243 Win, Accurate 3100, RCBS Uniflow and Me = NOT a happy camper

[brentwal]

Ok, maybe I'm not that pissed.

I started loading .243 Win for the first time today, it started well, 50 new Remington cases (bag had 51 ) FL sized with the new Lee Pacesetter set.

I ran the cases in the tumbler for about 2 1/2 hours, primed them with the RCBS handtool (that's when I discovered the free case).

Then I broke out the scale and powder, put my measure in position and adjusted it for 39.0gr for a 100gr pill (an average start load per most of my manuals). 3100 being a extruded powder, I had some cutting but not bad.

I installed the smaller droptube into the Uniflow, the larger being to big.

Well the small drop tube held the 3100 so it didn't go into the case all the time, long story short the first few tries I spilled a little powder on the bench until I learned to watch the powder flow and if it did hang up tap the measure a little and it'd drop.


So the question is how do I prevent this in the future? Longer drop tube, RCBS only has 3 sizes of tube for the Uniflow .17-20 cal and .22-.30? and .30? and up and they're all the same length.

Do I need to look for longer aftermarket tubes?

 

[dagger dog]

Not being fimiliar with 3100, but having used Varget and RE 15 in the
.308 Win. with similar problem, I would imagine yours could be worse if the 3100 is longer grained and the 6mm case mouth being smaller.
I wound up making dippers for my favorite loads toss them on the scale and trickle them to spec.. Found this just as fast as the powder measure.

I own and have used the Uniflow and Lee Perfect Powder measure and found the Lee works a lot better with extruded powder, but I don't know if it would solve your problem due to the smaller case mouth of the .243. I believe your problem is refered to as bridging, and don't know of a 100% solution other than a powder type change (ball or short cut types).

 

[brentwal]

FYI -- 3100s grain size if bigger then IMR4895, longer and thicker. It looks about the same as IMR4350.

 

[Ridgerunner665]

Don't use the drop tube...drop the charge in your scale pan, then use the funnel to pour it in the case.

Put the scale pan under the powder measure...make contact with the measure...work the handle (to drop the powder), then lower the scale pan...that way powder don't fly everywhere.

 

[MAGNUM44]

buy a good reloading manual like lyman's # 48 manual great for all of your reloading needs and load and powder usages