RCBS Uniflow Powder Measure Adjusting screw or Mic numbers

[Rule3]

For those that have and use the RCBS Uniflow either on a press or stand alone has anyone made a chart or list of the powder dropped per the index numbers.?

Say like the LEE powder measure disc chart that gives an approximate number if grains per disc volume size.

The RCBS has numbers on the metering screw but they are only reference number. They correlate to nothing (cc, grains etc) There is also a small and large metering screw and cylinder.

So to find a powder charge in grains it is just trial and error or hit and miss.

Yes, if you use one powder and the same charge all the time no big deal. If however you use a lot of powders and weights it is time consuming to find the right charge.

So has anyone used this measure for a long time and developed a "data base" or chart of sorts for different powders?

Anything close or ball park would be a help.

 

[Blue68f100]

No chart needed. You should be using scales any way to confirm the charge. Once you have your weight with the powder just record the number. I have the Micrometer head on my Hornady, same principle. You will find that powders have a slight weight change depending on humidity. The number will get you very close, then fine tune.

 

[Bailey Boat]

As Blue stated, even if you use the same powder consistently the charge weight will vary from day to day.
I can usually get the number I need within 3 tries of drop and weigh, drop and weigh so it's not a big deal and I know it's correct for todays loading session.

 

[Rule3]

Yes, of course I am weighing it.

Yes I will be recording the numbers, trying to get a head start and approximations. A lot of calibers and a lot of different powders.

I was trying to get some data on approximate settings to eliminate trial and error of drop, remove, weigh, tweak, drop, weigh adjust etc.

Something like 6.0 gr of Unique is around 1.02 on the mic or something along those lines.

 

[armoredman]

No, I never did record the numbers, after I figured out they really didn't correlate to anything specific. Guess I'm lazy, maybe.

 

[41 Mag]

Well like you mentioned, a lot of powders and calibers to put it in.

I use several of them for different things. I haven't made up a chart for the fact mentioned above. The powder is going to settle differently for me than it would you, as we would each have different movements of the handle.

They are pretty easy however to set up, and even starting from scratch, it only takes about 2-3 minutes at most to get them where you want. Stick powders are worse but even with them, as long as your repetitive with the action on the handle they will drop right in there pretty easily as well.

 

[cfullgraf]

I have micrometer heads on my drum style powder measures (Uniflow, Redding 10-X, Midway Indestructible). I recored the setting when I set the measure up for a particular load. It gets me back to that charge weight quickly the next time but I find I rarely end up at the exact same setting each time. The variance is only a few marks on the micrometer but more than I would be comfortable with without check the charge weight.

I have found that if I am loading a different cartridge with the same powder, i can use interpolation to calculate the new setting on the micrometer.

The smaller the difference in charge weights, the more accurate the interpolation is but still gets me to the new setting very quickly.

I find the charts virtually useless except for getting you in the ball park. For the measures that I do not have one, which is most of them, I do not miss the charts. The charts for the MEC shot shell loaders and the RCBS Little Dandy get you in the ball park but rarely near home plate.

 

[JimKirk]

I have the micrometer stem on my RCBS .... I write down the settings number ... they never match exactly, but I can get back to with in minor adjustments rather than "hunting" for them .... I do write the number on my data sheets ... but I also have a page that I list different grain settings for say IMR 7828, one for say Retumbo ...

My settings numbers would probably mean little(kind of like the Lee really does) to someone else because of the Meter method I use ...

 

[Rule3]

I think I have found a way to get a preliminary list going. At least get close. I am switch from a LEE turret to a RCBS Progressive. I have had a RCBS Powder measure for a long time and use it for rifle loads.

I can trickle or use a dipper to weigh out the powder and charge I want. Start with a empty powder measure cylinder close the metering screw to zero and then open it until the powder fills the opening. Write down the number. Then fill up the hopper, It should get me close that it will only take small adjustments to get it exact,

As long as I know where say 5.0 grains is I can adjust up or down for small changes.

 

[JimKirk]

I'll be glad to share with you the numbers I have ... it will be sometime tomorrow before I can get out to my shop... just remember that they may not be exact...

 

[Rule3]

I'll be glad to share with you the numbers I have ... it will be sometime tomorrow before I can get out to my shop... just remember that they may not be exact...

Thank you, that would be great.

I have a lot of pistol powders so anything you have would give me a starting point. As I mentioned I do not expect them to be spot on. I just need to get a feel for were this thing dials in. I weigh everything on a beam balance.

I believe without looking it is 0 to 20 grains for the small rotor.

 

[7mmb]

I used the Uniflow as is for years and never wrote down the numbers. I'm not sure I even realized they were there to tell you the truth. I've since added the micrometer adjustment stem and that is like night and day. I can go right back to a previous load really quick, although you do need to always verify with a scale. It's also a lot easier to dial in the load, going up or down one or two hash marks at a time rather than turning it up or down by who can tell for sure how much. And there is no lock nut, the adjustment is held secure by an o-ring so it won't move when you are throwing powder. Every time I locked the stem down with the original unit it would change the throw by a tenth or two. PITA compared to the micrometer screw. Well worth the money. I also started with a balance beam scale with the Uniflow but upgraded to an electronic scale a few years back before the micrometer upgrade. Both items slash load work up times substantially. They really are "what was I doing without these before" items.

 

[Jesse Heywood]

Something like this?

 

[41 Mag]

When I am heading to the range I use something similar to your chart for just the powders I will be working with. The difference is where yours has "Meter", mine will be listed in the number on the stem plus how much extra I have to turn it to hit the min or max charge weights.

Pulling a charge weight out of the air here, so if I was loading 52.5 thru 56.8grs of H-4350 my numbers would look like this, 52.5=4+ 3.25 turns 56.8= 5+ 3.75 turns. The threaded stem gets around 5 full turns per whole number on it. So I weigh up my min and max charge weights at home, then I set it up at the range and work up to the max looking for accuracy, pressure, or other issues. I note the best charge weights using this method and when I get home I dial them in on my scale for a weight measured amount for my load data.

Since I do it this way I really haven't gotten into listing what powders are where in the scale. I could probably go back through each of my note books and come up with something, but it wouldn't be for many powders, as I only use a few for everything. I try to pick those which have the broadest spread of loads, so in case I run out, or can't get one, like nowadays, I have the others to fall back on.

 

[Rule3]

Something like this?

Yes, just like that.

I do not know if we have the same Mic or I am not reading your meter setting correctly?

My main meter screw goes from 0 -13, the outer Mic has numbers 0-50

This is the small meter cylinder, perhaps you have the large installed with almost 26 grains of IMR 4227??

So my Unique of 6.0 grains I read as 1.50 (1.5 on the main stem and 0 on the outer sleeve)

 

[UziLand]

I put my receipes on index cards and print them out. The uniflow mic number and powder type are included. A couple of weeks ago I disassembled the measure and cleaned it (suggestion from RCBS email). This changes all the numbers so, be aware. :banghead:

 

[Jesse Heywood]

Mine is the large meter. Missed that on yours.
But, I was able to compile that data in one evening.

 

[Rule3]

Yeo, I imagine any little change in the measure or lot numbers will yield totally new numbers.

I am pretty smart but really dense sometimes.:banghead: I was trying to dial it in by putting a case in the shell plate every time. Finally dawned on me that I can just hold a case and manually cycle the linkage (like my stand alone measure) sooooo much easier!!

So in the words of Emily Litella, "Never Mind"

 

[fguffey]

Anything close or ball park would be a help.

All of my RCBS Uniflow powder measures are micro adjust in thousandths. I measure the adjusting screw length with a depth micrometer. If I find something I like I can duplicate the adjustment by matching the length of the adjuster.

F. Guffey

 

[GW Staar]

Good idea if you don't have mic-equipped Uniflows.....and you do have a depth mic.

Mics for Uriflows are only $42 and come in large or small cavity screws.

 

[HEAVY METAL 1]

I made charts for each powder with graph paper of the x & y axis type denoting grains on one axis and micrometer settings on the other. It is an easy matter to plot the settings. If one wants to use the same powder with different charge weights, say for different bullet weights, look on the graph and you can return the micrometer to the desired setting quickly. I use a different page for each powder.

 

[HOWARD J]

I'm retired so if it take a minute or so to get the setting--no big deal
I usually run 500 or so rds. of 9 MM luger on a turret press so you can see I don't have to change the setting very often.
When I was using my Dillon I would run 2-3000 so I never worried much about all the time spent changing powder settings ( 1-2 minutes)