RCBS uniflow powder measure
- Thread starter mnhntr
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hydraulicman
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- Jun 18, 2009
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- 226
yeah i really like mine. My dillon is great but it cant meter w296 for my 357 mag (yeah i could use other powders )
my uniflow meters w296 like it was made for it.
I started out with my uniflow so i have a few thousdand rounds experiance with it. I would say if your loading pistol i would think about geting the pistol drum. other than that it's a fine measure.
spelling spelling tisk tisk
my uniflow meters w296 like it was made for it.
I started out with my uniflow so i have a few thousdand rounds experiance with it. I would say if your loading pistol i would think about geting the pistol drum. other than that it's a fine measure.
spelling spelling tisk tisk
arizona98tj
Member
I've had one for 30+ years.
No trick in using it. Set it up....throw a half dozen loads....weigh a load.....adjust as necessary......throw a half dozen loads.....weigh a load again.....repeat until you are at your desired weight.
Now begin loading powder into cartridges.
I usually check it again at the end of a 50 round block. I also keep the measure between 1/3 and 2/3 full.
No trick in using it. Set it up....throw a half dozen loads....weigh a load.....adjust as necessary......throw a half dozen loads.....weigh a load again.....repeat until you are at your desired weight.
Now begin loading powder into cartridges.
I usually check it again at the end of a 50 round block. I also keep the measure between 1/3 and 2/3 full.
rfwobbly
Member
• Works great, just make sure you have the big barrel for rifle and the small barrel for pistol.
• I use a technique my brother taught me 20+ years ago called "double knock". Every time you operate the handle, knock it twice on the stop at each end of the "throw". So it will be: lower the handle knock, knock; raise the handle knock, knock. That vibration works to make each load more equal.
• There are plans about for a small metal insert (called a "baffle") to help make measurements more precise. RCBS may have added this to new units. If not Midway sells them Product #: 493217.
• Another technique for accuracy is to average your drops. Say you wanted 12.3gr, then set your scale for 123gr and drop 10 loads. You can get a UniFlow dead-nuts on with that.
• I like mine mounted to a separate stand so it can be moved around the bench top, and move out of the way when not in use.
Click attached.
• I use a technique my brother taught me 20+ years ago called "double knock". Every time you operate the handle, knock it twice on the stop at each end of the "throw". So it will be: lower the handle knock, knock; raise the handle knock, knock. That vibration works to make each load more equal.
• There are plans about for a small metal insert (called a "baffle") to help make measurements more precise. RCBS may have added this to new units. If not Midway sells them Product #: 493217.
• Another technique for accuracy is to average your drops. Say you wanted 12.3gr, then set your scale for 123gr and drop 10 loads. You can get a UniFlow dead-nuts on with that.
• I like mine mounted to a separate stand so it can be moved around the bench top, and move out of the way when not in use.
Click attached.
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David Wile
Member
Hey Mnhntr,
I have three powder dispensers: a Lyman nearly 50 years old, an RCBS over 40 years old, and my "newest" one is the Hornady Case Activated Powder Dispenser which came with my Hornady LNL AP press in 1997. As far as I am concerned, none of them are accurate enough with extruded powders as to allow one to not weigh charges. If I use an extruded powder, I throw a charge with a dispenser and trickle it up to the intended weight. With ball and flake powders, I have complete confidence in the RCBS and Hornady dispensers to throw accurate charges that will be consistent. I don't have the same confidence in my Lyman dispenser, but other may disagree with me.
I only use the Hornady dispenser with the progressive press. When doing something single stage, I always go to the RCBS rather than the Lyman. It's not that the Lyman is bad, but rather, to me it seems the more modern RCBS and Hornady units are better.
Best wishes,
Dave Wile
I have three powder dispensers: a Lyman nearly 50 years old, an RCBS over 40 years old, and my "newest" one is the Hornady Case Activated Powder Dispenser which came with my Hornady LNL AP press in 1997. As far as I am concerned, none of them are accurate enough with extruded powders as to allow one to not weigh charges. If I use an extruded powder, I throw a charge with a dispenser and trickle it up to the intended weight. With ball and flake powders, I have complete confidence in the RCBS and Hornady dispensers to throw accurate charges that will be consistent. I don't have the same confidence in my Lyman dispenser, but other may disagree with me.
I only use the Hornady dispenser with the progressive press. When doing something single stage, I always go to the RCBS rather than the Lyman. It's not that the Lyman is bad, but rather, to me it seems the more modern RCBS and Hornady units are better.
Best wishes,
Dave Wile
The only trick that I use on mine is to tap the side of the hopper a few times after adding powder to get the powder to settle and give more accurate charges. Other than that I have used it for over 25 years with no problem. I added the mircometer adjustment to it so I can repeat charges quickly. Just write down the number and go back to it. It wont be perfect, but it will be very close.
R.W.Dale
Member
There's a couple tricks I use
drop a couple charges back into the hopper anytime you fill or adjust the despenser
operate the handle with athourity. If the throw momentum gets impeded by a powder granule dusreguard that throw
buy the micrometer stem! Then record the settings for the particular load in your log
Following these steps my unifolw will throw 4.5g of 231 to 100g of Lincoln log imr5010 with 0.1g accuracy + or - every time. I haven't weighed an individual charge in years now.
drop a couple charges back into the hopper anytime you fill or adjust the despenser
operate the handle with athourity. If the throw momentum gets impeded by a powder granule dusreguard that throw
buy the micrometer stem! Then record the settings for the particular load in your log
Following these steps my unifolw will throw 4.5g of 231 to 100g of Lincoln log imr5010 with 0.1g accuracy + or - every time. I haven't weighed an individual charge in years now.
earplug
Member
Buy it, use it and forget about them. I'm really happy with mine using pistol charges of Bullseye, WW 231, Clays, Unique, 700X, WST and any ball powder. Been years since I reloaded for rifle but I had no issue.
I have two Uniflow Powder Measures and one Hornady and the all work great! One of the Uniflows (set up for Pistol - small rotor) and the Hornady (set up for rifle) are mounted to case activated linkages and I use them on my Hornady L-n-L AP; the RCBS linkage is better quality then the Hornady linkage IMO. The other Uniflow I have mounted on a stand for loading on my Rock Chucker. All three very repeatable. The only tricks I have is that I installed RCBS powder baffles in all three and I wipe down the hoppers with a dryer sheet to remove the static. I think you will be very happy with repeatability; I average +/- 0.1 grain deviation on flake (Unique) usually don't even see a 0.1 change with ball powder.
I bought the baffle for mine, it makes sure that the weight on the rotor is constant regardless of how much powder is in the column.
I didn't like the Micrometer stem for spherical pistol powder like W231. It just seems easier to use the standard adjustment.
With just a little practice, I am always within 1/10th grain of my desired load.
I check the first couple of charges, then load the whole block. Sometimes I'll check the last charge just to prove to myself its that same as the first. It always is.
I didn't like the Micrometer stem for spherical pistol powder like W231. It just seems easier to use the standard adjustment.
With just a little practice, I am always within 1/10th grain of my desired load.
I check the first couple of charges, then load the whole block. Sometimes I'll check the last charge just to prove to myself its that same as the first. It always is.
Historian
Member
I use mine to load .223 (23g of H335) and S&W .40 (4.5g of W231). After I get it set up, I check every tenth throw. Have never felt that I needed another measure or an electronic scale (I use and RCBS 505). Buy it and enjoy the hobby.
Historian
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"The dissolution of principles and manners will more surely overthrow the liberties of America than the whole force of a common enemy."
Samuel Adams
Historian
____________
"The dissolution of principles and manners will more surely overthrow the liberties of America than the whole force of a common enemy."
Samuel Adams
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JimKirk
Member
I have been using my Uniflow for 40+ years, it has always performed very well.
I did do a test long ago and found that if you put the rotor chamber on the same side as the handle, the measure produce more uniform charges.
I tested and weighed 200 charges.
I did 100 charges with the chamber opposite the handle and 100 that had the chamber on the same side as the handle.
The chamber-handle combo come out to be more accurate than the chamber opposite-handle combo.
It was not by a whole lot, but the average of the 100 charges were better than the other way.
It took the better part of a 1/2 day to do that test as I was very thorough with the methods and the handle movements and the weighing.
I weighed each charge on a RCBS scale that was tested with test weights.
I do use the micrometer stem and the large chamber, you may be better off with the small chamber for charges below 5 grains, mine works well down to that level.
Jimmy K
I did do a test long ago and found that if you put the rotor chamber on the same side as the handle, the measure produce more uniform charges.
I tested and weighed 200 charges.
I did 100 charges with the chamber opposite the handle and 100 that had the chamber on the same side as the handle.
The chamber-handle combo come out to be more accurate than the chamber opposite-handle combo.
It was not by a whole lot, but the average of the 100 charges were better than the other way.
It took the better part of a 1/2 day to do that test as I was very thorough with the methods and the handle movements and the weighing.
I weighed each charge on a RCBS scale that was tested with test weights.
I do use the micrometer stem and the large chamber, you may be better off with the small chamber for charges below 5 grains, mine works well down to that level.
Jimmy K
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R.W.Dale
Member
JimKirk my uniflow has been setup for "same side" operation like you describe since I got it used and it indeed has been quite accurate although I've never tested it setup the other way. IMO it's just a more uniform and repeatable operation to dump & cut powder granules on the downstroke. Plus it's just easier to operate in general.
Mine is setup with the handle on the left though
Mine is setup with the handle on the left though
tango2echo
Member
- Joined
- Dec 14, 2008
- Messages
- 811
See post #4. EXACTLY how I would have said it.
Great minds thinking alike I guess.......LOL
t2e
Great minds thinking alike I guess.......LOL
t2e
308win
Member
Long stick powders don't work as well. A baffle will make a lot of difference in the consistency. I make baffles out of 2 litre bottle caps- cut three or four triangular shaped cut-outs in the bottle cap and lightlyt seat it in the bottom of the measure.
R.W.Dale
Member
Ive been using a funnel as a EXCELLENT baffle.
At first it was because I was lazy and left my fill funnel in after overfilling but I then noticed that if I fill the measure up high enough that the funnel holds powder it gets dispensed into the measure in a never ending stream that always holds the same level and pressure on the powder column or at least till the funnel runs out.
At first it was because I was lazy and left my fill funnel in after overfilling but I then noticed that if I fill the measure up high enough that the funnel holds powder it gets dispensed into the measure in a never ending stream that always holds the same level and pressure on the powder column or at least till the funnel runs out.
oneounceload
member
Without a baffle, keeping it between 1/3 and 2/3 full will aid in keeping drops consistent. I have had mine for almost 30 years and have loaded 2.5 of Unique through 67 of 7828 without issues
JinKirk
I ended up switching the handle on my BR 30 measure because made it easier to be consistent. I had fewer "re-do's", due to an inconsistent feel, when throwing powder with the handle reversed, instead of the way it came from Redding.
That is how I ended up doing it with my Redding. Not because I weighed charges like JimKirk took the time to do, but simply because if was more consistent for me, like krochus observed.
krochus
I ended up switching the handle on my BR 30 measure because made it easier to be consistent. I had fewer "re-do's", due to an inconsistent feel, when throwing powder with the handle reversed, instead of the way it came from Redding.
That is how I ended up doing it with my Redding. Not because I weighed charges like JimKirk took the time to do, but simply because if was more consistent for me, like krochus observed.
Yep, just throw it and go. No need to measure or trickle to a set charge. No one in Benchrest weighs charges, they just throw em and go shoot.
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billybob44
Contributing Member
Bill that's an excellent idea. I'm missing a cap on one of my Uniflow's, and that would work for that..
JimKirk
Member
Like I said there is not a lot of difference between the chamber positions, but enough that I kept mine like the top photo I posted.
Like Krochus and Walkalong said I find the down pulls just do better for me.
I did the test after a storm blow the roof off my old Reloading shed and my Uniflow got wet and rusted, not bad, but enough that it didn't rotate hardly at all. I took it a part an sanded the drum and chamber with some very fine emory cloth.
Mistakenly I put it back together with the chamber opposite the handle. I noticed that my charges were not quite as consistent as they were before the storm. After loading a couple boxes of .243 Win., I thought that I had screwed the Uniflow up with the sanding.
After beating my head against the wall, it hit me, I had put the handle back together different.
That is when I did a smaller test, which did show the same thing as above, only I did the bigger sample test later, when I had plenty of time.
Jimmy K
Like Krochus and Walkalong said I find the down pulls just do better for me.
I did the test after a storm blow the roof off my old Reloading shed and my Uniflow got wet and rusted, not bad, but enough that it didn't rotate hardly at all. I took it a part an sanded the drum and chamber with some very fine emory cloth.
Mistakenly I put it back together with the chamber opposite the handle. I noticed that my charges were not quite as consistent as they were before the storm. After loading a couple boxes of .243 Win., I thought that I had screwed the Uniflow up with the sanding.
After beating my head against the wall, it hit me, I had put the handle back together different.
That is when I did a smaller test, which did show the same thing as above, only I did the bigger sample test later, when I had plenty of time.
Jimmy K
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