I'm thinking of expanding my reloading operation some more and getting a powder throw. I've been using one on my buddy's Dillion pistol press and it is dead-on accurate and doesn't vary after a hundred rounds - still at the exact tenth of a grain I started with. I'd like to get a powder through for rifles that performs as well. I've heard the Redding Match 3BR would meet my expectation. They run around $160. Being the frugal chap that I am, are there others you would recommend that could do the job for less?

Slim...I have a Redding that I have been using for the past 30 years and it has provided sterling service. They have a pistol and rifle micrometer measure for them and once set, they don't change.

Powder meaures are all the same in one respect, they all suffer from little idiosyncrasies in relation to the type and shape of powder granules being thrown. I would be surprised to find one that is totally consistent with every type of powder. For that reason I throw close to the charge I want and finish it up on the scales with a powder trickler. This way the only idiosyncrasy I am dealing with is any that the scales may have...and at least all of my charges are the same, so I have consistency.

At the end of the day, you should always check the powder weight thrown on a quality set of scales. I use the guide provided with the powder throw as exactly that, a guide only, then I keep a record of the measurement that throws the charge I want. I always start off by weighing the first five throws to ensure the weight and consistency of the throw. This is why I don't throw the exact load, and finish off with a trickler. For pistol target loads a slight variation is not really a problem, but for rifle, it can upset accuracy.

I used a LEE powder throw with the LEE 1000 I had when loading pistol, and I found it to be the same as the Redding in regards to different shaped powder granules, and every bit as consistent as the Redding. You can also get a graduated adjustable measure for the LEE as well.

Cheers, Vince

In my opinion you started with the best. I don't know Redding nor Lee, but I have 2 Lyman's, 1 RCBS and 2 Dillon's for my 550. The Dillons beat them all.
And when you want to give 160 $ on a powder measure, how much does the Dillon 550 RL go these days?

Since you mentioned economy, I agree with Vince on the Lee measure. Their "Perfect" measure is particularly good for "stick" type powders since it doesn't cut the granules. It uses a wiper system and holds settings very well. I don't use it for fine "ball" type powders, however, since it tends to leak granules around the drum when using these. For ball-type powders I usually use a 30-some odd year old Ohaus.

I use the Lee measure and, like Vince, I throw each underweight and then trickle up. I use an RCBS digital scale to check each load if I am working up a load or going for real accuracy. For plinking loads I set the measure for thre full load and check every 10th throw. I find the large extruded powders like Varget the most variable. Tightening the srew on the drum helps prevent leaking powders but don't overdo it.

I'm planning to use ball powders and do want an exact load each time. I'll check out the Dillon powder throws for rifles. Thanks for the tip on Lee's wipe system.

Expanding the operation ????

Here ya go....

www.ammoload.com/mark_x_pistol.htm

www.ammoload.com/mark_l_rifle.htm

I have the Redding and an RCBS. My Redding has a little hopper on it, If I had to change anything it would be to get a bigger hopper for it. It works great but I always thought the less of a percentage I was changing the load in the hopper the less pressure change, Then Bushy or somebody posted a pic of a bleach bottle contraption that takes care of that and I quit looking. Now I just use it for pistols and small rifle stuff. I can set it for 13.3g. of 1680 for my .218 Bee and it will load 50 without changing any as far as I can tell. 1680 is pretty fine though.

stovepipe wrote:

Expanding the operation ???? Here ya go.... www.ammoload.com/mark_x_pistol.htm www.ammoload.com/mark_l_rifle.htm

LOL Ok, stovey, if I have to ask how much these cost I probably can't afford them. Plus there is no floor space left in the garage where I could put them. I'm lucky that my wife let's be keep my powder and primer inside where it is cool.

I'm not sure bout the cost...sure would be cool though!

Meh I keep mine indoors too- too many machines etc in my garage. Plus you can always tell the missus what the alternative is should them components get to warm in the geerage! Maybe that'll make some more room for stuff out there?

Santa delivered a Hornady Lock & Load powder dispenser last year and it does work great except when using ball powder! It has been back 3 times already for errors when using ball powders, no problem at all when using extruded powders, only ball powders.

Since my dispenser is back at Hornady again, I went back to the Lee powder measure (wiper) and beam scale for ball powder, hopefully Hornady can work this out with the dispenser because when it works it works great.

Ominivision1 wrote:

Santa delivered a Hornady Lock & Load powder dispenser ... It has been back 3 times already for errors when using ball powders

Thanks, OV1. That's the type of situation I would like to avoid, especially since I will be using mostly ball powder.

I cant tell you what brand mine is ?it looks like dumplex? or something similar it looks like a sinclair. it works just like a ball tap. strange that you have trouble with ball powder as that is the best to use in mine and chunky cylindrical stuff is harder to measure as it gets "gritty to throw" the lever. which is one thing I did learn... you must do it the same each time not faster or slower.. the same.

I've used an RCBS manual measure for about 35 years with no complaints. I have a PACT digital scale and dispenser that I also like quite a bit. These days I almost always use the PACT.

I have a Lyman, a redding, a dillon and a lee powder thrower.
Any one would do, except for the dillon that stuck on the press, I have no preference..
I trickle all charges anyway.