IMR Trail Boss and Lee Dippers?

[Thunder Stick]

Until I save up for a digital scale, I'm limited to using some Lee Dippers for charging cases. Lee does not have a listing for the dippers using IMR Trail Boss powder. Does anyone know how many grains of Trail Boss the Lee Dippers throw? The Lees measure in cubic centimeters.

Thanks!

[PlacitasSlim]

If you give me the charge you want to throw, I will give you the dipper or give me the dipper and I will tell you the charge.

[Thunder Stick]

<insert blush of embarrassment> 

I'm making some 158 gr lead Cowboy loads for 38 special and 357 magnum to use in my Marlin 1894C. So, I need to know what measures to use for:

38 Special - 2.7 (min) to 4.2 (max) grains

357 Mag: 3.2 (min) - 4.2 (max) grains

Source - http://www.imrpowder.com/data/handgun/trailboss-feb2005.php

Thanks!

TS

[PlacitasSlim]

Here goes:

 .3cc      1.3gr
 .5cc      2.2gr
 .7cc      3.0gr
1.0cc     4.4gr

The better half shoots 3.0gr of trail boss in a .38 behind both 125gr and 158gr lead for Cowboy action shooting. It is a nice plinking load with low recoil and very good accuracy. That is within IMR specs for both bullets. Trail Boss is really a plinking powder and if you need something faster, I have used Bullseye, Unique, W231, and H110. All four are listed on the powder dippers sliding chart. Hope this helps.

[rickyp]

Just a side note, The PACT BBK scale is about $100 and works well. I have one and used it for something like 10 years

[Dusty Miller]

You don't have to spend $100 to get an accurate scale.  There are plenty of balance scales out there for less than that.  Using those dippers is sheer madness in today's world.  I threw mine away.  There's no way dippers will give you good consistency from case to case.  That's like having your car's electrical system changed over to a 6 volt!!

[superhornet]

After about 58 years of reloading, I have bought every device known to man to reload or improve cartridge performance for target and hunting.  I have used many scales, presses, dies, etc etc.  And, after spending a small fortune on all of this, I still find that  Dippers have a place in the reloading cycle.  I have loaded many thousands of rounds of pistol for competition with dippers and never had a problem.  Won a Glock pistol shooting (oh! no) handloads out of a G17 loaded by dippers.  Shot a car load of white tail ,30-30, 308,243, 30-06, 280, 7x57 loaded by dippers.....Latest rifle score loaded by Lee Dippers for 300WSM...8 white tail, 1 elk, 1 bou, 1 buffalo............Dippers can do the job..Of course they are limited if you are looking for max....Then I use the old O'haus scale that still is as good as any mechinical scale on the market....IMHO