RCBS Little Dandy Powder Measure

[Petrol & Powder]

I recently starting playing with reloading the 32 ACP. To say those casings are small is a bit of an understatement.
Because the powder volumes are so small, I decided to purchase a RCBS Little Dandy measure. I started off with home made powders scoops and I could have made that work but the little bit of sanity I have left was in jeopardy. The Little Dandy was a good decision.
Most of my serious loading for handgun cartridges is done on a Dillon 550 with dedicated tool heads set up for standard loads. However, rifle and some handgun stuff is still done on a single stage. A separate, conventional powder measure speeds up that work when using a single stage press.

I don't think the fixed volume rotors for the Little Dandy will ever replace the need for a conventional, adjustable powder measure BUT, I see the usefulness of that Little Dandy measure. I'm already contemplating acquiring additional rotors. I'm impressed with both the quality and usefulness of the Little Dandy. I will not be purchasing an entire set of rotors but I see a few in my future.

For years I looked at the Little Dandy with a bit of disdain. The cost of the unit plus only a handful of fixed volume rotors would quickly exceed the cost of a decent adjustable powder measure. I am now rethinking my stance.

For someone new to reloading or a person that only wanted 1 powder measure - I would still recommend an ADJUSTABLE, conventional type powder measure. The adjustable measures are far more flexible and a better value over the long run.
HOWEVER, as a tool to SUPPLEMENT an adjustable measure or for special needs - the RCBS Little Dandy has some real merit.

Occasionally an Old Dog CAN learn something new.

 

[Rick H]

I have a Redding BR measure for most of my work (and an old Herter's micro adjustable in reserve), a couple of Lee's disc measures but find the Little Dandy handy. (sorry just couldn't resist)
I picked up two of them off of Ebay over the years. I have 15 or 16 rotors and find them simple to use, accurate and handy to set up and use for small runs. It only takes moments to change rotors and powders.

Best of all, one of my L'Dandy's had a cracked powder reservoir, a cobbled up homemade rotor screw and was missing the screw in powder funnels (case guides). I made a call to RCBS and despite being on lockdown and working from home got a box with all new replacement parts in the mail for free. I told the guy I bought the thing used and was willing to pay.....no matter they had me up and running in about 2 weeks at no charge. It is very hard to beat RCBS's customer service.

 

[Glaciers]

I've use the Little Dandy since they first came out. My first measure was and still is a Lyman 55, but the Little Dandy was a welcome addition. I also bought all the rotors at that time. Glad I did, the prices today would make me a little hesitant. At some point I picked up a couple of UniFlo, not sure where they came from, but...

I find the Little Dandy to be a great unit, mounted in a stand or in your hand filling a loading block of cartridges.

 

[Reloader762]

I love my Little Dandy, I bought mine in the mid 80s when I first started reloading for my handguns and many of those rotors threw charge weight that were very accurate loads with the cast bullets I was using at the time and still do today. I have about eighteen rotors now that I use with both pistol and rifle loads for cast lead bullets and I made myself a quick reference chart using LibreOffice Excel to keep a track of what rotors throw which loads I find most useful, for everything else I use my RCBS DUO Measurer.

 

[Petrol & Powder]

The Little Dandy will never replace my Dillon measures or other powder measures but it is a good addition.

I'm impressed with the simplicity and accuracy of that little measure.

And I agree, RCBS customer service is second to none.

 

[Charles Graff]

Ed Harris has posted a chart of Little Dandy rotors and their uses in various cartridges with various bullet types, weights and velocities. Very helpful. I use my LD quite often.

 

[L Ross]

Over the years I picked up a couple of Little Dandies and I think I have almost all of the rotors. I like them a lot and especially the uniformity with small charges.

 

[Rockydoc]

Some members here have 3D printers. I wonder if Little Dandy rotors could be printed?

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

I love my Little Dandy, I bought mine in the mid 80s when I first started reloading for my handguns and many of those rotors threw charge weight that were very accurate loads with the cast bullets I was using at the time and still do today. I have about eighteen rotors now that I use with both pistol and rifle loads for cast lead bullets and I made myself a quick reference chart using LibreOffice Excel to keep a track of what rotors throw which loads I find most useful, for everything else I use my RCBS DUO Measurer.

View attachment 21318

Mirror story here. Now I have three of them. I do like a d use them regularly.
Rotors are costly and can be modified both making smaller by filling a cavatt and larger by reaming smaller ones. I have bought a bunch from folks selling even when they duplicate mine as Ill modify. (Costs allowing)

CW

 

[Charles Graff]

The Little Dandy will never replace my Dillon measures or other powder measures but it is a good addition.

I'm impressed with the simplicity and accuracy of that little measure.

And I agree, RCBS customer service is second to none.

Lord have mercy! He said the "D" word!

 

[Dimner]

I recently starting playing with reloading the 32 ACP. To say those casings are small is a bit of an understatement.
Because the powder volumes are so small, I decided to purchase a RCBS Little Dandy measure. I started off with home made powders scoops and I could have made that work but the little bit of sanity I have left was in jeopardy. The Little Dandy was a good decision.
Most of my serious loading for handgun cartridges is done on a Dillon 550 with dedicated tool heads set up for standard loads. However, rifle and some handgun stuff is still done on a single stage. A separate, conventional powder measure speeds up that work when using a single stage press.

I don't think the fixed volume rotors for the Little Dandy will ever replace the need for a conventional, adjustable powder measure BUT, I see the usefulness of that Little Dandy measure. I'm already contemplating acquiring additional rotors. I'm impressed with both the quality and usefulness of the Little Dandy. I will not be purchasing an entire set of rotors but I see a few in my future.

For years I looked at the Little Dandy with a bit of disdain. The cost of the unit plus only a handful of fixed volume rotors would quickly exceed the cost of a decent adjustable powder measure. I am now rethinking my stance.

For someone new to reloading or a person that only wanted 1 powder measure - I would still recommend an ADJUSTABLE, conventional type powder measure. The adjustable measures are far more flexible and a better value over the long run.
HOWEVER, as a tool to SUPPLEMENT an adjustable measure or for special needs - the RCBS Little Dandy has some real merit.

Occasionally an Old Dog CAN learn something new.

Timely post.

I too was looking for a way to load my little 32acp cases. I've put it in my online cart a few times. Just never went through with it.


And to the comment about 3D printing. Yes, technically a rotor could be made, but the main type of plastic that a 3D printer uses, may be too static-ey

However, if someone wants to let me borrow a spare rotor and or a little dandy, I can put something together. I'm handy with the cad, design and printing. But I don't own the dandy.

 

[Petrol & Powder]

I can't take any credit, Outpost75 steered me in the right direction.

As for making rotors for the Little Dandy, I don't think plastic would be the appropriate material.
Steel or cast iron would be a far better choice. I don't think it would be difficult to make the part with a lathe and some other tools but at $12 each I don't think you would save much by making your own. If the rotors were $20-$30 each I might change my tune.

I also agree that modifying an existing rotor could allow for even more flexibility (you would have to mark the modified rotor but that's no big deal).

 

[Petrol & Powder]

Some members here have 3D printers. I wonder if Little Dandy rotors could be printed?

The rotor is nothing more than a steel rod turned to a precise diameter with a blind hole drilled partially through one side to form a cavity. The depth and diameter of that hole determines the volume of powder that rotor will disburse. There's a cut located near one end that a set screw rides in. That cut limits the rotation of the rotor and secures the rotor in the measure.
And in addition to those features, one end of the rod is knurled so that it can easily be turned.

It's not a complex part (which is one of the real strengths of the design).
Frankly, unless you just couldn't get rotors or you wanted a specific volume from one, I think the $12 asking price from RCBS isn't horrible. Particularly if you only need a couple. I guess if I had a lot of time on my hands, some machine tools and some stock, it would be a fun project.

At some point the advantages of a conventional adjustable powder measure exceed the benefits of the simple "Little Dandy".

 

[dale2242]

Never trust the LD rotors to through the exact charge that they say they will.
Throw and weigh at least 10 charges from each rotor you use to see what charge you are getting.
Each of use will turn/twist the rotor differently so the charge you get from a given rotor may be slightly different than what I get.

 

[Petrol & Powder]

Never trust the LD rotors to through the exact charge that they say they will.
Throw and weigh at least 10 charges from each rotor you use to see what charge you are getting.
Each of use will turn/twist the rotor differently so the charge you get from a given rotor may be slightly different than what I get.

Agreed.
The throw weight listed for my powder/rotor combination was pretty close to the actual weight delivered. There's no powder measure that I would trust without a scale to verify the throw weight.
The chart will give you a starting point and then it's up to you to proceed from there.

 

[Charles Graff]

Pacific made for a long time, pistol powder measures that took fixed charge rotors. They worked just like the LD. but not as well made or precise. For a while, I collected the Pacific measures and rotors and then one day, it dawned on me that these, while interesting, are inferior to the LD in every way. I sold the whole collection to one buyer on ebay. Lost a little money in the deal, but have not regretted the sale.

 

[Matt_G]

My Father in Law passed away this past November.
I got some of his reloading stuff after making sure one of the grand kids didn't want it.
(They took quite a bit of his stuff but not all of it...)

A Little Dandy and a dozen rotors are some of the items I brought home with me.
Just like P&P, I had always eyeballed a Little Dandy but just couldn't bring myself to actually pull the trigger on one.
I look forward to using this thing and I will think of Lowell every time I do.

 

[Otony]

I have three different models, the RCBS Little Dandy, a Lyman Accumeasure, and two variations of the Pacific, the second of which is marked Bair but is otherwise identical to the Pacific.

Out of the “three”, I would say the RCBS and the Lyman are the equal of each other in terms of fit and finish, as well as consistency. I might give the nod to the Lyman overall, but that is probably because I have every rotor they offered, plus a few custom rotors, whereas I have but a handful of Dandy rotors. Edited to add that I also prefer the Accumeasure because the rotors are brass rather than steel, and seem to have a smoother feel in operation. YMMV, apples vs oranges, blah blah woof woof……

The Pacific/Bair units work, but are not as “tight“ as the other brands. I am loathe to get rid of them however, because I blundered into a veritable treasure trove of rotors for them, to include all the factory units plus about a dozen custom made rotors. There are so many useful possibilities it would be a shame to follow Charles’ lead and send them on down the road, but I can certainly understand his decision to do so.

Like many here I’ve noticed, I seem to have an addiction for equipment acquisition. There are six other “conventional“ measures to hand, but I can stop any time, honest! It is just when I see a bargain I’m weak. A Lyman 55 showed up this week for the grand sum of $15, it is need of a good scrubbing but is otherwise perfect. I don’t even care for the 55, but come on, 15 bucks, lol!

 

[alamogunr]

I've got 2 Little Dandy measure bodies and all of the rotors. I also have an adjustable rotor. So far I haven't used it but it looks like it would be handy to get an exact measure of just about any powder except those that require extremely small charges(Bullseye?)

I do like others and weigh 10 charges to calculate an average. I sometimes do that twice if I want to be absolutely sure. The RCBS chart is not always right on the mark. I've got one surplus powder that has a burn rate similar to Bullseye that I'm trying to use up. Rotors #6, #7 and #8 have worked so far for small quantities of .38 Spec and .45 ACP.

 

[JustJim]

I've never cared for the Little Dandy (or the very similar measure from Pacific/Bair/Hornady), but I'm a fan of the Pacific/Bair/Hornady measures with interchangable inserts. I've always been able to find a rotor/powder combination for my most-used pistol loads. Heavy loads still get metered out with one of my rifle measures using the small drum, weighed on a scale, with any adjustment done with a trickler.