Setting up a new powder measure?

[dmproske]

Setting up a new powder measure?

I am trying to set up a new Uniflow powder measure that came with my new RCBS Pro 2000. I degrease everything with rubbing alcohol. While running a pound of 231 through it powder still seems to be hanging up in it.

After throwing a charge, if I wack the measure or tap the drop tube some more powder will drop out.

I read that I should wipe the inside of the measure with a dryer sheet to rid it of static electricity. Do I use a new or used dryer sheet? Wont a dryer sheet leave a residue behind?

Also read that I should dust it with graphite or mica. Where do I buy that?

 

[Canuck-IL]

Splurge and use a new dryer sheet After that you probably won't need the graphite but if you want to try it, most hardwares sell the small 'puff' tubes for lubing lock mechanisms or you can get jars from Midway, Brownells, etc.
/Bryan

 

[dmproske]

Thanks for the reply. After thinking about it a bit I relized the finger print powder I use at work is made of graphite. I brushed some around in it and it seems to work better. I started out throwing charges that varied all over the place + or - 2.5 grains. Now it seems to have settled down to .3 grains. I will run some more powder though it in a few days and see if it stays that way.

 

[ranger335v]

"I degrease everything with rubbing alcohol."

That's really not a very good degreaser. What makes alcohol "rubbing" is the additition of a little oil, a lot of water and a pinch of some kind of fragrance. Go to a hardware store and get a quart can of denatured alcohol instead.

 

[Walkalong]

Denatured Alcohol is the way to go to clean it. I like Tuf-Glide dry lube for measures. Be sure to let it dry thoroughly. A tiny tiny bit goes a long way. A teeny drop on both sides of my Redding 10X, work it a few times, and let it dry overnight. Works great, and lasts quite a while.

 

[Shibumi]

I got a can of Crud Cutter degreaser from the gun cleaning section at Sportsman's, spray it down good and it dries very quickly.

That storage gunk they use on powder measures is nasty, alcohol probably won't do the job completely.

 

[Canuck-IL]

Unless you're dealing with large extruded powders that get crunched and cut or really flaky powders that just don't throw well, the powder drop ought to get within +/- .1 consistently.
/B

 

[kelbro]

Cycle a hopper full of powder through it two or three times and it will be OK.