RCBS Uniflow Configuration

[metricmonkeywrench]

I know it may be hard to resist the urge but folks please stay on topic, the intent is not to drift from the question at hand. There is no need to proclaim the precise measuring virtues of some other measure, or recommend something else. I have RCBS Uniflows that I am working with and they have the standard adjusters and are being manually operated.

The Uniflow can be configured in many different ways, left hand, right hand, adjuster to the front or to the rear all with a large (10-110g) or small (0.5-50g) measuring rotor. The generic guidance is small rotor for pistol and large rotor for rifle and the tap-tap on the stroke is the desired stroke. Ball and flake powders generally meter ok, but stick powders do not. The baffle is usually recommended to keep a consistent head pressure on the powder just to get those out of the way. By intent I am not discussing a specific powder or desired weight.

It is the adjuster front or rear orientation that is the question. With the adjuster to the front and aligned with the handle the powder is dispensed on the upstroke. With the adjuster to the rear powder is dispensed on the down stroke, the adjuster is now opposing the handle. I have seen it both ways even on the RCBS site and even in their owner’s manuals and documentation.
So the poll/discussion topic is: In your experience which way works best and why?

So to keep the poll simple here are the choices:
Front= Both adjuster/handle to the front, dispenses on the upstroke
Rear= Adjuster rear/handle front, dispenses on the downstroke
Depends= Rotor dependent, works better one way or the other with the lg/sm rotors
No opinion= Never thought about it either way and use it the way it showed up.

left is front config right is rear config

[jeepyj]

I have several set up for front adjustments.

[KenT7021]

I've always used mine the way they were set up as received.I haven't even thought about changing the configuration.

[EDG]

I attach the handle so that it is on the right side and when it is up the cavity fills. Powder is dispensed on the down stroke.
This set up is used to avoid having the cavity sitting in the up position with powder sitting and settling into the cavity for extended periods of time.

[JBinMN]

I attach the handle so that it is on the right side and when it is up the cavity fills. Powder is dispensed on the down stroke.
This set up is used to avoid having the cavity sitting in the up position with powder sitting and settling into the cavity for extended periods of time.

I deleted my post made earlier & moved it down here to quote EDG, because his description, IMO, is better than mine. But it is the same as the one on the right, in the pics in the OP.

Hope there is no confusion about it. Here is the post from before:
------------------------
I have used mine most of the time with adjuster to the Rear, so my answer would be "Rear". No specific reason, so "No Opinion" could have been the answer as well, even though I use it to the rear the most.

I just use it that way, maybe just out of habit, it seems & have had no reason to change to the other, even with a rotor change, although I do know I prefer that it drops the powder on the downstroke.

Don't know if that helps ya at all, but ya asked...

Semper Fi! & G'Luck! with your poll! Hope ya find out what ya want to know!

[marlin39a]

Front is the only configuration that works for me. For the last 40 yrs.

[coloraydo]

I voted rear. No particular reason, just the way I have always done it. I am a creature of habit.

[Budzilla 19]

Right side handle attached, and fill on the upstroke, just like EDG said. Has worked for me.

[Safeshot]

Right side handle, rear config. Just my choice.

[Dusty Bannister]

Right side handle, rear configuration which allows me to let the measure rest with the powder chamber in the rotor to the open or dump position. Otherwise bench vibration might "super charge" the next load if one forgets to drop it back in the hopper.

[country gent]

I use the right side front adjustment configuration as I like to drop the charge on the down stroke with the weight of my hand working for me. The upstroke just dosnt seem as natural to me.

[OS OK]

Deliver on the downstroke and leave the handle down, when I want a load I'll flip it up and grab one, a light double tap...I don't want vibrations of the bench settling the powder in the metering hole in between throws.
Just to complicate things here, I'll say this...I settle the powder in the hopper before I ever start throwing.

[Bullwolf]

I'm a right handed, so when I have a Uniflow mounted to the bench, or on a powder stand, or even in the stand off plate on a single stage press, I always left the uniflow set up in the right hand front configuration.

Right Hand Front


I've seen other folks (like my old left handed room mate) who were more comfortable holding a case, or loading block in their right hand set it up the other way instead, in left hand front configuration.

Left Hand Front


I tend to keep a Uniflow measure mounted in one station (turret hole) on both of my Lyman T-mag turret presses.

For that usage, I've swapped the Uniflow handle to left hand front configuration, like in the picture below of my Lyman T-mag II press.



I prefer it that way on the turret press because I typically operate the press handle with my right hand, and activate the powder measure with my left hand when I'm loading.

I recently helped a new right handed reloader set up a Uniflow on his Redding T-7 turret press. He opted for the same left hand front Uniflow handle configuration that I use on both of my Lyman T-mag presses.

I've never tried the rear handle mounting to dispense on the down stroke. After so many years of using a Uniflow, I pretty much always expect it to drop powder on the upstroke I suppose.


- Bullwolf

[Taterhead]

I voted "depends". With a standalone measure with the original adjustment screw, I think putting it in the back is optimal. Like was described above, that gives a fill-and-dump rhythm that can be applied with a consistent motion. With the screw in the front. The powder stacks in the cylinder for inconsistent amounts of time. I like a left-hand lever, for what it's worth.

As a practical matter, if the powder measure is equipped with a micrometer adjustment screw and/or case-activated linkage, the metering screw goes in front.

[Shopdog]

Right side handle,adjuster to rear.Got several mounted to an aluminum carousel,works very nicely.

[billyb]

To the front, handle on the right and to the rear.

[Harter66]

I have a center drop baffle in both of mine .
I have the handles forward on the left side .
It is said that consistency is key to good drops . I can't think of a more consistent way to get the lever down than gravity . Unique drops within a .1 per 100 drops (case to case not 100 drops for average) from 2.5 to 12 gr and 4350 , H322 and similar drop inside .2 typically but I'm a drop and trickle guy so whatever works . It does this from 20-60 gr . It seems like W857 was sloppy this way from -.7 to 0 .

[Shopdog]

Aluminum carousel, it "was" a cheapy 12" sanding disc.Punch 7/8" holes.It's very convenient.

[gray wolf]

How about you try it both ways and see what you like best.
Just sayin.

[metricmonkeywrench]

Thank you all for playing along, pretty much ended up with the expected results.

As for me, I have 2 second hand measures as shown in the picture, one is equipped with a small rotor and the other one a large rotor. So far the small rotor just doesn't seem to care which orientation and just ended up in a front configuration. The large rotor took some experimentation and a lot of powder drops and appears to be more accurate/consistent in the rear configuration.