Charging...how and why

[WestKentucky]

When charging loads, how do people measure powder charges, by "dipper", by volumetric powder drop, by scale...hopefully not by eyeball guestimation. What would cause people to choose one over the other?

 

[wgaynor]

I do both. Depends on the powder, my mood, and my goal.

 

[rcmodel]

I have always used a scale to set a powder measure for over 50 years.

Then check the measure drops on the scale occasionally while using it.

Tried dippers = Not consistent for me.

Tried weighing every charge = Too slow for me.

I only eye-ball without measuring or weighing when loading Maximum charges of fast burning pistol powder in Magnum Rifle calibers.

rc

 

[otrman]

For just general plinking and hunting ammo I use a Lyman 55 powder measure, it measures by volume and is very consistent. For match ammo I weigh every charge.

 

[sauer1911]

I started with a lee turret press with the presized discs that you could use to get close to your desired grains. Tossed those and got an aftermarket micro-adjustable powder measure. It works great.

I now use a Dillon xl650, and it has the same micro adjustable powder measure that I will weigh every 10 or so loads with a calibrated and weight metered scale.

I really cant see what those little scoop/dippers are good for? different types of powder with different densities and flow would drive me crazy!

I like uniformity especially when loading powder.

be safe

 

[gamestalker]

Volumetric devices still require the use of a scale to determine what weight a particular device is throwing. It would be risky at best to simply trust a slide chart without first confirming the charge on a scale. And this is because powders will vary in density from lot number, to lot number. And I've personally found that slide charts almost never produce the designated charge, and often times the variance can be significant enough to present a valid concern.

GS

 

[mugsie]

Someone gave me the set of yellow Lee dippers. I tried them once and tossed them! First of all they contained static charges so the powder never fully emptied, then they were never where I needed as far as charge weight goes. I use a Dillon powder measure on my 550b. I use it either as a progressive, or a single stage when using my single stage presses. I weigh the initial charge, then I'm good to go if as a progressive. If as a single stage, then I weigh every charge.

 

[plodder]

I have a Dillon 650 and for my common calibers I use the automated powder drop. Even so, I weigh each of the first 5-10 of each batch to confirm it is dropping consistently, then I will take a break every 25-50 thereafter just to reconfirm. I am amazed at how consistent it is in most powders, but some of the longer grained powders may vary by +/-.2 grains.

For some of my less frequent pistol calibers for which I haven't yet invested in the caliber conversion kit for the Dillon 650, I will use the Lee dippers & my old RCBS JR press. The dippers allow me to throw a load that is close to spec in the scale tray, then tweak the trickler for the final half grain or so to make it "perfect". But, that is just me.

 

[witchhunter]

I use a scale and a powder measure. Sometimes I use a trickler for rifle rounds. Depending what I am trying to load. For pistol loads I will use a scale to set the measure and check every 20 rounds or so. For most rifle loads, I will do the same, depending on the powder used. For my deer rifle and coyote rifle, I scale and trickle to exact weight. I have never used the eyeball method.

 

[WestKentucky]

Truth be told, I have used all methods described in the original post. Eyeballed a few pyrodex loads for an old gun just to confirm working condition. It was a smith in 38sw but had thin cylinder walls. 5 shots eyeballed to where the bullet would gently tap the powder as it seated.

Weight loading...did this for 308 benchrest. Slow but accurate.
Dippers, still do this for plunking rounds in 38/357
Powder drop...have 3 and hate them all. They are messy and not much more consistent than dippers.
Trickling is also entirely too slow.

There are times and places for each, but I can't seem to find the point of a drop. Not fast, not super accurate, not convenient. Maybe I'm using them wrong?

 

[Boho]

I use an old Ohaus Duo-Measure that has been in my family for about 50 years I believe. Once I get it set up I check it with a scale every 7th powder drop. Works really well. I think its the first generation of the RCBS Uniflow.

 

[jmr40]

I'm more of a low volume reloader. I only load for my centerfire hunting rifles and weigh all of them. If I loaded in more volume I'd use a faster method. But for me I usually only load 20-40 rounds in a session it would take almost as long to set up everything as to just weigh each one.

 

[cfullgraf]

Someone gave me the set of yellow Lee dippers. I tried them once and tossed them! First of all they contained static charges so the powder never fully emptied, then they were never where I needed as far as charge weight goes.

Once the dippers get coated with graphite from the powders, the static issue goes away.

Yes, the fixed size of the dippers can be a limitation. It seems one always wants a charge weight in between two dipper sizes.

 

[Laphroaig]

I generally use a powder measure for loading cartridges in volume when the powder is one you can throw relatively accurately, i.e. ball powders or ones with smaller grains than 4895.

I also have one of the first Lyman DPS1200 automated measures that I use for small batches or when I'm using big stick powders. Its kind of slow but works well. I understand that the newer ones are faster.

Laphroaig

 

[cfullgraf]

For virtually all my reloading I use some kind of volumetric powder measure. Most of them are drum style such as a Redding 10-X or an RCBS Uniflow used both for a progressive press and single stage press. I do have a Dillon SDB press with a Dillon powder measure on it.

I have a Harrel Precision Custom 90 measure and really like it. Besides charging rifle cases to be loaded on a single stage press, I am transitioning into using it for load work up. This is replacing a PACT auto powder measure. The PACT is just too slow for me but it is easy to change the powder charge. The Harrell with its click adjuster is faster though.

All of my powder measures have micrometer adjusters. They do not make the powder measure any more accurate, but allow returning to a particular charge or dialing in a powder charge quick and easy.

In setting up a powder measure, I throw about 20 charges before measuring the first charge. This gets the reservoir column stabilized. Then I work on checking the charge I want. I periodically verify that the powder measure is still throwing the correct charge.

 

[oneounceload]

Pistol ammo get weighed initially with a scale and then about every 50 (I use loading blocks). Rifle ammo I weigh every charge as I do not shoot great quantities and accuracy beats velocity every time

 

[SAGEEN]

I weigh everything when trying test loads to see what works for my gun
then after finding the right load I set the press getting it right and as I go I check it every so often to see it stays there
you must start at min and work up carefully you don't want to get hurt and blow up your gun reloading is serous business till you know what your doing


NRA life member and voter

 

[gahunter12]

I load all of my pistol calibers, and .223 loads on Dillon RL550b presses of I charge with a volumetric powder measure. Of course I use a Dillon beam scale to set the exact drop. For all my magnum calibers I use for hunting like 7mm, .300wm, and .300RUM I use a RCBS Chargemaster 1500, and a beam scale to verify every tenth charge or any charges I may question. With the RCBS CM I can pour the powder in a primed case, and seat a bullet while its dropping the next charge. There's usually no waiting!

 

[Vodoun da Vinci]

I use Unique powder and weigh every charge on my GemPro 250 digital scale regardless of caliber. I only reload pistol cartridges at this time and it takes me about 20 - 30 minutes to charge 50 cases.

VooDoo

 

[wanderinwalker]

I use a volumetric powder dispenser (drop I guess), set the charge based on what the scale is telling me and away we go. When loading rifle on single stage, I check every 10-20 rounds to make sure the drop is still on. When loading pistol on the progressive I run 10-12 drops, recycling the powder to the hopper, then weigh 3-4 charges in a row, and load.

I tried weighing charges for my 600 yard match ammo once, but tired of it very quickly. My hold isn't good enough to tell the difference and my chronograph didn't show any improvement in ES or SD versus what the measure gave me. So I just stuck with dropping charges and spent the extra free time practicing shooting offhand.

 

[GlowinPontiac]

I've been using dippers but just got a powder dispenser and am waiting on a nice new scale to arrive.

 

[kerreckt]

What rcmodel said except I have never eyeballed any load. I am too obsessive.

 

[Swampman]

Yer sposed tew mezure it?

Ah allus thawt thet tha size uv tha case did thet fur ya!

Know wundur eye gawt two bi sew menny gunz...

 

[sauer1911]

Yeah, I think what Swampman sez? hehe

Instead of using one of the newer plastic scales that came with my Lee loader, I found a 500grain scale on Ebay. Its made from real metal, and has cut serrations for setting the weights on the scale. absolutely dead on accurate, checked with calibrated weights.

Yes the weights are in grams, but I know my guzintas, and it is dead on.

It will never wear out! and it looks cool, being old as me!

be safe.

 

[Moreno]

Lyman 55 powder measure. Use the scale to set it up, then throw powder. Check weigh a charge about every 20.