What is the most accurate press mounted powder measure dropper for Handgun loads?

[daddySEAL]

I'm trying to get consistent loads to .02 gr.

 

[codygjohnson]

My 20yo dillon powder measure with the low grain meter bar measures a perfect 3.2 grains of Titegroup every time. I don't ever have to touch the adjustment nob. I'll just run a few drops with it when I'm setting up, before I start a batch, then weigh a few loads and its a perfect 3.2 for each one.

 

[Dawico]

My RCBS powder measure does a pretty good job. It does depend on the powder though. Ball powders meter very consistantly in most dispensers.

The Hornady powder measure I had was horrible. The dispenser on my Dillon SBD seems to work well but I haven't tried a ton of different powders and loads yet.

 

[Leper]

1/50th of 1grain? What powder are you using? Ball powder will measure the most consistent.

 

[CrossEyedArmadillo]

My Dillon 650, No problem with Flake or Ball powder always meters the same always right on what I set it at.

 

[Army 1911]

Most measures only guarantee accuracy to 1 tenth of a grain not 1 fiftieth. What press and measure are you using?

 

[daddySEAL]

1/50th of 1grain? What powder are you using? Ball powder will measure the most consistent.

WIN231 ball powder.
Lee turret
Lee Pro powder measure (in which the inconsistencies occur)
With disks, it's fairly consistent.

And I modified the micro-adjusting bar to improve it, because it had 2 glaring problems
1) I rounded the straight side with a dremel to make the opening as much like an oval as I could, and polished it smooth.
2) I removed the small edge at the bottom of the unit, that the bar slides on, so no flakes could "hang up" there.
3) The curved part of the bar had imperfections (small raised areas) that I took out.
Today, I'm going to run a small ground wire to the press, just in case static electricity is clumping together
any grains of powder.

I will try the bar later today, and see how much improvement I made. I know there Has to be some, at least, by
taking out the straight side of the drop unit.

 

[Gramps]

daddySEAL - I was using the micro-adjusting bar and it stayed within .1g with W231, works fine for my target pistol loads. Last night my RL550B came in and the Dillon Powder measure is WORLDS beyond the Lee. The Frankford Arsenal digital scale only reads to .1g, with that said the Dillon laid out 4.7 grains of W231 every time, might be worth a look to retrofit one to your Lee.

 

[Ready.Fire.Aim]

Please Let me know what powder measure you settle on.
I hand load subsonic rifle ammo. I use a RCBS powder measure. Disc powder like traiboss meters consistent. Ball powder like Accurate 1680 varies 0.2 grains. It will throw 11.2 grains several times then throw a 11.0 or 11.5g. I weigh on a digital scale.

My Dillon 650 consistently measures TiteGroup for 9mm pistol loads. I agree with the above poster, it is very accurate.

Thanks
RFA

 

[ROGER4314]

Consistency of any powder measure is governed by how much you bump or bang around on the bench to pack the powder down.

I have 11 different ways to measure powder and in my experience, the Lyman 55 is the most accurate measure. It has three separate metering chambers and is adjustable to very small tolerances. The 55 also has a "knocker" built into the measure base to give the same amount of vibration to every charge.

Dillon has an adapter to use other brands of measures on their presses. Midway has a thread adapter to size the small neck of the Lyman 55 to that adapter size.

Flash

 

[RichD62]

I use the Lee Pro Auto-Disk with my Turret press. Find it to be very consistent using HP-38 with the disks and the charge bar. I use it for .380 auto rounds because the disks don't go small enough and the micro disk has some issues I need to correct for it to work properly.

 

[Younggun]

I like the prodisk. I've heard mixed revues on the charge bar.

The downside to using the disks is fine tuning. I also run a few cases through before I start actually loading, it seems the first couple can be a little heavy from the powder settling but afterwords it has been pretty consistent.

 

[daddySEAL]

daddySEAL - I was using the micro-adjusting bar and it stayed within .1g with W231, works fine for my target pistol loads. Last night my RL550B came in and the Dillon Powder measure is WORLDS beyond the Lee. The Frankford Arsenal digital scale only reads to .1g, with that said the Dillon laid out 4.7 grains of W231 every time, might be worth a look to retrofit one to your Lee.

I wish I could afford a Dillon...thanks

 

[Gramps]

DS - The powder measure is $75, a bit pricey but an option.

 

[TexMex247]

I think just as much about the powder type as much as it is the equipment. The grainier powders like AA#5 will always meter better than a flaky powder like unique or blue dot. However, I do believe some claims about the dillon stuff, it always seems to get high marks from serious reloaders.

 

[daddySEAL]

I think just as much about the powder type as much as it is the equipment. The grainier powders like AA#5 will always meter better than a flaky powder like unique or blue dot. However, I do believe some claims about the dillon stuff, it always seems to get high marks from serious reloaders.

I agree...I use spherical powders mostly.

 

[daddySEAL]

Please Let me know what powder measure you settle on.
I hand load subsonic rifle ammo. I use a RCBS powder measure. Disc powder like traiboss meters consistent. Ball powder like Accurate 1680 varies 0.2 grains. It will throw 11.2 grains several times then throw a 11.0 or 11.5g. I weigh on a digital scale.

My Dillon 650 consistently measures TiteGroup for 9mm pistol loads. I agree with the above poster, it is very accurate.

Thanks
RFA

I'm thinking the Lyman 55