new Reloading Powder Shaker review

[Palo Verde, SASS # 56522]

 

Palo Verde’s Personal Review:

Whether we are using Flake or rod powder, it is the nature of reloading machines to occasionally have powder stick or “bridge” in the drop and give us a short measure. Like most of us that have been reloading for many years, I’ve had a loud, rattling aquarium air pump attached to my powder tube when reloading so as to reduce the bridging and sticking and give more consistent powder drops. I tested this gadget on my Dilon 1050 and it actually works extremely well. I shoot in CASS and USPSA and both have minimum power factors because shooters know that the  lightest reasonable load, without going below the power factor, is the most controllable. And, if ever challenged, I know that if I have a short load in my pile of ammo, that will be one that is selected for testing.

For my hunting rifle loads I have found that I do not need to spend as much time “trickling” powder to get the exact charge weight if I use this shaker. I testd this with my RCBS loader.

This Powder Shaker from Chuckwalla’s Competition Shooting School is the first commercial product to do the job that I have been trying to do with a dang aquarium air pump of all things!

I like the on/off switch (I don’t have to reach around to the wall to unplug it). I like that I can adjust the vibrations to suit the type of powder I’m using. I like that the dang thing does not make me go deaf (it’s pretty quiet). I like that it is not an aquarium air pump!  Three models to fit any loader I can imagine (different diameter powder tubes).

 

I think he sells them on Amazon as: Chuckwalla's Competition Shooting School - Reloading Powder Measure Vibrator, Powder Shaker

Edited Sunday at 08:22 PM by Palo Verde, SASS # 56522

[Blue Ridge Ranger, SASS # 31232]

Have used and watched this unit in action.  It's a great product and does the job for which it was intended.  If your a reloader, this unit is a must.  Great job Scot.

The Blue Ridge Ranger.

[G W Wade]

Have read about this idea but never tried it.   Question for me would the charge get heavier if you didn't shut off to refill primers or grab another buckets

of bullets. maybe answer the phone    Just wondering          GW

[Palo Verde, SASS # 56522]

"Have read about this idea but never tried it.   Question for me would the charge get heavier if you didn't shut off to refill primers or grab another buckets

of bullets. maybe answer the phone    Just wondering          GW"

 

Well, this is the first For-Sale powder shaker I've ever heard of - other than using a dang loud aquarium accessary .

 

But in answer to your question, the powder would shake and sift down till measure is full. I can't see how it would get compressed just by a longer vibration time. . Of course, if it is a concern, just flip the switch to off while you are doing other things - it's right in front of you on this machine. And it is a heck of a lot easier to do with a switch than  reaching around to pull the air pump plug from the wall.

 

In my tests, I did not try to keep a standard time between each powder drop and I'm sure the time varied a lot, but the weights of dropped powder were spot on.

 

This was invented by the Chuckwalla Kid, SASS 2007 Overall World Champion, and runs a Competition shooting school. I tried it because I fugured he just might know sumpin. -- and I was already using a dang aquarium pump.

Edited Monday at 12:33 AM by Palo Verde, SASS # 56522

[G W Wade]

It would definitely help prevent the dreaded "lite drop" that could cause a match train wreck from a squib.  A slight over charge would not be a bother to a majority  of shooters.  Some it might help {LOL}    Ball powders would not be affected much but those using flake could see a fair bump.   Shotgunners have discussed the charge weight changes of the same bushing when swapped from a single stage press here charges are dropped after a couple of pulls on the handle to a progressive where the charge is dropped every cycle.        Thanks for giving your opinion of what might be a handy tool for some applications.      GW

[Rip Snorter]

Maybe use a powder that meters well?  Sounds like a shaky solution. I've managed to do without for many decades.

[Blackwater 53393]

Good idea for stick and flake powders!  
 

I’ve had two different powders in my limited reloading experience that I wound up weighing every shell because none of my three powder dispensers would deliver consistent, accurate loads!!

 

I finally started getting fairly accurate results by tapping the powder measure with a small screwdriver handle a couple of times with every shell with the one powder.

Made me wonder about such a device!

[Too Tall Bob]

Already answered

 

Edited Monday at 12:31 PM by Too Tall Bob

[Blackwater 53393]

For those of you interested, it’s available on Amazon.

 

 

Edited Tuesday at 07:15 PM by Blackwater 53393

[Blackwater 53393]

I went ahead and ordered one for my xl750.  They come in three sizes to accommodate different sizes of powder reservoirs. The Dillon is 2.5”.

 

The reservoir on my RCBS freestanding measure is 2.25”. I’m pretty sure that I can make an adapter band to make it work with it and maybe even for my old Dietemeyer 300 as well.

 

I had a heck of a time getting consistent drops of Hodgdon Longshot when I was loading some hunting shells a while back.  I’m going to load some more of them soon.

It’s gonna take a week or so to get here. I’ll report back with pictures when I have time to try it out!