Recommendations for Tweezers for precision charges

[Lapua40X]

... It can't hurt and it makes me feel better.

And that my friend, is all that matters.

 

[Panama Evans]

Methinks he pulls your leg. Seriously, I doubt if one can see the effect of one kernel of Varget more or less. If my scale was not capable of registering the difference, I wouldn't mess with it. However, since it can and I really don't know how many kernels would cause a discernible difference, I weigh and correct the load to the individual kernel. It can't hurt and it makes me feel better.

Lol yea I just figured out the honing part lol. Now as for the kernels, as they say the proof is in the pudding

 

[Panama Evans]

I agree to the feeling better, lol I have to agree with the speed issue. I've learned that faster isn't always better. Not to say it doesn't have its place, but it has to prove its self. I know like most the main variable is the person. I just want to know in my mind I've done all I can to my abilities to reduce the variables, and work on myself as well. For me it's a wonderful feeling to know I get out what I put into things, not to mention seeing the faces on let's say people who don't like women at shoots being beat by my sweetie. It's even better when they make sexiest comments then have to walk away with their tails between their legs. Yup my sweetie holds that title at a range I won't mention. Lol no body treats my sweetie with disrespect.

 

[hogpatrol]

For an even more precise powder weighing and measurement, check out this article. Informative section on drilling individual kernels.

http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com...-uniforming-for-ultimate-long-range-accuracy/

 

[savagedasher]

For an even more precise powder weighing and measurement, check out this article. Informative section on drilling individual kernels.

http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com...-uniforming-for-ultimate-long-range-accuracy/

Cutting Them with a lighted match works .
Happy New Year. Larry

 

[MrBottleneck]

For an even more precise powder weighing and measurement, check out this article. Informative section on drilling individual kernels.

http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com...-uniforming-for-ultimate-long-range-accuracy/

HeHe Hagpatrol.
That last quote in the highlighted area from that link too me is just hilarious.

Is it worth the huge investment of time to drill your powder kernels? That’s a question each reader must ask himself. But if you know the competitor on the next bench over has uniformed his kernels, can you afford not to do the same? Sometimes the extra effort is worth it, just for the peace of mind you get knowing you’ve done everything possible to achieve “ultimate accuracy”.

 

[Panama Evans]

For an even more precise powder weighing and measurement, check out this article. Informative section on drilling individual kernels.

http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com...-uniforming-for-ultimate-long-range-accuracy/

Wow that is incredible. I can't even imagine drilling out each kernel to .05 tolerance weight, but with results like that who can argue. I don't think I will go to that extreme, but heck who knows lol thank you for the article. What an eye opener.

 

[hogpatrol]

HeHe Hagpatrol.
That last quote in the highlighted area from that link too me is just hilarious.

Is it worth the huge investment of time to drill your powder kernels? That’s a question each reader must ask himself. But if you know the competitor on the next bench over has uniformed his kernels, can you afford not to do the same? Sometimes the extra effort is worth it, just for the peace of mind you get knowing you’ve done everything possible to achieve “ultimate accuracy”.

There's one small detail in that article that defines its intent.

 

[MrBottleneck]

There's one small detail in that article that defines its intent.

Yes, I realize its a April fools joke.
Its still funny as heck though. LoL
The bright side to the story is I just saved Panama money. He doesnt have to go buy that micro drill set. LOL

 

[Panama Evans]

There's one small detail in that article that defines its intent.

I have to agree. We only got our rifles in the middle of last summer, and since then I've been working on various aspects based on goals. Our inital goal was to achieve 1/2 moa at 600yrds, and by the second shoot we accomplished that. Since then having only three shoots under our belts for the season I'm working on fine tuning the brass, loads, and the rifles. This past few months has been dedicated to testing each part of the process, and adjusting accordingly. See we are both on disability, and with fixed incomes. So needless to say I do what I can within my budget. Our season starts back up soon, and even though my goals aren't set yet, I will have them soon.
I'm just thankful for the wealth of knowledge here.

 

[snert]

Do a search for 'AA tweezers'. I found a pair (General tool brand) at a local Ace/True Value hardware store; otherwise Amazon and other places on the 'Net can provide.

Used to use a seed planter tool - designed for picking up one or two tiny seeds at a time, for planting or other purposes (apparently some seeds are *really* expensive...). Worked pretty well, but the AA tweezers are way faster.

Off topic, but I once watched a cabbage farmer save six little seeds in his pocket from a pod that was missed...learned it was his own "creation" and his 600 acre farm proved it. I guess good things come in small packages!

 

[butchlambert]

Until I get my powder kernel uniformer going I'm doing something else. I think we agree that different size kernels of the same powder burn different. I bought lab grade brass sieves from McMaster-Carr. You can then sift your powder and segregate this way.

 

[DHD]

Believe it or not, I read this whole thing. Now I'm going to segregate the granules by color and weight. I'll need tweezers, a large magnifying glass (gotta be careful as I don't want to ignite them), a power modulator (can't have power spikes), and ......

I doubt I'll ever get this 5 minutes back, but I was entertained. Thanks for that.

Happy New Year, and April 1st is right around the corner.

 

[memilanuk]

To each their own. I run an AutoTrickler hooked up to my Sartorius GD-503, and before that an Omega Dandy trickler w/ the GD-503. I sure as heck don't use the tweezers to trickle up to weight - but when the powder clumps up a little bit during the trickling and goes just over my target setpoint... the AA tweezers make it relatively fast and easy to reach in and grab one or two kernels, confirm the weight, and move on.

When I had an open-top scale (AccuLab VIC-123) I would pick up the pan, pick out one or two kernels of Varget, H4895, H4350, etc.(surprisingly easy to do with a little practice) and put the scale back to confirm the weight. Then I had people spazzing out about me contaminating the powder with the oils from my skin. It's not like I change the oil in my car first and then go fingering thru the powder pan.

The glass hutch on the GD-503 helps protect the scale platen from stray air currents, but it does restrict access somewhat, and reaching my ham-fisted mitt in there more than absolutely necessary is a recipe for spilled powder Hence, the tweezers.

 

[JohnKielly]

I tear a leaf shaped piece out of a cheap paper bag, fold it thru the point & use that as a shovel to move a kernel or kernels in & out of the pan. They're not durable; I gradually wear the end I grab it by away, but the current one's been going 2 or 3 years, so it's not going to bankrupt me.

 

[hoz53]

My most improvement comes from honing inside and outside of my necks to 50 millionths. I'm working on a device to segregate powder granules to a specific size.
Anything to increase accuracy.

I'm working on a machine to count the granules--forget about this grains stuff- that will be obsolete . This machine will even cut granules if required by the long range guys. As in 576.5 grn(granules for short)

 

[hogpatrol]

For those with lab grade precision scales, a few questions. Do you set up in a dedicated room and shut off any vents, close the windows or otherwise make it airtight to prevent any anomalies in weighing? Do your charges weigh the same today as they did yesterday on the same scale in the same place? Does your charge weight change at different atmospheres (barometer, temperature and humidity adjusted)? Do you calibrate each loading session?

 

[rardoin]

For those with lab grade precision scales, a few questions. Do you set up in a dedicated room No...same room and shut off any vents, close the windows or otherwise make it airtight to prevent any anomalies in weighing? I only have a window AC and shut it off as air currents affect readings Do your charges weigh the same today as they did yesterday on the same scale in the same place? They do...dead nuts...to the kernel Does your charge weight change at different atmospheres (barometer, temperature and humidity adjusted)? Not that I have experienced Do you calibrate each loading session? Every few weeks...tare out a couple of times over 80 or so weights

This is with a Sartorious Entris64. I close the left shroud as much as I can and still have the trickler tube not touching anything. I weigh with the right shroud open to place and remove the pan. I had a granite table made resting on neoprene pads that is separated from the loading bench by a 1/4" so I can seat bullets while the autotrickler is finishing up a charge and not have the vibrations disturb the balance. Overkill??? Perhaps but I had similar tables for precision balances and ultramicrotomes in a former life and I had a lighter duty version made at a very reasonable price. I would suggest isolating a precision balance if you are doing work with a press at the same time as weighing; a well made wooden table would work fine.

 

[jlow]

For those with lab grade precision scales, a few questions. Do you set up in a dedicated room and shut off any vents, close the windows or otherwise make it airtight to prevent any anomalies in weighing? Do your charges weigh the same today as they did yesterday on the same scale in the same place? Does your charge weight change at different atmospheres (barometer, temperature and humidity adjusted)? Do you calibrate each loading session?

Hogpatrol – I’ve used precision scales for 40 odd years both at work and at home for reloading. Good precision scales like the GP250 and FX-120i are not that terribly finicky and is not affected by atmospherics as long as you treat them with care – a few things to look out for is to put them on a solid surface, make sure they are level/steady not rocking on their feet, let them warm up for 30 min, do calibration before every use, keep significant wind away, and control static.

I do reloading in the basement and there are vents down there but they are shut off and only leak a little. A larger weighting surface scale like the FX-120i is going to be a little more sensitive to wind (like when you move your arm around it too fast) but not terribly so. I keep 3 of the 4 sides shields up and cover 2/3 of the top with the supplied lid and I am just fine.

There is no day to day variation. In fact, I remember pulling loaded rounds and checking powder weight just for giggles and the charged weight is accurate to the 0.02 grain.

This stuff is tried and true tech and have been for a long time.

 

[rardoin]

In fact, I remember pulling loaded rounds and checking powder weight just for giggles and the charged weight is accurate to the 0.02 grain.

My experience as well...It will repeat down to 0.02...within a kernel of the powders I use. My experience with a Gempro 250 was not as jlow related...In fairness I gave up on it quickly and did not attempt to get it sorted out.