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Post by 161 on Feb 21, 2009 19:57:07 GMT -5
Does anybody set their powder drop measure at home with a scale then take the measure to the range instead of weighing every charge?
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Post by Richard on Feb 21, 2009 20:10:43 GMT -5
161.......Depending on the powders and what my intentions are.
With a good powder measure, such as the Harrell's or some of the other top name benchrest measures with micrometer adjustable settings, along with small grain, short grain powders, it works great. I mentioned my intentions.......what I mean is this; If I am working up a load and want to see velocities and about how well it shoots, the measure will do great. If I am loading for a match (Centerfire of course), I will weight my charges on my RCBS Chargemaster scale. For the Savage ML, a good powder measure will work fine. If your powder measure can throw charges within a couple of "tenths" of a grain, it will be more than good enough. Most of the powders used in these ML's are short grain and throw very well.
Richard
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Post by Harley on Feb 22, 2009 17:08:52 GMT -5
I'd never do what Richard does. It's not because I think he's wrong; it's just that it leaves to chance what a granule or two of powder variance might or might not do. I just wouldn't be happy.
I have the same Chargemaster combination. It's easy enough to weigh precise amounts of powder in every grain weight I think I'll want to try, then load 100 different vials to take to the range in my carrier.
Harley
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Post by Richard on Feb 22, 2009 17:28:41 GMT -5
Harley.........if you ever went to a short range bench rest match (100, 200 and 300 yards) you would see just about 99% of the shooters reloading after each target/group. What you will not see, is anyone using a powder measure! Everybody but everybody charges their cases from a quality powder measure. The only reason we do not use a powder measure (generally) in long range bench rest is because a few fps in velocity relates to lots of verticle ant 600 and 1,000 yards. Those few fps difference in velocity at the shorter ranges mean about nothing! I just got finished loading up three different loads for my .22 Br. using N-135. My Harrell's powder measure will throw charges + or - .1 to .2 grain. I am using two old Lyman powder measures to throw 10 gr. N-110 and 10- gr. 5744 charges. Every charge is right on the money. Weighting charges for our ML's, with the short grained powders we use, is a waste of time. Just my opinion!
Richard
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Post by joe21a on Feb 22, 2009 17:56:22 GMT -5
I have used different (RCPS,LYMAN,DILLON) brands powder drop and when I do my random check they are right on. In order to get a consistent drop you also need to be consistent. Always do it the same. Anything different you do will change the amount of powder you dispense.
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Post by Harley on Feb 22, 2009 18:00:10 GMT -5
Richard, if you re-read my post you'll notice I didn't say you were wrong, I said, in effect, I'm just too compulsive to do it your way. That's all.
Harley
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Post by herman on Feb 22, 2009 19:06:46 GMT -5
I weigh every load I shoot I figure I need all the help I can get to hit the dot.
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Post by Harley on Feb 22, 2009 20:06:49 GMT -5
Herman, one advantage to weighing everything you put down your barrel is you immediately notice the added weight of the ramrod BEFORE you shoot it.
Harley
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Post by Dave W on Feb 22, 2009 22:34:10 GMT -5
Even though my experiences tell me Richard is right, I could never shoot like that, I would be full of doubt before I ever pulled the trigger. Confidence plays too much of a role when it comes to shooting.
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Post by youp50 on Feb 23, 2009 6:15:03 GMT -5
My powder measure has a piece of masking tape on it that I write weights and powders for the micrometer setting. I normally weigh 10 or 12 loads for the ML. Even with the numbers from the last time it is difficult for me to get it to throw the exact weight I want in only 10 loads so I normally throw and trickle up for half the loads. For as few as 10 loads it is probably more efficient to just get close and trickle. If I am not using the measure for anything else I will leave it on the setting and expect to throw good charges next time. I spot check the weights of the thrown charges after I feel confident it is set correctly.
I think using the measure saves time.
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Post by rrbou on Feb 23, 2009 10:30:14 GMT -5
I agree with Richard. I do not weigh every charge for my cartridge rifles either. Just check 1 in 5 or 10 depending on the cartridge. For the 10ml I use the charge master so I weigh every one .
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Post by Harley on Feb 23, 2009 10:39:01 GMT -5
Youp50, for more than 30 years I did what you describe: throw, then trickle into a scale. I rarely was able to hit a load on the nose when throwing a charge: my stroke would vary, the powder was compacted differently in the hopper, or I caught a powder granule during the throw. All that changed with the Chargemaster combination. It rarely makes an error. The downside is that it is expensive at around $300 for the two parts.
Harley
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Post by edge on Feb 23, 2009 10:51:34 GMT -5
Until I got the Chargemaster I would throw a charge from my Lee cheapo and weigh it on my 5-0-5 scale. My worst powder was 3031 and you could feel it cutting granules, but 7 out of 10 throws were within 1/10 grain. I never trickled, I left the top open and dumped it back. If I had a Harrells I'm sure that I would be confident....but I am anal so maybe not  Since they cost more than my Chargemaster I'll stick with what I have and live with the beeps. I have not taken the Chargemaster to the range but know that some folks do. With the windscreen up I assume that it works fine. edge. With the thrower, I found that I needed to fill the hopper, and run 5 or 10 loads to settle the powder before it stayed consistent. You also need to keep the level in the powder hopper or the loads would start to wander. |
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Post by Harley on Feb 23, 2009 11:41:20 GMT -5
Edge, "live with the beeps"? I didn't know it beeped; another reminder of the passing years.
Harley
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Post by smokeeter on Feb 23, 2009 11:49:08 GMT -5
Edge, "live with the beeps"? I didn't know it beeped; another reminder of the passing years. Harley Harley, how many beeps are you presently at? |
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Post by Harley on Feb 23, 2009 12:09:04 GMT -5
smokeeter, three score and ten.
Harley
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Post by savagebrother on Feb 23, 2009 12:32:41 GMT -5
well i have been doing this for 8 years going on 9, used an rcbs powder measure for a lot of that time then discovered that those cheap lee powder measure throw pretty good loads. they are so cheap i just buy one for the powder i am using and tape it and mark it then just throw a few loads and i am ready to start loading the m/l. you will find that as long as you are above the pressure threshhold for a paticular powder its going to shoot good all other things being right too. my load for my ruger no. 1 .45 cal. is thrown from one and at .75 inch to 1 inch groups what can you say.
sb
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Post by TGinPA on Feb 23, 2009 15:40:08 GMT -5
sb: I'm with you regarding the Lee Measure. A friend of mine published what I thought were carefully done comparisons of ten measures in Precision Shooting maybe ten years ago and as I recall, the Lee Measure was one of them. If I remember correctly, he concluded that there isn't much difference between measures and that consistent technique (in measure use) is probably more important. I don't believe he was able to get the Harrell measure to throw to .01 gr precision. But I can't remember which powders he used in his comparisons.
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Post by savagebrother on Feb 23, 2009 19:16:36 GMT -5
your right tginpa its really more about being consistent with your throw. that being said i just keep using them and the deer keep falling lol!!!!
sb
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Post by rbinar on Feb 23, 2009 20:23:21 GMT -5
I'd never do what Richard does. It's not because I think he's wrong; it's just that it leaves to chance what a granule or two of powder variance might or might not do. I just wouldn't be happy. I have the same Chargemaster combination. It's easy enough to weigh precise amounts of powder in every grain weight I think I'll want to try, then load 100 different vials to take to the range in my carrier. Harley I would have lost a whole lot of time at the scales without this great reloading tool. I know I gave $300 for my RCBS but without it I would have spent 10 times more on energy and effort. |
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Post by Richard on Feb 23, 2009 21:07:30 GMT -5
TGinPA.........I changed my post after just re-reading it. Not .00 but rather .0. Tenths of a grain. I agree that most of the mesures will throw consistently when you have your method down correctly. But even at that, a couple of tenths of a grain "off" is not that big a deal particularly if you are just working up a load. If you want to weight for your hunting loads, that fine. The Thing with the Harrell's is that the setting are just so repeatable. I have plastic bottles with powder and a lot of my common settings. I can just screw on the bottle, then tap and shake it vigoriously, throw about for or five charges and pour back into the bottle and I am good to go. I do it all the time in my shop and after that forth or fifth throw, I weight one and it is either dead on or only a tenth or less off. Works for me.
Richard
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Post by DBinNY on Feb 23, 2009 22:49:00 GMT -5
If you want precisely weighed charges but don't want to fool with a trickler or an expensive automatic charger, just set a regular thrower to dispense slightly more that you want. Throw the charge into the pan, place it on the balance beam and take a small flat bladed screw driver and remove a few kernals of powder at a time until you are at the desired weight. I find this much faster and easier than fooling with a trickler and you don't have to empty the trickler when you are done. It is surprisingly quick and easy to weigh out a few loads this way. If you feel this is unneccesary then suit yourself.
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