Uniflow measure dislikes stick powder

[IronSkegge]

I have the RCBS uniflow powder measure, and I have been testing it with IMR-4895 stick powder.

1/3 of the pulls offer no resistance, 1/3 give some resistance, and the rest bind halfway in the upstroke-I can push past the binding with light upward pressure.

I measured ~100 powder throws with my $30 digital scale and came up with a +/- 0.5 grain variance. The scale seem to work fairly well.

Any thoughts?

If I keep the Uniflow, I will probably have to purchase a higher quality digital scale and weigh each throw before charging the case.

Recommendations for high quality scales around $100 would be appreciated.

[Muggzy]

Someone here on the files suggested making a baffle. I tried it....and it did help
but was not a "cure all".

I cut a piece of plastic from one of those microwave food trays. cut the diameter of the powder funnel. then in the middle of that I cut 4 large holes to let the powder dribble through. The idea being that the weight of the powder was more consistant. I'll go and do a search and see what I can come up with......

be right back


http://www.falfiles.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=143136

post #5 Thanks, Gung Din

[IronSkegge]

Ill give it a try.

I put a washer, with a 7/16?? hole, in the bottom of the hopper, but I don't think it helped.

[Muggzy]

Don' forget to bend the baffle in half so it is sloped.

Please, let us know your results

[MAINER]

http://www.dillonprecision.com/#/content/p/9/pid/25213/catid/7/D_Terminator_Electronic_Scale

Dillons D-Terminator is one of the best. Nice views on their website too. :biggrin:

Midway has a battery operated powder trickler that works.

I have a Uniflow, but mostly use a Belding and Mull for stick powder. Not made anymore but show up used from time to time. Not perfect, but more accurate. I weigh all rifle charges anyway. Just makes me feel better. :)

Varget meters nice as does RL-15 and BL-C if you don't want to hassle with the stick stuff any more. I like 4895 too, just bought some.

[DJ]

I don't think any powder measures really like the stick powders. I've had my Uniflow for 35 years or more and thrown alot of charges with it. That binding you feel is powder kernals(did I spell that right?) being cut. I've gotten the "feel" of it down to where I can throw +/- 0.2 grain variance. If I'm loading blasting ammo thats close enough. If I'm loading hunting or target rounds then I'll throw about a half grain light and trickle up to weight.
The Uniflow is a good measure.
I'm not sure what they cost now, but I have a PACT digital scale. It's a good, accurate scale.

[DYNOMIKE]

After asking some Q's about these Measures myself I received enough comments about the Baffle that I bought this and set up my Measure using it right from the get go..
http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=493217

DJ is right it does require a "FEEL" when throwing extruded powders.
My Charges seem to be pretty darn consistant so far..
Also Bought This to Help out. IMHO it is the Best Trickler Available..
http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=487186

There may be a Bit of useful info here as well..
http://www.falfiles.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=199989&highlight=uniflow+help

[SHARPSHOOTER]

I have said this before and will say it again, if you want to avoid the problems of the uniflow and similar measures goto the belding and mull style of measure. It eliminates all the grief of the inconsistent charges that a uniflow has and it throws a uniform charge that is the same every time it never will get out of adjustment. Worth every penny of what i paid and if you buy one you will like it also.

[IronSkegge]

I made a baffle early today, and it seems to have reduced the binding and cutting of powder kernals. I will test the homemade baffle, and a copy of RCBS' tonight.

My plan is to weigh each powder throw before charging the case. It will be more time consuming, but I like knowing exactly what is going in the case. So, from this point I will get a better digital scale, and a manual powder tickler:wink:.

Is there an adverse effect from the measure cutting the powder when it binds up? Smaller pieces would probably burn faster.

[MAINER]

Long time ago. I read about powder measures shearing kernels and what effect it would have on the burn rate or such. Answer from the Gurus at NRA was none. You are only cutting up one or two kernels out of several thousand.

If you ain't as old as I am. Years ago, The NRA was the go to guys for all queries reguarding arms and ammo. They had some real experts too. Elmer Keith and Phil Sharpe were a couple of them.

[Adventurer_96]

I've used a borrowed electronic powder measure, and it was pretty convenient, but when you come right down to it for me it's easier operating the powder measure manually. Not to mention, I'd worry about the accuracy of the measure, and whether or not it might over-throw a charge. But then, technology frightens and confuses me (see pic above left).

I've chosen almost all my powders because they meter well, i.e. they're ball powders. My first recommendation to you would be to look at other powders, because in the long run I think that it's the cheapest option since you're going to be buying powder anyway and you won't have to sink a couple of hundred dollars into a new measure. Also, the newer powders have some more to offer over 4895, but that's not the real intent of your first post. But, once you meter a rifle load consistently with a ball powder, you'll be a believer I'd bet.

When I used 3031, I ended up throwing, as described, about a grain or two below the charge weight and then used a powder trickler to top it off. Combine that with the fact that temperature spreads out here affected velocities quite a bit, and you find the reason why I use TAC in my rifle loads.

[Mebsuta]

I just crunch through it.

[Groucho]

I used a Redding BR3 powder measure for years. It came with a baffle. It also crunched through the extruded powders like IMR 4064. Like others, I would throw short by half a grain and trickle up from there. I used a Redding trickler since it was a heavy little device and didn't move when working.

Then, I saved my money, sold a couple of battle packs of S.A. and got an RCBS 1500 electronic powder measure. I sold my BR3. It was a great powder measure, but the electronic measure with scale is the cat's meow.

Just having fun reloading and shooting now.

Groucho
'Course, if the power goes out, I'm screwed!

[Adventurer_96]

Originally posted by Groucho
I used a Redding BR3 powder measure for years. It came with a baffle. It also crunched through the extruded powders like IMR 4064. Like others, I would throw short by half a grain and trickle up from there. I used a Redding trickler since it was a heavy little device and didn't move when working.

Then, I saved my money, sold a couple of battle packs of S.A. and got an RCBS 1500 electronic powder measure. I sold my BR3. It was a great powder measure, but the electronic measure with scale is the cat's meow.

Just having fun reloading and shooting now.

Groucho
'Course, if the power goes out, I'm screwed!

Now that's funny!

Those with the tinfoil hat might at least hold on to their old fashioned powder measure having read that!

[Groucho]

There's always a down side to the best of things.

That's why I have a generator!:rofl:

Groucho
'Course, if they quit making gasoline, I'm still screwed!

[English Mike]

I had some time to play around this afternoon, so I did a little testing on the Uniflow.

Powder is Hodgdon 4831 - not the short cut version.

I was aiming for 58 grains.

Measure was around 30% full & I ran it empty.

* means the measure crunched through a grain of powder.

** means I had to force it through a grain.

58.5*
58.0
58.0
57.8
57.9
58.05
58.0
58.05*
57.65*
58.3**
57.8
57.8
57.7
58.0*
58.8**
58.0**
57.9
58.0
58.0*
58.0
57.5 - Powder now below the plastic hopper.
57.7
58.0
58.0
57.7
57.6
13.2 - Measure totally empty.

Take into consideration that I've thrown less than 100 charges with the measure & am a novice at reloading.
I think once I get a "feel" for moving the handle consistently, that the Uniflow WILL throw consistent charges, so long as I check weigh the "crunchy" ones & don't run it too low.

[BerdanIII]

Put a longer handle on that puppy; increased leverage will make a difference. I made one out of aluminum flat stock in about 20 minutes (I spent more time putting a radius on the ends of the handle than anything else). Use the same thickness as the original handle and you won't have to buy new screws. I put a PVC pipe cap on the end as a knob.

[IronSkegge]

I bought the Dillon Terminator scale, and have been using it in conjunction with the Uniflow powder measure. Weighing every charge doesn't take too much time, in my opinion.

Roughly one out of five pulls goes back into the hopper for being over by .4-1 grain. 3 out of five are right on, while 1 out of five are +/- .2 grain.