Weighing rounds after loading

[Odinson]

I started weighing my freshly reloaded rounds on a digital scale. It paid off in that I caught a round that had somehow missed the powder. That extra few minutes sure save me a headache down the road. Anyone else weighing after loading?

 

[Licensed to kill]

I started weighing my freshly reloaded rounds on a digital scale. It paid off in that I caught a round that had somehow missed the powder. That extra few minutes sure save me a headache down the road. Anyone else weighing after loading?

No, I have no idea how many rounds I’ve loaded over the years but in all those rounds, only had one misfire (which WAS due to no powder). Even so, weighing loaded rounds is a good idea, why if a problem could be so seldom????, because the only time it happened to me, I had the cross hairs on a Ram at <100 yards . I got lucky in that the primer did not push the bullet into the bore (that would have ended my sheep hunt). Great idea for hunting rounds.

 

[FortHunter]

I dont weigh after loading, but running the lyman powder dispenser on auto repeat it will display how many charges its dispensed. It only goes to 99 then resets but im rarely loading more than 100rnds a session.

Ill double check the number matches the amount of cartridges assembled a few times throughout as well as the final one.

Im sure the other brands have a similar feature.

 

[Licensed to kill]

I dont weigh after loading, but running the lyman powder dispenser on auto repeat it will display how many charges its dispensed. It only goes to 99 then resets but im rarely loading more than 100rnds a session.

Ill double check the number matches the amount of cartridges assembled a few times throughout as well as the final one.

Im sure the other brands have a similar feature.

My Hornady auto-scale does the same, I don’t know how many guys use these auto scales, I’ve only had mine for about 3-4 years). Used a beam scale and dribbler for the 40 years previous.

 

[FortHunter]

My Hornady auto-scale does the same, I don’t know how many guys use these auto scales, I’ve only had mine for about 3-4 years). Used a beam scale and dribbler for the 40 years previous.

Ya I've had mine for about the same length of time. Huge time saver compared the beam scale.

Trying to weigh a loaded round on my 5-0-5 scale seems like an incredible pain. But also your loading slower so less likely to miss a powder charge IMO.

 

[hogie]

I did recently, I haven't used my 550 press in a while as a progressive. Set up to do 223 last minute. Lots of errors on my end. So I weighed 200 rounds as a double check. They were all good.

I use the 550 lots for 45-70, but I hand throw powder. Pistol powder, subsonic. Massive case with little powder. So really do one at a time, but i use all four stations.

 

[Bustercluck]

I’ve had at least one misfire due to no powder, but that was when I was weighing powder with a beam scale and didn’t quite have a system to keep track of which ones had powder.

Nowadays I just run a flashlight over the top of the reloading tray before I insert bullets and look for any anomolies.

 

[Goo98]

throwing each round on a scale doesnt take long, why not

 

[Gatehouse]

I've only weighed loaded rounds if I suspect there was a problem.

 

[270WSMXBolt]

I started weighing my freshly reloaded rounds on a digital scale. It paid off in that I caught a round that had somehow missed the powder. That extra few minutes sure save me a headache down the road. Anyone else weighing after loading?

It's a good simple method to prove the round. Good for you. I may do the same. I can count the number of my failure to fill at three rounds.. I have my digital scale and could simply check before placing in my box. Great advise. Thank you. Cheers

 

[mcaswell]

I'll weigh them for some specific situations, like my 38 loads in a 357 case (in which I can't see the powder thanks to the viewing angles on the 550).

 

[I Dont Care About You]

I caught a round that had somehow missed the powder.

You need to build a process to eliminate the possibility of this BEFORE seating bullets.

I just run a flashlight over the top of the reloading tray before I insert bullets and look for any anomolies.

THIS ..... THIS ............. THIS.

Charge cases in a loading block. Check ALL the cases for powder, BEFORE seating bullets.

throwing each round on a scale doesnt take long, why not

Produce a few thousand rounds of something and the answer as to why not will become obvious to you.

Its a massive waste of time and is not needed if your process is good and has means to prevent empty cases being loaded.

However, you do you.

 

[Odinson]

No, I have no idea how many rounds I’ve loaded over the years but in all those rounds, only had one misfire (which WAS due to no powder). Even so, weighing loaded rounds is a good idea, why if a problem could be so seldom????, because the only time it happened to me, I had the cross hairs on a Ram at <100 yards . I got lucky in that the primer did not push the bullet into the bore (that would have ended my sheep hunt). Great idea for hunting rounds.

I too, have loaded thousands of rounds and with a pistol, missing powder is not a huge deal but the same thing in a rifle could be a problem. In all my rifle reloading, this was the first time it ever happened. Somehow, some way, my normally careful system developed a "hole" in it. I plugged the hole with the scale. 50 rounds takes maybe 2 to 3 minutes ......... if that. I see it as just another step in the safety protocl.

 

[Falconflyer]

I too, have loaded thousands of rounds and with a pistol, missing powder is not a huge deal but the same thing in a rifle could be a problem. In all my rifle reloading, this was the first time it ever happened. Somehow, some way, my normally careful system developed a "hole" in it. I plugged the hole with the scale. 50 rounds takes maybe 2 to 3 minutes ......... if that. I see it as just another step in the safety protocl.

In thousands of rounds I've only had one time many years ago where I missed putting powder in a case and in this isntance it was a 41 mag double action revolver. When that round was fired the primer had enough power to push the bullet into the barrel so if the trigger had been pulled again the result would hve been a blown up gun and maybe hand/hands and face! I've been checking powder levels in a tray of cases with a flashlight before seating the bullets ever since!

 

[scotteboy]

I've weighed rounds after reloading to see how consistent they are.
I only do it if I weigh the brass first.
Just a curiosity thing for me.

 

[Tokay444]

No.

 

[maynard]

I had a friend that had a failure to fire during a rifle match. No powder but the primer had enough engery to push the bullet out of the case and into the barrel. As I was helping him tap the bullet back with a cleaning rod, he said the only problem is there is probably 9 more in this box, and there was. Yup, missed a whole row in his loading block when he answered the phone while reloading.

After that he weighed every round. He did not weight sort his brass, but he did weight sort the loaded rounds and shoot them in order from lightest to heaviest.

 

[old303]

Look into each case and see that there's a reasonable amount of powder before adding a bullet.

And if you're interrupted, don't just pick up where you thought you were, review the whole situation when you're able to focus again and be certain each round is getting all the steps. Recycle partial rounds if you're not certain of them.

 

[Odinson]

I guess the answer is ............ what ever works for the individual. As for myself, I'll spend the minute or three weighing the 50 rounds before I do the final crimp. I'm retired and have nothing better to do at that time.

 

[TJCote]

I don’t re-weigh ammo for myself. However, I reload hunting ammo for a small number of friends and relatives. I always re-weigh and record the weight variation of all loaded rounds for them as a final QC check (and a possible hedge against any liability). I don’t recall ever having a problem…but it makes me feel better.