Lee powder thrower

WhelanLad

WhelanLad

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Have a Lee 50 anno setup, using Varget ,
Has or does anyone just set the thrower to throw out the needed GR , test it an weigh it a few times , then just Throw direct from Hopper into a Case?

I was checking every single load on beam scale for a while, but recently just set it up an threw them all in.


Not ideal but Varget seems to go thru reasonably ok an so far the gongs have been wacked at 400-450m with same Ol Drop chart numbers 😎


Obviously weighing each one is Best , but do you just throw ?

(Loading 7-08 )
 
Richard Lee's book, "Modern Reloading Second Edition" describes how he thought decent results could be achieved by volume, instead of weight, measure of powder - the whole concept behind his "scoops", if they were used as he describes. Back in the day, I had an RCBS "Uniflow" powder thrower - I often just used that thrower to do up "practice" rounds for 308 Win and 243 Win, but I think all the hunting rounds were done by throwing powder light, then onto beam scale and using trickler to bring up to desired maximum weight. At the time I was using IMR 4064 powder - I could see the beam scale react to one more kernel of powder, so it was "close enough" for me - I was never convinced that volume measure could get within one kernel of powder or not - so I did not trust that thing at Red Line or Maximum loads.
 
Why would you use a powder measure and then weigh each throw? The entire point of a powder measure is to throw powder charges. If you really want to, measure a throw every 50 rounds or so just to confirm the setting.

FWIW, "grain" is a unit of weight. You would never say that you set the measure to the desired pound.
 
Loading Varget for my .308

I weighed out 10 charges and used the cheap lee powder thrower to load 10 rounds.
Both 10 shot groups were right around 1moa at 100yrds.
I think the thrown rounds ended up 0.1" bigger group.

I still weigh every 3rd or 4th just to be sure but for a hunting round it works for me.
YMMV

Sam
 
It used to be common to load by volume, not weight. The existence of the Harrel measure is testament to this. It worked just fine, and still does.
 
WhelanLad said:
Have a Lee 50 anno setup, using Varget ,
Has or does anyone just set the thrower to throw out the needed GR , test it an weigh it a few times , then just Throw direct from Hopper into a Case?

I was checking every single load on beam scale for a while, but recently just set it up an threw them all in.


Not ideal but Varget seems to go thru reasonably ok an so far the gongs have been wacked at 400-450m with same Ol Drop chart numbers 😎


Obviously weighing each one is Best , but do you just throw ?

(Loading 7-08 )
Click to expand...
Do it all the time for my 223 loads, mostly using 748 or v133. Works fine. - dan
 
If I was trying to set world records, I would throw short and trickle up to the desired charge.

For almost anything else, charging by volume works fine. I have an Hornady LNL measure on my LNL press, a Lee Auto Drum on my turret press (pretty much only gets used for handgun), and an RCBS Uniflow that sits on a dedicated stand when loading single stage. Accuracy is acceptable even with the chunkiest extruded powders, and improves as powder gets finer and rounder.
 
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Oh, and in 35 years of loading I have never had a measure move on me during a loading session. I check several throws before I start loading, 2-3 more within the first 20 rounds, then I just run with it.
 
I have done several tests using my Harrel measure and beam scales , or in the last test, my son's auto trickler and lab scale.
The accuracy using the Harrel , throwing 24 and 30 grains of Varget and weighing the charges on the scale was a real eye opener, that thing is super accurate to the point where I could not shoot the difference between the weighed charges and the thrown ones at 800 meters!
I am not sure about other measures , but the Harrel certainly is worth the cost....
Cat
 
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I recently did a fairly large batch of 30-30. I set my rcbs powder throw up just used it as it is much quicker than my chargemaster. Checked weights every so often as I went and never saw even a tenth of a grain difference. I know it doesn’t do as well with all powders but the right combo it is as accurate as the resolution of my digital scale.
 
BattleRife said:
Oh, and in 35 years of loading I have never had a measure move on me during a loading session. I check several throws before I start loading, 2-3 more within the first 20 rounds, then I just run with it.
Click to expand...

Same, although I can't speak for the Lee powder dropper, I have an RCBS Uniflow which drops 335 very consistently for the 223 I bench shoot quite a bit. For hunting loads in any calibers which I do use stick powder, none of my hunting rifles could possibly discern a the minute difference in powder charge it might throw due to being stick powder.
 
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I Dont Care About You said:
Why would you use a powder measure and then weigh each throw? The entire point of a powder measure is to throw powder charges. If you really want to, measure a throw every 50 rounds or so just to confirm the setting.

FWIW, "grain" is a unit of weight. You would never say that you set the measure to the desired pound.
Click to expand...
For faster reloading when you have a load that's very good, and don't want to carry several proprietary "scoops."

Use the throw for a quick base charge and top it up on the scale with a trickler.

If you're using an auto charger, then it's all moot, but I've weighed charges from auto chargers, and as often as not, there are variances between charge weights in the pan, due to sensor speeds shutting off the flow of powder, and the types of powder used. I've never had the urge to invest in an auto charger, so I don't own one. Just going by what I've seen on the loading benches of friends.

It may not be much of an issue for a "one gun" individual, but if you're loading for several cartridges, a powder throw saves a lot of space and time.

When a "practised" operator uses a powder throw, they can get their charges within a tenth of a grain almost every time. Very few rifles, chambered for cartridges in the 22-250 size and larger, will not notice the difference of plus or minus 1/10 grain between cartridges, as far as accuracy goes.

About the only time it even shows up on a meter is when the charge is close to or over max for the rifle.

OP, if you can keep your charges consistent, yes, it does take practice, then your loads will be fine.

I've proven this several times with lots of newbies, as have many others.

There may be the odd "unicorn" out there, where a tenth of a grain will tighten groups, but I haven't seen one.

This isn't the case with "smaller cases," where pressures can reach maximum quickly, but with 7-08 capacities, it holds true.
 
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