Beginner Powder Measure

[wapitibob]

I've always used a balance beam scale, a full check weight kit, and I zero the scale at my exact charge weight. I loaded 30 rounds tonight and several times cut a kernel in half to get the weight where I wanted it. You aren't getting that close with any electronics but they'll be faster and more convenient.

 

[Jeff_Gibbons]

Rcbs chargemaster was a great starter set up! Until you get the reloading bug and step up to an autotrickler

Yes. Buy the rcbs charge master. I have balance beams, and stand alone digital scales I used to throw volume based charges into and trickle. Wasted time. I have the charge master and won’t go back.

 

[DadWil]

I like the balance beam scales Ohaus 505 or RCBS M500 over digital ....
If you go digital go high end $500+ analytical balance prices
I add a site tube to my balance beam scales so that I am looking at the scale straight on every time.

anything I weigh on a digital scale I verify on a balance...
advantage of a mech balance nothing to burn out or go dead
If you want real accurate check out the Prometheus Gen II (spoiler the internal workings are a balance beam)

 

[sdupontjr]

Everything mentioned so far is why I kept my beam scale. I have an Ohaus M5 scale that I used for a long time with simple Lee dippers. I'm not a bulk loader but I like consistency. I had read way too many threads with issues with electronic scales and dispensers, from heat up time, varying loads, over charging, static issues, etc.

Here is the M5 I use to use, with the Lee dipper and my DIY trickler.


So, I decided to pick up another scale, an older model on eBay. The older model work best, the newer one are usually Chinese knock offs. So, I picked up an RCBS 502. I shipped it out to California to a guy by the name of Scott Parker. He an engineer is I remember correctly and is a wizard with beam scales. He trues them and tunes them. This 502 scale is sensitive to one kernel of 8208xbr and definitely sensitive to 1 kernel of Varget.



So after using it for a while, I decided to try and make an auto trickle but incorporate a sensor on the beam so that power can be turned off. In a way, trying to eliminate the Lee dipper and have it set to auto dump. Thus my 1st attempt at making my own powder dispenser. Took about 7 sec to dispense a stout charge of Varget for one of my 308 loads.

I have then upgraded to the version I use now, all store bough items that total about $80 is catch items on sale. This version has a much larger hopper and adjustable feet for even more control.

My latest version will hold right at 1 lb of powder and will dispense 49 g of Varget in about 6-7 sec. I have it set to dispense just below setpoint so that I can bump the trickle button once and its dead on. Works wonderful, no over charging, no warmup, nothing. Pull out scale, pull out dispenser, plug scale sensor into dispenser and start loading. I have used this with Varget, 8208xbr, TAC, H1000, 4831sc and all work flawlessly. TAC is a little harder to get out of the tube when I finished due to much smaller ball powder, but as far as dispensing, work like a champ.

So really you can get as complicated as you want and spend a stupid amount of money on a V4 setup with a digital scale and all the bells and whistles or you can just simply use Lee dippers (or just a sonic plastic spoon), a beam scale and get to shooting.

 

[Vern400]

How many rounds of precision rifle ammo are you planning to load in a year, and how much spare time do you have? If you're only loading 20 rounds in a sitting, it's not bad to use a powder thrower and trickle up.

If you're loading a block of 200 rounds, it'll take forever with a thrower and trickling.

I started with an RCBS uniflow thrower and a beam scale. It was definitely the slowest part of my process. I made due for the first couple hundred rounds my first year reloading then picked up a used chargemaster 1500. The speed difference is night-and-day.

Same. WHY did I wait this long !?
I even got my brother one - birthday.
And then a few years later, the Garmin xero!
Same thing again. (But he uses mine because they're not cheap!)

 

[DadWil]

Everything mentioned so far is why I kept my beam scale. I have an Ohaus M5 scale that I used for a long time with simple Lee dippers. I'm not a bulk loader but I like consistency. I had read way too many threads with issues with electronic scales and dispensers, from heat up time, varying loads, over charging, static issues, etc.

Here is the M5 I use to use, with the Lee dipper and my DIY trickler.
View attachment 923947

So, I decided to pick up another scale, an older model on eBay. The older model work best, the newer one are usually Chinese knock offs. So, I picked up an RCBS 502. I shipped it out to California to a guy by the name of Scott Parker. He an engineer is I remember correctly and is a wizard with beam scales. He trues them and tunes them. This 502 scale is sensitive to one kernel of 8208xbr and definitely sensitive to 1 kernel of Varget.

View attachment 923948

So after using it for a while, I decided to try and make an auto trickle but incorporate a sensor on the beam so that power can be turned off. In a way, trying to eliminate the Lee dipper and have it set to auto dump. Thus my 1st attempt at making my own powder dispenser. Took about 7 sec to dispense a stout charge of Varget for one of my 308 loads.

View attachment 923949View attachment 923950
View attachment 923951

I have then upgraded to the version I use now, all store bough items that total about $80 is catch items on sale. This version has a much larger hopper and adjustable feet for even more control.
View attachment 923953View attachment 923952
My latest version will hold right at 1 lb of powder and will dispense 49 g of Varget in about 6-7 sec. I have it set to dispense just below setpoint so that I can bump the trickle button once and its dead on. Works wonderful, no over charging, no warmup, nothing. Pull out scale, pull out dispenser, plug scale sensor into dispenser and start loading. I have used this with Varget, 8208xbr, TAC, H1000, 4831sc and all work flawlessly. TAC is a little harder to get out of the tube when I finished due to much smaller ball powder, but as far as dispensing, work like a champ.

So really you can get as complicated as you want and spend a stupid amount of money on a V4 setup with a digital scale and all the bells and whistles or you can just simply use Lee dippers (or just a sonic plastic spoon), a beam scale and get to shooting.

Your DIY trickler is really a slick idea...
Did you come up with the design yourself or are there plans that the rest of us can follow and build?

 

[Bowfinn]

I need to update this but after more “testing” I’m sticking with my powder throw for now

T

Thread 'Harrells Culver vs Lee Perfect Powder - Super Scientific Comparison'

Jun 6, 2025

Trying to find something faster than my RCBS CM Lite to throw powder with. My RCBS Uniflow works fine for Staball 6.5 and Match, but I got close to +/- .5gr with H4350 (unfortunately I can't find my notes).

The 2 most popular powder throws for stick powders seem to be Harrells (@Carl Ross ) and the Lee Perfect Powder Measure. These powder measures are at complete opposite end of the quality spectrum. The Harrells is a piece of art and costs $240 and the Lee is extremely cheap feeling and cost $22. I didn't know the exact settings I needed to get 41 gr of H4350 (which is what I'd...

• TX_Diver
• Replies: 13
• Forum: Reloading

• 

Here is my last 20 rounds (19 read chronograph fell on one shot) of h4350 that was thrown with the Lee PPM. I think I’ll stick with throwing charges for now as well.

Note this is 2 different bullets.