Manual Powder Measures

[mdesign]

Thinking of purchasing one of these but can't decide between the Redding 3BR, RCBS Uniflow or the Hornady Benchrest. Any one with first hand experience that share some pros or cons on these? Likes or dislikes? Another brand I should consider?

Don't want an electronic version like the Chargemaster, a manual measure will serve me just fine. I looked at the Harrell's, very nice measure but spendy for what I do.

 

[milo 2.0]

Re: Manual Powder Measures

At the risk of sounding like others, what is your use?
Redding makes a few, a pistol 10xcomp, 3Br, BR-30, which is made for a 30gr charge, like AR's, would handle up to 50gr easy.

 

[mdesign]

Re: Manual Powder Measures

My use?...reloading for big game hunting and LR shooting. Right now I use an old Herters measure but it's wearing out. Time for something new. My mags burn in the mid-70 grains so I am looking at the 5-100gr models.

 

[Fuzzball]

Re: Manual Powder Measures

"...an old Herters measure but it's wearing out."

How are you coming to that conclusion? The moving part turns very slowly, it's pretty well lubracated by the graphite in powder and I've never heard of anyone wearing out an iron body measure of any brand.

If you just want a new measure get a Redding 3BR. It's as good as any and comes with an excellant 'micrometer' head that costs extra on others.

 

[Stealff]

Re: Manual Powder Measures

I have the hornady standard powder measure with the micrometer adjustments for rifle, it keeps the loads within +-.2 gr. Not accurate enough for precision rifle, but good for 223 plinking rds.

 

[former naval person]

Re: Manual Powder Measures

They all are about the same in accuracy. I like the Redding with the micrometer. I have a couple of the old Lyman measures, but they are fiddly in adjusting. However, they are easy to top mount on the Dillon and are, in my experience more accurate than the Dillon measure.

 

[milo 2.0]

Re: Manual Powder Measures

I should've mentioned I have two Reddings, nice.
But I also have the mic'ed RCBS on a Pro 2000 press, it is everything the Reddings are, and the hopper is bigger.

 

[RyanMcIntyre]

Re: Manual Powder Measures

I've got a Redding BR-30 and 3BR, both quite nice. I use the BR30 more because I load more 223 and 308 than anything, but running them side-by-side, they are equally nice. The edge on consistency goes to the BR-30 if you only load within its range.

Iv'e also had a Uniflow, sold that. Had the Lee PPM, gave that away.

 

[mdesign]

Re: Manual Powder Measures

Questions on the RCBS & Redding measure. Do they fill on the upstroke and dispense when you move the handle downward? Also, how does the hopper attach to the body? Either one have an advantage in that area?

 

[milo 2.0]

Re: Manual Powder Measures

Dispense on the up stroke, fill cylinder on down.
Redding has set screws, Rcbs is glued in.

 

[mdesign]

Re: Manual Powder Measures

Thanks Milo...if the RCBS gets dropped and the hopper broken, I wonder how easy it would be to replace?

 

[milo 2.0]

Re: Manual Powder Measures

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: mdesign</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Thanks Milo...if the RCBS gets dropped and the hopper broken, I wonder how easy it would be to replace? </div></div>
I think you could get it cleaned out, a dremel if nothing else, epoxy a new one in.

 

[mdesign]

Re: Manual Powder Measures

If Redding uses set screws to hold the hopper in place, is it flimsy, is the hopper held securely or could it come loose and spill powder?

 

[MAGUA]

Re: Manual Powder Measures

The Redding is not flimsy and will not leak powder . I have been using a 3BR for years .

 

[mdesign]

Re: Manual Powder Measures

Thanks for the info guys...going to go with the Redding.

 

[427Cobra]

Re: Manual Powder Measures

If your gonna throw low and trickle up don't spend big bucks, UniFlo are just fine, if your just gonna throw n go the Redding 3BR or Harrels is what you want.

 

[mdesign]

Re: Manual Powder Measures

I'm a throw and go. I've tested velocity & ES between thrown and weighed and can see no difference. For me driving the rifle correctly (or not) has a much larger impact on what the bullet does.