RCBS Uniflow powder measure problem

jonk

Just curious if anyone else has experienced this.

I got a box of RCBS reloading stuff awhile back, all lightly used in good shape. Included was a Uniflow powder dispenser.

First off, I praise it for how well it works with ball powders. However, it chops and grinds its way through stick powder like IMR 4895, and binds severely on flake powders, crushing bullseye and red dot into cakes and clumps. What gives? I'd expect more than this from RCBS.

rufe-snow

In the past I've had serious problems trying to use light loads of flake type powders, Green Dot especially, gave me fits. I don't believe that the RCBS powder measure is itself at fault. I believe that any rotary type measure would have problems with flake powders.

You could try lubricating the rotor with graphite, or give the customer service folks at RCBS a call. They might have some fresh perspectives on the problem.

Personally I switched to Accurate Arms ball powder years ago, that solved the problem as far as I was concerned.

dfletcher

Ah, the search for the "best" powder measure continues ....

I've had the same experience with RCBS chopping the IMRs & other long grain powders, but had no problem with ball & flake. Maybe the drum & interior of the measure body needs cleaning?

I curently use 3 measures - the RCBS for flake & ball, a Lyman 55 for everything especially when I'm using 90+ grains of powder and a Lee for long grain only - don't laugh, the thing works great on extruded but is terrible with anything else.

The Lyman 55 chops the heck out of IMRs, it uses a large open door type chamber whereas the RCBS is round & miniizes opposing edges, but it is the most accurate of the three. Maybe chopping is good?

vdms55

probably has nothing to do with your problem but, years ago someone told me to ground my loading equipment while using it. so i cut the cables from an old battery charger, rigged the cut end to the grounded eletrical outlet on my bench, use the clamping end to attach to the press(shotgun shell reloading) and powder measure. never had a minutes trouble with powder flowing. however i can hear the crunching sound when rotating the handle if i'm using 4895, 4064, etc. but when i randomly weigh the powder there is seldom greater/lesser than a 1/10 + or - grain veriation.

1KYDSTR

I agree with the last poster. I have always experienced the "crunch" when using stick powders in my Uniflow, but those weights are always well within the previously mentioned plus or minus 1/10th of a grain parameters. Unique gives me fits if under a certain grain weight, but once you have gotten to a more robust chargs level, it is as accurate a poeder measurre as you can get within $100 cost. I love mine and will continue to use it until it finally gives out, which I expect to not be achieved in my lifetime.