Throwing small charges

[Tozguy]

I am planning on starting to reload 9mm Luger using a powder like Titegroup or HS-6. Load charts show charges in the 4 to 7 gr area. I have never thrown charges that light and wonder if my Lyman 55 can be reasonably expected to be consistent at such a small setting. I also have a set of Lee dippers. Any guidance that you might have for me would be appreciated.

 

[spclark]

You ought to at least try it and see.

I bought a Harrell's some years back after I started reloading rifle cartridges, thinking the measure that came in the RCBS Rock Chucker kit was inadequate to the task. Trying to use the Harrell's for loading pistol cartridges like 45ACP proved Frustrating so I remounted the RCBS

Worked just fine with the Clay's flake powder I like at charge weights in the 4 to 5 grain settings.

 

[bheadboy]

The lyman 55 uses sliding sections of the rotating "cylinder" to adjust the drop size. i hve used one for years droping 2.7 bull, and 7.5gr uniq., you must be consistant in the tap at the end of stroke up and down as the
tap causes powder settleing and can change the load.

i find the RCBS and other solid cylinder with smaller "pistol" dia. adjustment are the better as they offer more consistant drop, again the tap is a serious concern. Hodgden LNL has a choice of small or large drop, as do others.

Bob

 

[GLShooter]

I have used the Lee Auto Powder measures for over 20 years to load small pistol charges. No tapping required and dead nuts on the volume delivered every time as long as you don't run out of powder. They were the only upgrade I did on the Dillon 300's I use for pistol loading.

Greg

 

[Tozguy]

Thanks for all your comments, they are reassuring. I'll give the Lyman a try once I get the powder. Eventually there will probably be a turret press and auto powder dispenser in the picture.
Much appreciate the input
Mike

 

[fdshuster]

Mike: I've been using the RCBS 'Lil Dandy powder measure for years with my very small pistol powder charges, like 4.0 grains of Bullseye for 45 ACP. Works, fast since I'm not picking up & taking the case to the powder. Cases remain in the loading block & I take the powder to the case & the charges are very consistant.

 

[artbosco]

I am planning on starting to reload 9mm Luger using a powder like Titegroup or HS-6. Load charts show charges in the 4 to 7 gr area. I have never thrown charges that light and wonder if my Lyman 55 can be reasonably expected to be consistent at such a small setting. I also have a set of Lee dippers. Any guidance that you might have for me would be appreciated.

If you plan on reloading pistol cartridges, get yourself a Hornady AP press or a Dillon press, otherwise it'll take days to load just 200 cases. You want something that will handle high volume when it comes reloading for pistols. Here are the three different style presses and why you want an auto indexing progressive for the 9mm: http://ultimatereloader.com/getting-started-reloading/types-of-presses/

Go progressive! Here's what saved me: http://www.midwayusa.com/product/679228/hornady-lock-n-load-ap-progressive-press . I usually load 200 cases at a time, with 4.5 grains of N310, for my 45 ACP and it's right on each and every time I QC the loads.

 

[bozo699]

Thanks for all your comments, they are reassuring. I'll give the Lyman a try once I get the powder. Eventually there will probably be a turret press and auto powder dispenser in the picture.
Much appreciate the input
Mike

Mike,
Any time you want rid of that old Lyman I have a RCBS I'll trade you.
Wayne.

 

[ridgeway]

I'd look into a Dillon Square Deal B. I have one set up to load 45 acp and it works flawless. You can pump out hundreds of rounds per hour.

 

[fdshuster]

Yes, you can pump out 100's per hour. I had a Dillon 450 that I used for 45ACP, only because my available time for reloading was limited by a new job. Was always very careful & always focused on quality, not quantity. It is a very well made machine with excellent factory support.

The Dillon progressive's are probably one of the reasons Star was put out of business.

When I no longer needed the higher production rate I sold the Dillon 450 to a fellow clubmember, and carefully explained to him that he must visually check to be sure there was powder in the case before he seated the bullet. I used an angled mirror so I could look down inside the case to check for powder before seating the bullet. At that time Dillon had a known problem with the powder measure slide bar sticking in the "no powder" position.

Sure enough, within 2 months, the guy destroyed a Colt Gold Cup when a bullet was stuck in the barrel because of no powder in the case.

Six months later, another clubmember also bulged the barrel on his Gold Cup. Reloads made on a Dillon 450, no powder in several rounds in a box of 50.

Great machine, but easy to get into trouble with.

At the time, some were heard to say: "I can make 250 rounds an hour". And another would say: That's nothing, I can do 325 an hour". And the claims kept increasing.

 

[golfer2b2000]

There are powder throwers, and then there are powder throwers. I use to have a lyman which did well, but then I splurged for a Harrels. Heck, he even sent me the powder thrower, and the press he sells, and told me if i didnt like them just to send them back. I didnt send him a cent till I decided I wanted to keep them. Thats cause he knows he has a great product. But I use mine to throw 22 hornet charges around 8.5 grains, and you will never regret it. Spend the money one time, and you will never look back, and you will never purhase another one ever...Its like buying a cadillac, or a cruz. They both get you to your destination, but the one will do it in much more comfort.