropping consistant charges, also after cleaning you may want to dust it with powdered graphite, or mica dust on the interior, just a good light dusting and blow off the excess. A powder baffle is offered, it helps metering of the problem powders, along with keeping the hopper near full.
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
All powder measures are very dependent on consistent operation from one charge to the next.
If you operate the handle different every time, or bump the measure by accident occasionally, you will never get then to throw consistent charges.
I use Lyman Ideal measures for pistol loading. They have a little hammer you flip with your finger each time to settle the powder. Also, double baffles built into the reservoir.
rcmodel
If you operate the handle different every time, or bump the measure by accident occasionally, you will never get then to throw consistent charges.
I use Lyman Ideal measures for pistol loading. They have a little hammer you flip with your finger each time to settle the powder. Also, double baffles built into the reservoir.
rcmodel
10 Spot Terminator
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- Feb 6, 2008
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Rcbs Powder Measure Charges Inconsistant
I am very aware of the problem you are having with your Uniflow dropping inconsistant powder charges. I had a lot of the same concerns prior to getting my chargemaster 1500 system as well but here is what I came up with to help reduce the problem with the Uniflow . I too took the powder drum out and cleaned it thoroughly then took some moly bore prep and about 2 dozen BBs and placed them in the powder drum and shook it vigorously for a few minutes , emptied them out, took a piece of soft thin wire and a pice of cotton T-shirt and made a swab to wipe the excess bore prep out, placed the drum in a 150 degree oven for about 10 minutes and then cooled it and reassembled it. In addition to this when raising the handle on the measure which opens the drum to the resevoir I would lower it appx 1/2 inch and raise it back to the top of the handle stroke repeatedly 4 times in a "tap-tap-tap-tap" manner to unsure the drum was full to capacity before dropping the charge. I only used this technique on the "cranky" powders and would often feel it cut extruded powders on the downstroke but it made for much more consistant drops. As for the ball powders which metered very well I used the powder baffle that fits in the bottom of the resevoir and did just the single stroke being careful not to vary how hard you bumped the handle at the top of the stroke loading the drum . Now you know why 2 of us on this thead own the chargemaster 1500 . :banghead:
I am very aware of the problem you are having with your Uniflow dropping inconsistant powder charges. I had a lot of the same concerns prior to getting my chargemaster 1500 system as well but here is what I came up with to help reduce the problem with the Uniflow . I too took the powder drum out and cleaned it thoroughly then took some moly bore prep and about 2 dozen BBs and placed them in the powder drum and shook it vigorously for a few minutes , emptied them out, took a piece of soft thin wire and a pice of cotton T-shirt and made a swab to wipe the excess bore prep out, placed the drum in a 150 degree oven for about 10 minutes and then cooled it and reassembled it. In addition to this when raising the handle on the measure which opens the drum to the resevoir I would lower it appx 1/2 inch and raise it back to the top of the handle stroke repeatedly 4 times in a "tap-tap-tap-tap" manner to unsure the drum was full to capacity before dropping the charge. I only used this technique on the "cranky" powders and would often feel it cut extruded powders on the downstroke but it made for much more consistant drops. As for the ball powders which metered very well I used the powder baffle that fits in the bottom of the resevoir and did just the single stroke being careful not to vary how hard you bumped the handle at the top of the stroke loading the drum . Now you know why 2 of us on this thead own the chargemaster 1500 . :banghead:
xring44
Member
Make that three!
thanks all.......appreciate the input. I will try cleaning first and look for a baffle (could i make one?) I noticed the drum was oily. I got the measure from someone else and maybe they did not use it. Just starting out so not sure i want to drop the bucks for the chargmaster untill i get into it a little more. just loading pistol rounds now to get going but will be loading rifle. Terrya
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
You can make one out of aluminum sheet from a beer can.
Keep cutting cardboard patterns until you get it right, then transfer to the aluminum.
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/t...370104&cm_ite=0002912210596a&_requestid=28287
rcmodel
Keep cutting cardboard patterns until you get it right, then transfer to the aluminum.
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/t...370104&cm_ite=0002912210596a&_requestid=28287
rcmodel
Seafarer12
Member
As far as cleaning the uniflow.
Doesn't anyone read instructions. Thats the first thing they tell you is take it apart and clean it. They use oil to keep it from rusting in the box. Then your suppose to run a pound of powder through it to coat everything in powder dust then you can use it.
Doesn't anyone read instructions. Thats the first thing they tell you is take it apart and clean it. They use oil to keep it from rusting in the box. Then your suppose to run a pound of powder through it to coat everything in powder dust then you can use it.
shooter762
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- Joined
- Mar 26, 2007
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- 25
I cleaned my uniflow and have been getting charges within .01 grns w/unique even! Can feel it cutting sometimes but measures the same, so I'm really happy w/mine.
Shooter762.
Shooter762.
For cleaning the powder measure, any degreaser will work. Probably non-chlorinated brake cleaner from Auto Zone or some place (about $2 a can) is as good as anything. If it's not degreased, you're never going to get accurate drops. Also, get in the habit of throwing a dryer sheet (Bounce, etc) into the hopper while you're not using the measure. Reduces static......
I should note that I also use an electronic scale/dispenser where .1 gr. accuracy is required. I will also note that there aren't that many situations where powder charges need to be that consistent.
I should note that I also use an electronic scale/dispenser where .1 gr. accuracy is required. I will also note that there aren't that many situations where powder charges need to be that consistent.
243winxb
Member
800X is a large flake powder. You will get more of a varation with it than say bullseye. It may also bridge in the drop tube. How you operation the measure when the chamber is filling can make a difference. Try double tapping when the chamber fills. Go to the stop as the chamber fills, then move the handle just a little to tap the stop again, this will settle the large flake power and give more accurate reading/measurements. .5gr is not a lot if your throwing a large amount of powder, percentage wise % ? As the powder level in the measure drops, the weight of the charge will drop also. I put a powder funnel in the top of the measure and maintain a set/constant level of powder.
My uniflow is a few years old and I think it measures charges better with age. I had to tweek with it when I first got it and cleaning the heck out of it sure helps. I use it for 38 spcl, 357, and 44, which I load on my Redding Turret. (I have a couple of "blue presses" w/case feeders for 9mm and 45acp) I also use the charge master combo (the coolest thing on my bench) for rifle calibers but I have found that the uniflow is much more faster for pistol charges (Charge master combo kinda spits them 3 - 5 gr charges out kinda slow) and especially with Bullseye, it locks right on the money. I still check every 10th charge though (sometimes every 5th when I am feeling extra paranoid
).
).Seafarer12
Member
Besides cleaning it will also help to get a small cylinder for it if your reloading with small charges. I picked one up for mine and have no trouble now throwing 3.1 grain charges of red dot. With the large cylinder it was a pain and not very accurate.
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