weigh or throw powder charge
- Thread starter doug290
- Start date
I weigh all of my rifle reloads and measure all of my pistol reloads. Part of the decision is volume of shooting, part of the decision is expected accuracy and part is pure convenience.
Small granules measure much better than "big" ones. Consequently, I tend to weigh all loads utilizing powders that don't drop consistently from my measure and spot check loads using powders that do.
That said, a large number of highly competent bench rest shooters use high quality measures when loading their match reloads. But, then, there are many others who weigh every charge.
Pick the technique that works for you.
Cort
Small granules measure much better than "big" ones. Consequently, I tend to weigh all loads utilizing powders that don't drop consistently from my measure and spot check loads using powders that do.
That said, a large number of highly competent bench rest shooters use high quality measures when loading their match reloads. But, then, there are many others who weigh every charge.
Pick the technique that works for you.
Cort
Every reload for my competitive rifle is weighed. Everytime I shoot it, even a practice session I'm measuring the results. I want to know as much as I can about how that particular round was put together so I can make sense of the end result.
Have an AR that I love to shoot for fun. It's accurate and I like to hit what I'm aiming at but 1 or 2 MOA doesn't upset me. After checking the powder measure by weighing first few charges the rest go straight down the drop tube into the case. If I'm doing a big batch at one time I will weigh occasionally just to make sure it's still throwing what it should.
If you go with measured method make sure you try to do it the same way each and every round. A bump at the top or bottom, speed you move handle, etc. Would also recommend a powder baffle. They're pretty cheap to buy or use a washer to make your own. They seem to help keep things consistent.
Have an AR that I love to shoot for fun. It's accurate and I like to hit what I'm aiming at but 1 or 2 MOA doesn't upset me. After checking the powder measure by weighing first few charges the rest go straight down the drop tube into the case. If I'm doing a big batch at one time I will weigh occasionally just to make sure it's still throwing what it should.
If you go with measured method make sure you try to do it the same way each and every round. A bump at the top or bottom, speed you move handle, etc. Would also recommend a powder baffle. They're pretty cheap to buy or use a washer to make your own. They seem to help keep things consistent.
I just about weigh everything.. but check pistol every five.
Doug, you did not say what you are loading for, hunting, casual target, or comp. for hunting, i set up my scale, powder measure and throw, checking ever 5-6 drop, except when trying to find THE load for that rifle, bullet,primer combination,
for casual target, i do the same, when competing, piston, i drop them,when competing with rifle i weigh them.
as said above, the ball, and short cut powders are more consistant then the stick one out of a measure.
Bob
for casual target, i do the same, when competing, piston, i drop them,when competing with rifle i weigh them.
as said above, the ball, and short cut powders are more consistant then the stick one out of a measure.
Bob
Good quality powder measures are remarkably accurate.
I have been throwing all charges for decades.
With one exception. Varmit rifle loads where the goal is 1/2 MOA accuracy are weighed.
For some test results on thrpwn charges see:
http://www.reloadingtips.com/reviews/hornady-powder-measure.htm
I have been throwing all charges for decades.
With one exception. Varmit rifle loads where the goal is 1/2 MOA accuracy are weighed.
For some test results on thrpwn charges see:
http://www.reloadingtips.com/reviews/hornady-powder-measure.htm
Weighing/throwing is one of the areas of modern shooting that is hard to quantify. Most of the IBS/NBRSA records were set by guys using loads that were thrown. Some OT's I've talked with didn't even know how many grains their load was, only how many clicks on the Harrell's. Weight vs. volume has been debated for a long time.
I have thrown all charges for many years in my small cases (.223, PPC, BR) with all powders finer than Varget. From Varget up I have to weigh to get true consistency, but only on a beam scale to a tenth. For my own use, I cannot outshoot a tenth of a grain. The wind, mirage, bench manners and old eyes are all variable enough to erase any margin from weighing charges for me.
I have thrown all charges for many years in my small cases (.223, PPC, BR) with all powders finer than Varget. From Varget up I have to weigh to get true consistency, but only on a beam scale to a tenth. For my own use, I cannot outshoot a tenth of a grain. The wind, mirage, bench manners and old eyes are all variable enough to erase any margin from weighing charges for me.
I started hanging around the benchrest crowd last year, shot my first match this past March. Of course, everyone on the line throws their charges.
My only contribution (and question) to this discussion is this:
I bought a harrels measure after seeing a friend's on the line. It was a significant upgrade from the redding I was using to say the least.
With N133, I cant throw a consistent charge to save my life. Yes, I can get the same weight a few times, but clearly my technique is not there and that is completely reflected. So really, what I have to say here is that a thrown charge is only worth what the operator can put into it. In my case, a thrown charge will never be better than a charge I weigh simply because I can not operate the measure consistently enough. Give me twenty years though and we can revisit this...
My question however is this:
Given the guy that has been throwing for 20 years and can actually work the measure to throw exactly the same volume every time, just like all the PPC guys drilling .20 aggs on weekends. When you measure THOSE throws, that are consistent for volume, what is the variation in weight for ten charges? Yes, this has been debated for ever, however I dont ever recall seeing any kind of technical data on the deviation that I think would be worthy of discussion.
Looking at the success of the 100 yard volume throwers always makes me wonder on what kind of SD is permissable with weighed charges at the same range. But again, Im not there with the harrels yet, so Im throwing under and trickling up. Its based on that activity and seeing a different weight come out of the measure every time that I make this post...
cheers.
My only contribution (and question) to this discussion is this:
I bought a harrels measure after seeing a friend's on the line. It was a significant upgrade from the redding I was using to say the least.
With N133, I cant throw a consistent charge to save my life. Yes, I can get the same weight a few times, but clearly my technique is not there and that is completely reflected. So really, what I have to say here is that a thrown charge is only worth what the operator can put into it. In my case, a thrown charge will never be better than a charge I weigh simply because I can not operate the measure consistently enough. Give me twenty years though and we can revisit this...
My question however is this:
Given the guy that has been throwing for 20 years and can actually work the measure to throw exactly the same volume every time, just like all the PPC guys drilling .20 aggs on weekends. When you measure THOSE throws, that are consistent for volume, what is the variation in weight for ten charges? Yes, this has been debated for ever, however I dont ever recall seeing any kind of technical data on the deviation that I think would be worthy of discussion.
Looking at the success of the 100 yard volume throwers always makes me wonder on what kind of SD is permissable with weighed charges at the same range. But again, Im not there with the harrels yet, so Im throwing under and trickling up. Its based on that activity and seeing a different weight come out of the measure every time that I make this post...
cheers.
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