Powder Measures, What is the best

[madfishsteve]

I have started to reload my own cartridges and now want to try and progress and improve. At the moment I am trying to get my powder loads more consistent and would appreciate and suggestions. I am using a uniflow powder measure and when I weigh the loads on my digtal scales I seem to get anything up to a grain different on some of the loads.

Is it something that I am doing wrong or is it the equipment. Does anyone have any suggestions? Is there a better powder measure out there any suggestions, help would be appreciated.

[snowz]

Always throw your powder light an trickle to desired weight on scales never just throw powder into a case without weighing exactly on scales.

 

I use beam scales others use digital each to there own tho but always weight them an check before putting in the case.

 

RCBS do great beam scales aswell as digital ones also look at targetmaster trickler I know a few people with them now an they are very impressed also layman DPS digi powder dispensers are good but can be rempremental to temp an drafts

 

Hth Richard

[seeker]

is it the measure or the scale?,

[seeker]

is it the measure or the scale or your technique ... ? before you get into a spending spree work out whays happening,

A measre can throw an accurate vokume if you're consistent.

A scale should weigh what's on it.

Maybe there's another reloader near you who can show you the ropes?

[Rem223]

A whole grain is a large variation in a small case. What are you loading for? I tend to get around 0.1gr variation using a Redding powder measure and RCBS digital scales. There seems to be more variation with stick powders compared to ball or flake. I would try and borrow a set of beam scales to compare results and eliminate the cause of the variation.

[Vince Green]

Powder measures are never going to be 100% consistent. You have no control over the way the grains stack up inside the measure. Modern stick powders especially are going to be variable. Thats why you weigh powder charges for best accuracy

[garyb]

I used to be able to throw very accurate charges when I had an RCBS uniflow.

 

I found that the method you use to throw, could vary the thrown charge.. the key is consistency - I used to tap twice at the top of the stroke, and twice at the bottom.

 

Used to throw charges that we're easily +- 0.1grn from my target charge.

 

These days I have a digital Chargemaster setup - and I love it.

[njc110381]

I used to be able to throw very accurate charges when I had an RCBS uniflow.

 

I found that the method you use to throw, could vary the thrown charge.. the key is consistency - I used to tap twice at the top of the stroke, and twice at the bottom.

 

Used to throw charges that we're easily +- 0.1grn from my target charge.

 

These days I have a digital Chargemaster setup - and I love it.

 

 

That's what I do. First off when I load my thrower (only a cheap Lee thing) I tap the hopper of powder maybe 20-30 times to make sure the powder is really settled. Then I pull the handle, tap twice and throw, tap twice to knock out any stuck bits.

 

I found that without tapping the hopper at the start the first few loads will be light and the tapping of the measure when throwing will slowly compact the powder. You only have to do it at the start, then just do the two taps on the up stroke and two taps on the down each time.

 

I throw to within .1grn with the right powder. With larger rounds (40+ grains per load) I will happily just throw the powder straight to the case after a careful setup with the scale. I check one in ten to make sure all is going ok. For my Hornet though a .1 variation is enough so I check each one. It only takes 13 grains at max load.

[seeker]

The problem I had with the electric scales was their willingness to go walkabout ... like +/- 0.9 gn .... slightly annoying.

Because the scale was 'zeroed' with an empty pan I picked up the error when I lifted the pan off: the minus figure was variable.

At least with a beam scale I know I have the same weight for each load and it does not go outbacking on me. And I also throw and trickle if necessary.

On the shotgun loader the bushing stays within +/- 0.3 max variation which if just fine

[garyb]

Before I switched from Balance scales to my Digital scale setup... I check weighed almost every charge thrown by the Chargemaster with my Redding balance scale.

 

It so was spot on, I've long since sold the balance scale on ebay! Some of the cheaper digital options may vary, but mine certainly dosent.

Edited November 18, 2010 by garyb

[madfishsteve]

I would just like to say thanks to all the people that have replied and certainly given me food for thought. I will continue with the uniflow and try some of the suggestions above before I start to spend any more money.

[Vermincinerator]

I am going to throw a spanner in the works by saying that bench rest shooters dump charges straight from the powder measure.

They do however use BR spec powder measures which are allegedly more precise then the run of the mill measures.

 

I use a Harrels but to be totally honest it is no more consistant then the Redding i used to have, however from what has already been brought up, technique will enable you to throw charges to plus or minus a tenth of a grain, which is all you need for ranges up to and including the point blank range of your chosen cartridge.

 

After that when dialling in or hold-over are required, extreme spreads need to be kept to a minimum and this is the time to start using scales and a trickler.

 

Ian.

Edited November 19, 2010 by Vermincinerator

[cooter]

I used a balance beam scale for the first year I was reloading, but I use a charge master combo now.

 

The only thing the charge master used to do is over throw occasionally.

I learnt to not remove the pan straight away, but let it return to show the discharged weight, then if it was over I just put it back in the hopper and let it run again.

 

Someone posted a link on speeding up the charge master, and there is a tip on there on using a macdonalds straw to stop the over throw.

I tried it and it hasn't missed a beat since.

 

 

http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/2008/12/tech-tip-how-to-speed-up-your-rcbs-chargemaster-1500/

[macca]

Hi,

I have a lyman digital scale/powder thrower unit. Very accurate and very fast for nitro loads. For my 40/65 sharps I use a redding benchrest thrower and then trickle onto a digital scale. BP cartridge loads far more critical than nitro. For small grain powders such as benchmark the redding benchrest thrower will give you very accurate charges.

Cheers