Powder Measure issues (Neil Jones)

[Scotsman1]

Good day all,

I have a Neil Jones measure. (Lyman 55 style) Several months ago, I noticed it had started throwing variations +/- (.2-.6) give or take...
I took it apart and cleaned it. It wasn't dirty, but gave it a good "once over", anyway.
Put it back together and it ran smoothly. But still the variations!
Regardless of powder (spherical or extruded), 133, 4895, 322 or BLC-2, it doesn't matter, still, same old crap!

Example: I will set up and throw 2-3 charges of 30grs of N133 with no problems, and have a slight variation of +/- (.1) Fine, that's acceptable.
BUT, then one or two charges later, it may have thrown 30.7 grs. ( Completely Unacceptable)
Without the "clicks" even being moved. The adjustment dial stays the same.

I took it apart again, nothing in the rotator, dials are tight and free moving. The "clicks" fall perfectly into sink. No slack in the spacing...
Tried it again, and I'll be damned, again, +/- (.3-.5)

I checked all thrown charges on three different scales that have proven accurate readings continuously and all show the same variations.

Any advise welcomed,

Thanks guys,
Sean Sullivan

 

[Lapua40X]

Re: owder Measure issues (Neil Jones)

I don't use N133 personally but, if I understand it correctly, it's a pretty fine fast burning powder and, in my experience, fine powder is very difficult to measure with a powder measure like the one you're using. When I load fine powder I usually rely on my scale and measure each load individually.

 

[LHSmith]

Did you change the mounting method since it is throwing off? ...i.e. switched from a rigid stand to a tool box mount?
have you made sure the drop tube is bottomed to the measure?

 

[Thud]

One of the things that I found out with the powder drops is the level of powder in the resivior mustbe atleast 1/2 to 3/4 full to get any kind of consistant masurement.

 

[SmokinJoe]

I would try treating the measure for static electricity using a dryer sheet (Bounce) & powdered graphite. First, wipe all the interior surfaces that you can get to with the dryer sheet. Then squirt a good bit of the dry graphite into the hopper with the handle up, then shake it around really well, then dispense the loose graphite into the trash. Try throwing some charges again & see if they are more consistent.

 

[BoydAllen]

Static electricity can have a big influence, as can fill level, and the rigidity with which a measure is mounted. Recently I have been spending a lot of time working with several measures, and based on that work, I favor old powder bottles that have a lot of color on their insides, filled about 1/3 full, not mounted on any sort of powder measure stand, but rather to a less convenient stout metal bar, clamped directly to the bench top, with a heavy C clamp...combined with a lot of testing of operation technique. Another thing that has been found to influence how soon a measure settles into stability is the direction that a setting is approached, the preference being to come down to any setting, rather than up. Of course it is always to throw 15 or charges back into the hopper any time the measure is first set up, and a couple after it has sat for a while. IMO if you don't practice quite a bit with with a very good scale, you are probably going to see variations that you won't like. As to 133 being fine, it is not, but rather it is at the upper edge of the particle size range that can be thrown acceptably well, and IMO that is the reason that Chargemasters have come into use, for loading at the range, during short range group matches. LT 32, 322, and benchmark are all easier to throw, but of course there is not prize for the most consistent powder charges.

 

[hotrodlouie]

The lyman 55 uses a baffle inside the reservoir, don't know if the model you have uses a baffle could help if one is missing, easy to make one.