Powder Measure?

[Guy]

Powder measure...


My 30+ year old RCBS "uni-flow" powder measure is giving me fits! I used to be able to just drop charges, like 45 grains of Varget into a 308 case time after time with very little variation... Not anymore!


Took it apart, cleaned and inspected everything, re-assembled. It's "better" but not by much. I've used this thing to load literally tens of thousands of rounds.


Ideas?


Yes, I have avoided getting an electronic powder measure so far. HOWEVER, am very interested into input on which ones work well, and which ones don't work so well.


Thanks!

[SGTREED]

I use rcbs powder dump and Dillon and the Lyman gen5 electric powder dump

My most consistent is the Lyman then Dillon then the rcbs.
I have learned it’s all about what you personally like find someone that has other ones to try before you buy


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[Guy]

Well.. Since posting this, I've taken it all apart, cleaned everything. Put it back together. Saw some improvement.

Had a thought... got rid of the Varget I had been using, and opened a fresh 8 lb jug. Huh! Significant improvement.

I believe now that I may have managed to contaminate the other powder.

Am going to also replace the plastic drop tube and see if that helps. It looks a little beat up after 30+ years of use.

Guy

[coachk12]

Well.. Since posting this, I've taken it all apart, cleaned everything. Put it back together. Saw some improvement.

Had a thought... got rid of the Varget I had been using, and opened a fresh 8 lb jug. Huh! Significant improvement.

I believe now that I may have managed to contaminate the other powder.

Am going to also replace the plastic drop tube and see if that helps. It looks a little beat up after 30+ years of use.

Guy

Use a baffle large fender washer with a 5/8 hole that just fits inside the powder hopper.

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[Quigley]

If you want an electronic get a chargemaster. As I understand if you get it from brownells it comes with a lifetime warranty. I love mine.

If you are dubious or turned off by the price of the electroniv. I have been using a frankford arsenal manual thrower for a year now. Using it primarily for batch loading ball powder 223 charges. But I have put it through its paces with extruded and flake powders too and have been very happy. It's a very sturdy piece of equipment that adjusts as expected and throws very consistently.

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[n9tkf]

Could static be causing the problem?

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[Guy]

Could static be causing the problem?

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Yup! That was at least part of it.

I took the thing apart and cleaned it. Hadn't done that in a while.

Reassembled it.

Got rid of about 1/4 pound of Varget that seemed to be "clumping" a bit.

Then I grabbed a fresh dryer sheet and used it on the plastic drop tube...

All was well after that. I loaded another 50 rounds of 308 Win last night, and the powder measure worked perfectly... So... A little PM now and again is a mighty fine idea.

Regards, Guy