So I am just about to load my first rounds and have a potential problem. In my reloading book it tells me 3.35 cc's or 46 grains. I set my powder measure to 3.35 but it is weighing about 43.5 grains. Im loading for 30-06 with H4895 powder. Do i just go by volume or make it weigh 46 grains? Thanks in advance
Volume not matching weight
- Thread starter Deerassassin
- Start date
Rod B
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
I always go by weight as is shown in the various loading manuals. Using a digital scale I like to set the powder measure to within a few tenths of a grain & then use a powder trickler to top up to the desired charge weight.
Volume is ok for blackpowder.
Volume is ok for blackpowder.
Your reloading manual gives you a starting load, and a max load. I'm guessing that 46gr. falls somewhere in the middle?
Even if that's the case, in your rifle, the "middle ground" of a load isn't necessarily going to give you the most accurate results.
You have to find out which load gives you the best shots for your rifle.
Example: starting load for your powder is say, 43gr, and the max load given is 49gr. Somewhere in that range is the best load for you, but you have to test to see what's best for you.
What powder, bullet, rifle are you using, and for what purpose? Knowing these things, we can help you better.
Even if that's the case, in your rifle, the "middle ground" of a load isn't necessarily going to give you the most accurate results.
You have to find out which load gives you the best shots for your rifle.
Example: starting load for your powder is say, 43gr, and the max load given is 49gr. Somewhere in that range is the best load for you, but you have to test to see what's best for you.
What powder, bullet, rifle are you using, and for what purpose? Knowing these things, we can help you better.
It could just be that your measure isn't giving you EXACTLY 3.35cc's and may be slightly out of calibration, depending on the dispenser. It may be giving you 3.1cc's. I've used a very cheap Lee dispenser and it gives reasonably good results. However, when I set up for 46.0 gr I use the Lee to dispense about 45.5gr, toss it onto the scales and dribble in the last 1/2gr. It will actually deliver between 45.5 to 45.8gr, not a big deal as I'll dribble in the rest of the weight. The nice thing about the Lee is, for some reloading the powder weight isn't all that critical. Shooting cast bullets below a max velocity this works very well. I'm only using some of these loads for rapid fire, offhand shooting out to 50 yards so my powder charges can vary by + or - 1/2gr and not cause any problems. This way I can load a block of 50 rounds very fast without the need to weigh every charge. I still do a visual check to make sure they're all charged and the cases are filled to the same level. I also do weigh every 10 rounds just to be sure the charges are within acceptable tolerances. Best of luck with your loading.
BigUglyMan
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- New Scotland
Weight. Always and only.
Actually, x cc of powder y always contains x cc of powder y. Z grains of powder y may vary in actual amount of powder, due to variations in moisture content. Hence, a good powder measure will give more consistent loads, session after session, can after can of powder than will exactingly consistent weights.
Flame suit on!
Flame suit on!
Last edited:
Kayser Sose
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Southern Van Isle
and because of this ^^^^,
go with weight.
go with weight.
BattleRife
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- of No Fixed Address
In any chemical reaction the reactants and products are always measured by mass. A certain mass of powder decomposes to produce predictable masses of combustion products, and energy. Any attempt to use volume approximations is done solely for convenience. When there is discrepency or doubt, the mass numbers must always be considered the correct numbers.
Ignoring your ignorance of how powder granules might change overall volume depending on how they are packed into a specific space, is the more glaring problem that you just said that a specific volume is always the same specific volume. Well NO SH!T sherlock. The same way that 1 pound of anything always weighs 1 pound. Or did you fall for the old trick about what weighs more, one pound of lead or one pound of feathers?
