beginner powder measuring your suggestions..

[Road_Clam]

So i currently have my cases all cleaned polished, sized and primed. I still need to trim just waiting on my Lee trimming tools. My question is what method of powder distribution shold i use? I have the RCBS powder measure hopper and i also have a beam scale. Which would be better for me now?

 

[Scott Harris]

Both the tools you currently have are useful and effective. How you use them depends on your shooting discipline and expectations . Since you are on a precision shooting website, many will advise you to use the powder thrower to dispense a charge slightly under your target weight and then trickle up to the final charge on your balance beam scale. Omega makes the best trickler available.

 

[MK 19]

When I first started I used a beam scale and a trickler, I found that to be much more accurate then a powder measure, especially with extruded powders. Now I have upgraded to a electronic powder dispenser with a trickler function

 

[allenj]

For me it really depends on which powder I'm going to be using. For ball powders I like using my RCBS Uniflow powder measure. Once set I check every 10th throw to ensure accuracy. For extruded powders I have a RCBS Chargemaster, nothing like a little automation to make things easier

 

[stool]

you will most likely have to deprime your cases to use the lee case length trimmers..they pilot on the flash hole.
just PUSH them out with your fl sizing die or a decapping die. save and re use if they do not fall apart.

use the rcbs hopper to dump a close charge, and then using the scale bring up to full charge...

NOTE everytime you add powder to the pan on the scale, touch the pan and make it move and resettle...

else you may not like the results of your loads,

 

[Lapua40X]

I also use the RCBS powder measure. As long as your rhythm remains consistent that should work well for you. I would concur with the suggestion that you dump a short load, weigh it and trickle up.
Even though I can't make a judgement on who makes the "Best" trickler available, the Omega is electronic and runs in the neighborhood of $80 when you tack on delivery charges. There are other, less expensive, tricklers that will do the job quite nicely for about a third of that price. I often use the RCBS trickler (see image below) and find it to be quite satisfactory. Of course, if money is no object and you want something electronic, RCBS has one at twice the cost of the Omega.
Are you using new brass or fired brass. I ask only because you mention you're new to reloading (so I figure you don't have a lot of your own fired brass) and I'm not convinced that trimming the cases is necessary. Have you measured the case lengths to see how they compare to specs? A Wilson case length gauge is a great tool to make quick and easy work of determine proper case length.

 

[Road_Clam]

you will most likely have to deprime your cases to use the lee case length trimmers..they pilot on the flash hole.
just PUSH them out with your fl sizing die or a decapping die. save and re use if they do not fall apart.

use the rcbs hopper to dump a close charge, and then using the scale bring up to full charge...

NOTE everytime you add powder to the pan on the scale, touch the pan and make it move and resettle...

else you may not like the results of your loads,

Absolutely correct !

I got a bit too ahead of myself. I didn't know the LEE arbors protrude out the primer hole. I only had about 15 casings primed. No biggie. I am also amazed at the varied OAL of brass between manufactures. Some were as little as 2.010, and others upwards of 2.028 . I trimmed to 2.004-2.006 I eventually got pretty good at feel/removal. I only had to toss 3 undersize casings out of 50. I think for now i'm going to use my RCBS powder measure to keep things simple and convienent. Once I really have a firm grip on the process, then migrate over to more precision beam scale measures. Thank you for the input!

 

[stool]

some powders measure well, others do not .
why not tell use your powder and we can help out on how to measure.

you will most likely have to deprime your cases to use the lee case length trimmers..they pilot on the flash hole.
just PUSH them out with your fl sizing die or a decapping die. save and re use if they do not fall apart.

use the rcbs hopper to dump a close charge, and then using the scale bring up to full charge...

NOTE everytime you add powder to the pan on the scale, touch the pan and make it move and resettle...

else you may not like the results of your loads,

Absolutely correct !

I got a bit too ahead of myself. I didn't know the LEE arbors protrude out the primer hole. I only had about 15 casings primed. No biggie. I am also amazed at the varied OAL of brass between manufactures. Some were as little as 2.010, and others upwards of 2.028 . I trimmed to 2.004-2.006 I eventually got pretty good at feel/removal. I only had to toss 3 undersize casings out of 50. I think for now i'm going to use my RCBS powder measure to keep things simple and convienent. Once I really have a firm grip on the process, then migrate over to more precision beam scale measures. Thank you for the input!

 

[jonbearman]

Make sure you set the scale at all zero's and adjust the foot till it reads in the direct centerline of the scale at the end of the beam.If you dont level the scale you could have a terribly dangerous overload.

 

[Road_Clam]

Success ! My first batch of .308 168 gr. SMK's . Very pleased overall. And in hindsight rule #1 i learned : "YOU DON'T RUSH RELOADING" ! So here's my specs and findings. I loaded to 45.5 grains. I was dumping anywhere from 45.4 to 45.6 measured with a Dillon digital scale . I scaled approx 15 random rounds while getting a feel for the repeatability of the RCBS powder measure. The only struggle really was the final bullet seat depth. My initial depth was way off. My initial OAL was 2.715 . So after re-reading the instructions, and re-adjusting the die depth I got much closer. Took about 4 rounds to nail a depth of approx 2.814. WhereI'm also a newer precision .30 cal shooter i'm pretty sure these rounds will surpass my shooting skills ! Hopefully send out some lead tomorrow ! Thanks again for all the help, my load session went relatively smooth 8)





If you are wondering what that bench is , it's a motorcycle lift, super sturdy, and adjusts up to 54" high, doubles perfectly as a hand loading work station !

 

[Patch700]

If you get yourself a comparator from someone like hornady you will be measuring closer to the actual ogive as oposed to the tips of the bullets... Perhaps this is why your COAL #'s have discrepencies.

Regarding reloading tools , if it's something you feel you'll truly enjoy doing and plan to stick with it , buy the best you can afford once.. Cheaper in the long run I've found. Great idea with regards to the loading bench by the way.

Best of luck.