[246203]

"The Standard in Powder Measures for over 50 Years"

I must be missing something. I gave up on it. The graduations are useless. Won't throw consistently. Cuts every powder going through it. I got powder all over the place. List goes on. I took it apart. Cleaned it. Read the instructions. Looked online. It's terrible. I'm using 700X.

I think it is Taterhead I owe another thanks to. I inherited all of this stuff and one of the things in the box was Lee powder dippers. This was much better than the powder measure. I discovered that I had to wipe the dippers with a dryer sheet to eliminate static cling of the powder to the dipper. I then had to experiment what size dipper to use. Finally trickled to get the weight. Once experimentation was complete, the process was quite fast, extremely accurate, and cleanup was simple.

I'm soured on powder measures right now but would like to speed things up even more and have a powder measure I can trust. Any consensus on what the "best" powder measure is for non-progressive bench mount? I'm leaning towards the RCBS Competition with the pistol drum.

 

[Rellik]

I've used mine in reloading rifles since 1978.

 

[246203]

I've used mine in reloading rifles since 1978.

Mine must be defective because I'm ready to throw it against the wall.

Any tips?

 

[jmorris]

Don’t destroy it, I’ll give it a loving home.

Since you have one you already know they have two “leafs” that can change the internal volume. The small top one and large bottom one.

I try and keep them as equal as I can.

Something like this.

Vs like this.

Never would I slide the fine one all the way open and leave the large one shut. You just give more exposure to the powder for cutting at that point.

Same with the last two photos the first is a smaller opening so there will be less cutting than the same volume with the small leaf opened up more.

 

[billorights]

I've used one since the late 60s. I have never heard anyone say the 55 is junk. Until now anyway.

 

[ithaca_deerslayer]

I then had to experiment what size dipper to use. Finally trickled to get the weight. Once experimentation was complete, the process was quite fast, extremely accurate, and cleanup was simple.

I dip with the scoop, onto a scale. I do so in a way that always gets me a little underweight. Then I trickle the last half grain or so, until reaching the exact weight I want.

For the past couple years, that "trickle" was done the hard way with the scoop itself. Only a month ago did I buy an actual trickler. Ha, ha, makes it soooo much easier. I have the frankford

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/110398/frankford-arsenal-powder-trickler

 

[Collo Rosso]

I have a 30 something year old Lyman 55 sitting on a shelf, new in the box. Can't comment on how it works. Been using a RCBS uniflow with great results with ball powder.

 

[cheygriz]

You may have a lemon, but that measure is a great one.

IME, Redding makes the very best production measures, followed closely by Lyman, RCBS, and Pacific.

 

[robhic]

I use a LEE Perfect Powder Measure mounted on a small piece of plywood so I can move it around in my smallish space. I've had NO problem with it. Some folks don't like Lee stuff but I'm happy with my powder measure. You have to be careful with the rolling counter-poise ball. I only load pistol and don't go above 10.0 gr so I glued it (see my post from a while back about being careful... ) and it was only about $25.

 

[bo didly]

I had mine for about 7 months and gave up on it. Sold it to some poor schmuck so now it's his problem. I purchased a Lee Perfect Powder Measure and never looked back. Cheap and very consistent. It really is about "Perfect".

 

[246203]

I dip with the scoop, onto a scale. I do so in a way that always gets me a little underweight. Then I trickle the last half grain or so, until reaching the exact weight I want.

For the past couple years, that "trickle" was done the hard way with the scoop itself. Only a month ago did I buy an actual trickler. Ha, ha, makes it soooo much easier. I have the frankford

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/110398/frankford-arsenal-powder-trickler

Maybe it was you and I that discussed the dippers/procedure a while back and not Taterhead. What you outlined is exactly what I did and it works well.

I have a Redding powder trickler.

 

[ithaca_deerslayer]

Maybe it was you and I that discussed the dippers/procedure a while back and not Taterhead. What you outlined is exactly what I did and it works well.

I have a Redding powder trickler.

Or maybe I learned the same from him. Dunno

 

[246203]

Don’t destroy it, I’ll give it a loving home.

Since you have one you already know they have two “leafs” that can change the internal volume. The small top one and large bottom one.

View attachment 530584

I try and keep them as equal as I can.

Something like this.

View attachment 530588

Vs like this.

View attachment 530586

Never would I slide the fine one all the way open and leave the large one shut. You just give more exposure to the powder for cutting at that point.

Same with the last two photos the first is a smaller opening so there will be less cutting than the same volume with the small leaf opened up more.

I only opened the top leaf because I'm loading a measly 4.2 gr. of 700X and that is what the directions said to do for small pistol charges. I'll try again by opening the larger.

I'll get this figured out.

 

[jmorris]

Let us know how it works out.

You should have less crunching with a deeper narrow opening than a shallow and long one.

 

[L Pete]

I love my Lyman No. 55. It's way more consistent than the Hornady L-N-L powder measure I got a couple of years ago. It also doesn't get 2400 working its way in the adjustment threads locking up the adjustment. I consider the L-N-L a piece of junk. I've been using the Lyman for forty plus years. I won't switch to anything else, now.

 

[246203]

LOL! I guess in order to get responses of a certain product, just bad mouth it. Where were all you owners when I was asking questions about this thing prior?

It's great you all love yours. I'm not having the same relationship with mine.

 

[flyover]

Don’t destroy it, I’ll give it a loving home.

Since you have one you already know they have two “leafs” that can change the internal volume. The small top one and large bottom one.

View attachment 530584



Never would I slide the fine one all the way open and leave the large one shut. You just give more exposure to the powder for cutting at that point.

Same with the last two photos the first is a smaller opening so there will be less cutting than the same volume with the small leaf opened up more.

I have 2 Lyman powder measures;, the other one is like the one pictured (my photos suck by the way), this one

It just has a thumbnail slot to pull the bars out, I think it is older than the other measure.

jmorris, as I am sure you and others who use the Lyman 55, there is another leaf to the measure. It was for heavy charges and has markings for both grains and drams for loading shot shells.

 

[flyover]

I will add that stick powders will shear and throw weight will vary, some ball powders seem to want to bind the drum after a while and flake powders don't give any problems. I have not had any problems with the 55 leaking powder.

 

[ROGER4314]

I have two of the Lyman 55 powder measures and consider them to be the best measures available. There are more expensive units like Culver or Belding and Mull that perform more consistently but I could never afford them.

Isolate your Lyman 55 and keep it away from any vibration on the workbench or press mount. Mount the measure solidly and use the little hammer on the unit to provide a consistent "bump" as the cavities fill.

Be sure you assemble the unit correctly. When it's working correctly, it will provide 3 distinct cavities. Adjustment is very precise.

Don't trust the "scale" provided. It's only a reference. Use a good digital or beam scale to check your measure drops.

I'd offer to buy yours but I have two of them already.

Flash

 

[Taterhead]

Maybe it was you and I that discussed the dippers/procedure a while back and not Taterhead. What you outlined is exactly what I did and it works well.

I have a Redding powder trickler.

Yeah, that certainly wasn't me. I have a box of Lee scoops, but I never use them.

Cutting granules in a measure is typical and not some the worry about.

Before giving up on the measure, I suggest cleaning it again. Really thoroughly. The preservative oils are tough to remove completely. Then run a bunch of powder through it. It should get more consistent. Although 700-x is not the smoothest metering powder.

I've even run a little graphite through my Uniflows when new.