More practice with the measure, and success

[BoydAllen]

If there is one thing that I have learned about running a powder measure, it is that you have to practice after a long layoff. Tonight I managed 20 consecutive throws that had an extreme spread of weights of exactly .20 grain...with H4895. The technique that I used was a close variant of the first one that I found I could hold that tolerance with 133 with, some years back. I also learned something which is not to live or die over any result from my current digital scale, which is better than many of the inexpensive ones, but requires "tareing" much too often, and which can change its mind after appearing to settle on a reading. I used the total weight of pan and powder rather than zeroing the scale with the empty pan on the platen. The pan weighs 146.48 and the charges ran from 177.47 to 177.67. Actual charge weights varied from 30.99 to 31.19 grains. This is not easy, but with patience, practice, the right measure and technique, it can be done. If anyone does not like the sample size.....I will refund your price of admission ;-) One scale division of this measure, with this powder is worth .085 gr. The plan is to throw charges at the range for load development at 100 yards. I am aware of the implication of this standard for long range.

 

[josh shrum]

Boyd,

I do the same thing with my scale (FX 120i), pan weight plus charge weight. I have found that over the course of loading up to 200 rounds, I almost never need to re-zero the scale (maybe once, per load session, usually not at all).

I usually hang a slip of paper above the scale for reference, after 100 or so rounds I usually find myself starting to check the paper... maybe I need to start taking a ginkgo supplement.



I also did an experiment/trial similar to yours using my Bruno's Powder Measure. I dropped 100 charges, using the same 30 BR case every time, and weighed them to see just how accurate the Bruno's Measure was.

For the most part, it would hold to 0.1gr, but the occasional heavy or light load took the total variance up to about 0.3gr .

This was not always reflected in the height of the powder in the case either.

 

[BoydAllen]

What powder did you use to test the Bruno's measure?

 

[tn6br]

If there is one thing that I have learned about running a powder measure, it is that you have to practice after a long layoff. Tonight I managed 20 consecutive throws that had an extreme spread of weights of exactly .20 grain...with H4895. The technique that I used was a close variant of the first one that I found I could hold that tolerance with 133 with, some years back. I also learned something which is not to live or die over any result from my current digital scale, which is better than many of the inexpensive ones, but requires "tareing" much too often, and which can change its mind after appearing to settle on a reading. I used the total weight of pan and powder rather than zeroing the scale with the empty pan on the platen. The pan weighs 146.48 and the charges ran from 177.47 to 177.67. Actual charge weights varied from 30.99 to 31.19 grains. This is not easy, but with patience, practice, the right measure and technique, it can be done. If anyone does not like the sample size.....I will refund your price of admission ;-) One scale division of this measure, with this powder is worth .085 gr. The plan is to throw charges at the range for load development at 100 yards. I am aware of the implication of this standard for long range.

What method do you use for dropping charges? (bump the stops etc)

 

[josh shrum]

What powder did you use to test the Bruno's measure?

VV N130, the powder that I compete with.

 

[johara1]

If there is one thing that I have learned about running a powder measure, it is that you have to practice after a long layoff. Tonight I managed 20 consecutive throws that had an extreme spread of weights of exactly .20 grain...with H4895. The technique that I used was a close variant of the first one that I found I could hold that tolerance with 133 with, some years back. I also learned something which is not to live or die over any result from my current digital scale, which is better than many of the inexpensive ones, but requires "tareing" much too often, and which can change its mind after appearing to settle on a reading. I used the total weight of pan and powder rather than zeroing the scale with the empty pan on the platen. The pan weighs 146.48 and the charges ran from 177.47 to 177.67. Actual charge weights varied from 30.99 to 31.19 grains. This is not easy, but with patience, practice, the right measure and technique, it can be done. If anyone does not like the sample size.....I will refund your price of admission ;-) One scale division of this measure, with this powder is worth .085 gr. The plan is to throw charges at the range for load development at 100 yards. I am aware of the implication of this standard for long range.

One problem in practicing throwing powder...... you do it enough you might want to throw it away, you cut the kernels enough to change the burning rate. short cut H4895, I have 6 different lots and none are the same. Maybe if you chop it up enough they will get closer..... BTW, that would be +-.1.... that is super with a powder measure and stick powder...... jim

 

[tn6br]

I throw vv n120 and lt32 through a harrells br measure with great consistency

 

[BoydAllen]

The LT powders are a piece of cake. I don't remember working with 120 but I do know that 130 is easier than 133. H4895 is a lot more challenging. I think that I did the first write up on the Harrell measure with the roller/needle bearings back in the late 90s and have one since then. I picked one of my SAECOs because I think that for this, it might be better. When I get time I will try the Harrell. It is what I normally use at the range.

 

[tn6br]

I have thrown some varget and its rough

 

[Stan Taylor]

The LT powders are a piece of cake. I don't remember working with 120 but I do know that 130 is easier than 133. H4895 is a lot more challenging. I think that I did the first write up on the Harrell measure with the roller/needle bearings back in the late 90s and have one since then. I picked one of my SAECOs because I think that for this, it might be better. When I get time I will try the Harrell. It is what I normally use at the range.

Well Boyd I am going to Whitehorse an shoot a 600yd IBS match tommorow an I dropped every charge of H4895 out of my Homer culver never weighed a kernel on a scale I will give a report good or bad.

 

[BoydAllen]

Neat! I look forward to reading your results. Good luck at the match.

 

[Stan Taylor]

Neat! I look forward to reading your results. Good luck at the match.

Well Boyd here is what it is we didn't have the turnout that I wanted but we had rain an I respect that in light gun I shot 105 Berger vld in the match the gentleman that beat me in light gun weighs his loads on the high dollar Satoriuos scale an seats on a pressure type seater but I am happy with what I did.PS I did shoot small group of day.PS I was shooting 205 federal primers today with 31.1 grains of H4895 in the 6mm Bra.

 

[Stan Taylor]

Boyd all the years I have shot long range I have been told by the best a good barrel an really good bullets makes you or breaks you regardless of how you load them.

 

[BoydAllen]

Stan, I believe that for most types of competitive shooting that it takes both, a good barrel and careful loading. Thanks for sharing your results.