powder measure

[normmatzen]

I use a Lee powder measure and still weigh each load with a real scale, the old fashioned kind.
But, I can't get a consistant "throw" from the powder measure! This means I am either taking a few grains out of the pan or trickling till I am blue in the face.

What kind of measure should I be using? I would like to be within a couple tenths consistently so I can bring it up to exact with a little trickeling. ???

 

[groupshooter22]

If your using an extruded powder like Varget or 4895 or similar, its very hard to throw consistant charges. I use a Redding BR-30 and used to use a 3BR, the way they came I could not get to within 2 tenths. Being left handed the handles were on the wrong side of the measure for me to get a good flow so I turned the drum around so the handle is on the left side and that seemed to really help consistancy alot. ymmv. Other than that make your lee dump a little less and trickle your charges up. Oh yeah practice your technique and make sure you are doing it the same every time. hth

 

[Gearheadpyro]

+1 groupshooter.
I used to use the Lee Auto Disk Powder Measure for my rifle rounds when I first got started, I never could get a consistent throw out of it. With my pistol rounds (flake powder) it will throw to within .1 grain.

When using a powder measure you pretty much have to throw low and trickle up.

 

[normmatzen]

Ya, I do set low so I will have to trickle up to the proper weight. But, half the time I have to do a lot of trickling and sometimes remove a couple grains with a tweezers! There is just too much slop in the system. And, I try to throw the powder in the exact same way each time, no luck.
Is there some powder measure with just a little more accuracy than my Lee Perfect powder measure?

 

[groupshooter22]

With my Redding 3BR & BR 30 I can set them so that I do not get any over charges but some will be .3 low. I had the 3BR in the classifides but I think it was one of the posts that were deleted accedently last week. PM me if your interested and we can discuss it there.

 

[degmon]

Rather than trickle, I use an ordinary soda straw which I cut w/ a razor blade at about a 60 degree angle. I use it to scoop from a dish and tap it gently to add, or use it as a scoop to remove excess from the scale pan. Works great for me.

Dennis

 

[Rust]

I spent awhile figuring out how to set up an RCBS Chargemaster to throw good charges, that way I don't have to trickle 60 or 120 rounds of match grade ammo. Still have the old 10-10 balance beam but it's been in the storage cabinet for a few years now.

Consistancy hasn't been a problem, works well enough to get repeatable single digit ES/SD numbers provided I pay enough attention to annealing and neck tension.

Can't say I miss throwing and trickling powder, especially IMR 4198 in small charge weights.

 

[ForneyRider]

Using a short cut powder helps. Varget and R22 didn't do well in powder measures.

Try the Lee scoops and trickle method with a digital scale. Works pretty fast for rifle loads. The scoop will get you very close, then you trickle the last bit in.

Lee disk and Perfect Powder measure work great for the price using flake and ball.

 

[BIGGUNGOBOOM]

Try taking the scale apart, meaning remove the pan, arm ,and holder form the base. And next time you wife or you run the dish washer, put those parts on the top rac of the dishwasher and let them run threw the cycle, you may just have a dirty magnetic bar, that is messing with the balance. I do this every couple months

 

[tenring]

Best powder measures are the Harrell's and Neil Jones. I have a Harrell's and still trickle up. In the end, it will save time.

 

[Skeeter]

I agree with tenring.

I have a Harrels and a PACT the PACT throws very accurately however the Harrels is much faster for larger runs.

 

[ForneyRider]

If you get the Lee dipper set and a digital scale, you can make a pretty decent self-propelled Chargemaster. My RCBS doesn't do pistol loads very well, so I got the dipper out and trickle the rest in using the scale only. Wasn't bad for 50 rounds of plinker 45 ACP with W231.

AA 2230 works great in the Lee Perfect powder and Auto Disk. I ran a lot of powder through to graphite coat the innerds. Then practice your technique. I also tap with a small paintbrush or pencil.

Varget looks like it was cut with dull knife and snags a lot. Benchmark is short cut and does well for a rifle powder on the fast side. For Magnums, I always trickle, as IMR 4350 and R22 were too frustrating in a powder dropper. I haven't tried the SC and SSC IMR powders or H4350/4895 stuff.