It seems odd to me that handloaders who strive for perfection when dropping powder into their rifle cases often give little thought to how accurately they are dispensing powder charges in their handgun loads. True, most handguns are not match-grade instruments, and slight variations in powder charges are usually hard to detect by looking at groups. But there are applications where precision is called for. When working with top-end loads for my hunting revolvers, for example, I want to know the powder charge is precisely what it should be. I don't want to lose velocity because a load is light or risk high pressure because my measure over-charged the case. The same criterion applies if you roll your own self-defense loads. When working with most any handgun cartridge at maximum safe pressures, it takes very little extra powder to push the load into the red zone.

Source Harrell Brothers 5756 Hickory Dr. Salem, VA 24153 (540) 380-2683 www.harrellsprec.com

Harrell's Precision is the choice of many benchrest rifle shooters, and it also makes a pistol powder measure to the same high standard. This measure throws charges from two to 25 grains and features Harrell's large brass micrometer adjustment knob that allows for precise, repeatable settings. I tested the measure by throwing and weighing 20 consecutive charges of Hodgdon TiteGroup powder. TiteGroup provides consistent results in a variety of calibers, but it is a shiny flake powder that can be difficult to measure accurately because it tends to cling to everything it contacts. I set the measure to drop four grains of powder, and all 20 charges dropped were dead-on, as checked by a Midway electronic scale. I have since used the measure quite a bit to throw H110 charges for my .44 Magnum and, with regular checks, have not had the charges vary even a tenth of a grain as yet. Harrell's powder measures are somewhat expensive, but if precision is of utmost importance, I'd say you get what you pay for. Price: $200