Darth-Vang
Member
Do all the volumetric brass powder measure throw the same charges equally or is it rated for different powder granules?
I would not rely on a volume measurement with a new to you measurer throwing a load identical to a volume measurement from another measurer even if the measurers are marked with the same weight.
IMO they are all basically the same.
The reason I believe this is because the grain weight of water and Goex black powder are virtually identical for a given volume.
That means that companies can design their powder measures using a standard grain weight of water capacity which is the same everywhere in the world.
100 grains of water by weight and volume basically equals 100 grains of weight and volume of Goex.
Yes, there's a very tiny difference between water and black powder, but not enough to matter when using a volumetric powder measurer.
What is probably more important is how the volumetric measure is used.
That is if a person taps the measure to settle the powder before leveling it off each time or not.
Using a consistent and repeatable measuring method can make more of a difference than the measure itself.
A slight difference can result from the quality of a manufacturer, and how they mark their measures, but how many different measures does a person use?
Is a long thin measure more or less accurate than a short wide measure?
If one design were more accurate for measuring 1F, 2F or 3F, then that would seem to require a scientific study to be able to prove.
Larger powder granulations are always going to have a little more air space in between the individual granules, which may make measuring them slightly less accurate than more compact powder granulations.
A person would need to weigh some of their powder charges with different powders in order to draw conclusions.
And even then some powders like Swiss are considered to be denser and contain more moisture, so the volume to actual weight wouldn't be the same as for Goex.
In that respect, the volumetric measures are calibrated for measuring powders that have a volume weight more closely equaling the same volume weight of water.
You don't see the measure labeled as being calibrated as a Goex powder measure or a Swiss powder measure.
But there's probably a bias build into them because drier powders are more common than dense and moist sporting powders like Swiss.
The percentage of moisture affects a powder's potency, and the moisture content of a brand is pretty strictly regulated so that they can produce a consistent product.
Folks are trained by experience to make the adjustments to their powder measure when switching brands of powder or changing granulations to offset potency differences.
My experience is that commercially available BP measurers are only approximate.
Also, like arcticap mentioned, different powders are different weight, and can be packed to varying density.
I don't recall any of the commercial measurers I have actually throwing the same load be it a fixed or adjustable meassurer.
Part of that could be because they are different diameters and or different shapes and made of different materials.
That said, I'm fine with that. I work up a load and as long as I use the same powder and the same measurer the load is good.
My guns don't seem to care if the meassurer says its 80 grains or 85.
I would not rely on a volume measurement with a new to you measurer throwing a load identical to a volume measurement from another measurer even if the measurers are marked with the same weight.
I really appreciate the info you guys are stuffing into my brain. Now I know. I have like 3-5 different powder measure but only used like 1-2 of them. Learn something new everyday.BE aware there is some confusion over measurements when it comes to pellets. Pellets do not conform to granular measurements. The older styled 50 grain pellets where one might drop 3, 50 grain pellets in a .50 cal load does not equal 150 grains of granular powder. That is a lot hoopla. Some advertising hype makes you think you can down a T-rex with that load.
I really appreciate the info you guys are stuffing into my brain. Now I know. I have like 3-5 different powder measure but only used like 1-2 of them. Learn something new everyday.
Dang that post is approaching essay length. Nice read.IMO they are all basically the same.
The reason I believe this is because the grain weight of water and Goex black powder are virtually identical for a given volume.
That means that companies can design their powder measures using a standard grain weight of water capacity which is the same everywhere in the world.
100 grains of water by weight and volume basically equals 100 grains of weight and volume of Goex.
Yes, there's a very tiny difference between water and black powder, but not enough to matter when using a volumetric powder measurer.
What is probably more important is how the volumetric measure is used.
That is if a person taps the measure to settle the powder before leveling it off each time or not.
Using a consistent and repeatable measuring method can make more of a difference than the measure itself.
A slight difference can result from the quality of a manufacturer, and how they mark their measures, but how many different measures does a person use?
Is a long thin measure more or less accurate than a short wide measure?
If one design were more accurate for measuring 1F, 2F or 3F, then that would seem to require a scientific study to be able to prove.
Larger powder granulations are always going to have a little more air space in between the individual granules, which may make measuring them slightly less accurate than more compact powder granulations.
A person would need to weigh some of their powder charges with different powders in order to draw conclusions.
And even then some powders like Swiss are considered to be denser and contain more moisture, so the volume to actual weight wouldn't be the same as for Goex.
In that respect, the volumetric measures are calibrated for measuring powders that have a volume weight more closely equaling the same volume weight of water.
You don't see the measure labeled as being calibrated as a Goex powder measure or a Swiss powder measure.
But there's probably a bias built into them because drier powders are more common than dense and moist sporting powders like Swiss.
The percentage of moisture affects a powder's potency, and the moisture content of a brand is pretty strictly regulated so that they can produce a consistent product.
Folks are trained by experience to make the adjustments to their powder measure when switching brands of powder or changing granulations to offset potency differences.
..., What is probably more important is how the volumetric measure is used.
That is if a person taps the measure to settle the powder before leveling it off each time or not.
Using a consistent and repeatable measuring method can make more of a difference than the measure itself....,
..., If one design were more accurate for measuring 1F, 2F or 3F, then that would seem to require a scientific study to be able to prove.