M.D.Spencer
New member
I understand the that the body is a Lyman no.55. But can anyone show me the guts of one of these powder throwers? Some history about him would be a nice addition.
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What can any of you tell me about H.L.Culver
- Thread starter M.D.Spencer
- Start date
MColeman
Club Coordinator
It was an insert made by Homer Culver (I met him at the Super Shoot in 1990) that was adjustable in 'clicks' instead of the three slides that Lyman used. Can't say when he died but he was one of the 'names' in benchrest. He, of course, never remembered meeting me but he was a nice man from all I've heard.
expiper
Broken down Plumber
A benchrest pioneer
He was one of the founders of modern benchrest.....lived his last few years careing for his wife in the nursing home...she died (aprox 15 yrs ago) ...in just a cupla wks. he died, so common among people who lived their whole lives together like he and she.
Homer built an action (Culver) that was all steel and had an integral unertl dovetail , it was the precursor for the modern Stolle actions...he and Ralph were contemporary shooters and friends....Homer shot all the old stuff and shot it well...even tinkered with .25's during the golden age....made his own jackets and bullets...did well...
His powder measure insert for the Lyman 55 revolutionized and simplified modern day benchrest/precision reloading.......all the new generation "Culver style",,just as good as a Culver, just like a Culver, just as good as a Culver knock offs are all just wanabees'....The beauty of this type of measure is ,,you can change the set point or even the powder and then come back to where you were and it will be "very" close to the same as before!!...He used to sell just the insert and then you would install it yourself in your powder measure,,and then later he sold a complete turn key measure. If you have one dont let any slik talker try and trade you one of the new "better more modern" copies for one.......Roger
He was one of the founders of modern benchrest.....lived his last few years careing for his wife in the nursing home...she died (aprox 15 yrs ago) ...in just a cupla wks. he died, so common among people who lived their whole lives together like he and she.
Homer built an action (Culver) that was all steel and had an integral unertl dovetail , it was the precursor for the modern Stolle actions...he and Ralph were contemporary shooters and friends....Homer shot all the old stuff and shot it well...even tinkered with .25's during the golden age....made his own jackets and bullets...did well...
His powder measure insert for the Lyman 55 revolutionized and simplified modern day benchrest/precision reloading.......all the new generation "Culver style",,just as good as a Culver, just like a Culver, just as good as a Culver knock offs are all just wanabees'....The beauty of this type of measure is ,,you can change the set point or even the powder and then come back to where you were and it will be "very" close to the same as before!!...He used to sell just the insert and then you would install it yourself in your powder measure,,and then later he sold a complete turn key measure. If you have one dont let any slik talker try and trade you one of the new "better more modern" copies for one.......Roger
Respectfully disagree...
Respectfully disagree with your opinion of the modern copies of the Culver insert. There is no question that the Culver insert set the standard for powder measures. However, the Jones and Harrell measures are its equal and thank goodness they are in production so we can all benefit from them. Lord knows all the Culvers are long gone and if it were not for modern copies, there would be a lot of shooters that would not benefit from Homer's invention. I think he would be very proud that the modern measures based on his design still rule the benchrest line.
Respectfully,
virg
Respectfully disagree with your opinion of the modern copies of the Culver insert. There is no question that the Culver insert set the standard for powder measures. However, the Jones and Harrell measures are its equal and thank goodness they are in production so we can all benefit from them. Lord knows all the Culvers are long gone and if it were not for modern copies, there would be a lot of shooters that would not benefit from Homer's invention. I think he would be very proud that the modern measures based on his design still rule the benchrest line.
Respectfully,
virg
Dick Grosbier
Club Coordinator
I think you are all correct I like my Harrels with ball bearings but it is not really any better at dispensing powder than my Old Culver Conversion.
S
Stonewall
Guest
I bought my Culver conversion in 1982 from Al Mirdoch for $165 . He got these from Hart -I've only ever seen three of them. I believe that 800 were made-the first 700 has serial #'s . Check the older Precision Shooting magazines for more information and some photos of Homer Culver .
A better powder measure has not been made yet........
Glenn
A better powder measure has not been made yet........
Glenn
G
GS Arizona
Guest
Apart from the design of the insert, which of course is the basis for just about all of the high grade measures made today, a real legacy of Mr. Culver's work is the value of a "click". Thankfully, today's makers have adhered closely to the chamber dimesions and incremental value of a single click as produced by Mr. Culver, that has given us a useable reference value when discussing loads with others. A "Culver Click" is as useful a unit of measure as the grain in many circles. One of my great regrets is that I lived within 2 miles of Mr. Culver for 3 years and didn't get to meet him. There's a brief interview with Mr. Culver in the April 1983 Precision Shooting and it is reprinted in the Benchrest Shooting Primer book.
C
Cheechako
Guest
What I've always found ironic about the Culver measures was that many of the better shooters developed that one load that shot best and then practically welded their measures at that setting. I know that I had mine set at 50 clicks for a lot of years. (Don't jump to conclusions. I don't classify myself as one of the "better" shooters)
Of course, nowadays, the clone measures are a lot better and shooters tend to click up and down with changes in the temp, humidity, air pressure, and lunar gravitational pull.
Stonewall, did you really get that measure in 1982? That means you must be really old.
Ray
Of course, nowadays, the clone measures are a lot better and shooters tend to click up and down with changes in the temp, humidity, air pressure, and lunar gravitational pull.
Stonewall, did you really get that measure in 1982? That means you must be really old.
Ray
H.L. Culver
A great man with gifted ideas. Clay Spencer,Don Jones and many others were also students of this prowness. Homer made a "One Time" run of measures that had 1/2 click values. The "Normal" Culver will despense 2.5 to 3.5 gr per click his special were threaded finer and were 1.3 to 1.8 per click depending on the powder.
He did shoot a 25 cal for a while but his go to was the 308 as far as I remember he shot the 308 till he retired shooting.
A great man with gifted ideas. Clay Spencer,Don Jones and many others were also students of this prowness. Homer made a "One Time" run of measures that had 1/2 click values. The "Normal" Culver will despense 2.5 to 3.5 gr per click his special were threaded finer and were 1.3 to 1.8 per click depending on the powder.
He did shoot a 25 cal for a while but his go to was the 308 as far as I remember he shot the 308 till he retired shooting
.M.D.Spencer
New member
Well here's one more shot
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M.D.Spencer
New member
I was hoping that...
Someone would dare to take one apart and show the internal workings.
Someone would dare to take one apart and show the internal workings.
M.D.Spencer
New member
Joe
I'd like to make one just like it.
I'd like to make one just like it.
Actually...
... that is a picture of mine perched on the corner of my loading box. Mark took a few pictures of it at the IBS Benchrest School last weekend.
I have another Culver at home plus a similar one that Neil Jones put into a Lyman body. All three work great, with the second Culver throwing approximately three numbers different than the one in the picture and the Jones. (I haven't figured out how to adjust the second Culver to throw close to the other two). This Culver and the Jones throw identical weights of the same powder, which I consider in itself a minor miracle.
All three have half-number clicks and repeat flawlessly. I have found that with a PPC adjusting less than a half number doesn't show too much on the target. But then, I'm not that good of a tuner to determine whether changing a powder charge by less than one-half "click" makes a difference when your technique alone can change the weight thrown by .2 of a grain plus or minus.
Now, changing seating depth is another story.
... that is a picture of mine perched on the corner of my loading box. Mark took a few pictures of it at the IBS Benchrest School last weekend.
I have another Culver at home plus a similar one that Neil Jones put into a Lyman body. All three work great, with the second Culver throwing approximately three numbers different than the one in the picture and the Jones. (I haven't figured out how to adjust the second Culver to throw close to the other two). This Culver and the Jones throw identical weights of the same powder, which I consider in itself a minor miracle.
All three have half-number clicks and repeat flawlessly. I have found that with a PPC adjusting less than a half number doesn't show too much on the target. But then, I'm not that good of a tuner to determine whether changing a powder charge by less than one-half "click" makes a difference when your technique alone can change the weight thrown by .2 of a grain plus or minus.
Now, changing seating depth is another story.
S
speedpro
Guest
i had the privlege of talking with Homer by phone shortly after my first purchase of one of his serial# measures, at this time I own 2 of them and have no need for any other, BTW Homer is qiute a gentlemaqn and obviously a class act too.
D
Don
Guest
I dont like the Lyman/Culver because of, in theory, the poor design feature of a rectangular shaped powder chamber openning at the metering insert. In theory, round shapes used in the more modern Harrel and Jones are theoretically better designs, less powder cutting surface at the closing of the chamber/metering insert area.
But, in actual practice, does not seem to make any difference. My Lyman/Culver drops charges as accurately as any of the round openning measures that I have and use, so I stick with the Lyman/Culver............................Don
But, in actual practice, does not seem to make any difference. My Lyman/Culver drops charges as accurately as any of the round openning measures that I have and use, so I stick with the Lyman/Culver............................Don
O
owlshop
Guest
H.L.C. and HIS powder measure
Homer was friend from 1966 or 1967 till his passing. He made all of his measures with a SB Hv 10 and a drill press. Just amazing watching him work . He shared many of his talents with alot of folks. Those with and interest and a calling. He is missed. He was 96 years old at his passing.
Homer was friend from 1966 or 1967 till his passing. He made all of his measures with a SB Hv 10 and a drill press. Just amazing watching him work . He shared many of his talents with alot of folks. Those with and interest and a calling. He is missed. He was 96 years old at his passing.
Eddie Harren
Member
I'm with you Larry, it was a pleasure to sit and talk with Homer. Spending an hour with him was like taking a short course in common sense.
As for his choice of cartridges, he was a fan of the 308 but in his later years he went to the PPC. When he passed his grandson-in-law, sold me his last LV rifle. It is an aluminum action with an insert and integrel scope rail. It has a flat front bolt (no cone). It is glued in a Stolle pattern stock (the old thumbhole with roll over cheekpiece) that was so popular for so long. It has a McMillan 14 twist barrel and .265 neck. I took it to the Super Shoot this year and drew more than a few odd looks. I only wish I would have done Pappy proud instead of stinking up the place. In his last few months, after lense implants, we would sit looking out his back sliding doors and count the groundhogs on the horse farm outback. Thanks to DJ for taking me to meet Homer.
As for his choice of cartridges, he was a fan of the 308 but in his later years he went to the PPC. When he passed his grandson-in-law, sold me his last LV rifle. It is an aluminum action with an insert and integrel scope rail. It has a flat front bolt (no cone). It is glued in a Stolle pattern stock (the old thumbhole with roll over cheekpiece) that was so popular for so long. It has a McMillan 14 twist barrel and .265 neck. I took it to the Super Shoot this year and drew more than a few odd looks. I only wish I would have done Pappy proud instead of stinking up the place. In his last few months, after lense implants, we would sit looking out his back sliding doors and count the groundhogs on the horse farm outback. Thanks to DJ for taking me to meet Homer.
Dick Wright
New member
Mark...
After Culver quit making his measure, Neil Jones made and sold copies of the Culver for years. I don't know if they were exact copies or not. One could ask Neil.
Anyway, I bought a Jones/Culver from Sinclairs around 1977 and still have it. You could borrow it and do your thing. You know where I live.
Call Neil at 814-763-2769.
Dick
After Culver quit making his measure, Neil Jones made and sold copies of the Culver for years. I don't know if they were exact copies or not. One could ask Neil.
Anyway, I bought a Jones/Culver from Sinclairs around 1977 and still have it. You could borrow it and do your thing. You know where I live.
Call Neil at 814-763-2769.
Dick
M.D.Spencer
New member
Dick
I'd say it's my turn to buy breakfast. I'll be in touch.
I'd say it's my turn to buy breakfast. I'll be in touch.