Powder Measures

[Candle Snuffer]

I'm sure I'm not the only one to do this.  I like to use my old cartridges that are not reloadable to make powder measures.  I have deer antler powder measures, but I just like to tinker sometimes and make these.  Just thought I'd share.

The dowel rod is 5/16 inch and is a snug fit where the bullet would be seated in these 7.62x54R spent cartridges.  A little Epoxy to help hold the dowel combined with leather through the carrying hole make these powder measures handy to have along - either hanging from your shooter's bag, or to carry inside.

[Ken G]

Thanks for sharing the idea.  Pretty neat.
Ken

[Dave K]

I like this. It removes the shell base so it doesn't have to look like a shell case. You know, just how PC is a powder measure when it looks like all the world it came from a modern gun. I like this.

[Ken G]

Not so quick.  My Soddy came with a cut down 45-70 shell casing for the powder measure.  PC for those hold out muzzleloader folks in the Mountains.  hehehe 

[Candle Snuffer]

Thanks guys.  I tagged the copper shell wrong, it is actually a 50 grain (3f) charger.

The most powder I can get in one of these appears to be 55 grains of 3f - without tapping the side of the case.

This method can be used for many casings.  Where I've found they come in handy the most, is the one I made from a .243 casing that I use for my Kentucky pistol and throws a 30 grain charge of 3f.

Now if Daryl needs one we'll have to make that out of a .50 BMG casing....

[Levy]

My son and I picked up spent brass at the local public range (when he was 12, now 27) and pinched the small end shut in the vice and cut the base off.  We drilled through the pinched end for a string.  He strung them on wire loops and took them to the SE Rendezvous when it was here in Tallahassee.  About an hour after he headed out with them he was back empty handed.  I asked him what happened to all the measures and he pulled $200 dollars in wadded up bills out of his pocket.  He had a bunch of measures and he sold them for .50 cents each.  I might add that we cleaned up all the sharp edges with a file and a chamferring tool.  It was a good project for us both.

James Levy 

[Daryl]

I hadn't thought of leaving the necks on and plugging the small end. Good one.  An '06 case will hold 60 to 70gr. depending on where it's cut and if expanded out a bit at the shoulder.
Short mags will hold 75 to 80gr.
Range pickup Ultra Mags will hold 100 or more.
.270 and .30 WSM type will run 60 to 65.

I use CA for gluing in the wooden plugs, along with the string or thong.

I've been turning off the base end, rounding it and using a screw-eye soldered into the flash hole for some, .015" wall fit together brass tubing from a hobby store for larger measrues to 140gr.


James - I also hadn't thought of merely pinching off the case mouth and cutting off the head- good idea- might have to build some like that for Hefley Creek - I figure $1.00 to $2.00 is cheap enough - besides, having to weigh in powder charges to label as to thrown weight ought to be worth something for 'labour'.

[Candle Snuffer]

Daryl, you sure have a lot of powder measures.

James, I'm another one who never thought about pinching those necks off.  Good idea.

[northmn]

Great ideas.  I always went about cartridge cases for measures bass akwards when I look at these.  One of those "why didn't I think of it" things.

DP