Measure Four times - Load once? More newbie questions - RCBS Pocket Scale Sucks?

[AuthenticShooter]

If your trying to reload to save cost stop right now cause that ain’t gonna happen!….If your doing it to learn how to tune a load to your rifle then go ahead on.
Wayne

Starting out the initial investment is steep but after that - primers $.09 - powder $.13 - bullets $.27 Total $.49 Ammo (when available) $.65 to north of a dollar so being new I realize I may be missing something, but to me it appears it is less costly by at least 50%?

 

[Mark W]

Starting out the initial investment is steep but after that - primers $.09 - powder $.13 - bullets $.27 Total $.49 Ammo (when available) $.65 to north of a dollar so being new I realize I may be missing something, but to me it appears it is less costly by at least 50%?

What you’re missing is the never ending rabbit hole of upgrading equipment one piece at a time over and over again…..lol

 

[bozo699]

What you’re missing is the never ending rabbit hole of upgrading equipment one piece at a time over and over again…..lol

Starting out the initial investment is steep but after that - primers $.09 - powder $.13 - bullets $.27 Total $.49 Ammo (when available) $.65 to north of a dollar so being new I realize I may be missing something, but to me it appears it is less costly by at least 50%?

my question is what is he loading that only takes 16 grains of powder? And where do you find bullets of any quality for $.27?
Wayne

 

[AuthenticShooter]

my question is what is he loading that only takes 16 grains of powder? And where do you find bullets of any quality for $.27?
Wayne

Powder was an estimate based on info from others about average number of rounds per Lb for 223/5.56 is 250, if that's a little off now worries. You may not have read the whole thread , but my goal starting out is not to have sub MOA for my red dot AR with a 3x magnifier, my red dot is only 1 MOA. I am a new shooter ( 1 yr into it) and need lots of practice. So I don't need "quality" bullets starting out. I need practice and shooting those crappy Frontier factory loads 55 gn FMJ I am right on my 1 MOA at 50 yards already. So I just bought a bunch of those 55 gn Hornady BT FMJ. I am just looking to find the load for my rifle that can improve on the SD for those loads ( 35.6 ) Then punch a lot of paper and refine my technique. Supply chain seems to be improving some right now - these are good for $.13 / bullet : https://www.brownells.com/reloading/bullets/rifle-bullets/22-caliber-0-224-55gr-fmjbt-with-cannelure-bullets-prod115430.aspx?avs|Special-Filters_1=In+Stock&avs|Caliber_1=22+Caliber&avs|Grain_1=55

 

[AuthenticShooter]

What you’re missing is the never ending rabbit hole of upgrading equipment one piece at a time over and over again…..lol

True, true....got me on that and already experiencing it ...A lot like golf and boating I guess.

 

[AuthenticShooter]

Hi folks, new to handloading and am about ready to begin my load work up. I confirmed my chrono set up by firing some factory rounds and recording them and they are in line with the FPS listed on the ammo packaging. Some great advice from members OSO and D-4297 on best practices and starting charges and I am good to go.

So I get my powder measure all set up, my trickler is primed, and my RCBS digital pocket scale is calibrated. WAIT is it? I followed the directions, got it to PASS on the calibration process. So I charge the cases ( Ar-15 223 BTW) - 5 ea starting at 24.8.

It's going along good but every now and then the scale powers down, and I go through the whole calibration process again, cuz you know I am new, and I don't wanna leave anything to chance. Something makes me check, for giggles and grins, the first 10 rounds. WHAT THE _______.! They are all over then place by at least .2 to .4 grains! So I empty em all out and start over...Long story short -I could never get the same reading twice. I could fill a case, it reads 24.8 on the scale. Put it in the rack, finish the rest, then come back and check em and they don't measure the same!

This isn't good, (Also, when I try to use then TARE adjustment it doesn't work, the scale never zeros out to allow for the powder funnel. ) So I call RCBS and the first thing the tech says to me is "have you wiped the scale with a dryer fabric softener sheet?" I'm like what no I haven't - didn't know I was supposed to. He says yeah the scale is sensitive so that helps. Then he asks me " Are you using it under fluorescent light?" I tell him yeah. He says "The scale is sensitive and we recommend using it with LED lighting." Further inspection reveals I mispoke, I do have LED lighting installed over my bench, but not in the rest of my basement. But whatever - I take my cases upstairs to the kitchen where there is normal lighting and I measure them a third time. I seem to have more consistent results this time but I am thinking to myself - "this dang reloading is becoming more and more like alchemy."

So I don't know whether to trust these measurements or not. RCBS, to their credit, after I explained the TARE not zeroing issue, is sending me a replacement scale. Has anybody else experienced problems with RCBS digital scales? Am I just snake bit on this process or what?

******Update***** Kudos and props to RCBS for their customer service. Just received my replacement pocket scale after calling them and explaining the things I listed above. After asking a few questions they shipped mt a new on no charge. Several times with things like this from RCBS and never an issue. Thank you RCBS.

 

[PigButtons]

Starting out the initial investment is steep but after that - primers $.09 - powder $.13 - bullets $.27 Total $.49 Ammo (when available) $.65 to north of a dollar so being new I realize I may be missing something, but to me it appears it is less costly by at least 50%?

The only way that calculation is anywhere close to reality is if one works for free.

 

[PigButtons]

Powder was an estimate based on info from others about average number of rounds per Lb for 223/5.56 is 250, if that's a little off now worries. You may not have read the whole thread , but my goal starting out is not to have sub MOA for my red dot AR with a 3x magnifier, my red dot is only 1 MOA. I am a new shooter ( 1 yr into it) and need lots of practice. So I don't need "quality" bullets starting out. I need practice and shooting those crappy Frontier factory loads 55 gn FMJ I am right on my 1 MOA at 50 yards already. So I just bought a bunch of those 55 gn Hornady BT FMJ. I am just looking to find the load for my rifle that can improve on the SD for those loads ( 35.6 ) Then punch a lot of paper and refine my technique. Supply chain seems to be improving some right now - these are good for $.13 / bullet : https://www.brownells.com/reloading/bullets/rifle-bullets/22-caliber-0-224-55gr-fmjbt-with-cannelure-bullets-prod115430.aspx?avs|Special-Filters_1=In+Stock&avs|Caliber_1=22+Caliber&avs|Grain_1=55

I'm "newish" to reloading and only do it as a way to get more accurate loads for each rifle I own. I still use a lot of bulk bullets and for my needs, and yours from what you list above, they will do just fine. I bought 5000 Hornady soft point boat tail bullets and they are easy to get 1/2 MOA out of most rifles with some load work.
Great to hear the RCBS took care of you.
Oh, and my 22K Hornets take about 10gr of powder so averaging out everything I shoot 16gr per round sounds close.

 

[bozo699]

I'm "newish" to reloading and only do it as a way to get more accurate loads for each rifle I own. I still use a lot of bulk bullets and for my needs, and yours from what you list above, they will do just fine. I bought 5000 Hornady soft point boat tail bullets and they are easy to get 1/2 MOA out of most rifles with some load work.
Great to hear the RCBS took care of you.
Oh, and my 22K Hornets take about 10gr of powder so averaging out everything I shoot 16gr per round sounds close.

PigButtons,
I’ve shot a lot of hornets as well, I don’t know how much you can get in a k hornet but I think I was using about 12.5-13 grains of AA1680 powder is approximately $50 per pound now, there’s 6000 grains in a lb of powder that equates to about 460ish rounds out of 1 lb of powder that’s a lot of bang for the buck!… if I ever do another hornet I’m gonna do a khornet myself
Wayne

 

[PigButtons]

PigButtons,
I’ve shot a lot of hornets as well, I don’t know how much you can get in a k hornet but I think I was using about 12.5-13 grains of AA1680 powder is approximately $50 per pound now, there’s 6000 grains in a lb of powder that equates to about 460ish rounds out of 1 lb of powder that’s a lot of bang for the buck!… if I ever do another hornet I’m gonna do a khornet myself
Wayne

@bozo699, I've never shot AA1680 but I can get 12 grains of LilGun or TCM in one. I know the K will hold more but every one of my K's starts to show pressure signs anything above 12 in either of those two. Plus I tend to like heavier bullets than typical for the hornet at 52 and 55 grains.
And not to be picky but Duckduckgo calculator says there's 7000 grains in a pound.
1 Pounds = 7000 Grains: 10 Pounds = 69999.96 Grains: 2500 Pounds = 17499989.11 Grains.
I have an ancient sporterized BSA Cadet, a 26" Encore MGM, a Contender 21" factory, and a Contender 16" 12:1 twist SSK. They all shoot well, the Encore feels more like 22LR, and they are all 'fairly easy' to load for now that I have some starting loads to work from. In the beginning I was totally lost and lost a lot of brass trying to fire form for the K's.
I'm seriously thinking about a .17 H hornet, but with supply chain issues that is on the back burner UFN.

 

[bozo699]

@bozo699, I've never shot AA1680 but I can get 12 grains of LilGun or TCM in one. I know the K will hold more but every one of my K's starts to show pressure signs anything above 12 in either of those two. Plus I tend to like heavier bullets than typical for the hornet at 52 and 55 grains.
And not to be picky but Duckduckgo calculator says there's 7000 grains in a pound.
1 Pounds = 7000 Grains: 10 Pounds = 69999.96 Grains: 2500 Pounds = 17499989.11 Grains.
I have an ancient sporterized BSA Cadet, a 26" Encore MGM, a Contender 21" factory, and a Contender 16" 12:1 twist SSK. They all shoot well, the Encore feels more like 22LR, and they are all 'fairly easy' to load for now that I have some starting loads to work from. In the beginning I was totally lost and lost a lot of brass trying to fire form for the K's.
I'm seriously thinking about a .17 H hornet, but with supply chain issues that is on the back burner UFN.

I want to get a barrel for my encore in hornet yes your correct there’s 7000 not 6 by the time I noticed it was 10 minutes after I posted didn’t feel like editing it, I had hand surgery and left hand typing is harder for me than I thought still a lot of bang for the buck.
Wayne

 

[AuthenticShooter]

I want to get a barrel for my encore in hornet yes your correct there’s 7000 not 6 by the time I noticed it was 10 minutes after I posted didn’t feel like editing it, I had hand surgery and left hand typing is harder for me than I thought still a lot of bang for the buck.
Wayne

WHOA...GET WELL !

 

[PigButtons]

I had hand surgery and left hand typing is harder
Wayne

Wow, nice paint job on the cast. Maybe you could get Bc'z to put some flames on it.

Hopefully you'll be back to normal soon