New powder measure from RCBS

[dakota]

From the new prodcuts section of RCBS

Black Powder Measure

Answering our customers' calls for black powder products, RCBS' new Black Powder Measure is sure to be a hit. The one pound capacity aluminum powder hopper and cap with a non-static powder level indicator shows you how much powder is left in the hopper. The brass non-sparking metering cylinder and adjustment screw are also features that the black powder enthusiast is looking for. With a 120 grain charge capacity, the optional 24" aluminum drop tube is a must to get all of the powder into the case.

The new RCBS® Black Powder Measure is the perfect unit for Black Powder and Cowboy Action shooters.

F E A T U R E S & B E N E F I T S
• Aluminum hopper and cap
• Non-static powder level indicator
• Non-sparking brass metering cylinder
• Non-sparking quick adjust brass metering assembly
• 120 grain charge capacity
• Optional 24" non sparking aluminum drop tube
• RCBS® lifetime warranty

MODEL DESCRIPTION
98842 Black Powder Measure
98856 24" Aluminum Drop Tube

[twomoons]

I have an Ideal #1 powder measure made in the 1890's for BLACK powder, it is cast iron and brass. I have a Lyman 55 made in 1948 marked smokless and black powder, it is cast iron and brass. I have no idea where the notion that metering black powder was a life threatening process. You cna't use a plastic drop tube because of STATIC??? Powder is shipped in PLASTIC containers. Static will not set off powder unless it is microcopic dust. A taser won't set off a pile of black powder. What builds up static quicker than a section of horn, and yet HORN was the prefered container for powder from about 1450 to 1930. Someone somewhere in the past had a notion about black powder (probably from powder millling) and put it in print and soon it was adopted as gospel. Now in out sue happy society NO ONE will say, just use any good measure you have.

[dakota]

Actually, I would prefer an all metal powder measure again. My old B&M was brass and cast. I liked it. Was sor tof disappointed when the plastic ones came out.
I understand those old B&M powder measures are popular with the BP crowd. I am not really sure why though. I suspect they do work well.
I used to have aluminum funnels also. I liked them. However, I am getting along fairly OK with the new plastic ones.
I have never seen or heard of any static electricity prolems with the plastic stuff.
But then there is the warning on some of the measures "Not for use with Black Powder"
Someday when buying a rifle I suspect that emblazened on the rifle barrel there will be a warning telling the user not to look down the barrel while pulling the trigger. The propensity to sue is ridiculously high in this country. It is odd that we are allowed to buy hunting knives without built-in shields with a warning that removal of the shield negates any responsibility of the manufacture of one cutting themselves.

[twomoons]

Once you get the drill down the B and M will drop loads to 1/10 of a grain. I have a lathe and made up a bunch of charge tubes and put them in with the dies. The modern B amd M's are priced out of the average mans market, but i would buy every used one I could get at under $100.

[dakota]

I had the one with the magnum micro-adjustable charge tubes. The plate under the sliding powder hopper was all gorred out from over use. The front glass was cracked. The threads holding the charging handle were loose. But the main thing was the plate being wore down so bad that powder would tend to get under the sliding powder hopper. It got to be a pin to use. I didn't throw it away though. A BP shooter gave me good money for it even after I pointed out the deficiencies.