TESTED: RCBS Uniflow III Bench Powder Measure

[@JamesClark-v4b]

Been loading for fifty yr still love to see other ways still learning love you're videos

[@briandelong6056]

Some things to improve accuracy of these types of measures. Consistency of operation is key. 1. Switch the handle so you fill the drum when swinging up and dump when swinging down. This doesn’t allow the drum to fill with bumps or movement the of your table/bench. 2. When swinging the handle up and down, tap the stop twice, which will provide more consistent fill of the drum. 3. Install a baffle as the weight of the powder column effects drum fill. 4. With use, the operation of these measures will become more smooth, improving consistency. My 20 and 30 year old Uniflow measures operate like they run on ball bearings.

[@markking5711]

You are So Right!

[@AtheHD1]

He's just flexing on us with that 8lb jug of 4350.

[@dundonrl]

I need to get another jug of it, using 97 grains at a time in my Ultra Mag it goes fast!

[@Gunners_Mate_Guns]

He'd have me drooling if that were IMR 4831, my powder of choice for my .30-06.

[@tpalshadow]

Anti-static wipes, aka used dryer sheet :)

[@TeensierPython]

They work better if they are used? I’ve tried with new before but only did it to a powder pan and it didn’t seem to make a difference

[@mohammedcohen]

...I still have the powder measure I got with the RCBS Ammo Crafter's Kit (IIRC for ca. 40 bux) in 1972...bought the kit and my Rockchucker while I was stationed in Germany (Nov '71 - Jul '74).

[@jimjones9239]

Thank you for your videos, this one in particular, I just got started reloading and was using the little spoons with a digital scale. Was that tedious, I got me this very Power measure, and what a difference!!! I reloaded 223 with LC brass, Remington primers, 55gr with Varget and 77gr (followed your video on cloning the Black hills with Vihtavouri N140 but used Nosler bullets). I can't believe how quickly this powder measuring tool goes.

[@corymallo581]

The uniflow II is my only plinking round measure. Drops super consistent with cfe black.

[@williebulletman5217]

RCBS has always put out great items

[@CplSkiUSMC]

It gets so much better with RCBS. Get the small cylinder for charges under about 50 grains and the hopper baffle which provides consistent weight and flow to the cylinder inlet. Charges are even more consistent than what Gavin got. Graphite also makes an excellent lubricant for the drum. I took a carpenter's pencil and essentially "colored" the drum and body surfaces to avoid loose graphite and the result was smooth as butter.

[@PatriotPaulUSA]

good tip ! Thanks

[@PatriotPaulUSA]

Ooops I forgot today we have to call it a "pro tip" Ha ha

[@donbenson5292]

I use Redding powder throwers specific to pistol, 223 -BR30 and 50 for 308 cases. For big magnums a Hornady with a custom made meter plug. I always use 50 rd wood load blocks. Spray static eliminater around the bench and wipe the plastic with a dryer sheet. Keep the measures clean. Repetitive consistant movement in charging. I almost waste my time checking by spot weighing them. Gives you good confidence when every one thrown with ball powder weighs the same. Stick powders pretty close. Like the speed you can charge 50 rounds. As always great video

[@TheDoctorbob12]

This is a very education video. I love Ultimate Reloader videos. I have 2 of the older uniflow measures I find buy adding the powder baffle and the micrometer it will make this a much more accurate and user friendly measure.

[@SA-lr1sf]

Their manual powder measure is much faster than their $700 digital powder measure. The single most important feature of their Uniflow is that you can drop the powder directly into the case and save time.

[@DimaProk]

RCBS uniflow is what I got after my first Lee "perfect" powder measure, now I have 3 including competition model I picked up on Midway on "clearance" few years ago around $90. I was just blown away after Lee how much nicer it was although I think it was a little easier to dispense stick powders on Lee but overall it such a big difference that Lee has been collecting dust for years! Years later I bought Lee auto drum when it came out and was not impressed, it also has been collecting dust. The best thing about RCBS Uniflow is if you load small cartridges like 357 mag, 223, 300 blk, etc., you can use small drum to improve accuracy. I also have micrometer on my competition model but found to be of little value.

[@glockparaastra]

Love my Hornady powder measure. Consistent. RCBS is the best.

[@russellkeeling4387]

These results seem pretty normal. My powders always measure more accurately the smaller the granulation. For larger granulation powder I always weigh each load. For pistol powders I weigh every fifth or tenth load. I've used an old Lee powder measure for years. It still throws very accurate loads.

[@derrickwilson8549]

Love to see you do this test with the Lee Perfect Powder Measure.

[@TheGoatMumbler]

This was very informative. Especially the pre cleaning part. Thanks.

[@gavintrousdale7585]

I have a RCBS powder measure that is over 40 years old . Not been used very much at all. I have recently dug out all of my gear ,got it cleaned up. Finally got every thing ,and myself back in the grove today. Loaded 50 38 special. So that was not a very big charge, I weight each throw. Almost all throws were within 3 hundreds of a grain. In my experiance that is a good degree of consistenty in my way of thinking. Would like your opinion. Needless to say I do not have your class of tools. Enjoy you viedos very much.

[@terryspooner128]

Always pertinent best practices.We always learn something. Even experienced reloaders can improve watching Gavin.

[@mikehtec1916]

The old intro waa much better!

[@guardianminifarm8005]

Great job. Very encouraging info. That makes the ball powders more attractive.

[@ErikS308]

Set up the drum so it drops the powder on the upstroke and fills while the handle is down.

[@bigb4894]

What advantage is gained by this?

[@Aereaux]

I like this. Up you are filling then down and it comes out. Thanks.

[@ErikS308]

@@bigb4894 the powder settling has more time so it can be more consistent with less than ideal powders. The idle state of the measure is a full drum instead of empty.

[@metalifann42]

Let me guess. Gavin loves it because it's free to him and a paid marketing program!!!

[@chriskloster13]

Just one add after another these days

[@Russell-1]

Chris & Chris - I won’t dispute your thoughts & there certainly is an advertisement (non-critical) side to the information but on the other hand Gavins videos show enough for me to make my own mind up & they are very well produced (unlike the majority of shooting related content on KZbin). I welcome the chance to see equipment being put together & operated.

[@machinist7230]

You might want to consider doing testing against a "gold standard" measure like a Harrell. Something that offers 90% of the repeatability at 50% of the price would make great video.

[@Truth_Liberty_and_Insaf_forAll]

Great video - It would be nice if you showed how to use the powder drain tube - As a new reloader, I've certainly dropped more powder on the floor than in my casings - i hate cleaning up powder!

[@doghousedon1]

After looking at a lot of vids on powder measures, I see no significant difference in any of their performances. .14 is awsome but still isn't good enough for this bloke's precision ammo. A guy has to use a trickler for that so any powder measurer will do. And just how much powder is .01 grains anyway? A half flake or ball? The measurer I still use the most is over a hundred years old (an old Redding). One doesn't need new fancy equipment to put together quality ammo. Grampa was doing it over a century ago. Love your bench. Thanks for the vid.

[@TheRealPontificator]

Kind of surprised that a powder baffle must be purchased separately. I consider a baffle to be a must.

[@Gunners_Mate_Guns]

Definitely My Uniflow II came with the baffle, so I don't know what exactly RCBS is thinking by not including it with their next gen model.

[@TheVictorOfTheDIY]

Don’t you have to be able to get powder before you can measure it?

[@SavageVoyageur]

I have powder, brass, and bullets. Now if I could just find unicorn farts, aka primers.

[@SA-lr1sf]

Could you please zoom more on the object you are working on? It's hard to see what you are doing. Thanks

[@Semper_3.14]

Great video and assessment of the measure. I am truly jealous of your three 8# jugs of powder. Those are the exact ones I’m hunting for. I am not quick enough on these retail websites.

[@DF-DefendFREEDOM]

Great demo

[@454Casul]

Sucks that you have to buy the baffle separately. I have one of these, it works great , but needs a baffle, that you can pickup at Sportsmans Warehouse. In my experience, these powder measures dont work so well with extruded powders,but work great with smaller particle powders.

[@harmeyrandolph5044]

I watch all you videos and I love your reloading bench. Where Can I get one?

[@44240xtp]

I got to get a uniflow 3. I love my Lyman 55 . I know how to make it sing. It is discontinued. Very sad over that. I need a back up . This may be the one . I'm not big on aluminum and plastic for powder measure design.

[@Gunners_Mate_Guns]

The wide variability in the extruded powder throws is one of the biggest reasons for the advent of the electronic powder measures. If you're loading spherical or most (most everything but the cornflakes 700-X or 800-X...yuck!), a standard measure will do OK when handled properly.

[@velocity550]

It didn't look like you used a baffle. I found all my powder measures to be more accurate with a baffle.

[@russellguyton3109]

My Uniflow III was just delivered from RCBS. I was wondering about ordering the baffle, which was not in stock at time of order. Thanks for the heads up. I will be buying a baffle for mine soon.

[@terrycostakis6284]

@@russellguyton3109 I can’t believe that RCBS charges extra for a baffle

[@DimaProk]

@@terrycostakis6284 Yes, that part is lame. I had to make my own years ago, there are templates online, I just used cookie tin box and pair of scissors.

[@Johnny-jr2lq]

Gavin you gotta get a cool knife brother. I know the old box cutter gets the job done. But you can do it with some style to my friend. And I know that Bench made or Spyderco or microtech will gladly hook up

[@Russell-1]

Someone opening boxes with the sort of knife you suggest seems somewhat pretentious.

[@Johnny-jr2lq]

@@Russell-1 to each there own I just feel like Gavin deserves a cool knife

[@jeremys8360]

If you can get a good load with a power thrower like this, you’ve got a really good load

[@harvey604journeyman8]

Why no data shown for handgun load in the smaller quantities of fast burn rates like (2-7 grains). RCBS advertises the uniflow 3 as a pistol/rifle compatible accurate metering powder measure?

[@stevegee218]

Is the drum the same size as the old Uniflow? Could you change out the drum as an upgrade?

[@davidunderwood3605]

Good video. I'm really wondering if you would get even better results if you did not dump your powder back in or if you had a baffle in the bottom of the hopper?

[@sidey2368]

Not so much better maybe, but I think more difference. He is not simulating actual loading conditions and drop charges by continually dumping the powder back in. I'd be way more interested in a real test, where he kept dumping charges without adding the powder back in the hopper. I'd also like to see if an added baffle made much, if any difference.

[@upnorthreloading2214]

Pretty closely mirrors my experience with the UPM-III, although my "hard powder to meter" was IMR 4955. After running through about ten throws to normalize, I still got about a 0.4gr spread, which I considered very good. EDIT: Even though you already did a video on the Lyman Brass Smith powder measure, any chance you plan on putting it through this test?

[@johngregory4801]

An excellent demonstration of how to test one's own equipment for accuracy and repeatability! I just gave your channel and overview- did I miss where you put a Redding 30BR or such as through as thorough a test? Thinking of matching up a T-7 with a Versa Pak to begin my reloading adventure and would prefer to not shoot myself in the foot from the outset.

[@Z33Garage]

Can it be cleaned with brake parts cleaner?

[@G5Hohn]

So for stick power, you might as well stick with a cheap powder drop because you’ll have to dump and trickle anyway.

[@trentmitche11]

Test something like Viht N570 or Retumbo instead of H1000. The kernels of H4350 and H1000 are practically identical.

[@ggibson511960]

My ancient RCBS Uniflow chops, grinds and jams on stick powders like 4350. The baked on enamel finish in the drop chute has gathered residue to the point that it bridges powder. No longer trust it to not bridge and dump bonus charges. Don’t see anything here that would improve on the old design. Next.

[@mrocksalt]

Would really like to see you do a shootout between the rebel and the summit. I have an old rock hacker and it’s time to upgrade and I really like both but I want the one that makes the most accurate bullets. Thanks! You are awesome!,

[@PC-vq5ud]

Flake powders really need the optional baffle for the best consistency possible.

[@michaelbutler4961]

Would you be willing to do a powder measure comparison of different brands all at one time using all the same steps on each one? Looking back you have used cheap scales and very pricy scales to check the consistency. It's really not fair to the different brands to use different scales and test methods over time. I really enjoyed your 14 single-stage presses any chance you will be doing a turret press comparison?

[@richardmorris158]

You used stick and ball powder, but how does it work with flake powder?

[@Gunners_Mate_Guns]

I have decent results loading .45 Colt with Unique. All I can tell you for sure is that you must avoid 700-X and 800-X like the plague. Then again, only a reloader desperate for powder would ever buy either of those; and yes, I was there once, and I hated having to resort to it. I wound up having to hand-weigh each load because even my beloved PACT automatic powder measure wouldn't throw anything without over 0.5 grain variation, unacceptable for .45 Auto, for which I was assembling 1K rounds for a friend at the time.

[@hilltopper600]

LET'S DO A VIEW OF THEM ALL!

[@RobActiveShooterEngh]

What scale pan is that? I cannot find that style anywhere to buy on their own. The one I have like it came with my RCBS scale, but the new pans are different and not as good.

[@johndrach7932]

What is the dry lube you put in the hopper called?

[@AppalachianFMJ]

Graphite, I believe.

[@vitadelicatus]

Can you choose which drum you want. Large or small.

[@Rico11b]

So, from all of these powder measure droppers on the market today, which one is the most accurate with something like H4350 powder? it'd be awesome if you did a video comparing ALL of the powder measure droppers available to day to determine their metering accuracy.

[@juanislas4804]

Hey Gavin what would be the best way to drill a hole through the side of the wind guard of the A&D? I got one coming in this Friday and am planning on it to use a trickle.

[@comodice905]

Its like it makes the powder right in hopper

[@repairfreak]

Hello Gavin, Does this powder measure come with the small or larger charging drum, or did RCBS do away with the 2 sizes, for a one does all? A very respected source on youtube swears by better accuracy using the smaller size charging drum that does most all rifle cartridges. He states that the unit ships with the larger size charge drum, which he himself would feel would be more like Magnum size verses the small which he would call Normal size. Your thoughts sir? T.I.A.

[@TheRealPontificator]

One does it all. No need for separate large and small rotor "innards".

[@sidneywhite749]

Does this dispenser use a baffle?

[@joeperino]

Hi, I am watching with big interest your videos, very great. I have a question for you: do you have test experience with Vihtavuori 3N38 ? I need to know what is the better powder measure for my Dillon XL 650. The Dillon powder measure with my powder doesn't work. When I set the powder measure on 8,8 grains, I have a difference from 8,6 to 9,1 grains. It is impossibile to reload rounds for my open gun. Can you help me to find the best powder measure for a Dillon progressive press using VV 3N38? Thank You. Joe Perino

[@jeffreyhershey5754]

I've noticed that my experience with powder measures is they don't throw extruded powder well

[@jamesmccullough3716]

What is your opinion on the powder baffle for the uniflows. Is it required? Does it change consistency for small pistol loads or large rifle loads?

[@Gunners_Mate_Guns]

I consider it essential.

[@jamnow9779]

Dryer sheet for static wipes

[@THEMIMICL]

Side question, will you be doing a video series on the Dillion shotshell reloader?

[@swarmar3085]

Gavin, can you trickle on the A&D EJ-54D2 scale?

[@kengray5793]

And you can’t get one ANYWHERE...!!! Come on RCBS get on the ball.

[@johnrmonroe3946]

Just subscribed awesome channel thus far! Question, have any video's on loading Weatherby 338 Winchester Magnum? Thanks John

[@kraigtomlinson2201]

LOVE the channel! Where did you get you steel T-Track? I’ve seen lots of aluminum brands, but I suspect that it wouldn’t be durable enough in the long run.

[@OlyArmsAR15]

Kraig, he made it himself. It’s actually a piece of square tube that was milled out on the horizontal. He was talking about selling them at one point of time, but I haven’t heard much about it after that. It’s been a couple years.

[@easternWashington.]

I wonder how a flake powder like Unique would do.

[@bobs1728]

Was thinking the same thing.

[@CplSkiUSMC]

Use the small cylinder and hopper baffle, and while not as precise as ball powder, it still does a nice job. I use that setup for loading pistol.

[@PC-vq5ud]

Unique never is consistent in any measure. Strange how it always shoots so well.

[@Gunners_Mate_Guns]

I have good luck with Unique using the small cylinder and the powder baffle. My variation is right at 0.1 - 0.2 grains at most with that when throwing for .45 Colt.

[@paulhamilton5634]

When using rhis type of meaauring device which is metal on metal with stick powder, what are the chances of ignition due to friction when some of the grains are sheared by the drum?

[@Gunners_Mate_Guns]

I have near heard of that happening to anyone ever. However, RCBS makes a different powder measure specifically for black powder basically like this one that uses a bronze drum and rotor with an aluminum reservoir and drop tube to avoid static or sparking.

[@CFurnace-72]

How about magnum rifle cartridge load charges?

[@scottmillett9862]

Sorry, 5 months late to the party, but I wanted to share a 'best practice' I've developed that significantly reduces the number and extent of those frustrating low charges, improving SD's and ES's when throwing charges. For a couple decades I've been using an old original series Uniflow with a hopper baffle and the vernier adjuster. When I bring the metering cavity up to the hopper for a fill, I bring the drum BACK about 1/2" on the handle, and then give it a good solid tap back to the top, three times (tap...tap...tap). It doesn't take more than a second. My data shows that it notably improves SD and ES. With ball powders like 2230 and 2460, I can get ES under 0.1 gn - I can't wait to get my hands on some Staball 6.5! Also, long/skinny stick powders and pistol charges with flake powders used to VERY occasionally hang up in the metering cavity and fail to fully dump out, so I started doing the same (tap...tap...tap) at the bottom (dump out) of the stroke, and haven't had any more of those short charges in years.

[@jamesallison8089]

When are you going to do another rifle build

[@livincincy4498]

Can this be case activated like the older version ?

[@kirbyshepherd]

Send me some of that H1000

[@daniel3188]

How do you manage to dissipate static on the powder measure? Especially in the summer (with A/c) it's horrible in my reloading room.

[@Gunners_Mate_Guns]

Rub a dryer sheet on the surfaces that build up static.

[@wayneschenk5512]

Shouldn’t you let the powder empty to see the effect of weight.

[@Michael_303]

Hey would you please consider mirroring your KZbin content to the Odyssey/LBRY platform?

[@Defofone]

Wow-music comes in loud!

[@rickm4295]

Will alcohol work to clean a powder measure?

[@Ultimatereloader]

Yes

[@rickm4295]

@@Ultimatereloader Wow, thanks a lot

[@maxdeerp]

Every time I use this measure the powder drops and a bunch of grains “splash” out of the same style scale pan. Can anyone tell me what I’m doing wrong?

[@l800x8]

You can hold the pan flush to the spout and lower it slowly after the all the powder has dropped into the pan. Or, drop the charge into a deep container and then transfer to the powder pan.

[@kevinokeefe7796]

My powder measure had been boxed for a few years due to moving a few times. I pulled everything out to start setting up again finally and I have surface rust on the drums. What would you suggest using to clean them up. Thanks for any help keep up the good work

[@TeensierPython]

I have their black powder measure. Couldn’t get it to work. Don’t know why.

[@Russell-1]

Thanks for that informative comment.

[@SC-us1hs]

Did you plug it in?

[@stevenmarcus2709]

Wow, my Uniflow 3 definitely has a dimensional problem. I get 2 grain swings and it’s completely untrustworthy

[@cpfpv6410]

this mirrors my experience with ball powder vs stick powder in the RCBS uniflow two. I struggled to get stick powder to be as accurate.

[@VmaxBR549]

Where is your powder flow baffle ??? Why no full hopper vs empty hopper values ??? (;-) TP

[@Breal191]

Powdered what?

[@comodice905]

I had to beat drum in with hammer

[@michaelmiller5714]

When discussing initial degreasing you might want to tell your viewers how to clean the plastic hopper. Stay away from brake/carb cleaners. Don't ask me how I know. Let's just say I know someone.....

[@scottmillett9862]

Oh, you mean 'reloaders' paint remover'?

[@Spoton1shot]

Am I the only one getting binding during the dispense stroke from cutting/binding of the powder grains?

[@BigShotsEric]

ok this is driving me nuts ..on my uniflow III the screws keep working loose ..what am I doing wrong here ...I installed the same as you did but the brass screw on the side comes loose and then the stem comes loose and after just 50 rounds it will have changed by more then a full grain of powder ...ya know I left such a good review of the rcbs rock chucker kit I bought but ...im kinda going from this was great to ..this is kinda crap .. I have moved on to not using most of the items in the kit ....im almost to the point of just seeing if I can return it now ... then you try and look online and every rcbs guide I find are older versions ...why did they put this brass screw on the side of the powder measure

[@Greyzonecompliant]

I have the old rcbs uniflow. And its useless ... When you dont have any powder in it.

[@lanceschul]

I always like the videos but do you ever review and publish anything you don’t like? Makes me skeptical of your impartiality.

[@montaego]

Don't waste your money and go buy a chargemaster and you will be glad you did. These things are lucky to be accurate to +/- 0.5 grains.

[@CplSkiUSMC]

I have a Chargemaster and it's no more accurate unless you get the new "Matchmaster" version. I use the Chargemaster to dispense my "trickle up" charges rather than the Uniflow because I don't like cutting kernels of powder. For ball powder loads the Uniflow is excellent and for flake powder it is still very good, just use the small cylinder and hopper baffle for even better results.

[@Gunners_Mate_Guns]

@@CplSkiUSMC I disagree. Try loading 57 grains of IMR 4831 with a measure and get anywhere near the 0.1 at most variation (almost always dead on, actually) that I get out of my Chargemaster. This type of measure has its place with spherical or most flake powders, but you need to get the baffle (my Uniflow II came with the baffle), and the person needs to employ a few well known tricks of the trade to get consistent drops. Just avoid the evil twins of 700-X and 800-X like the plague!

[@CplSkiUSMC]

@@Gunners_Mate_Guns I have the baffle and small cylinder for my old Uniflow and it works well for ball powder. I did the little mod to my Chargemaster to make it a little more accurate, but +/- .1 grains is not what I consider accurate. For the work that I put into my loads I'm not about to drop a charge that is +/- .1gr and call it close enough. That's probably close enough for pistol loads but not for rifle. When I go out shooting I don't just bang away at easy targets, I'm always pushing my shots out there to try to make the difficult hits so I don't load "plinking" ammo. That's just me being me.

[@mtnshooter2487]

imr 4064 ouch !

[@vladimirputinmirim9455]

👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻🇧🇷

[@petermurdoch3001]

not worth it, takes up space on my bench, spooning the powder into shot glass, scale, casing, seat and crimp

[@blairbreland1443]

This channel is not about reloading its only about products he can help sell

[@DimaProk]

Are you serious?? He showed you how much spread the powders give, this is the kind of tests I perform myself when comparing powder measures. I just wish it covered ball and flake powders too. As a reloaded this is important for me.

[@Ultimatereloader]

Thanks Dima- yes: having published over 600 videos, I've covered just about every type of ammunition reloading end-to-end and steps separately MANY TIMES OVER :) Some people need to explore this channel more. :)

[@newerest1]

there's only so many videos on how to load 6.5 creedmoor we can stand to watch dude. Reviewing products is incredibly important to the reloading community. FFS, I hope gavin gets these for free. It's not like he's faking the data.

[@chriskloster13]

I agree

[@stevoeight]

Wonder how much rcbs paid for this ad 👎🏽