Time for a new powder measure

[Larry in wyoming]

I've been using the same Lee Perfect Powder Measure for 25 years. It always worked well enough but of course there were always those little issues. Cutting kernels of powder, being a bit janky with stick powder, and that tiny bit of spillage with each case loaded. For around the 100 dollar mark, what would be a good replacement?

Looking around on midway, the Lee PPM Deluxe gets good reviews for accuracy and smoothness.

Thanks

 

[edwardware]

The Lee measure, with the poly wipe, is the best there is for minimal spaghetti cutting; the tradeoff is terrible fine-powder (H110, etc) performance.

My preference is RCBS UniFlow, with the excellent Micrometer stem, on the small-cavity drum.

 

[Highland Lofts]

I haveseveral RCBS and Hornaday powder measures and prefer the RCBS. if you has a RCBS powder measure and you ended up with the problem you have not they would either fix it, send you the new parts to fix it or replace it for free.

With Lee products your caught holding the bag and the bag goes into the garbage.

Like Mark-Mark wrote once, when buying lee - buy one for parts.

 

[barnfrog]

I have an original Uniflow and stand that I'd be happy to part with for well under your $100 threshold. PM me if you're interested and I can send you pics.

 

[Highland Lofts]

I have been buying extra Hornaday and RCBS uniflow powder measures for out in my shed to set up with each of the many presses I'll have set up to start doing reloading classes here shortly. I also bought several Lyman case trimmers so when one is stuck up for a certain caliber it stays set up, no more readjusting for every caliber.
I have pistol and rifle drums in the powder measures and will have one of each for most of the presses.

 

[Rule3]

Hornady, Rcbs and Lyman,Lee all under $100

https://www.midwayusa.com/s?searchTerm=Powder+measure

 

[lightman]

Theres probably not a wrong answer. Extruded powder can be a challenge to all of them. I've kind of stayed away from Lee and I've had good service from my RCBS Uniflow.

 

[WVRJ]

I get along good with a Lyman 55.Versatile,not hard to set up and adjust,and as accurate as any others I've tried.I took the knocker off and don't use it,but others say it's better to use it,so YMMV.

 

[ParallelCode]

Something like a chargemaster lite is really solid with extruded powder. Obviously over $100 and not what you asked about, but worth considering anyway.

 

[ballman6711]

I have 3 Hornady LnL measures and a Lyman Brass Smith and really like all of them. Both have pros and cons.

The Hornady comes with a rifle rotor, but for doing small charges in pistol you'll want to buy the pistol rotor which adds to the cost. It drops ball powders like water with no leakage, even with something as fine as H110, and once seasoned and set to the desired charge it's very consistent. It works with stick powders but it doe's cut them sometimes and isn't quite as accurate, but I weigh and trickle as needed. The hopper holds a 1/2# or so, so no refilling during a session. Adjustment is quick and easy. Current price at Midway is about $95 with the pistol rotor about another $46, so about $140 before shipping and tax.

The Lyman can handle small pistol charges and large rifle charges as delivered, no extra cost involved. But adjusting the charge is a little awkward/clunky in my opinion. Once the charge is set it is very consistent, just getting it set takes a small bit more effort than the Hornady. No leakage with fine powders, and I haven't used it with stick powders so can't comment there. One downside is the size of the hopper, it is kinda small. When loading small charges for pistol I can do 100 or more without refilling, but I would think reloading rifle it would need filling at least once every 100 charges. Current price on Midway is about $62 before tax and shipping.

Both the Lyman and Hornady's come with baffles as well. I would recommend both, but if loading rifle the Hornady would get the nod due to the larger hopper. The Lyman would get the nod if price is a concern. I load on a single stage so speed and size of the hopper is not an issue for me.

chris