correct powder level

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murf

murf

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my brother came up a couple weeks ago for easter weekend (he is a high school spanish teacher and gets good Friday off). among the various firearms brought along was a, new to him, 38-44 heavy duty that needed shot. well, I had no ammo for my combat masterpiece as an accuracy comparison is necessary. for accuracy, the only load is a 148 grain hollow-base wadcutter with 2.7 grains of bullseye powder.

but I can't tell the difference between 2.7 grains and 5.4 grains of powder in the 38 special case. so I marked off 2.7 grains on a .346" diameter pin gauge by dropping the 2.7 grains of bullseye into the case, lowering the gauge on top of the powder and scribing the pin with a red sharpie. after filling all 50 cases in the loading block, I, first, looked in each case with a flashlight to make sure all cases were filled. then, I took my pin gauge and stuck it down the hole to make sure I didn't double charge the case.

0504190817a.jpg 0504190818.jpg 0504190818a.jpg

one case has no powder, one has 2.7 grains, and one has 5.4 grains. I can't tell which has no grains or 2.7 grains, but I can sure tell which has 5.4 grains.

I have also used this method to determine the powder level in a 45acp case to make sure I wasn't compressing the powder in a load I developed for a 265 grain swc bullet.

0504190745.jpg

the cartridge/bullet on the right is the 265 grain load that fires and functions well in all my 45acp pistols. the slightly different 270 grain swc cartridge/bullet does not function in my pistols. anyway, the gauge was used to make sure the powder charge had plenty of room in the case.

and the reason for this post is to try and alleviate anyone's concern with loading small amounts of powder in cavernous cases.

murf
 
:confused:

I am confused?? You made a manual powder cop?

I thought that was the reason for that Dillon Scale in the background??
 
yes, to prevent seating a bullet atop a double charge. I charge all fifty cases first then seat the bullet.

murf
 
If you reloading using a loading block I am guessing single stage. Are you using a manual powder measure? If so seems like a bit redundant.?
Put the case upside down, turn over fill and then go on to the next one. Or keep the empty brass in another container.
Guess I am missing something, it is not hard to see the difference in 2.7 and 5.4 grains of BE.?

But whatever.:)
 
murf said:
my brother came up a couple weeks ago for easter weekend (he is a high school spanish teacher and gets good Friday off). among the various firearms brought along was a, new to him, 38-44 heavy duty that needed shot. well, I had no ammo for my combat masterpiece as an accuracy comparison is necessary. for accuracy, the only load is a 148 grain hollow-base wadcutter with 2.7 grains of bullseye powder.

but I can't tell the difference between 2.7 grains and 5.4 grains of powder in the 38 special case. so I marked off 2.7 grains on a .346" diameter pin gauge by dropping the 2.7 grains of bullseye into the case, lowering the gauge on top of the powder and scribing the pin with a red sharpie. after filling all 50 cases in the loading block, I, first, looked in each case with a flashlight to make sure all cases were filled. then, I took my pin gauge and stuck it down the hole to make sure I didn't double charge the case.

View attachment 839813 View attachment 839814 View attachment 839815

one case has no powder, one has 2.7 grains, and one has 5.4 grains. I can't tell which has no grains or 2.7 grains, but I can sure tell which has 5.4 grains.

I have also used this method to determine the powder level in a 45acp case to make sure I wasn't compressing the powder in a load I developed for a 265 grain swc bullet.

View attachment 839816

the cartridge/bullet on the right is the 265 grain load that fires and functions well in all my 45acp pistols. the slightly different 270 grain swc cartridge/bullet does not function in my pistols. anyway, the gauge was used to make sure the powder charge had plenty of room in the case.

and the reason for this post is to try and alleviate anyone's concern with loading small amounts of powder in cavernous cases.

murf
Click to expand...
"one case has no powder, one has 2.7 grains, and one has 5.4 grains. I can't tell which has no grains or 2.7 grains, but I can sure tell which has 5.4 grains."
The pin may be stopping where the web thickens in the one with 2.7 grains, not touching the powder at all.
If true, the pin would hit the same place in the case with no powder.
just a thought,
:D
 
Interesting technique. What does this step contribute to your reloading process?
 
If your present method of charging cases with powder has brought you to this method of checking the accuracy of your charges I would highly recommend finding a different way of charging your cases.
 
murf said:
yes, to prevent seating a bullet atop a double charge. I charge all fifty cases first then seat the bullet.

murf
Click to expand...
If you are charging cases while in a loading block (you should be), try this...
After charging the cases, stand up and look down into the cases in the loading block, under a bright light, and place an upside down bullet in each case after a visual individual case powder check, ie see powder/place bullet, see powder/place bullet for each case.
Now to seat/crimp the bullets, take one out of the loading block and into the shell holder.
The upside down bullet verifies your powder check and will prevent any powder from spilling out during the transfer to the shell holder.
Once in the shell holder, turn the bullet over and seat it, done.
Just something I do when loading with a single stage press/using loading blocks.
:D
edit: I have tried most all other routines mentioned here but have found what I described as the fastest/safest method.
Another benefit is after the visual check/upside down bullet placement is a good place to stop/pause loading, without loosing your place.
 
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I can understand wanting to ensure you haven't double charged any cases, I'm simply uncertain of how one can double charge a case so easily when loading with a single stage.

My technique when using the single stage press has always been to take my primed cases and drop them loose into a bucket. You pick a case from the bucket, drop a powder charge and place the case in the loading block. Repeat until you've charged all of the cases you want. (I usually do blocks of 10-25.) Then shine a bright light into all of the cases to visually verify powder charges. Once satisfied, proceed with bullet seating.

I do this with rifle cases and used to do it with pistol rounds. These days my pistol ammo tends to get loaded on an auto-indexing progressive press.
 
I think it is a useful method if you have trouble seeing the difference between a tiny amount of powder vs a tiny amount more in the bottom of a tall case.
The pin is likely sticking in the web on the empty cases, but since you check visually for no charges is not a big deal.
Your process as described works.
The way my vision is going I may be doing something similar soon.
Thanks for sharing.
 
Rule3 said:
Put the case upside down, turn over fill and then go on to the next one. Or keep the empty brass in another container.
Click to expand...
that would do it, thx. the obvious is right in front of you for years and habit keeps the idea hidden. been putting all 50 cases in the block right-side-up forever. thanks for the wakeup.

murf
 
Tilos said:
If true, the pin would hit the same place in the case with no powder.
just a thought,
Click to expand...
already figured that out. that's why the first step is to look in the case w/flashlight to check for no powder.

thx,

murf
 
wanderinwalker said:
I can understand wanting to ensure you haven't double charged any cases, I'm simply uncertain of how one can double charge a case so easily when loading with a single stage.

My technique when using the single stage press has always been to take my primed cases and drop them loose into a bucket. You pick a case from the bucket, drop a powder charge and place the case in the loading block. Repeat until you've charged all of the cases you want. (I usually do blocks of 10-25.) Then shine a bright light into all of the cases to visually verify powder charges. Once satisfied, proceed with bullet seating.

I do this with rifle cases and used to do it with pistol rounds. These days my pistol ammo tends to get loaded on an auto-indexing progressive press.
Click to expand...
you and rule3 have shown me the error of my ways in this matter.

thx,

murf
 
frogfurr said:
If your present method of charging cases with powder has brought you to this method of checking the accuracy of your charges I would highly recommend finding a different way of charging your cases.
Click to expand...
will do

murf
 
Stew0576 said:
I didn't do it that way, I would drop powder place in press and seat the bullet then place it in the loading block, never had to worry about double charge :D
Click to expand...
a lot of people do it that way. I would rather not.

thx,

murf
 
ArchAngelCD said:
Look at any one of the first 3 pictures and you will see he already has a scale.I

I would think you really have to work at double charging a case when manually charging the cases but I guess better safe than sorry.
Click to expand...
with my method of charging all 50 at once, it is easy (for me) to repeat a row, or skip a row. with small powder charges in large cases (45 acp, 38 special), it is hard for me to see the difference between a charge and a double charge. i'm changing my charging method to one suggested by rule3. we'll see how that goes.

thx,

murf
 
Thanks for sharing your idea. I don't have any trouble seeing the difference in 2.7 and 5.4 grains of powder when looking down into a charged case in a loading block, even with my 72 year old eyes. I keep my bench well lit and have an extra articulated desk lamp with a 100 watt bulb that I can swing directly over my charging area/press. No shadows, easily see a no-powder, 2.7 or 5.4 charge...

If you put a taper on the 2.7 gr. plug, it will enter the case farther. Don't need a lot, mebbe 1/8 "-3/16"...
 
Last edited:
murf said:
with my method of charging all 50 at once, it is easy (for me) to repeat a row, or skip a row. with small powder charges in large cases (45 acp, 38 special), it is hard for me to see the difference between a charge and a double charge. i'm changing my charging method to one suggested by rule3. we'll see how that goes.

thx,

murf
Click to expand...

OK, after I had posted earlier and thought about it, I was beginning to wonder if you stood all of your cases in the loading block and then ran them under the powder dispenser. I've seen video and photos of people doing that and always thought: 1) It's easy to lose your place charging 50 cases in a block and 2) What happens if you have an oops and drop the block? (Answer: a mess to clean up of potentially large proportions.)

Remember to be careful and patient when you try your new routine! It'll take a few repetitions before it's automatic.
 
wanderinwalker, i'm not using a powder dispenser for 2.7 grains of powder. I am using a powder dipper/scale for every charge. actually, I do this for any charge regardless the powder quantity. i'm changing my method to that described by rule3. I agree with you: it's easy to lose your place.

the loading block doesn't move. I use a funnel and pour the powder into the case from the scale pan.

thx,

murf
 
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