Question for Belding & Mull powder measure users!
Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2018 8:51 pm
Gents,
In keeping with my powder theme questions here is another one! I have a Lyman Classic 55 BP measure, works fine but was looking for something with a bit more consistency. As Don said, use your RCBS charge master, very true but I wanted something a bit more in keeping with the BP "old timey" feel. Saw a lot a good press on the old B&M measures so started my search.
Saw one that looked like it was in decent shape on flea-bay, had the brass hopper with cap, window glass was there but chipped in one corner, no biggie as easy to replace and it had 2 micrometer tubes as a bonus. I asked the seller how many grains the tubes would hold and the reply was about 70. That was sufficient for my 45-70 loads so I set to work to win it. I did! Excited waiting for the new tool to arrive. Received it yesterday and first thing I did was look at the micrometer tubes. Both the same size, dropped the measure adjusting screw all the way down and both screws were graduated from 0 to 30, Bloody Hell! To say I was a bit peeved would have been an understatement! What the heck good is a 30 grain BP measure?
Went to bench and quickly poured in some Swiss 3F so see what they would actually hold. One holds around 58.6 gr and the other is around 59.4 with my quick check.
So my question is, what the heck are the 0 - 30 markings supposed to represent on the adjustable stem if not grains? There is not that much difference in density from 1F to 3F to account for that and I don't think that it would relate to smokeless as the measure looks quite old.
Having said that these tubes should work for most of my loads but I have already ordered a MVA magnum tube to give more capacity. May end up selling the original tubes.
As an aside, set up the B&M and cranked it down on a board to give it a quick go, was a bit stiff and ratchety so took it apart and got a sheet of 1,500 grit sand paper and gave the load block a few licks on all three slider sides and did the same to the corresponding cast iron sliders as there was some oxidization and surface speckle rust to remove. Then gave a couple coats of kiwi black shoe polish on all slider surfaces. Cleaned and oiled the return spring/guide rod and finally I greased the handles pivot screw and snugged it up as it was very loose. Pivot screw would back out with ever movement of lever so a spot of blue locktight was applied. Now smooth as glass and ready for action!
Cheers!
Wade
In keeping with my powder theme questions here is another one! I have a Lyman Classic 55 BP measure, works fine but was looking for something with a bit more consistency. As Don said, use your RCBS charge master, very true but I wanted something a bit more in keeping with the BP "old timey" feel. Saw a lot a good press on the old B&M measures so started my search.
Saw one that looked like it was in decent shape on flea-bay, had the brass hopper with cap, window glass was there but chipped in one corner, no biggie as easy to replace and it had 2 micrometer tubes as a bonus. I asked the seller how many grains the tubes would hold and the reply was about 70. That was sufficient for my 45-70 loads so I set to work to win it. I did! Excited waiting for the new tool to arrive. Received it yesterday and first thing I did was look at the micrometer tubes. Both the same size, dropped the measure adjusting screw all the way down and both screws were graduated from 0 to 30, Bloody Hell! To say I was a bit peeved would have been an understatement! What the heck good is a 30 grain BP measure?
Went to bench and quickly poured in some Swiss 3F so see what they would actually hold. One holds around 58.6 gr and the other is around 59.4 with my quick check.
So my question is, what the heck are the 0 - 30 markings supposed to represent on the adjustable stem if not grains? There is not that much difference in density from 1F to 3F to account for that and I don't think that it would relate to smokeless as the measure looks quite old.
Having said that these tubes should work for most of my loads but I have already ordered a MVA magnum tube to give more capacity. May end up selling the original tubes.
As an aside, set up the B&M and cranked it down on a board to give it a quick go, was a bit stiff and ratchety so took it apart and got a sheet of 1,500 grit sand paper and gave the load block a few licks on all three slider sides and did the same to the corresponding cast iron sliders as there was some oxidization and surface speckle rust to remove. Then gave a couple coats of kiwi black shoe polish on all slider surfaces. Cleaned and oiled the return spring/guide rod and finally I greased the handles pivot screw and snugged it up as it was very loose. Pivot screw would back out with ever movement of lever so a spot of blue locktight was applied. Now smooth as glass and ready for action!
Cheers!
Wade