Interesting Powder observation...

Chuckbuster

Chuckbuster

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
92   0   0
Location
Not far enough north of Premier Orville Reddenbach
Interesting powder observation...
Sometimes, things just make you go "Hmmmmm...". Case in point; last month when it was stinkin' hot, I loaded up a batch of .38Specials with Unique. Using a Lee dipper, the powder charge was weighed on a digital scale and found to be 4.7 grains. Tonight, I loaded up 50 more .38s, and found that the same dipper was now throwing a charge weight of 4 grains...a little less oomph than what I was looking for in this particular load. So, I went up a dipper size to what was supposed to be a 6.4 grain charge, but found it to be a full grain less (however, I did not weigh this charge last month so cannot make a comparison.

Anybody have any similar experiences with powder charge weights?
 
Moisture content, humidity, even atmospheric pressure seem to effect weights.
I noticed that my little Lee scale will change zero from a dry day to a humid one.
I wouldn't have thought that it would be such a drastic amount though.
Interesting to see if there was any real velocity changes if you had loaded some with the same dipper??
 
my rcbs 5-0-5 scale doesnt move from zero ever and they are all super accurate... Powder should weigh the same all the time otherwise it hasn't been stored properly and should be disposed of in my opinion. Upgrade your powder measure or clean it up and try again.
 
Chuckbuster said:
Interesting powder observation...
Sometimes, things just make you go "Hmmmmm...". Case in point; last month when it was stinkin' hot, I loaded up a batch of .38Specials with Unique. Using a Lee dipper, the powder charge was weighed on a digital scale and found to be 4.7 grains. Tonight, I loaded up 50 more .38s, and found that the same dipper was now throwing a charge weight of 4 grains...a little less oomph than what I was looking for in this particular load. So, I went up a dipper size to what was supposed to be a 6.4 grain charge, but found it to be a full grain less (however, I did not weigh this charge last month so cannot make a comparison.

Anybody have any similar experiences with powder charge weights?
Click to expand...

I have heard some of the bench boys use volume rather than weight for this exact reason. Don't know any more about it than that.
 
I don't think there's anything wrong with the scale. I weighed some bullets, and tared the pan, and all came back as 100% normal. The powder itself is stored in a cool dry location in the house. The only difference is in atmospheric conditions from loading in hot humid (but no rain) July, to loading in cool/dry August.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom