Powder measures....???

[JMayo]

I use a lee to drop. 100.00 dropper.
Then trickle up. I weigh to the kernal.

I do look at the others and slobber kinda forms but i know they won't do much better if any than my lee.

Waiting on the ingenuity to get here.

 

[SteveOak]

When you do electronics there are things in the background one can't see. When working in the machine trades for years and a tolerance was off on a critical and very expensive part we would get a double check with manual mics. The manual mics always won that contest. The readout on a digital maybe say a tenth of a grain. Maybe yes, maybe no, but definitely maybe.

That is why your scale should display one more digit than the accuracy you are looking for.

You want to throw 29.6gr of Varget? Your scale needs to read 0.00gr

 

[searcher]

I used a Chargemaster and a Harrel's hopper a lot. I finally gave the Chargemaster to a buddy as he needed a scale, as I found I was always faster using the Harrell's and trickling up (with my fingers) using a separate electronic scale. Most of my varmint loads are shot using "semi-course" powders. I wish I had a good load for using 10X, Tac or one of the other "super fine" powders, as I'd just dump straight from the Harrel's hopper to the case. If you are using a very fine powder, dumping charges straight from the hopper is the fastest method. You will likely remain within 1/10th grain as long as you keep the hopper at least 1/2 full at all times. Not as accurate as trickling on a good electronic scale - but plenty good for varmints. As far as hoppers go, I doubt there are any (much) more accurate than the Harrel's.

That said, the latest models of the Chargemaster are faster and more accurate than my old one. Back around 4 months ago, I put my name on the list for the Ingenuity Precision latest hopper and scale setup. I HATE charging cases. I look for the easy button too.

 

[Fire Dog]

I used a Chargemaster and a Harrel's hopper a lot. I finally gave the Chargemaster to a buddy as he needed a scale, as I found I was always faster using the Harrell's and trickling up (with my fingers) using a separate electronic scale. Most of my varmint loads are shot using "semi-course" powders. I wish I had a good load for using 10X, Tac or one of the other "super fine" powders, as I'd just dump straight from the Harrel's hopper to the case. If you are using a very fine powder, dumping charges straight from the hopper is the fastest method. You will likely remain within 1/10th grain as long as you keep the hopper at least 1/2 full at all times. Not as accurate as trickling on a good electronic scale - but plenty good for varmints. As far as hoppers go, I doubt there are any (much) more accurate than the Harrel's.

That said, the latest models of the Chargemaster are faster and more accurate than my old one. Back around 4 months ago, I put my name on the list for the Ingenuity Precision latest hopper and scale setup. I HATE charging cases. I look for the easy button too.

I too on the wait list for about 2 years so hopefully a notice of delivery by the end of the month…
Just adding the Ingenuity Precision trickler unit to my first series AutoTrickler has speeded up the throw time and reduced any over/under throw and of course that means to .00 grains that the A&D 120 scale will weigh, one granule of Varget = .02 of a grain.

 

[bobinpa]

Again, thanks for the opinions. As I'm reading between the lines, I still don't know what to do. I am pretty quick at using a "dipper" and throwing on my own then trickling up on a beam scale. Just for laughs I timed myself for 10 charges and I average 30 - 40 seconds per charge.

If I am going to use a Harrells to throw and trickle up, I don't think I would benefit from the Harrells. If the Harrells would throw accurately enough to just throw the powder and seat a bullet then I would get one, but it doesn't sound like it would using a coarse stick powder.

An electronic dispenser would be quicker for sure but I'm not sure how much and if they are as accurate as I would like. I would give up a touch of precision if it was considerably faster....

For those of you that use the RCBS Chargemaster or similar, how fast are they? 15 seconds per charge? 20 seconds per charge? Which is the most accurate? Are they better than they were 6-8 years ago? I sold mine because I knew I could do better on a beam scale, but maybe they have come around since then.

 

[RabbitSlayer]

I have thrown 1k or so charges on my chargemaster light with xterminator, n133, and h4350 and trickled on my creedmoor. It is surprising how well it does. Occasionally it overthrows with h4350.

 

[jpjulian]

I am using an Autotrickler V4 these days but when I was still competing in Highpower I loaded thousands upon thousands of .223 loads on a Hornady Projector progressive with a Redding BR3 measure on it. Plenty accurate enough with RL-15 and 77-80 MK's for High Master scores across the course. For a PD hunt and the hundreds of rounds you'll want for the trip, do you really want to trickle? H-335 & TAC load pretty much spot on for me for .223 varmint loads.

 

[hoz53]

Which is faster, a manual like a Harrells or an electronic (RCBS, Lyman, etc)??

Which is more accurate? Manual or electronic?

Just thought I'd ask for a couple opinions...

one thing this thread has got me thinking is mabie i should give up on my AD120 and V3 trickler. for accuracy loads i throw lite with a redding and let it trickle up. i dont think i could get tha accuracy out of my M5 i get out of the AD. i set mabie grain or so low to trickle up and it takes about a minute per load. like nettle says though Im always thinking about the electronics .

 

[jds holler]

My volume loading (squirrel shooters), are with 218 Bee, 20-222, 22 BR, and .223. For every one of those, I'll frequently sit down and load 100 + shells. The thought of weighing each charge is a no-starter for me.

Powders I use are BLC-2, IMR4227, H335, H380, -- and lately I've started the Creedmoor thing, and been using Staball 6.5.

I use a Uniflow measure with the small cavity, and all these powders will drop with 0.1 accuracy. My squirrels are OK with that. jd

 

[marchboom]

Reallocate the time used to dump the powder and then trickle up, to practice shooting in the wind. Being able to read the wind will contribute more to hitting squirrels than .1 of a grain deviation in a powder charge. When loading up 400+ rounds for G.S. hunts I use a Redding BR 30 measure and do not neck turn. Return on investment just isn't there.

 

[Gabe22BR]

A&D- ingenuity trickler-
3-4sec drops 30.24grs - to the kernel

 

[jds holler]

Reallocate the time used to dump the powder and then trickle up, to practice shooting in the wind. Being able to read the wind will contribute more to hitting squirrels than .1 of a grain deviation in a powder charge. When loading up 400+ rounds for G.S. hunts I use a Redding BR 30 measure and do not neck turn. Return on investment just isn't there.

Aint that the truth. I can think of a half dozen things that give me larger groups or missed shots and it sure ain't the +/- .1 grain of powder thing. jd

 

[marchboom]

Just for kicks, load up 10 rounds with .1 of a grain of powder over your target load and 10 rounds with .1 of a grain under your target load and see what your results are. Chances are it is not a big deal but at least you will know. Then you can decide where to devote your time (and money).