Best powder dispensing method

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MattMoser

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Not sure if this is the best place for this post but here we go!

Guys,

Looking for some help, I have a RCBS Chargmaster, its great~ or at least i think so right now! However I want to know is there is a more accurate means of weighing my charges? I want the powder charge to be as close to perfects as possible. Is there a more accurate scale / dispenser? Or should I just get a second more precise digital scale to double check my Chargmaster? If so what do you guys recommend?

Thanks in advance!

Matt
:popCorn:
 
You are looking for a digital scale that can read to 0.01gr with 0.02gr error. These are called Gem scales and several versions are out there. Some can be serious money.

I have used the Jennings MACK 20 (name change now) and recently the My Weigh Gempro 250

A local shooter is using a $20 Ebay special and thrilled with how well it works. I am a little shy with this level of gear.

For extruded powders and small case volumes, weigh each charge to within the same tenth.

For magnum and hunting/varminting ammo, the error in the Chargemaster will be small enough to still yield decent ammo.

I have now started using a semi ball powder (hodgdon Leverolution) and am dumping from a Redding BR powder measure. Charges are within 0.06gr which is close enough for me.

If using extruded powders like Varget and H4831SC, weighing is the best way to go but it is slow.

Jerry
 
hey Matt;

I'm imagining you're loading for extreme consistency/precision (as we're in the precision section), so I'd recommend getting a trickler.

Set up your Chargemaster to throw consistently low charges (not really low!) and then trickle them up to your desired weight (in the scale). This is, IMHO, the best (although time-consuming) way to get super accurate, consistent charges of powder.

I am of the belief that solely using a powder measure is a quick way to get a lot of ammo loaded up, but that due to the various powder shapes (ball, flake, stick) a measure just isn't generally really consistent. So, my recommendation to trickle every charge up to desired weight.

(it's interesting to consider that even factory ammo isn't exactly consistent itself! Being completely automated I'll bet there's a variance in how much powder is in each round of ammo; maybe not much, but enough not to suit the precision shooter... and thus the increased price of factory match ammo. Takes more time to be that accurate, literally!)

One thought; ball powders 'meter' (fill the measure's cavity) more consistently than the other two (sometimes the powder needs to get chopped by the measure during the throw), so maybe figuring out a desired charge using that type of powder, if you can?

I trickle every charge, but I'm crazy like that. :dancingbanana: ...oh yeah, I load for .308.
 
Just tried my MACK 20 this evening for the first time.

I scooped my powder in to just under my charge weight, then trickled in to bring to within the 2/10th's the scale is capable of.

Not as slow you one would think and very accurate.
 
I've read on this site and elsewere that Bench shooters machine dispence at the range?

If its good enough for them...?

I just picked up a Lyman 55 to speed things up, we'll see how well it works with Varget.
 
Use your chargemaster as is, I have 2 and used to cross weigh every 2nd, then 5th, then 20th, charge to check accuracy. NEVER did they vary. When I got the 1st one I used the 10-10 and a jewellers scale to compare. Always the same. the chargemaster works as it's own trickler, and you can slow it/speed it up yourself. That's why I have 2, while one is filling the other can be dumped. A bit pricey yes, they cost me $236 each from Natchez a while back and have been warranted twice. I calibrate both every use, each with it's own weights. I have had only good luck with these. Mark
 
The most accurate powder measure I have used is the Bonanza Benchrest Powder Measure... now marketed by Forester. It even performs pretty good with the coarse 4831 but exceptional with finer powders.
 
For ball powders it is hard to beat a quality powder throwing dispenser, the powder granules are small and the weight/volume relationship is so reproducible that the thrown wts are usually dead on.

For stick powders this is a another story, you cannot get super accurate wts in a powder thrower, you need to weigh. I was taught by an experienced shooter that using your chargemaster to dispense the entire wt is a waste of time and a waste of the motor.

Here is what I do:

(1) Throw wt using a dispenser to be 3-4 gn below target
(2) Drop this in the pan on the chargemaster, and set the chargemaster 0.1 to 0.2 gn less than target, the chargemaster will top up the wt quickly
(3) Check the wt of the final load and add or subtract a few granules using a pair of curved tweezers, I use an acculab scale for this, but depending on your need you can use the chargemaster scale.
(4) Drop final charge into case, and then go to step (1,2), while the next charge is finalizing on the chargemaster I seat the bullet and check runout on the previous charge.
You essentially get a continuous cycle going so that you are never idle as something is always happening, I find this the fastest and most accurate method to make large numbers of accurate ammo for matches
 
Ducimus said:
I've read on this site and elsewere that Bench shooters machine dispence at the range?

If its good enough for them...?

I just picked up a Lyman 55 to speed things up, we'll see how well it works with Varget.
Click to expand...

Their needs are very different vs Long range precision shooters.

SRBR shooters only care about hitting one point at 100, 200 or 300yds and can adjust their load specifically to hit that one spot in space. What the bullet does after that is irrelevant.

F class, tactical and long range shooters need their bullet to follow a consistent path to ANY distance being tasked. Their ranges can vary a huge amount and issues of vertical dispersion will negatively affect performance.

They rarely get time to load at the match AND use a larger number of shots/cases.

Here, precise powder charges and all the other fiddly things we do to make perfect ammo matter.

There is a growing trend even with SR BR shooters to weigh their charges as some powders simply do not dump from a measure well.

Jerry
 
Thanks for the pointers guys!

I just picked up a .338LM and I am trying to do the best I can with it. My hunting reloads are great with the Chargmaster for my 300WM, 300WSM, 30-06, 270, 22-250 & .223 and they are also working well for the .338LM however I am looking to see if I can improve.

My goals are to hit a donkey sized targets at 1000m and beyond 90% of the time,

I am going to get a more precise digital scale, why stop the spending now!

Thanks Again!

Matt
 
Jerry
I don't think you would find a more fastidious lot than SRBR shooters. Vertical dispersion has effect even at close range especially when you're measuring your groups in the .01s or even .001s. Not a criteria for F class. A 1/8th to a 1/4 minute gun and load will suffice.

I agree, what the bullet does after it prints on the target is immaterial but the consistency of flight is still the desire. Whether it prints at 300,600 or 1000.
 
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SR BR shooters have spent years perfecting their craft and have found methods that suit their particular game.

But some of these techniques do not fit others.

Best way is to use whatever method you want and test on paper at the distances you want to shoot. If you get the results desired, awesome. If not, then you can tweak as needed.

SR BR ammo has shown massive velocity spreads yet still go into one hole. Try using ammo with that level of variance at 1000yds, and the results will likely not be desired.

There is no right or wrong answer, just fit the tools to the needs.

Jerry
 
MattMoser said:
Thanks for the pointers guys!

I just picked up a .338LM and I am trying to do the best I can with it. My hunting reloads are great with the Chargmaster for my 300WM, 300WSM, 30-06, 270, 22-250 & .223 and they are also working well for the .338LM however I am looking to see if I can improve.

My goals are to hit a donkey sized targets at 1000m and beyond 90% of the time,

I am going to get a more precise digital scale, why stop the spending now!

Thanks Again!

Matt
Click to expand...

If you mean being able to hit a 2'X3' target at 1000m 90% of the time, don't worry about scale weighing to the kernel.

Get out there and shoot. Your ammo will be plenty accurate enough if it is 1/2 min or even 1 min accurate.

Now you just have to make YOU accurate enough.

Jerry
 
There is no magic with a digital scale... they measure accurately within a tenth of a grain... just the same as my 30 year old beam scale... and no powder needs to be measured any more accurately.

If you have/get a digital scale have a known weight or a beam scale to check it with..
 
Brand Cole, David Tubbs partner in crime, makes one of the most accuate powder measuring systems in existence..his company's name (spelling) is Promethius ( after the Greek god of fire)..they are a very expensive piece of kit though.. around $800.00
 
I use a Harrel measure, and several Lyman 55's as well, for out to 500 meters.
However, once I get past that, and go long, EVERYTHING is thrown , then weighed on my Redding or my Ohaus beam scales.

Cat
 
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