Harrell's powder throw accurate for UBR and bench rest?

[ttfreestyle]

i just received my Harrell's br powder thrower and ran about 100 charges through it verifying the charge with my Scott Parker scales. The average runs from one tenth heavy to one tenth light. Is this accurate enough for UBR 100, 200, and the occasional 300 yard matches? I have been weighing each charge and trickling to the grain but am hoping to speed the process up some since my wife and I are both shooting now. Thanks for any replys.

 

[varminthunter1]

Many good shooters are winning with thrown powder charges. I use a Harrells measure as well. Most ppc rifles can be tuned to a node that is wide enough to accout for some margin of error.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Yes itll be fine. 90% use a harrels premium measure. You can get better accuracy with practice with a scale- try pausing at the top of the stroke and not banging the stops. Also remove the brass baffle inside- the brass disc with the hex hole in it. Simply unscrew it and try that. Pour slow and exactly the same each drop and itll become second nature

 

[ttfreestyle]

Ok removed the baffle and didn't bang the stops, MUCH better! Thanks guys. My loading just got alot better.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Keep it up youll be surprised how good you can do once you figure out the individual measure. Youll see you dont need a lab scale to shoot out to 300

 

[Jr Rigsby]

Keep it up youll be surprised how good you can do once you figure out the individual measure. Youll see you dont need a lab scale to shoot out to 300

How does a RCBS Chargemaster compare to Harrell's in accuracy

 

[BoydAllen]

It can maintain its accuracy independently of the type of powder being thrown, which no powder measure can. Also, it is not technique sensitive. On the other hand, I continue to manage quite well without one, throwing powders that can be thrown, and using a tuned balance scale and trickler for those that cannot to achieve greater charge consistency than either a measure alone, or a Chargemaster. For most shooters that load at home, are good to go with charges that are +- .1 gr. the Chargemaster is very good option to consider for single stage loading. For loading at the range, my Harrell's Deluxe will stay in my loading kit. For the powders that I typically use there, it is very convenient, and with practice I am able to throw charges of satisfactory consistency.

 

[Patch700]

I have to agree with boyd except for one problem I have with the chargemaster.... It still uses an rcbs scale , which I do not trust.

The chargemaster dispenses what the scale tells it to.. I have compared dispensed loads from a chargemaster directly to my A&D fx120i and it was enough for me to say no thanks.

 

[BoydAllen]

For what distance? What did you find?

 

[Fotheringill]

Without laboratory equipment (which I ain't gonna get) there is a huge range of what you can wind up with as a measured charge. +/_ .1 grains on any electronic system. I have the Chargemaster and it is better than any other electronic system I have used. That being said, if you want a drop of 23.7 grains of Varget, you can have a spread of 12 kernels. 4 kernels for .1 under, 4 kernels for on target and 4 for .1 over. If you are loading on the edge of hot, you are going to hear a "rubbing" sound when seating which is compressing and crushing the kernels which can give you other problems. So, right off the bat, you can have a spread that is going to give you a problem at longer ranges.

 

[Patch700]

For what distance? What did you find?

I should have specified , I originally compared the two using N-133 .. If i remember correctly , According to my notes a 28 grn dispence from the chargemaster would vary between 27.79 and 28.20 (verified on the fx120i).... When I am throwing the same powder from my harrells in the same enviroment I can keep those numbers closer together when checked on the fx120i ... That was enough to tell me I'd pass on trusting the scale rcbs uses.

Although I can't throw larger stick powders (H4350- N-550) to that degree of accuracy from my measure i in that case weigh and trickle.

In all fairness i should also mention that when I shot that day it was a somewhat difficult day to keep the gun in tune throughout the day... So wether or not I was seeing it on paper due to the charge or from the ambient conditions I couldnt say for sure but my gut tells me it was partly in due to the charges (@300yds).

 

[BigBlueandGoldie]

I would say it depends on your powder. My Harrell's is all over the map using IMR4350 and RL15.

 

[waldo1979]

I've been told that consistency in how you operate the handle matters. Also, when i use a powder throw i do a little double tap at the top-end to make sure all the powder has come out. Also, extruded powders are going to throw less accurately than spherical powders.