The UK's Finest Independent Forum for Shooters and Gun Owners. Est 2010.

Had a problem with this powder measure, it was really poor at throwing a consistent charge of SR4759 (a long stick powder).
Thought it might have something to do with the 'static electricity problem' they allude to in the instruction sheet.
Earth bonding done (thanks bruv for the static discharge kit) and no difference seen with thrown charges.

The problem actually was powder bridging in the mouth of the supplied drop tubes, there is a solution -
dump the cheapo Harrell's tubes and fit a Possum Hollow drop tube set.
Now it throws consistent charges without any bridging problems!

It just makes me wonder about a 'premium' manufacturer who -
1, finishes their product with a real cheap 'n' nasty drop tube.
2, does not have an e-mail address.

I would have expected much more from a company supplying a 'premium' measure at a premium price.

As an aside, I also understand a little more about gun-writers who wax lyrical about products like this but fail to mention the real world
limitations.

My Possum Hollow adapter;
(You can see the yellow static discharge wire to the left of the measure above the monitor)

Sold mine, lovely made pieces of kit but didn't throw any better than most of my other volume measures and not as good as my Belding and Mull.

The trick with all volume measure is consistent operation, get that right and they all do well. If a dump feels a little sticky then it goes back into the hopper, feel is important too.

With the Harrell it just seemed a lot of money to have tied up in something that didn't work that much better, worked smoother but didn't work better.

Mind you a beam scale (not a Lee), Lee "Perfect" Powder measure and a UK made Target Master gives you the fastest (for a weighing/dispensing system), most accurate and consistent way of weighing/dispensing powder there is.

I only use my volume measures for small plinking loads, some black powder charges and because I enjoy using them.

Ours has been sitting in a box for at least a couple of years since it was last used. It is great for ball such as SP9 but I soon gave up on it for anything else.

How does the Possom Hollow differ drop tube set differ from the standard and has it made a significant difference to longer powders? I was thinking of resurrecting it at some point if I could get it near enough to consistent throws again.

Just because the Harrell is expensive and shiny, shooters assume it will be better than say an RCBS.
For 100 yard benchrest competition, most benchresters 'throw' their powder charges and load on the point using the same few cases. Anything beyond 100 yards and I weigh.
If you don't shoot 100yd benchrest competition - I can't see the point in buying a Harrell - unless you like shiny expensive things!

I use a hornady beam scale a RCBS powder measure and a target master for all my re loading now.
Very accurate easy to set up and a pleasure to use.

Did some reloading for the '06 using a ball powder it was dropping < ±0.05 grain, I checked every thrown charge (150 rounds)
on my analytical balance (milligram resolution) to check for consistency.
It was probably down to my technique, I have used throwers for more years than I care to remember.
I bought this thrower to be used on my portable reloading bench as I already have a 'fixed' Uniflow thrower at my loading bench at home.

Please note; I'm not telling anyone 'How' to reload before anyone takes offence, just what fits my personal needs.

Relegating 'volumetric' loading to plinking, hah! My hand-loads would disagree with that statement.
I have never subscribed to the theory or been anal about 'exact' powder weight, I just want a reasonably consistent throw at the end of the day.
There are so many other variables involved that this theory appears to be, well, 'suspect'. This is, maybe, the kind way of putting it.
I know of some that insist one kernel of powder makes a difference when weighing powder
inferring that ammo performance was affected, laughed so hard I fell off the chair!
I did ask 'why not count every single kernel of powder then?'... greeted with a stunned silence...
It appears that exact weight seems to be a mental 'crutch' that some need in their reloading especially the 'competition' guys.
Some need this 'mental preparation' others do not, who is right then? - Rhetorical question.
Yet another thing that gun-writers and sport psychologists should be blamed for!

IMHO, Belding & Mull, bit too agricultural, not for me already have a Lee Auto disc!
I did look at the target master but it does not work with a Ohaus 'dial-o-grain' or my BEL analytical balance and honestly could
not see any gain for me in using it.

I can never understand why people reload to a atom of powder why do it? and what's the deal with seating bullets to with in 0.0002 of the lands?

Gun Pimp wrote:Just because the Harrell is expensive and shiny, shooters assume it will be better than say an RCBS.
For 100 yard benchrest competition, most benchresters 'throw' their powder charges and load on the point using the same few cases. Anything beyond 100 yards and I weigh.
If you don't shoot 100yd benchrest competition - I can't see the point in buying a Harrell - unless you like shiny expensive things!

Ahhh I stand corrected, did not realise it was for bench rest use only and that I needed your permission on how to spend my wedge...
BTW Benchrest, probably the starting place for all the reloading BS that goes around.
I hope that you will not mind that I do not take any notice of your advise old chap?

Slimjim33 wrote:I can never understand why people reload to a atom of powder why do it? and what's the deal with seating bullets to with in 0.0002 of the lands?

I could list all sorts of reasons however I think at the end of the day it is a matter of how you feel as a shooter pulling the trigger.
tongueout

Slimjim33 wrote:I can never understand why people reload to a atom of powder why do it? and what's the deal with seating bullets to with in 0.0002 of the lands?

Depends on the rifle, the shooter and whether both of them are high spec enough to take advantage of such precision.

However in saying that consistency is the bedrock of any reloading its all down to the degree of consistency necessary for the specific application.

In a lot of my military rifles seating out to the lands isn't an option due to throat wear and original speccy. That is why I use cast boolits and look to throat fit measured to at least one thou of an inch. I get better accuracy that way than with condom bullets.

I also like to measure to an atom of a powder just because doing so gives me pleasure at the bench (OK sad b@stard but it takes all kinds) even although it makes no difference on the target, I'm a sh!te shot at the end of the day.

You pays your money and you takes your choice. This game is about fun and different people get it in different ways. Get yours how you can and be secure in the knowledge that in this shooting game there are no absolutes.

What works for you is good for you.

Ignore the arms race as it always disappears up its own orifice in out doing itself.