Author Topic: Powcer measure accuracy/ consistency (Read 482 times)

mtrude · « **on:** March 11, 2005, 11:08:02 AM »

I have spent the day playing with my new Lee Auto Disk Pro powder measure. I have been attempting to throw consistent charges (4.6 grains of Accurate (old version) powder). What is a reasonable level of consistency for a powder measure? It seems I can be within .2 grains either high or low of the desired most of the time and closer some of the time. The Lee site mentions that this measure will throw this powder with "casual" accuracy and this measure should improve as it wears in. A web search of powder measures shows that all measures have a degree +/- of accuracy. Does a tenth of a grain make a lot of difference in a small non max load? Will this variable make a difference in the loads accuracy? I bought this measure to speed up my reloading on a single stage press which it has, but I would rather be careful than fast. This measuring is new to me and I am weighing every charge to check my work. Thanks Mike Trude

kenscot · « **Reply #1 on:** March 12, 2005, 02:05:49 AM »

For extruded rifle powders i will always weigh every charge for pistol & shotgun flake powders I will check every tenth charge for the that tenth variable has not made a big differance but I am not a competitive target shooter

mtrude · « **Reply #2 on:** March 12, 2005, 02:40:12 AM »

Hello and thanks for the reply, Yes it is for a pistol loading. a 38 special case. Its intent is to be a casual shooting/ practice 38/357 load that I can have a couple hundred on hand when friends show up to shoot. I already have done a series of loadings to look for a accuracy/ efficiency sweet spot which seemed to be the 4.6 grains, though it wasnt a lot of difference. Its just that I bought a powder measure to speed up the process of loading on a single stage press. If I have to weigh each powder drop I will not be gaining the speed I expected but it will be faster. What I think I will do is to back my setting down .1 of a grain and load away checking as I go. This will allow me a level of safety and keep my speed up. I wonder how the people with progressive reloading presses handle this? My ammo needs are realively low compared to some peoples claims. Thanks Mike Trude

lilabner · « **Reply #3 on:** March 12, 2005, 03:59:54 AM »

Loading for rifles, I used extruded powders and throw loads just a tad on the light side. I use a trickler and weigh all of them on a scale. Takes longer but it makes me feel like my loads are precise. With the right measure and ball powder or the short cut extruded now available, this probably isn't necessary.

Badnews Bob · « **Reply #4 on:** March 12, 2005, 04:55:57 AM »

I use one alot and they deffinatly get better as you use them, most of the time mine throws less than+- .1 I've also found that in light .38/.357 (that I shoot alot of) It doesn't make any diff in how they shoot, I don't shoot for scores I shoot CB action and plink alot 3.4gr of titegroup and a 125gr LRNFP in .357 cases is alot of fun and casting your own makes them cost about the same as a .22LR.

BCB · « **Reply #5 on:** March 12, 2005, 05:18:59 AM »

mtrude,

I assume you must be using AA#2 or AA#5 powder? I really don't know much about the Lee Auto Disk Pro, but I use the Lee powder thrower and and old RCBS Uniflow. Both of these will throw ball-type powders much better than a 0.2± grain. Really that is a difference of 0.4 grains. I use the Lee or RCBS and throw a dozen or so charges into cases and then take a light and observe the powder levels just for safety. I have complete confidence in throwing charges if they are ball powders--flake and extruded are another story. In the beginning, I set my powder throwers by setting my scales to 3 times the charge I want. I then work the thrower 3 times and weigh that quantity of powder. I often times get this to within 0.1± grain. Once I get the proper charge times 3, I set my scales to the charge I want for the reload I am using and throw a charge to check and see. I go from there. I guess I am saying that I would expect better than 0.2± if you are indeed using ball powders. Good-luck...BCB

mtrude · « **Reply #6 on:** March 12, 2005, 08:17:46 AM »

Hello, I am using Hercules Unique powder. When I say plus or minus .2 grains I mean the loads vary from approximately .1 heavy to .1 light, (1=1=2?) I apologize for the confusion. My greatest concern is being able to stay close to but under the maximum recommended charge. I want 4.6 but 4.7 is the max as written in the Speer 13 manual. It sounds as if I may be in the consistency ballpark according to Badnews Bob.I am becoming very curious how the high volume loaders do it and what kind of consistency that accept? Thank You, Mike Trude

BCB · « **Reply #7 on:** March 12, 2005, 10:06:08 AM »

mtrude,

I saw the Accurate powder in your 1st post and I assumed that is what you were using...

And, if you are getting 0.1± grain using a flake powder like Unique, then I would say you are doing very acceptable. I do throw charges of flake powder, but I am using middle pressure loads and I throw a dozen or so and then shine a light into them to be sure the levels are all very close. Then I seat the bullets. Some of these loads are very accurate. I don't use much Unique...never really had much success with it. I do use 7.0 grains of Green Dot and the 44-250-K bullet and accuracy with thrown charges is at the inch to a bit over (1.25") at 50 yards from a 'scoped SRH. I also throw charges of AL-8 and it is worse (bigger and courser flakes) than the Alliant series of flake powders. I use it in the 38 Special and the 357 Magnum with the 358429 bullet. Very good accuracy with both open-sighted handguns at 25 yards. So, thrown charges certainly can be as accurate as time-consumingly weighed charges. Good-luck...BCB

mtrude · « **Reply #8 on:** March 12, 2005, 12:00:13 PM »

Hello,I see what you mean BCB about that first post, Im not sure what I was thinking there? I think what it boils down to is that I will need to work within whatever range of consistency my measure shows. It also seems that from others experience .1 a grain or so (+/- ) doesnt make lot of difference. I worked with the measure some more today and added a cardboard powder baffle adjusted so that the powder level stayed about a 1/2 inch above the bottom flare of the hopper. This seemed to improve the consistency in that I didnt have any extremly light drops as the powder was stuck at the bottom of the hopper. It seems that if I have a bad drop it is more likely to be light rather than heavy. One final question, You hint that flake powders are difficult, which types of powders work the best in powder measures? Thanks, Mike Trude

BCB · « **Reply #9 on:** March 12, 2005, 01:42:58 PM »

mtrude,
Without a doubt, the ball powders are the best in my opinion. Some of the extruded powders that have short (a relative term I know) kernels also work fairly well. 4320 and 5744 would be examples of this type extruded powders. 4831 and 4350 are examples of extruded powders (larger kernels) that don't meter real well in my opinion. Good-luck...BCB