The RCBS Little Dandy Measure
By C.E. "Ed" Harris.
By C.E. "Ed" Harris.
The RCBS Little Dandy uses interchangeable, drums or rotors which meter a ixed powder charge. The proper rotor is selected in accordance with a table which lists the nominal charge weight thrown by each numbered rotor, using various popular powders. Selection of the rotor should always be done by consulting current published sources of load data or your own well-proven handloads. Then check the charge weight of YOUR rotor against a reliable powder scale. I drop TEN charges onto the scale pan and mentally move the decimal. I keep a simple electronic scale on the bench to verify charge weight each time I start loading and label the powder reservoir with a Post-It note to identify what powder I have in it. The Little Dandy rotors are usually spot-on to their stated charge weight, or maybe 0.1 grain under. I have never found one which threw more than its stated charge weight.
Once a safe charge weight for your loading application as thrown by your measure has been veriied, many users leave their Little Dandy set up. Some people like to store the rotor in the die box of the caliber for which it is suited. I tend to use the same rotors in multiple applications, therefore, I post a charge table in my loading area, which I share below so that others don’t have to “Reinvent the Wheel.” The great majority of my cast bullet loads use either Bullseye, #2400, IMR4227 or RL7 in pistols, revolvers, lever and bolt riles. These are loads I use in my RCBS Little Dandy powder measure:
Once a safe charge weight for your loading application as thrown by your measure has been veriied, many users leave their Little Dandy set up. Some people like to store the rotor in the die box of the caliber for which it is suited. I tend to use the same rotors in multiple applications, therefore, I post a charge table in my loading area, which I share below so that others don’t have to “Reinvent the Wheel.” The great majority of my cast bullet loads use either Bullseye, #2400, IMR4227 or RL7 in pistols, revolvers, lever and bolt riles. These are loads I use in my RCBS Little Dandy powder measure:
#00= 1.7 grains Bullseye, or 2 grains TiteGroup, full charge .32 ACP with 87-90 grain bullets
#0= 2.2 grains Bullseye, standard load for .32 ACP with 74-77-grain cast bullets, S&W Long with 98-grain lead, also meters 3.0 grains AutoComp for a full-charge in .32 ACP with 74-90 grain bullets.
#0= 2.2 grains Bullseye, standard load for .32 ACP with 74-77-grain cast bullets, S&W Long with 98-grain lead, also meters 3.0 grains AutoComp for a full-charge in .32 ACP with 74-90 grain bullets.
#1 = 2.5 Bullseye, standard load for .32 S&W Long with 98-gr. SWC, and full charge .32 ACP with 71-gr. FMJ
#3 = 3.0 Bullseye, full-charge load for .32 S&W Long with 98-grain lead, full charge .38 Spl.148 HBWC.
#5 = 3.5 Bullseye full charge for solid DEWC wadcutter, approximates 158 lead service in .38 Special, factory approximation load for .32-20 Winchester and .32 H&R Magnum with 100-grain lead
#7 = 4.0 Bullseye .38 Spl. Full-charge +P 158 Lead, and .357 with 146 DEWC as “full charge wadcutter,” Standard charge for .455 MkII and ,45 Auto Rim in shaved Webleys with 240-265 grain lead
#8 = 4.5 Bullseye standard load for. 45 ACP with H&G68 wadcutter, and in .45 Schoield with 230 Cowboy
#9 = 5.0 Bullseye full charge in 45 ACP with 230 lead. “cat sneeze” in any .30 cal. rile 7.62x39 to .30-’06
#12 = 6.5 Bullseye factory duplication load for. 45 Colt 255 lead, and with 200-grain .44-40.
#13 = 7.2 Bullseye, full charge load with 255-grain bullet in modern .45 Colt revolvers. .38-44 High Velocity 10 grs.#2400 in .38 Spl +P 158-gr. Plainbased subsonic gallery and small game load in 30-’06.
#15 = 8.4 Bullseye, 1080 fps with 240 JHP in 4-inch . 44 Mag revolver, 100-yd. target load in .30-’06 with plainbased 150 to 205 grains. Also throws 12 grs. #2400, for plainbased bullets 150 to 205 grains in any. 30 cal case from. 30-30 to. 30-’06, and “medium velocity” load in .357 Magnum with 160-180 grain lead.
#18 = 14.5 #2400, standard load for .357 magnum 158 to 160 grain lead SWC or FN,
#19 = 15.4 #2400, full charge .357 Mag. 158 jacketed, 200-yard gascheck load in any. 30 cal. military, using bullets from 150 to 205 grains. factory duplication load with 200 lead in .44-40. GC load in. 30-30 and. 32-40!
#22 = 12.7 of Bullseye! Approximates .38-55 velocity in .375 H&H with #375449, also throws 17.9 #2400, good GC load in .303 Brit., Krag, .308 Win with 150-200gr GC. #25 = 20.8 #2400, Standard charge 44 Mag. for 240-260-grain LFN Also throws 20.4 IMR4198, 22.6 RL7, 21.5 IMR4227 all being good in .30 cals. .30-30 through 30-’06, with GC cast from 150 to 200 grains. ¥
#3 = 3.0 Bullseye, full-charge load for .32 S&W Long with 98-grain lead, full charge .38 Spl.148 HBWC.
#5 = 3.5 Bullseye full charge for solid DEWC wadcutter, approximates 158 lead service in .38 Special, factory approximation load for .32-20 Winchester and .32 H&R Magnum with 100-grain lead
#7 = 4.0 Bullseye .38 Spl. Full-charge +P 158 Lead, and .357 with 146 DEWC as “full charge wadcutter,” Standard charge for .455 MkII and ,45 Auto Rim in shaved Webleys with 240-265 grain lead
#8 = 4.5 Bullseye standard load for. 45 ACP with H&G68 wadcutter, and in .45 Schoield with 230 Cowboy
#9 = 5.0 Bullseye full charge in 45 ACP with 230 lead. “cat sneeze” in any .30 cal. rile 7.62x39 to .30-’06
#12 = 6.5 Bullseye factory duplication load for. 45 Colt 255 lead, and with 200-grain .44-40.
#13 = 7.2 Bullseye, full charge load with 255-grain bullet in modern .45 Colt revolvers. .38-44 High Velocity 10 grs.#2400 in .38 Spl +P 158-gr. Plainbased subsonic gallery and small game load in 30-’06.
#15 = 8.4 Bullseye, 1080 fps with 240 JHP in 4-inch . 44 Mag revolver, 100-yd. target load in .30-’06 with plainbased 150 to 205 grains. Also throws 12 grs. #2400, for plainbased bullets 150 to 205 grains in any. 30 cal case from. 30-30 to. 30-’06, and “medium velocity” load in .357 Magnum with 160-180 grain lead.
#18 = 14.5 #2400, standard load for .357 magnum 158 to 160 grain lead SWC or FN,
#19 = 15.4 #2400, full charge .357 Mag. 158 jacketed, 200-yard gascheck load in any. 30 cal. military, using bullets from 150 to 205 grains. factory duplication load with 200 lead in .44-40. GC load in. 30-30 and. 32-40!
#22 = 12.7 of Bullseye! Approximates .38-55 velocity in .375 H&H with #375449, also throws 17.9 #2400, good GC load in .303 Brit., Krag, .308 Win with 150-200gr GC. #25 = 20.8 #2400, Standard charge 44 Mag. for 240-260-grain LFN Also throws 20.4 IMR4198, 22.6 RL7, 21.5 IMR4227 all being good in .30 cals. .30-30 through 30-’06, with GC cast from 150 to 200 grains. ¥
