I have them both.   I prefer the MVA for black powder.  I only use the Harrells for smokeless these days.

The MVA works better with coarser granulations and is easier to clean up afterward. My Harrell's would sometimes jam up on FFg and won't work at all with Swiss Fg.

However, with Goex FFFg Express the Harrells gave the most consistent charges.   

My Harrells black powder measure works very well with IMR-4227 though

Chris.

Thanks for the replies.

Chris - your experience matches what I have read on other forums - especially for the 1F.  I shoot Swiss 1 1/2 almost exclusively and if your Harrell’s hangs up on 2F, that would give me pause for thought.  Their website doesn’t show a black powder measure - but I have seen them listed for sale on other websites.   

Arnie - I just happen to have a vintage Lyman 55 and have used it to load pistol rounds the few times I shot black powder in cowboy action shooting.  I may give it a try on my big cases before I decide on something new.

I use the same Harrell's Premium 120 gr. powder measure I load smokeless with and no issues. I used my Lyman 55 with brass hopper before and it worked good, but tried my Harrels just because it's easier to change powders with the extra hopper bottles I have.

frnkeore wrote on Oct 26^th, 2023 at 2:35am:


The MVA is a copy of the B&M as far as I can tell. 

Chris.

The B&M powder measure FORCES the operator to run it correctly.   A drum-type measure properly operated, i.e., without banging the handle around, will give as good results.

CHRIS

I never used a B&M so I cant judge them, but I have two 55 Lymans one old and the newer one from the 90's but basically they are the same except the old one has a plastic hopper and the newer one has an aluminum and once you learn to adjust them properly and how to properly drop the powder they are very good. 
The one I use the most is an old Redding I been using 50?? some years and it's showing use and last month I broke the threads off the hopper and I have to try to cut some new using the lathe.  
The way to get the most out of the Lyman is not using the fine adjustment for black powder, set the course as close as you can. The fine adjustment leaves unused room under the plate that will not fill properly if the powder don't get vibrated under it to fill completely.
Raise the lever to fill the drum hit the clapper a couple times then drop the lever filling the case. This will give you accuracy and little use for the trickler for exact weight.
The Redding has the best accuracy but again you have to fill the drum and use the clapper to settle the powder in the drum before dropping the lever to fill the case. It's very precise with black powder. But I don't know if you can still find them for sale.

I have two of those first model Redding's. I think they would work well with BP. They load straight vertical and dump the same way. They have a large piston so, I haven't used them very much but, when I got them, I tested them with large grained smokeless and they tested well.

One is new and the other was well used and had slop between the scroll pin and piston. I put a coil spring under it and it works as well as the new one.

BUT, of course, there would be a explosion every few minutes if you use a cast iron to cast iron or steel measure

The old Ideal No.6 measure is a good for both black and smokeless powders. It's quite handy for duplex loading 

Another vote for B&M

I gave up many years ago trying to find a consistently accurate BP measure. 
Weighed to a tenth of a grain after thrown from a measure is how I do it. Any one of several different types in my accumulation. The B&M measure works excellent for filling cases with Puf-lon.

Fillers --- I have discovered that amaranth-seed from the health-food store makes a really excellent filler.   It is hard, 1mm diameter spheres, and measures great thru a powder measure.   One can dump it on top of the powder with a powder-measure, then compress to the desired level.   The seeds are not damaged in the process. (talking about BP loads, here.)

CHRIS