[SBray]

I hesitated reading this thread because I don't have a Lyman # 55. However, I do have a Redding “Benchrest” model that appears to be of similar design. I bought it from a friend that tended to buy items from garage sales and resell for a small profit.

Those of you that submitted positive comments have made this a very informative thread. I am glad I opened it and took the time to read through gaining valuable information.

I let my brother have this Redding unit, but he decided he couldn’t afford the time to reload, so he gave it back. Now I’m going to put it to use after experimenting with it while keeping in mind what has been pointed out in this thread!

Steve

 

[246203]

I hesitated reading this thread because I don't have a Lyman # 55. However, I do have a Redding “Benchrest” model that appears to be of similar design. I bought it from a friend that tended to buy items from garage sales and resell for a small profit.

Those of you that submitted positive comments have made this a very informative thread. I am glad I opened it and took the time to read through gaining valuable information.

I let my brother have this Redding unit, but he decided he couldn’t afford the time to reload, so he gave it back. Now I’m going to put it to use after experimenting with it while keeping in mind what has been pointed out in this thread!

Steve

View attachment 530700

Swap ya!?!

 

[SBray]

 

[246203]

Update:

I'm done. This will never go on my bench again.

I cleaned the measure before first use with alcohol per the directions.

Last night, I took it apart and sprayed it with BF Powder Blast. Bad idea. The plastic reservoir did not like the over spray.

The final straw was when I was cleaning the main drum with the two brass graduation slides removed. I was pushing a patch along with my thumb. The lip cut my thumb from the tip to my first digit like a razor blade. Bled like a stuck pig. Felt really good, especially with the alcohol and cleaning products.

Just bought a Harrell from Sinclair using the 10% off code they sent me this morning. Hopefully I'll be happier with that.

https://www.sinclairintl.com/reload...sers/schuentzen-pistol-powder-measure-prod38248.aspx?avs|Manufacturer_1=harrell

What do you all think of this balance? I'm thinking of getting this also and putting an end to my measuring woes:

https://www.sinclairintl.com/reload...equipment/powder-handling/powder-scales/fx-120i-precision-scale-prod118565.aspx

 

[cheygriz]

The Harrell is an excellent measure.

 

[orangejeep06]

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.

+1 on Redding,made in the USA.

 

[jmorris]

Update:

I'm done. This will never go on my bench again.

Just bought a Harrell from Sinclair using the 10% off code they sent me this morning. Hopefully I'll be happier with that.

https://www.sinclairintl.com/reloading-equipment/powder-handling/powder-measures-dispensers/schuentzen-pistol-powder-measure-prod38248.aspx?avs|Manufacturer_1=harrell

What do you all think of this balance? I'm thinking of getting this also and putting an end to my measuring woes:

https://www.sinclairintl.com/reload...equipment/powder-handling/powder-scales/fx-120i-precision-scale-prod118565.aspx

That’s getting close to $1000 bucks maybe over unless you get free shipping. The better your scale is the worse your measure will seem.

Unless you can combine the scale with measuring powder and that doesn’t have to cost $745.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nA0_KDjbBGQ


Let me know what you want for the 55.

 

[246203]

That’s getting close to $1000 bucks maybe over unless you get free shipping. The better your scale is the worse your measure will seem.

Unless you can combine the scale with measuring powder and that doesn’t have to cost $745.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nA0_KDjbBGQ


Let me know what you want for the 55.

$806.39 delivery on Tuesday.

Send me your address and I'll give it to you. Maybe one day you can return the favor. I like that powered trickler.

 

[Collo Rosso]

$806.39 delivery on Tuesday.

Wow! A little pricey for my wallet, but very nice quality stuff. January I bought a Dillon 550 with extra caliber conversions and didn't spend that.
When you get the Harrell measure try disassembling it and wiping the insides with a used dryer towel. Had bad static when I got the RCBS and it worked good. Did the same with the Dillon and from the get go had consistent throws and no powder sticking to everything.

 

[246203]

Wow! A little pricey for my wallet, but very nice quality stuff. January I bought a Dillon 550 with extra caliber conversions and didn't spend that.
When you get the Harrell measure try disassembling it and wiping the insides with a used dryer towel. Had bad static when I got the RCBS and it worked good. Did the same with the Dillon and from the get go had consistent throws and no powder sticking to everything.

Buy once, cry once. It's a bit much; I understand that but I'm doing this for my wife to keep her shooting. She has arthritis and won't give up her little revolver. We are not a high volume shooters and I enjoy the process of what is amounting to making match-grade ammunition. I also couldn't forgive myself if I was to screw up and have something happen.

I caught on to the dryer sheet trick early on. Every reloader should have a box on the bench.

There is also no doubt that I will learn to ease up once I get some rounds under my belt but I'll still have heirloom quality equipment. There's plenty of people that will swoop in and take it when I'm guarding the streets of Heaven.

 

[Scott60]

A few years back when I first started loading for the 5.7x28 I was committed to weighing every charge due to the design-flaw poor accuracy of electronic scales and vagueness of most powder measures.

I ended up going with a Redding 10X dedicated pistol measure and have considered it the best money I ever spent! The 10X is built only for small charges, and uses a hemispherical chamber with micrometer volumetric adjustment, though I never rely on that. I always verify charge weight using a balance-beam scale...no, not an electronic scale though for a task as simple as verifying a weight they work adequately.

Using the newer powders of small, spherical design such as AA-5/7/9 and Enforcer, the 10X is superb to say the least. It will hold to a tenth of a grain as viewed on a balance beam - and it's solid. After using it for thousands of rounds on the 5.7 I have full confidence in it.

The 10X also drops flake powder such as Blue Dot with surprising consistency, and Lil-gun goes through very accurately. It won't dial in 800X accurately but I don't know of a measure that will, so for that I set it low, drop the charge and trickle up for magnum loads such as the 460 Rowland, though in mild loads this is not needed.

I stopped using e-scales because they aren't accurate enough for 1/10th grain increments. Yes, I know they will show the difference between tenths, but they have no method of showing the user how far above or below that tenth is the actual weight in the pan. This means the closest an e-scale can relied upon to be is within 1/20th grain, or one-half a tenth BELOW, to one-half a tenth ABOVE the target weight. That's a full tenth difference possible between charges that are WEIGHED! For most calibers this is completely inconsequential and ridiculous to care about, but not for the 5.7x28 where the difference between starting load and max load generally only spans 5-6 tenths of a grain. INTERNALLY electronic scales are highly accurate, but unless the display shows to the hundreth - 0.00 that accuracy cannot be obtained by the user who is "trickling" up to a load. Even the glacier-like-slow, over-priced e-scales that whirr and grind to do your trickling for you can only SHOW YOU a precision to within 1/2 tenth above to 1/2 tenth below - again, fine for larger powder charges, but not when every tenth is crucial. A balance beam scale can show you a half-grain over or under, and in fact, Lee's balance is capable of showing to the 1/20th grain, or 0.05 grain precision. E-scales need a moment to stabilize before they settle on the charge and even then I've seen my e-scale read 7.2, then 7.3 then back again while trying to decide which lie to reveal....just not good enough for serious work.

Then comes all the INTERNAL errors that have been discovered by users...where the internal circuitry was faulty or improperly calibrated and the end user has no way of knowing their scale is off - in some cases by enough to have catastrophic consequences. With a balance beam, once adjusted, you know it's right, and when trickling up, you can SEE the beam moving toward center. Plus, I can manually trickle with a balance scale much faster than any e-scale, plus the beam scale decides to turn off in mid-trickle because it wasn't being stimulated enough.

Anyway, I digress from the original topic. The Redding 10X is pricey, but highly accurate. I routinely load 5.7x28 and 5.56x25 dropping charges from it because I have several thousand rounds of validation that it's that good. Plus it never leaks.

 

[jmorris]

$806.39 delivery on Tuesday.

Send me your address and I'll give it to you. Maybe one day you can return the favor. I like that powered trickler.

Thanks, sent you a PM.

If you want To play with one I’ll send you the photo electric switch and a little gear motor you can connect to a trickler.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxPenA7c0hE

 

[jmorris]

This is the last one I put together.

 

[SBray]

I just gave a cursory check of my Redding “Benchrest” powder measure by filling it with some “PB” powder and cycling it. Within a few cycles it was dropping the exact amount of powder each and every time. I then turned the adjustment knob up and down to various positions. Each time I let it come to rest it threw the exact same amount each and every time!

Of course to give a more thorough check I should have also tried another powder that may not have the reputation of consistent drops. I didn’t want to spend anymore time on this cursory test.

Off the cuff, I’d say this Redding powder measure drops as good, or better than the Dillon powder measure.

Steve

 

[246203]

I just gave a cursory check of my Redding “Benchrest” powder measure by filling it with some “PB” powder and cycling it. Within a few cycles it was dropping the exact amount of powder each and every time. I then turned the adjustment knob up and down to various positions. Each time I let it come to rest it threw the exact same amount each and every time!

Of course to give a more thorough check I should have also tried another powder that may not have the reputation of consistent drops. I didn’t want to spend anymore time on this cursory test.

Off the cuff, I’d say this Redding powder measure drops as good, or better than the Dillon powder measure.

Steve

Rub it in.

 

[norton]

I have one. My first press was a Lyman turret. I later traded it to a guy here on GTR for something else.
My Turret came in a kit, with the 55. I had all kinds of issues with the measure, but looking back I think it was because I was new to reloading. I know have the Lyman 1200 DPS 3 which I use to check my throws on the Dillon powder measure, and the Lee on my Loadmaster.
I still have the 55. Anyone want it?

 

[Russ Not the Mod]

I have one. My first press was a Lyman turret. I later traded it to a guy here on GTR for something else.
My Turret came in a kit, with the 55. I had all kinds of issues with the measure, but looking back I think it was because I was new to reloading. I know have the Lyman 1200 DPS 3 which I use to check my throws on the Dillon powder measure, and the Lee on my Loadmaster.
I still have the 55. Anyone want it?

I will take the 55 Lyman powder measure. PM sent

 

[9x45]

I've had my Lyman #55 since the late 60's for precision rifle. I finish the charge with a hand trickler. I load .223REM on my 550, but use a GemPro $20 digital scale off amazon for 9mm.

 

[246203]

I'm truly happy for all who have good luck with their No.55. I hated mine.

Now I have the Harrell's and couldn't be happier. Same powder I was trying unsuccessfully with the Lyman meter almost to the grain every time with the Harrell's.

 

[WeeWilly]

By and large, how good or bad a powder drop is more about the powder than the drop. I have bought ridiculously expensive "bench rest" measures and cheapo Lee Perfect and they all drop about the same consistency wise, depending on the powder. That is, they all drop something like BLC2 great, big stick powders (or big flake powders) pretty poorly.

For handgun, they all work fine, close enough for handgun government work. For precision rifle, I am a drop and trickle guy all the time anyway, regardless of the powder.