What does everyone use for measuring powder

[TAS25]

I use a hornady electronic scale, but check and trickle up on an ohaus scale. The problem is the hornady takes a lot of time in slow mode to even get near the charge I need, and normal and fast modes are never even close, and are always unpredictable as to how far off they will be. I don't mind trickling up on the ohaus scale, although I would like to look elsewhere to dispense powder. My dad has a manual powder dispenser from hornady that I'm thinking about trying, because if I have to trickle up anyway at least this will be quick. But what does everyone else do to get consistent loads (within one tenth of a grain), without wasting a lot of time? I'm newer to reloading so any help is appreciated!

 

[.308 Norma]

But what does everyone else do to get consistent loads (within one tenth of a grain), without wasting a lot of time? I'm newer to reloading so any help is appreciated!

Old school and cheap here - 90% of the time, I use a set of Lee powder dippers and "trickle up" using a powder trickler (I don't remember what brand) and a RCBS balance-beam scale.
BTW, I have two sets of Lee powder dippers - one of which I've taken a razor knife to and trimmed down some of the dippers to where they hold just shy of the "perfect" charge of some of my favorite powders.
I've also made a few of my own dippers using old cases (with a little epoxy dribbled into them) and soldered-on wire handles. But not only am I cheap, I'm also a bit lazy. So, I quickly determined that those store-bought Lee dippers are not all that expensive, and buying them is a heck of a lot easier than making my own.

 

[Rule3]

I use the Hornady powder measure on my LnL AP and the Lee Auto drum on my Classic Turret. I spot check weights on my Dillon (Ohaus) beam balance.
I am not into measuring .0001 grains of powder.
Before this I used a Lee dipper and a Disco matic. RCBS Uniflow, LPPM

 

[.38 Special]

I use an old Lyman "manual" powder measure. Depending on the exact powder, it sometimes holds to within a tenth of a grain. When I'm really concerned about it, I just set it to throw a few tenths light and then trickle up with a pinch of powder between my fingers.

Back when such stuff was important to me, I used a Harrel's measure. As far as I know they still have not been equaled, and can be counted upon to throw within a .1 tolerance with most powders. They are not cheap, but then, neither are the fancy electronic gadgets which are as accurate but far slower.

As an aside, I'll note that .1 tolerance is unneeded - not to say "invisible" - for most guns. I would worry about it for benchrest competition, and long-range rifle games. For just about anything else, the two or three tenths resolution provided by pretty much any measure made in the last 70 years is just fine.

 

[ms6852]

I use an old Lee powder dispenser set for about .2 grains less and trickle charge to my exact load. I use a Lyman digital scale.

 

[shoebox1.1]

Well I started hand throwing and trickle up.. now Lyman measure with deluxe dram worx hopper ( worth every single penny- must have!!) and the two tricklers sit and collect dust not gunpowder!!

 

[Lefty38-55]

Old school Belding & Mull, accurate to +/- 0.1 grain for most of my reloads where absolute precision doesn't matter. For long-range loads I'll throw a load just below the target and trickle up.

You know, I have a Harrells Precision Benchrest measure and don't even use it, LOL!

 

[Reloadron]

Depending on how accurate I want a powder throw I have several older scales, some electronic and some mechanical. Regardless of the scale I use I generally periodically check my scales using check weights. Most of my loadings these days I use my RCBS 1500. With powder it's a matter of precision (repeatability) charge to charge. The accuracy is a matter of unbiased precision. Heck, I am an old guy at 75 and retired as well as recently widowed so time is something I have plenty of. My RCBS Charge Master delivers consistency and accuracy. Then too, so do my dippers.

Ron

 

[LV Gun]

I drop all my powder on my LCT using either my Lee Pro Auto Drum or my Pro Auto Disc measures . I do have an old Ideal 55 measure but don’t use it much anymore, for scales I have an old Bonanza beam scale and a Lee scale which is very accurate. I also have a Frankford Arsenal digital scale which I use to double check my beam scale if I am in doubt. I don’t trickle any of my loads and never have. I do have a set of Lee dippers I use if I am trying a new powder/load and don’t want to go through the setup.

 

[gwpercle]

Lyman #55 Powder Measure and for simplicities sake I like to use Powder Scoops for small handgun loads and cast bullet loads .
I guess I picked up on using scoops from the Lee Classic Loader (whack-a-mole) that I started loading with .
Easy to use , easy to make custom scoops and the safest way I know to charge cases... uou get to watch the powder being scooped , leveled then watch it go into the case ... anything look not right , start over then and there .
If you have never tried a scoop ... you might like the way they work .

You must have a powder scale and verify how many grains your scoop scoops with your scooping technique ... for safety .
Gary

 

[Highland Lofts]

For handgun powder i get my Hornady powder drop set and go.
For stick powder and any other powder that doesnt meter well I set the drop a little light and then trickle the last little bit in with my Hornady electronic powder trickler.
I don't use the hand powered tricklers, too muck work for me.
For $40 the electronic trickler is the cats azz.

 

[jmorris]

Depends on the powder. Many will meter out of measures within a tenth.

A photoelectric switch to detect beam movement, running a tiny gear motor can be very accurate. note that A&D is reading to the hundredth of a grain not just tenths.

Autotrickler check with A&D FX-120i

www.youtube.com

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

Old school and cheap here - 90% of the time, I use a set of Lee powder dippers and "trickle up" using a powder trickler (I don't remember what brand) and a RCBS balance-beam scale.
BTW, I have two sets of Lee powder dippers - one of which I've taken a razor knife to and trimmed down some of the dippers to where they hold just shy of the "perfect" charge of some of my favorite powders.
I've also made a few of my own dippers using old cases (with a little epoxy dribbled into them) and soldered-on wire handles. But not only am I cheap, I'm also a bit lazy. So, I quickly determined that those store-bought Lee dippers are not all that expensive, and buying them is a heck of a lot easier than making my own.

Ditto et verbatim.

 

[CQB45ACP]

What size charges?? 5gr, 10, 20? How many at a session? 20, 50, 100, more?

That scale sounds sketch. I use a cheap Lyman and it resolves pretty quickly. Never, ever, ever, ever have I used a balance scale. Never.

Picture shows what I do, but I only load 9mm & 45acp charges of 4.6gr or thereabouts. And at most 25 at a sitting. Any more and I'll use a Uniflow. But that's very rare because I don't like it and it takes waay to long to set up for just a few rounds.

Also, I actually very seldom use the trickler instead just tap out a little more powder into pan or as in picture, scoop up a little out of it is all that's needed. But I've been doing it a while and mostly hit my target weight. I don't accept more or less.

 

[mm93]

I use a Harrell's Precision powder measure, and a RCBS 5-10 scale. The 5-10 has done anything I need for many decades, and never considered changing. The Harrell's Precision measure is the finest powder measure I've ever owned and is more consistent than any of the several others I've owned over decades.
A Harrell's isn't inexpensive, but it's so repeatable that I can ask a friend what charge he uses for a particular powder, and how many clicks on his Harrell's and I can dial in the same clicks and get the same charge with any other Harrell's measure.
I have the BR Premium that serves me well for all my charging.

POWDER MEASURES

accuracy,reloading,powder,measure,bench,rest,benchrest

www.harrellsprecision.com

 

[d31tc]

For my rifle loads, I use one of my RCBS Uniflow powder measures and trickle up on a Lyman M5 with a vibratory trickler and optical sensors. After it reaches the required charge, I fill an empty case go throw another charge and set it on my scale. Then I seat the bullet, and by the time I’m done with that, the next weighed charge is ready to go. Rinse and repeat.

A friend made this contraption for my scale.

 

[Howa 9700]

When doing load development, Lee dippers and then trickle up on a balance beam scale. Once load development is over, the charge is determined and I'm ready to go into production mode, I switch to the dinky little Lee Perfect Powder measure or the built in powder measure on a Dillon 550 progressive (for 9mm). Both of those are going to be close to 1 tenth most of the time. The Lee PPM doesn't look like much but is really accurate and simple to use. I have an RCBS Uniflow but with the PPM around, I never use it.

 

[nofendertom]

I set the amount I want to throw on my RCBS beam scale, then adjust my Dillon Powder Measure accordingly and begin to throw the charges.

 

[7mmRLC]

The RCBS Powder measure that I've had for yrs. Checking charges on an Ohaus 1010 scale.

 

[nettlle]

For rifle I use these:

For pistol:

 

[PWC]

I measure with my 88 yo Pacific powder balance and original calibration weights and a set OF RCBS calibration weights. Set up my orange Lyman 55 powder measure to throw desired weight and drop powder directly into case. Check weigh every 11th drop. Good enough for last 40 yrs.

 

[Walkalong]

I used to use a Hornady pistol measure that I rigged to work automatically on my Projector. Then I finally "upgraded" to a Redding 10X measure. I was weighing them all on an RCBS 505 scale. For rifle I was scooping/weighing/trickling, but finally bought a Redding BR-30. When I upgraded to the LNL from the Projector I got a Hornady measure in the deal. I use it for .458 Win mag because the BR-30 can't throw 75 plus grains of powder. After I accidentally knocked my 505 off the bench and broke it, I bought a Redding R-2 scale and it worked just as well as the 505, no better, no worse. After getting into PRS I bought an auto trickler with an FX-120i. I use it for PRS ammo as well as match .308. Before I got it I was just dropping charges with the BR-30 for .308M, but now, why not....

 

[badkarmamib]

I use the Lee Auto-Disk for pistols and Lee PPMs for rifles. I then manually trickle up on a beam scale for precision rifles.

 

[Chuck R.]

For rifles; a combination of a Harrel's, tuned RCBS 10-10, Dandy Powder Trickler, and a document camera:

Sensitive down to a single kernel of Varget.

Pistols and .223 volume ammo; Dillons powder measures.