Powder Measure

[Richard Coody]

I recently got reacquainted with my Harrell powder measure. I have decided to try it for a while and see if i can simplify my loading procedures. It sure is simple and fast. Picked up my rhythm pretty fast. Like riding a bike.

Anyway just.wondering how many here use just.a.powder measure without trickling up on a.scale?

Sure you use a scale to set up the charge but after that just thrown charges. If you know your.clicks do you just use that.setting?

 

[edwardware]

Depends on what I'm loading. Stick powders, and whisker-shaving max-accuracy cartridges get trickled. For everything else, I set my Uniflow, and throw them.

 

[Big Mc]

I recently got reacquainted with my Harrell powder measure. I have decided to try it for a while and see if i can simplify my loading procedures. It sure is simple and fast. Picked up my rhythm pretty fast. Like riding a bike.

Anyway just.wondering how many here use just.a.powder measure without trickling up on a.scale?

Sure you use a scale to set up the charge but after that just thrown charges. If you know your.clicks do you just use that.setting?

I have tried it. Did not work for me. But if you get that warm and fuzzy feeling. Go for it. Just my two cents Tommy Mc

 

[Cap'n]

Depends. I trickle every rifle charge (but I don't load machine gun fodder for an AR). For pistol I use mainly ball powders and check at least every 10th on a scale. I maintain powder resevoir height as I've found that to be sensitive for coarser or larger grain powders. I record powder measure micrometer settings and have created powder curves for my Redding 3BR measure, but I don't ever rely on the powder curve for anything other than a starting point.

 

[JFrank]

@Richard Coody
Which Harrell’s measure are you working with

 

[Richard Coody]

@Richard Coody
Which Harrell’s measure are you working with

Harrell premium 6 clicks

 

[marchboom]

Once I find a consistant load I find the click setting on my Redding BR-30 and throw the charges from then on. This is for varmint hunting, not benchrest shooting.

Then I spend time learning to dope the wind. Makes a much bigger difference on varmint hits than a tenth of a grain of powder.

 

[RegionRat]

When the planets align... I can find an application where the charge node is so wide that throwing works well enough to help with bulk loading.

Some Prairie Dog loads are like that. When the bullets tend to be lighter and the shots are inside 400 yards, you can often get lucky and the load tuning shows a wide enough node that the spread from a thrown charge doesn’t affect the POI or group size. That really depends on the charge sensitivity and application. Ammo that falls in this category tends to be the stuff that doesn’t require tight velocity stats to group well.

Loads done on progressive machines should be in this category or else they are charged by a method that bypasses the powder measure on the progressive. I am able to throw what I call short line ammo for Service Rifle loads. Those are only for the 200 and 300 yard line, but hold inside the X ring for group size when tested for 10 shot groups.

 

[Lucky Shooter]

I have the 6-click Premium and love it-----primarily for the repeatability
when returning to previous settings.

IMO the Harrell is no more nor no less accurate that the Redding 3BR or the
RCBS Uniflow when actually throwing charges-----a technique must be developed to maximize consistency between charges. I'd like to be able to
brag about the greater powder-throwing consistency but experience hasn't supported this.

I usually make and test a spreadsheet for each container of powder, print it and attach it to the container for use at the range or at home. Usually the scale is no longer needed for this particular container of powder-----for my unsophisticated reloading and shooting.

I've also used this process with the 3 BR and it worked pretty well within
the limits of eyeball accuracy but the Harrell/s repeatability and predictability are much better.

A. Weldy