reloading speed versus accuracy

[kuduman49]

I want to load 600 rounds of 204 ruger. I use a RCBS chargemaster 1500 for all my other calibers as I try to load to BR standards. I will be using 4895 powder. Question ,,, If I use a Harrell's BR Premium Measurer to help speed up the process, am I going to be more than a .1 gr off of my desired load ??? This is my prairie dog load and will shoot out to 500 yds. I would easily purchase such a measurer if it sped up the process but do not want to sacrifice my accuracy. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated and thank you for your time in responding.

 

[LHSmith]

There is no measure made that will be accurate to 1/10 th grain with any powder. The very best a 30 year veteran BR shooter can do is 2/10th's....and that's with a finer powder than 4895. Also, the consistency in powder measures comes from a uniform throwing technique which takes time to master.
FWIW, many short range BR matches are won with five 5 shot groups averaging ~ 0.160" at 100 yds.....with thrown charges varying as much as 3/10 grain.
In all honesty, the wind/ mirage effects will overshadow ANY accuracy advantage loading to1/10 grain......there are so many other variables , like case volume, bullet uniformity...etc..etc... that will have greater effect.

 

[slm9s]

I have an assembly line set up, size/deprime on one press, prime, pour powder from chargemaster, seat bullet on 2nd press, repeat.

By the time the next one is primed, the chargemaster is ready.

 

[Lapua40X]

I have an assembly line set up, size/deprime on one press, prime, pour powder from chargemaster, seat bullet on 2nd press, repeat.

By the time the next one is primed, the chargemaster is ready.

Where do you clean and check primer pockets?

 

[K22]

For me, a long range varmint hunter, quality always trumps quantity.

Never fails, when I rush things mistakes happen.

 

[MK 19]

I enjoy the process of crafting my handloads as much as I do shooting them, so I take my time every time. I sold my Dillon RL-550 after I loaded 1000 Rds of 38spl on my Rock Chucker in a week. To me time sitting at the bench is quality time, plus I find it much more rewarding with every shot knowing that it was loaded with such care. I do use a RCBS Charge Master for setting charge weights, but I set it short and trickle up.

 

[brian427cobra]

Sounds like somebody needs a Gen2 Prometheus, I can charge and seat 200 rounds in 1 hour, all with to the kernel accuracy, order it now so next year you'll have it.

 

[stubbicatt]

I have a Harrells measure, and I am surprised at the consistency I obtain with it. I set it light and trickle up to the final charge weight for my accuracy loads, but each time I set the powder pan on the scale it seems to be within .2 grains. This using RL 15.

When I load for my 308 blaster using ball powder I just throw charges, as with ball powder the Harrells is very very consistent.

YMMV

 

[stool]

quite unusual to get 0.2 with a powder like rl15 in a thrower. tests have shown this is not normal at all.
accuracy trumps speed everyday.
same answer i gave the last guy gempro 250 with a dandy omega trickler....

I have a Harrells measure, and I am surprised at the consistency I obtain with it. I set it light and trickle up to the final charge weight for my accuracy loads, but each time I set the powder pan on the scale it seems to be within .2 grains. This using RL 15.

When I load for my 308 blaster using ball powder I just throw charges, as with ball powder the Harrells is very very consistent.

YMMV

 

[TimP]

Sounds like somebody needs a Gen2 Prometheus, I can charge and seat 200 rounds in 1 hour, all with to the kernel accuracy, order it now so next year you'll have it.

I have to agree the Gen2 Prometheus is the fastest most accurate way to weigh your charges. I procrastinated for quite awhile prior to purchasing mine and now regret not purchasing it sooner than I did. It is expensive but if you break it down you are looking at a cost of about $10.00 per month over the 25 year lease. But the speed and most importantly the "to the kernel accuracy" is invaluable!

 

[CatShooter]

I want to load 600 rounds of 204 ruger. I use a RCBS chargemaster 1500 for all my other calibers as I try to load to BR standards. I will be using 4895 powder. Question ,,, If I use a Harrell's BR Premium Measurer to help speed up the process, am I going to be more than a .1 gr off of my desired load ??? This is my prairie dog load and will shoot out to 500 yds. I would easily purchase such a measurer if it sped up the process but do not want to sacrifice my accuracy. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated and thank you for your time in responding.

This has turned out to be a thread on weighing power...

... but back to shooting PD's.

You can be anal about weighing power, but it will do you no good - under the conditions that PD's are shot, heavy wind, heavy mirage, lack of accurate range information, loads that are within +/- 2/10ths will suffice.

If you want to spend $600 to $3,000+ to measure powder, then have at it.

I mostly shoot crows and woodchucks in New Engand, and the conditions are mostly very easy, so I do the "Full Monte" on my cartridges.

The first time I went out to shoot dogs, I (and my partners) spent months preparing carefully neck turned cases and weighed loads.

In the first 3 hours on the flats of Canota, we all realized what a bunch of wasted time - we could have run the ammo on a Dillon 1050 with new factory cases, and never seen any difference.

Enjoy the shooting - it is addicting.

 

[ShootDots]

I shoot PD's up in Dalhart, Texas... If anyone knows anything about West Texas, you know the wind there is just short of Gale Force most of the day... On those days, it is shoot, have your spotter tell you where you hit>>IF he can find the landing of the shot, and shoot again.. However, I remember one fine weekend we were out there and there was not even a PUFF of wind>>>The heat waves were going straight up! What a day! I actually took aim at a PD "out there somewhere" and guessed at the range... I guessed somewhere in the vicinity of "slightly north of 500 yards".. I had my .257A.I. sighted at 300 yards so I aimed "a prairie dog and 1/2 high" >>> to be honest, who knows what that actually means "out there"!! LOL!! Nevertheless, I shot.. During the recoil I saw the PD flying Up, UP, UP in the air!! That was the only way I knew I hit him! So I walked over to him and "paced" it back to the truck>> 508 paces>>> Now I am 6'2" with long legs>>> I don't know exactly how far he was >> BUT He was the longest "ONE SHOT" hit in my life! I have shot at them out over 800 yards, only to blow dirt in their faces! LOL!! Those guys that regularly shoot PD's and get ONE SHOT hits at 1000+ yards is more of a "good guess" just as mine was at considerably less distance!!

 

[snert]

This has turned out to be a thread on weighing power...

... but back to shooting PD's.

You can be anal about weighing power, but it will do you no good - under the conditions that PD's are shot, heavy wind, heavy mirage, lack of accurate range information, loads that are within +/- 2/10ths will suffice.

If you want to spend $600 to $3,000+ to measure powder, then have at it.

I mostly shoot crows and woodchucks in New Engand, and the conditions are mostly very easy, so I do the "Full Monte" on my cartridges.

The first time I went out to shoot dogs, I (and my partners) spent months preparing carefully neck turned cases and weighed loads.

In the first 3 hours on the flats of Canota, we all realized what a bunch of wasted time - we could have run the ammo on a Dillon 1050 with new factory cases, and never seen any difference.

Enjoy the shooting - it is addicting.

I agree with Catshooter. There was a great article, I believe by Barnsness in Handloading about a year ago, regarding throwing vs trickling. Look it up and read with an open mind. Then if you can shoot in the wind and mirage at unknown distances, with a hot barrel, in new atmospheric conditions, within 1/10 grain of powder, i will give you all my guns, cause you are superhuman.