How close is close enough? I'm using a rcbs uniflow using extruded imr 4064. Rcbs web site says to expect +- .3 to .5 I'm seeing bigger differences from the little bit I have used it. I have it set to 43gr. I drop it and weight the case with powder. Tare the case. Most of the time I'm dumping it back in. Are you using a trickler as well?
Dropping powder from a dispenser
- Thread starter Shovel
- Start date
My RCBS powder dropper is usually within 0.1gr with ball powders like H335. I use it to load any of the "bulk" loads I'm doing like 223 and I get at least as good a result as I get with commercial bulk ammo like American Eagle or PMC or whatever.
stick powders do not work as well and I never bother.
stick powders do not work as well and I never bother.
I set my measure to throw just a little under and then always use a trickler to reach the final weight. Extruded powders like 4350 or 4064 are often more difficult to throw accurately than fine powders like H380 or similar (at least, that's my experience).
Just to note, your brass might vary a few tenths of a grain between cases, too.
Just to note, your brass might vary a few tenths of a grain between cases, too.
Are you weighing the empty case prior to charging as well as after charging and comparing the two?
I have certainly seen differences of .1-.3 in weighing empty cases.
A good practice is to dispense a charge into the weigh pan once every 5 loads or so to make sure it stays on point and once you have confidence, stretching that out.
I usually validate every 25-30 loads when loading 223 and its always within 0.1.
I have certainly seen differences of .1-.3 in weighing empty cases.
A good practice is to dispense a charge into the weigh pan once every 5 loads or so to make sure it stays on point and once you have confidence, stretching that out.
I usually validate every 25-30 loads when loading 223 and its always within 0.1.
- Location
- Western Manitoba
There used to be some articles about throwing with a dispenser - various brands of dispenser were used - I think something like a "Harrel" was rated as "best". Much to do with whether the user "taps" the handle, or does not "tap" the handle at both the up stroke and down stroke. is a powder baffle used or not - for consistency between first charge thrown and last charge thrown. Also, varied with type of powder, as I recall - finer grained powders are more close weights thrown, as I recall doing. I am like poster above - set the thing to throw "light" - into a scale pan, then trickle up to weight desired. That way it is on the scale readout, or me, if I am heavy or light by 0.1 grain
300_savage
CGN Regular
- Location
- New Brunswick
Whether I trickle up the charges depends on the weight I'm throwing, above 50gr charges .5 gr is less than 1% variation, and I'm happy with that as I cannot tell any difference on paper at the distances I'm generally shooting, smaller cases with stick powder I'll almost always throw light and trickle up.
With my 300blk I'm using 8.9gr subsonic loads and must trickle to 1/10th grain to maintain decent groupings, .5gr variation in charge weight shows poi shift of 3-4" at 100m, while in my 30-06 I'm throwing 57gr of 4350 and do not notice a group size difference at 200m between thrown loads and trickled up loads.
(With charges above 50gr I will often throw 2 half charges & it seems to average down the percentage of variation slightly)
With my 300blk I'm using 8.9gr subsonic loads and must trickle to 1/10th grain to maintain decent groupings, .5gr variation in charge weight shows poi shift of 3-4" at 100m, while in my 30-06 I'm throwing 57gr of 4350 and do not notice a group size difference at 200m between thrown loads and trickled up loads.
(With charges above 50gr I will often throw 2 half charges & it seems to average down the percentage of variation slightly)
Threwa bunch of ammo last night with my Harrel.
At 300 meters I shot a 50-2 with 168 Amax's and 43.5 grains of Varget and a 50- 7 with 155 Seirras using with 46.1 grains of Varget . 308 Winchester .Both charges were set with three drops to check .
Target was a ICFRA 300 meter on the Shotmarker
Good enough I'd say .
Cat
At 300 meters I shot a 50-2 with 168 Amax's and 43.5 grains of Varget and a 50- 7 with 155 Seirras using with 46.1 grains of Varget . 308 Winchester .Both charges were set with three drops to check .
Target was a ICFRA 300 meter on the Shotmarker
Good enough I'd say .
Cat
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Using a digital scale I tare the empty case and then drop the powder. I did notice the tare would be off after a few cases. Maybe a different weight case.
I have complete faith in my Harrel.
Even using Varget and having an extreme spread of 48FPS with two different bullet weights at 300 meters it will still produce acceptable accuracy for ten round strings with an F/Tr 308.
Cat
if you don't have a powder baffle in your powder measure that will difference when you set the weight that way you have the same weight ea drop instead of a heavier compression with more powder in the tube
cases have nothing to do with anything drop in a pan
also digital scales will very especially the low end ones
cases have nothing to do with anything drop in a pan
also digital scales will very especially the low end ones
Do you tare it for EVERY case?
Because cases don't all weigh the same... I just tested with 5 random 243win RP primed brass on my desk, not one weighed the same... and the range was a whole grain difference from heaviest to lightest...
There is a reason reloading scales come with a little pan to put the powder into while you measure...
