Measuring small powder charges?

[OtG]

Ok. So I've got 150 .38 Special cases sitting here ready to be charged.

I've got a pound of titegroup with which to do the charging.

HOWEVER the dies came with a Lee .5 cc scoop.
This would be (according to Lee's chart) approx. 5.9 grains of powder, almost twice the max load for the 148 grain wadcutters I plan to stuff into said cases.

Here we have a problem.

I have a Lee Safety scale, which seems to work fine, but the task of measuring 150 individual charges challenges even my legendary (HAH!) patience.
I don't really have enough space for a bench mounted powder measure, though if I get desparate, I suppose I could mount one to a shelf or something.
I'm using a hand press, so I can't mount anything to the press.

Is there a quick, reliable way to measure powder without using a full-size powder measure?

 

[brickeyee]

You can make a scoop from anything handy (a 380 shell works decent for 38 special). Solder or glue a wire handle to the shell (even hot glue works OK), then file it down until it holds the desired volume.

 

[RON in PA]

You need to invest in either an adjustable powder measure or something like a hand held device like a RCBS "Little Dandy". The latter is very convenient and fast to use. It has only one drawback, it uses interchangeable rotors are not adjustable and that dispense a charge close to what you want , but maybe not exactly what you want. The manufactuer may claim a certain charge, but you need to actually calibrate the thrown weight with your balance,

 

[Peter M. Eick]

Brickeye has the idea down. Use other cases. Go to your local range and you can pick up 22 lr's, 25 acp's, 32, 380's etc. Just make a little handhold out of some wire and a solder iron, weight and go!

Works well surpisingly.

 

[Chawbaccer]

A RCBS Uniflow and probably others will screw right into your press instead of the die. Charge the brass and then swap out the measure for the die.

 

[trickyasafox]

chawbaccer i think he said he was using a hand press so i think that option is out. i agree with everyone else that says to use a case, unless you feel like messing with your lee powder scoop, but im sure you could finangle that to hold less too i gotta get myself a powder measure too cause im going nuts here as well

 

[OtG]

Well, using empty shell cases seemed like a good idea, but I don't have a soldering iron.
Solution: Bobby pins and Krazy Glue. Not quite as strong, but strong enough, and certainly adequate for making sure it works.

So far:
.22 LR case holds 4.0 grains of titegroup.
.22 Short case holds 2.7 grains of titegroup (Lee's recommended start load!)

In both, powder is level at top of case.

You'll want to confirm these independently, of course.


I'm reasonably confident that the larger cases I have sitting around are a bit bigger than I need.
Tomorrow, I'll try grinding the LR case to a more useful size (4.0 grains is .7 grains more than the max load).

Krazy Glue: $2.99
60 bobby pins: $1.99
Being an Inventive Genius (sorta): $4.98


p.s. Krazy Glue really does bond instantly to skin.

p.p.s. The Lee Safety Powder Scale is tricky to adjust when one's hands are jittery from the thrill of discovery (read: caffeine).

 

[donkee]

I'd say pickup a cheapie LEE C press and an autodisc powder measure. Cheap enough and accurate. Since I got my ADPM, I haven't had to weigh every charge to be sure, just every 10th charge gets weighed.........

 

[JA]

http://www.bosesguns.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=914

This is the most cost effective powder measure and as you can see it has a very small "foot print" so if you have 1-1/2 inch x 1 inch of space on your bench you can mount it.

 

[Chawbaccer]

chawbaccer i think he said he was using a hand press so i think that option is out.

I ment for him to charge cases and then swap for the seating die.

The Uniflow also comes with a bracket that will attach to the press so the dies can be used with the measure.

 

[taliv]

maybe you could take the measure you've got and stuff it with some drywall putty or something

 

[Smokey Joe]

Temporary mount for powder measure

My loading bench doubles as a desk, so can't mount things permanently to it. Bought a powder measure mount (the upside down L shape) and screwed that to a pc. of 1" thick plywood. Put little rubber feet on bottom of board. Even painted the plywood base to match the mount--which is not the same brand as the powder measure, so that still looks out-of-place. Board is 10 3/4x6 1/2", but the exact size is not important, just so it's big enough to not tip over while the powder measure is being worked.

Anyhow, now I have a powder measure, set up to use, convenient to my press, and I can take down the whole thing any time I wish.

Used to attach the powder measure to the press--the RCBS measure comes with a mounting bar with which to do that--but I found the press and the measure each got in my way when I was using the other of the 2. Also it complicated the adjusting of the bullet seating die, which is what holds the mounting bar to the press.

I'm much happier with the press in its own mount, removable when necessary.

 

[cookiemonster]

for use at the range or if I am just doing a few pieces for fun...I went and got the whole Lee Powder Dipper set...its only like 6 dollars from Cabelas.

Plus it has the slide card that has most of your popular powders that shows weight for each scooper...and it goes down to .3 cc volume I believe.

OR if your looking for a non-permanent powder measure get a lyman #55 powder measure...they have a built in clamp on the back that you can mount to anything up to 1" or so thick...

Darrell

 

[Standing Wolf]

Being an Inventive Genius (sorta): $4.98

Wow! I've always wanted to meet one of those high-paid inventive geniuses.

 

[halvey]

Just go buy a whole set. Too much effort here to save $6.

 

[OtG]

Halvey-

I agree, but using empty cases is a way to essentially customize the size of the dipper.

For instance, none of the dippers are small enough to load minimum loads of 148 gr. wadcutters with Titegroup.

It could also help getting to intermediate powder weights.