Harrell's Powder Measure: Better than Redding 3BR?

[Krogen]

I've had a Redding 3BR powder measure for a long, long time. No surprise to many, it's much better with finer grained powders than stick powders. With stick powders, I throw an undercharge and trickle to weight. I use a Dandy Trickler now instead of the old manual trickler of Ye Olde Days. I dallied with an RCBS chargemaster but I found it was glacially slow and on top of that, it lies to me. The dang thing will overrun and still claim it hits the mark. Another subject for another thread.

So... I got a wild hair and started thinking about a Harrell's measure. Historically, benchresters like them, but I know some obsessive long range benchresters who weigh every charge to within 0.01 gr. OCD perhaps. It doesn't matter what they use for the bulk charge when they top it off on a scale. For my purposes, either trickling or throwing to within 0.1 gr is sufficient.

My question to the group: Is the Harrell's measure more precise than my old Redding 3BR? Or would I be wasting $300 and finding I still need to trickle stick powders?

 

[rockquarry]

I've been using Redding powder measures (various models including the 3BR) for more than forty years. The newest of the four is more than thirty years old. I bought a Harrell measure not long after they were introduced. There was one, maybe two versions at that time. Perhaps good measures, but the one I had offered nothing over the Redding measures. I sold it.

 

[505Gibbs]

When I was reloading[don't anymore], I used the Harrell's for pistol only[the 'cup' was sized for smaller loads] and I liked it. FWIW

 

[Rick H.]

Like the OP I decided to give a Harrell's Pistol powder measure a try just for the speed and ease of charging my pistol loads. Before doing so I tried another premium name brand pistol powder measure and was really disappointed in it and sent it back. The Harrell's pistol powder measure works ok, but it most certainly has a preference for the right powder. To get the best from the Harrell's measure I had to develop a trick to dropping the powder. It involves a kind of double tap on the lever arm. I kept the Harrell's measure and use it more than anyother measure I have, but it does have its quirks. It took me a few days of use to really get comfortable with it. If there is any little hitch in lever movement I check that drop just to make sure it is good to go. The larger the powder drop the fewer issues I have with it. I have never had a massive overcharge with it, but bulky powder likes to plug up the port in the measure, hence the double tap in delivery.

Rick H.

 

[rockquarry]

Like the OP I decided to give a Harrell's Pistol powder measure a try just for the speed and ease of charging my pistol loads. Before doing so I tried another premium name brand pistol powder measure and was really disappointed in it and sent it back. The Harrell's pistol powder measure works ok, but it most certainly has a preference for the right powder. To get the best from the Harrell's measure I had to develop a trick to dropping the powder. It involves a kind of double tap on the lever arm. I kept the Harrell's measure and use it more than anyother measure I have, but it does have its quirks. It took me a few days of use to really get comfortable with it. If there is any little hitch in lever movement I check that drop just to make sure it is good to go. The larger the powder drop the fewer issues I have with it. I have never had a massive overcharge with it, but bulky powder likes to plug up the port in the measure, hence the double tap in delivery.

Rick H.

You mention a good point. All measures have quirks; most are minor and can be easily dealt with (sort of like all chronographs have quirks).

 

[taz666]

A Lee auto drum will set you back about 40 bucks and I find mine to be scary accurate.

 

[rockquarry]

A Lee auto drum will set you back about 40 bucks and I find mine to be scary accurate.

I'm not familiar with "scary" accurate, but I used a Lee Auto Drum some years back and was surprised at the consistency.

 

[Krogen]

Thanks for the insight, guys. I think I'll stick with my old Redding. If it ain't broken, don't fix it. Or as a buddy says, "If it ain't broken, fix it until it is."

 

[venomballistics]

I'm not familiar with "scary" accurate, but I used a Lee Auto Drum some years back and was surprised at the consistency.

Same ... It's a sleeper

 

[rockquarry]

I don't know what the Harrell or the Redding costs these days; maybe get one of each and use them for a while and then offer your comments. You'll be at least a semi-expert....

 

[Rick H.]

I can only speak for myself and my experience. The powder measure I sent back was a Redding pistol unit. I load under 3.0 grains for some pistol loads and the Redding didn't work as well as the Harrell's at that low end. Of course the Harrell's wasn't problem free either, but it did do better overall. The type of powder used really plays into this though. The other issue with the Harrell's is repeatability. It's not so easy to go back to a desired powder charge. It requires readjustment whenever you change powder or charge. The markings on the unit will get you close, but then you still have to fine tune it. Once set for the most part the Harrell's will keep within a tenth of a grain, but I check all my powder drops on a scale. Yes it is a bunch of extra work, but it is worth it to me. Also the Harrell's works much better when dropping heavier powder charges.

If I want the utmost in powder drop accuracy I use my Auto Trickler by itself. It is a bit slower but it is spot on accurate. I only use the Auto Trickler by itself when I am testing new pistol loads. It just doesn't get more accurate than the Auto Trickler. If it goes over or under charge it is only by 1 hundredth of a grain and not a tenth.

Rick H.