What powder dispenser does everybody think is the most accurate? I am using the Lee right now but I believe there has to be something better.

I am using a Pact Dispenser and Scale to load rifle. I have an RCBS that I used to use, Uniflow I think. My Loadmaster has the Lee disk on it but I put the adjustable chamber on it.

Which Lee do you have and what is it doing? The RCBS works well. If I wanted to throw rifle rounds I'd have to play with it for while but if was going to trickle and weigh I'd just set it a little under and trickle up.

I too have a Lee. I have somewhat mixed feeling about it.

I will try working with it a little more.

I just bought a LEE. For my rifle work it throws very consistently to just shy of my load and I trickle to the needed charge. I have quit using my electronic powder dispenser for the manual LEE.


For pistol work I really like the LEE disk setup.

It's the Lee Perfect Powder Measure and it works fine but I am wondering what everybody considers to be a better piece of equipment.

I was looking at the Hornady with the micrometer for pistol reloading.

The lee is as consistant as any, it does seem
flimsy though. My first measure was a Pioneer.
They were bought out many years ago. It was
built like a tank. After 40 years or so it started to bridge once in a while. I couldn't trust it so out of curiosity i bought a Lee.
So far it seems to work well.
good luck!

You'll find that not even the best measure will meter coarse stick powders very accurately, and even cheap ones will meter ball powders well.

Perfectionists will tout the very expensive Harrell's measure. Not cheap, but much more affordable is the Redding measure. Among the "popularly priced" measures the Redding is probably the best, perhaps being just a notch or so above the RCBS or Hornady.

Some of the Lee equipment is made with lighter materials. The plastic and nylon parts cut costs but don't give the confident feel of heavier construction.

The Hornady, RCBS, and others on the market are built along similar designs to each other. They will last longer. If the Lee is working I'd keep it but set aside a few bucks a month for a new metal dispenser if it breaks. I'd say the Hornady and RCBS would be nearly the same for quality. I put a few bucks aside for components and such every month, it's not an ammo can full of cash but it builds to a couple of hundred a year with pocket change. When you figure lunch at McD's is $7 a meal, packing a lunch once a week and putting that $7 in a piggy bank gives you $350 a year for components.

My only real gripe about Lee measures, at least when dropping 5 grains and over, was that there was no baffle and you would get bridging with certain powders despite their claims otherwise. They might have baffles now, I don't know. I bought a baffle from RCBS and bent it just a bit and it fit in my Lee. Hey Presto! no more bridging. I also use the Pact combo for rifle rounds, and would never go back. If there is someone who is going to be buying a trickler--do yourself a favor and buy a good heavy one, not a cheap light plastic one. They can become top heavy if you load a lot of powder into them, so the weight helps stabilize them. I know someone who glued his cheapie to a piece of plywood and that helped a lot, but now it won't fit in its old storage space and sits on his bench laughing at him.............

My Uniflow has been working just fine for almost 30 years now... I bought the powder baffle and it helps, I also keep the powder within the center third of the reservoir.

And obviously, ball powders measure much better than stick. If I am using stick powders I typically scale each charge, and then only a box or so at a time. Thankfully, there are only a handful of calibers I use stick powders in.

quote:

I am wondering what everybody considers to be a better piece of equipment.

I have no idea of what "everybody" thinks but I've used several iron measures and find the Lee Perfect as good as any for most powders an sometimes better with coarse powders.

A common business card, a pair of sissors and 30 seconds of effort will provide a serviceable powder baffle.

REDDING

Jim good idea with the business card.

Thanks everybody, looks like I may as well keep using the Lee.

It was not cheap but I have a Harrels. Unless you have used one you would never think a powder measure could be this nice. Extremely accurate. Record the settings and you will be within a click or two of your powder charge when you go to repeat a load. A very fine piece of craftsmanship.

Lymann 55

I think there are much better choices for ball powders (I use RCBS Uniflows) but for extruded rifle powders I think the Lee Perfect is as good as any. At least it doesn't cut grains and jumble up your load. I got one just for my rifle loads and am happy with it. And I think every powder measure ought to have the removable hopper feature.

quote:

Originally posted by icemanls2:
Lymann 55

+1 - May not be the snazziest one out there but I've used the same one since 1970 with no problems. Adjust it to throw just below the desired load and trickle just a few kernels of powder to an exact weight.

It's also accurate and consistent enough to throw all charges and double check weight occasionally. Then I make a visual inspection of all cases to make sure there are no significantly over or under charges.

RCBS Chargemaster.

I have a bunch of powder measures, including an electronic one (no longer available) which measures to 1/20th grain.

For most of my hunting ammo, though, I just use the Lee Perfect. Once I adjusted the tension on it, it works as well on stick powders as anything else (or better).

I also have a Neal Jones I use for benchrest competition (because it easy to precisely re-set it during matches if anyone screws with it while I'm not looking). I've two Lymans, a Redding, and a couple or three others, but for all practical purposes in loading hunting ammo, the Lee is just fine.