CHARGING CASES - Weighing individual charges.

[OldmanFCSA]

1

[DeanC]

Some would probably say I am over-cautious.

For plinking loads I set my powder measure to be dead nuts on for 5 throws in a row then I weigh every 5th charge on my Ohaus beam scale. I place each charged case in a loading block. I also check each cartridge with a flashlight to make sure there is a charge of powder in it and that it appears to be at a uniform level with the other cases before moving on to bullet seating. I do not use a progressive.

For magnum or near max loads in any caliber, I weigh each powder throw.

[rugersol]

'Course I use a case-activated powder-measure.

But I thought I'd add, I don't think the dippers get fair credit! Ya, they're cheap ... and if used improperly, can be unreliable. But ultimately, they're a volumetric measure ... same as a typical progressive powder-measure (sans the case-activation). When properly filled, and "scraped", they're every bit as accurate as any progressive measure ... if not moreso.

I like to recommend the Lyman T-Mag II to noobs ... it's a relatively inexpensive press that does nearly everything they could ever want ... yet affords pistol loading at a much quicker pace, than a single-stage. At that, if they got the cash, they can mount a Hornady or RCBS case-activated powder-measure on it, and it'll work exactly like it does on any progressive. And, if they don't got the cash, they can get a set of dippers fer what? ... $20? ... and save up fer the nice one ... now that they're not buyin' factory ammo, no more ... shouldn't be a couple months, tops!

[selurcspi]

I have found the Dillon powder measure drops accurate charges, within a 10th grain.
I set up the drop and occasionally weigh one through the run!

[engnerdan]

I have found the Dillon powder measure drops accurate charges, within a 10th grain.
I set up the drop and occasionally weigh one through the run!

I am on a progressive too, so once I get the charge I want several times in a row I run with it. I will check every so often just to verify. I have not had my charge vary any noticeable amount, once I got my powder measure 100% free of the shipping oil. I did have to clean my powder measure 3 times to get it clean enough.

-Dan

[Stradawhovious]

I set the Dillon Powder drop on my 550 to throw the charge, then do a run of 100, check charge weight and repeat.

I generally throw ten rounds and divide by 10. If i'm within a tenth of a grain, i'm good to go. I never do runs of over a thousand at a time, but even then i have never had to re-set the powder drop between runs of 100 rounds.

[yuppiejr]

The Lee Auto Disk Powder measure mounted on a powder-thru expander die on their 4-station turret press does a good job dropping consistent charges of the powders I've used (Bullseye, Unique and Titegroup loading up some .380 and .45 auto). I still pour the powder throw from the case into my scale at least every 3-5th charge and visually inspect each charge with a flashlight before seating the bullet since I'm fairly new to reloading but could probably reduce the error checking once I've gotten some more experience under my belt. I also have the Lee Perfect Powder measure, a Hornady powder trickler and the Dillon Eliminator scale for manually measuring rifle loads but may switch my .223 over to a turret + auto disk setup once I've got a favorite load worked up with the Hornady 55 gr SP's to speed up production.

[westhope]

I use a Dillon Powder measure on my Dillon 650 press. Once set to drop the weight I want, I will check one round everytime I reload the primer tube (100 rounds). I cannot remember the last time that I saw the drop vary by 0.1 grain. I use this set-up for 223 and all pistol rounds. I use ball and flake powders. Stick powders vary a little.

I use an RCBS 1010 beam scale. I do not trust the Dillon electronic scale I have for weighing pistol loads.

[Dutch]

I accept the accuracy of the Dillon powder measures. That said, I have powder alarms in place on my 650 and 1050 (the one that checks the case, not the hopper alarm).
No powder alarms on my 550, which in theory(!) is a bigger risk with the manual index.
Never owned a single stage, and I doubt I ever will.

[westhope]

I have the Dillon powder check or RCBS lockout die on my 650 to check for low or double powder charges. I prefer the RCBS lockout die.

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?p ... ber=536792

I can't believe the price of $47 at Midway. I have at least 2 of them that I found in the "Bargin Cave" at Cabela's for under $20 each.

I have not had a squib since I started using them or Dillon's powder check. I had 2 squibs before that in about 20 years of IPSC / IDPA loading 5,000 to 10,000 rounds annually.

[chopper]

I set my powder drop and check it several times to insure its dropping a same charge each time before charging shells and then I check it every 10 shells. I take the shells from one holder and put in a different holder after charging with powder and visually inspect the tray full before installing bullets, and dont charge over 50 at one time.

[crbutler]

Depends on what the round is for.

If it is a hunting round, they are all electronically dispensed with a RCBS chargemaster and periodically checked with a beam balance. Especially if its a bottlenecked round for the encore or contender.

If it is part of load workup, it is weighed on the chargemaster but I don't typically double check with the beam balance.

If its a competition round it is dropped with a dillon powder measure and periodically checked on a electronic scale. If I get more than a .1 grain variance, I start troubleshooting.

If its a plinking round, once the press is set up, it goes in.

If its blackpowder, its just volumetrically dumped in with a el cheapo brass powder measure (dipper style).

Strangely enough, I can't say there is that much difference in the accuracy of the loads done by the different methods. Some, but not that much, especially between the plinkers and the hunting rounds.

[Seismic Sam]

Thank you Oldman for keeping this straight. You wanna come over under my bridge for a beer?

Pistol ammo: Blasting ammo (9mm, 45 ACP) I keep adjusting my Lee Perfect Powder Measure or my Harrellson measure until it's very close with a beam balance. This is assuming this is NOT a max charge. Then I throw 10 charges into the pan and weigh all ten. This gives me an average, and also allows me to interpolate to .01 grain, because for a 6.3 grain charge, 10 throws should give you 63.0 grains dead nuts on, and if it's 63.2 then I know that ON AVERAGE I am .02 grains over on my charges.

For my 50GI +P loads, I weigh EVERY charge with a beam balance. The 50GI is a unique round, and there are certain features that you have to get dead nuts on. Powder charge and OAL are two of them.

For my 50 Action Express DE, reloading Alcan-8, powder bridging is a PITA, so I just throw the measures, and close counts, unless you can spot a low powder level in a loading block of 50 DIRECTLY under a strong light.. These are not max loads anyway, and I don't know what you would actually have to do to blow up a DE, short of using Bullseye instead of 296.

[traveler]

I bring the Lee dipper system to a new level:

Using Unique I had always believed that for .45 Colt you would use a .38 Special case for dipping; For .38 Special and .357 Magnum you would use a 9mm case for dipping; and so on. Just remember not to de-prime the dipping case. If you do the powder charges will vary a bit from leakage.

[Seismic Sam]

Nice try, traveler.... That post wasn't worth opening up a new jar of n00b sauce and getting out from under my bridge...