Pacific Powder measure for pistol loading
- Thread starter richhodg66
- Start date
I'd plot these, but Libre Calc has been giving me fits all day, so I'm not even going there until whatever required update fixes whatever's wrong.
Just so this is written down in case someone else needs it befor I get to it, I did a quick check of the eight that I have using small hole gauges and a 1" mic'. The holes are not all exactly round and the bores are not exactly smooth, but we're not measuring revolver throats here either.:
H8 - .2770"
H9 - .2872"
H10 - .2996"
P13 - .3285"
P14 - .3385"
P16 - .3565"
P20 - .4022"
P21 - .4192"
This is for GENERAL REFERENCE to get an idea of the approximate hole diameter each missing bushing might be. DO NOT calculate volume from my measurements and correlate that with volumetric measurements listed in the LEE chart.
I'd lay it out in a spreadsheet and plot it, but I'm not going back into that program today after what it put me through already. Usually it's an easy and intuitive program but it's hanging up on .CSV files and locking the page breaks into very narrow, three-column pages.
Aw, man, don't DO that to me!
I have this affliction which makes me make stuff I shouldn't be able to make, using tools I shouldn't be able to make it with and it ends up costing me a lot of time just for the sake of living up to being a stubborn old hillbilly.
You know what, though,.....
Snakeoil
Well-Known Member
You could make them from aluminum. MEC loaders use aluminum powder bars and they took aluminum bushing. I've loaded loaded well over 10,000 rounds of 12 gauge and never, ever had a problem. Keep in mind that powder has graphite as one of its constituents so it provides the lube for you.
If you think about it, a bushing is no different than an adjustable cavity loader. The only difference is that you can change the depth of the cavity on a loader like a Uniflow. With a bushing, you change the diameter of the cavity. A powder baffle in the powder tube will make it drop even more consistently.
As far as a stand goes, go buy a piece of 1-1/4 wide by 1/4" thick steel bar stock (or aluminum) and put two bends in it to emulate the Lee stand. Drill one side for the base and the other to accept the spigot on the measure. It does not need to be tapped. I assume the spigot on the measure is threaded so just put a locking nut on it from a die and you'll be good to go. The Reddings are threaded, but the base they come with is not. Just uses a nut.
If you think about it, a bushing is no different than an adjustable cavity loader. The only difference is that you can change the depth of the cavity on a loader like a Uniflow. With a bushing, you change the diameter of the cavity. A powder baffle in the powder tube will make it drop even more consistently.
As far as a stand goes, go buy a piece of 1-1/4 wide by 1/4" thick steel bar stock (or aluminum) and put two bends in it to emulate the Lee stand. Drill one side for the base and the other to accept the spigot on the measure. It does not need to be tapped. I assume the spigot on the measure is threaded so just put a locking nut on it from a die and you'll be good to go. The Reddings are threaded, but the base they come with is not. Just uses a nut.
richhodg66
Well-Known Member
It's getting crazy cold here, but I went out to the shop and pawed through a bunch of Dad's stuff Ihave yet to really organize and found the two I thought I had. Good news, one is brand spanking new, even had the customer paperwork inside the hopper. No bushing in that one. The other is well used, plastic tube on the hopper is real dingy and kind of miss shapen but looks useable and has the cap. Inside it was a little paper bag with four bushings; #s 2, 4, 15 and 22. There is also one stuck in the slide bar which is somewhere in between the #4 and #15 in size. I'll have to put some powder in it and throw some charges to weigh when I get a few minutes. Wondering how best to get the stuck one out. If it throws a useful charge, I may just leave it alone and use the new one. If that one throws something like 3-3.5 grains of 700X, it would be just about perfect for .38 Special loads.
I am thinking one of these on the Lyman All American turret press I am working on getting up and running would be real nice, much lighter and more compact than a Lyman 55 like I was intending to use.They have what appear to be 7.8x14 threads, so I could thread them straight into one of the holes in the turret head, or better yet, get one of those adapters to use the Lee powder through expander dies (not a big fan of Lee dies, generally, but I think Lee hit a home run with that particular feature).
I'm kind of glad I noticed that one yesterday and it got me to thinking about these. I'm also very thankful for all the helpful information you guys provided, thanks.
I am thinking one of these on the Lyman All American turret press I am working on getting up and running would be real nice, much lighter and more compact than a Lyman 55 like I was intending to use.They have what appear to be 7.8x14 threads, so I could thread them straight into one of the holes in the turret head, or better yet, get one of those adapters to use the Lee powder through expander dies (not a big fan of Lee dies, generally, but I think Lee hit a home run with that particular feature).
I'm kind of glad I noticed that one yesterday and it got me to thinking about these. I'm also very thankful for all the helpful information you guys provided, thanks.
RicinYakima
High Steppes of Eastern Washington
While searching for powder-thru-expander dies, remember that Lyman and C&H both made them25 plus years ago. They were both made out of steel and were several times more expensive than the later Lee's.
richhodg66
Well-Known Member
It's not the same one, but the numbers look the same marrying up 700X data and Unique data.
At least now I have a few of the bushings so I know what to look for at gun shows and such. Also doesn't look too hard to farbicate if need be.
At least now I have a few of the bushings so I know what to look for at gun shows and such. Also doesn't look too hard to farbicate if need be.
richhodg66
Well-Known Member
I was looking at these and got to thinking (dangerous). A fired .45 ACP case oughta be darn close to the diameter of these bushings. If I cut one off, filled with JB Weld or similar, drilled it accordingly after the expoxy hardened, could that work?
Probably should just go find some half inch brass rod.
Probably should just go find some half inch brass rod.
richhodg66
Well-Known Member
I've been shooting 9.5 grains of Alcan 7 in .357 under lead SWCc and 6 grains in .38 Special. I have quite a bit of this powder but it isn't on the chart. It would be cool if I could find bushings that throw those charges.
Looks like t he same chart. This is what came with my measure:
Have some copper pipe here somewhere. Other tubing as well. One of them likely fits and could be filled with epoxy and modified without much in the way of tooling.
Or cast in a plug or almost the right size, like the shank of a twist drill or something similar, with release agent on it.
Have some copper pipe here somewhere. Other tubing as well. One of them likely fits and could be filled with epoxy and modified without much in the way of tooling.
richhodg66
Well-Known Member
Kinda wonder if filling it with molten lead might work better than JB Weld?
Just experiment with what you have and check with your scale. Make your own chart.
Oh, yeah! Good stuff. I'll have to see what I can find. New machining prof may even have some drops. He's a lot friendlier than the last guy.
richhodg66
Well-Known Member
OK, I was completely ignorant of Delfin five minutes ago, sounds like great stuff from the google search. Where might a guy procure a small amount of this? Can it be had in rod stock about a half inch in diameter?
OK, I don't think these are the same bushings we are looking at but, someone is making plastic ones, in pretty colors, no less:
Delrin is pretty easy to source. You can make all sorts of stuff out of it and it machines/tools nicely:
3D Printed Powder Bushings, Set of 5 - Fit Hornady Pacific Ponsness Warren RCBS | eBay
Sizes 256 - 525 Available. Our bushings are available in the following colors.
www.ebay.com
Delrin is pretty easy to source. You can make all sorts of stuff out of it and it machines/tools nicely:
Delrin/Acetal Rod White 1/2" diameter 6" long | eBay
DELRIN ROD. Need more than one?. 1" (1.000). 7/8" (.875). 3/4" (.750). 5/8" (.625). 1/2" (.500). 3/8" (.375).
www.ebay.com