How do you powder measure?

[TattooedGun]

I need to increase my speed/efficiency at well all of my reloading (it took me 3+ hours to prep and prime 100 brass cases the other day (full length neck size, trim, chamfer, clean and prime) and the last 2 stages (weigh powder and seat bullet) will probably take me about the same amount again as I don't have a simple way to weigh the powder close and then trickle, it often involves throwing it back and starting again when i go over the right weight.

So I'm looking into some different ways:

Ideally I'd like a RCBS Chargemaster 1500 - but the £300ish pricetag is alot to put into it for the relatively small amount of rounds I'm reloading at the minute.

So something cheaper:

I've read up alot on the different powder throwers, but none of them seem to be fairly consistant (within 0.1gr) with varget (being a stick type powder), so i was wondering if anyone had any thoughts?

Ideally as cheap as possible, but if one is substancially more consistent than say the lee perfect powder measure then it might be worth the extra cash.

so along with any pointers, what do you guys do on this side of things?

[John25]

I suggest: Some decent electronic scales (I have some from E-thing) and a powder trickler will give you all the accuracy you need.

My Dillon 550b is good enough for my pistol calibres, I use the Chargemaster for my rifle rounds BUT my 6.5x284 and 7mm still get checked on the electronic scales; that's every round!

I'm sorry there is no short cut and 'quick fix' to accuracy.

Besides, if you try and get it done in a hurry you WILL at some time, make a mistake.

Primer only is a real bummer in a competition, not to mention

[Doz]

This is probably no real help as I can't comment on Varget specifically, but I must say that I use a Lee Perfect Powder Measure with Vectan TU3000 which is a stick powder. I check the weight every half a dozen rounds with an RCBS beam scale and it's nearly always within 0.1gr either way, which I must say surprised me greatly. The most I've found it to be out was one incidence of 0.3gr. Funny thing is with H335, which is a spherical powder and in theory better suited to use in a powder thrower, doesn't meter as well. I think a very consistent action is probably vital with the cheaper throwers though, I'd not be surprised if the dearer ones were more forgiving.

[spud]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tm9aOw1VqY0


Go on treat your self.

[John MH]

If you have a good beam scale then you might consider one of these set ups:




Its Targetmaster powder trickler that uses a photoelectric cell circuit to turn off the powder feed as the beam scale reaches the desired weight. With a decent balance beam you should be able to set up a Targetmaster Trickler to cut out to within two or three kernels of powder, in practice I get better than that and check random charges against a high quality electronic scale (Denver Instruments). With a RCBS Chargemaster you are probably looking at +/- 0.1 grain repeatability, with the Targetmaster and a 'Decent' beam scale I am getting +/- 0.02 grain repeatability (as measured on the Denver Instruments electronic scale). The key is having a 'Decent' beam scale, I use a tuned RCBS 10-10 that clearly indicates movement on single kernel powder addition.

[Christel]

We have been through quite a few set ups and in the end I threw it all away and bought the Chargemaster.
I was frankly fed up with the inconsistency.

As previously mentioned, there are no short cuts when it comes to accuracy.

We also have a Harrell powder thrower but that is only used for really fine powder, like SP9.

The Vith and the Hodgdon all go through the Chargemaster.

A really good beam scale is not bad to have for checks.

[ovenpaa]

Nice set up, do you have any information on how the scales were tuned John?

[TattooedGun]

I suggest: Some decent electronic scales (I have some from E-thing) and a powder trickler will give you all the accuracy you need.

I already use electronic scales and a powder trickler - but its getting the majority of a 46gr load into the scales ina decent amount of time i struggle with... often i spill too much into the scales and have to reset instantly doubling the amount of time per that load :(

John MH - thats an intriguing setup indeed, and i was thinking about a way to setup a motor and use a crude method of csetting up some scales to start and stop the motor (including slowing down!) but i wouldnt know where to begin!

I'll wait and see what other suprises come this threads way!

[John MH]

Nice set up, do you have any information on how the scales were tuned John?

Scott Parker in the USA did mine 5 years ago, I don't know what he does but it certainly works and produces repeatable results. I have a set of Redding #2 Scales on the way back from him as they are more suited for use with the Targetmaster although the RCBS 10-10 work fine at the moment.

His email is (Scott Gauthier-Parker):

vld223@yahoo.com

[dromia]

You can't beat powder measures for speed, however some people can have consistency problems with them depending on powders.

What I've found is that I get very consistent loads on my progressives and have put that down to the case operated mechanical linkage ensuring consistent action and having some movement it settles the powder. These case operated linkages are now available seperately and are worth thinking about for your powder measure. The Lee prodisk case activated measure is very good but setting the cavities to your required load can be a bit fiddly.

Always fit powder baffles to you measure or use a funnel as a top up reservoir.

The sex industry has also come to the handloaders aid with mini vibrators see here: http://www.boudoirsextoys.co.uk/product ... g-o-bullet.

They are cheap and taped to your powder measure they settle the powder very consistently. I have a couple of primer fillers that use these similar units, a freind of mine who has one says he can't get his wife out of the reloading room she is constantly filling up his primer tubes for him. They come in a variety of colours with the pink evidently having the best action for stick powders.