Safety Issue: I learn about the Lyman 55 measure

KHornet

Well-Known Member
My first measure was a Redding, still have it, use it strictly for 2400. For all other powders I use an RCBS. I loved the results of 4759, but the pain of running it thru a measure was just that. I am somewhat impressed with the lee measures for use on the 4 hole presses, and have 4 of them. They are good, and pretty accurate with powders like red dot, unique, etc.
The little very fine powders do not work well, as they leak in use. Will no longer try to use the very fine powders in them.
Had a B&M, and like a fool sold or traded it, or something. For loading large cap mag ctgs they are the cats butt!

Paul
 

USSR

Finger Lakes Region of NY
For my personal reloading at home, I use Redding powder measures exclusively. I have a standard #3 measure set up with the handgun metering drum, and for rifle I use the BR-30 model. For teaching reloading I use the RCBS Uniflow powder measure simply because it is more affordible for my students should they decide to buy a powder measure. PITA to adjust, but works well.

Don
 

Pistolero

Well-Known Member
I use two RCBS Unifolws about as much as anything, other than the Dillon. More and more
the ChargeMaster is handling match rifle powder charges for Vintage Sniper and Swiss Rifle.

I bought a couple of B&M measures....."truck suspension spring", Ian don't exaggerate, it's actually a garage door spring. :D

I did a bit of testing on mine got poor to fair results and put it aside, esp with the ridiculous spring. I had heard good
things, esp with stick powders, which I use a good bit of. Now Jeff singing the praises again, I guess I will have to
dig it out and see if I can locate a loose nut a the outboard end of the operating handle. :rolleyes:

Bill
 

Bret4207

At the casting bench in the sky. RIP Bret.
I have a NIB Chargemaster, never had the tape cut. Also have an Arcadia Machine Tool automatic charger, it's been rebuilt by the factory ages ago and does work, but it taught me that I don't like auto measures.

ITS, if you engineer a measure, consider making it like a Belding & Mull, but make it usable, and don't use a truck suspension spring for a shuttle return when a ball point pen spring will do. Oh, and make it so it can be operated with one hand while the other does something useful like, oh, I don't know, maybe holding a primed casing under the drop tube?? Splendid concept is the B&M's shuttle reservoir, but really really lousy execution. If my old dinosaur RCBS Uniflow didn't work so well I'd throw them all out and make a proper one....my lathe came in today!

My B+M, which I love, uses separate adjustable charge tubes that you fill and then dump the powder into the case. Holding a primed case under the drop section would just result in a case full of powder. You must have a different design. I agree the spring is stouter than needed. Seems I've seen a few articles on replacing it over the years, but I've never gotten around to it.

The Lyman design does require making sure ALL the thumbscrews are tight. I find it a pain to adjust, but once locked in it seems to hold position well in my example.
 

Pistolero

Well-Known Member
Yes, mine has the external charge measuring tubes. I do need to find a more sane spring.
And test it again to see if it was just me. Too many folks telling me how good it is.

So, I just learned the lesson that everybody else had already learned. :D
Somebody's always late to the party.:rolleyes:

Bill
 

JSH

Active Member
Bill, I have found some powders like to be "double struck" so to speak. Insert tube, cycle the handle twice. I don't let it snap back! One old guy "demonstrated" for me a few years back, and that was how he did it. His charging handle had broken and he built a new one........
Jeff
 

Ian

Notorious member
Bret, I have one just like yours. The design as I see it needs a stationary, adjustable measuring tube with a ball valve in the bottom and interchangeable drop tubes that screw on below that. That way you could just hold a case up and swipe, twist, tap, done.

Bill, the B&M really is good, though quirky. It's the only thing I have that will throw American Select repeatably.
 

Maven

Well-Known Member
I don't know what you guys are doing to the Lyman #55, but I've never had a loosening/loss of adjustment with mine. However, I keep careful records of settings for each powder and charge I use and then throw said charges into my scale pan. Sometimes I get a setting that doesn't need weighing since it's so consistent, e.g., with WC 860 and IMR 4198, but they still go into the scale pan. Btw, my Forster Bench Rest (sic) powder measure isn't as reliable as the Ly. #55 and is much more difficult to adjust than the #55. Just saying'....
 

JWFilips

Well-Known Member
I would have to say there is an art to using a 55!
I can make it change a charge by a few tents when I need it to
I don' t use the clanger much but I have learned how to double or triple tap the hopper handle to alter or accurately set the charge ( I always weigh each charge to a tenth )
I do like them ( I have four) I also have three rcbs measures. I use the 55's for flake powders the rcbs can handle both flake and granular well
 

Intheshop

Banned
Got a another uniflow coming from epay.35$ to the door.

In my defense,had been on the lookout for another going back a year or so.Have some rifle loads that just don't change.

Wish I wasn't such a computer hack(pics? doing well to stay logged in?) made a beautiful powder measure carousel out of an aluminum 12" disc sander back plate.

It is cast with reinforced ribs on it's oft side so 7/8" holes had to be spaced accordingly.I check weigh all my rifle charges....not so much from a perceived accuracy gain other than as a gage twds more consistent tossed loads.Lots of long grained powder types,that have some crunch to them.If hazarding to guess,maybe 5-7,8 % of tosses need to be thrown back in hopper.Old Lyman?Ohous scale "M" something.It's the nicer one.

The system is pretty durn efficient.Rarely trickle either.The handguns are run through modified Lyman pistol measures with custom rotors.They are mated to Lee powder through expanders.Run on an ancient Lyman T mag press.Still using it as a SS,the turret is just another carousel of sorts.Handgun loads get a maglite visual of powder levels just before the seating operations.

In both cases(ha),rifles and handguns....batching the work sequences helps with consistency.Hand priming,tossing powder,then seating,finishing with crimp......which is darn important to me.I like crimped loads in just about everything.Even single shot TC's and Handi's.

So another uniflow was/is nice because it'll be set to a dedicated load.