PDA

View Full Version : Powder metering tips



SecondsCount
06-03-2018, 10:32 PM
I am subscribed to Midsouth Shooters mailing list and Glen Zediker has some good posts in their blog on reloading.

His recent posts have been on powder meters, AKA powder measures, and I found them to be informative:

Meter Use Tips (http://www.mssblog.com/2018/05/31/reloaders-corner-meter-use-tips/)

Thrown vs. Weighed (http://www.mssblog.com/tag/powder-meters/)

Has anyone tried his method of setting the scale up for 10 times the charge weight and throwing 10 charges for a total?

olstyn
06-03-2018, 10:36 PM
Has anyone tried his method of setting the scale up for 10 times the charge weight and throwing 10 charges for a total?

I've done that before, yes. Seems like a reasonable method for figuring out what the average charge you throw at a given setting is.

GuanoLoco
06-03-2018, 11:46 PM
Most of my loading is 9mm on an automated Dillon 1050, so take this for what it is worth.

First, I use a ‘Perfect Powder Baffle’ with 2 offset baffle plates. This increases consistency regardless of the powder fill level.

Second, different powders will meter very differently. I’d suggest banging/vibrating the powder measure to get the powder good and settled in the hopper - just like you’ve been loading for a while. Some powders (PrimaV) have multi-sized granules need to be thoroughly shaken/mixed before use.

I use a tall pill bottle that sits nicely on the 1050 plate, disconnect the fail-safe rod, and manually throw 20 charges. I might do this a few times to get the powder measure dialed in just right. I try to go in one direction then stop as going back and forth can lead to struggles with backlash in the setting.

Just remember to re-connect the failsafe rod or you will load a bunch of squibs!

I might interrupt a session to get a check point. This can improve confidence and prevent a lot of aggravation later.

I prefer to get a check point at the end of a session.

My last session was about perfect. Target goal was 3.4gr of a rond flake shotgun powder. 20 throw average tuned to 68.00 grains on a quality scale (GemPro 250). After loading 2000 rounds I retested - 68.05 gr. I’m not claiming any individual throw is all that precise, but for a 20 throuw average on a powder that meters well, that’s about as good as it gets and shows you what is possible.

LittleLebowski
06-04-2018, 05:59 AM
I bought Zediker's latest book on precision reloading, it was money well spent.

willie
06-04-2018, 07:15 AM
Other tips that may or may not have been mentioned are these: The measure should be solidly attached to a secure bench if not attached to the press. If the bench is too lightly constructed, then undue vibration and movement might occur when the measure(or press) is operated. A new measure will benefit from having powder run through it. Graphite on the powder will be transferred to the mechanism. Static electricity can cause powder clumping. Wiping the container body's interior with a dryer sheet will lessen the formation of static charge. Also running a wire from the measure or press to a water pipe going outside and into the ground will serve as a ground to carry these charges away from the press. Some have attached very small vibrators to powder measures. Those used in cell phones or pagers or others available on EBay are examples. Some powders measure more accurately than others because of shape of individual grains. Unique is notorious for its poor measuring qualities. The dot powders(Red Dot for example)are cousin of Unique and share this trait. 2400 measures accurately. Ball powders as a rule have the best measuring traits because of the round shape of the grains. Obviously the stick powders commonly used for rifle cartridges will not measure as easily as do ball powders. So some powders are more forgiving than others in this respect. The novice using certain powders with a new measure and no prior experience may become frustrated.

TiroFijo
06-04-2018, 07:37 AM
Has anyone tried his method of setting the scale up for 10 times the charge weight and throwing 10 charges for a total?

I always do it. At least the first time with a new powder.

The most important factor is grain size and shape, many pistol powders allow for VERY accurate throws.

mmc45414
06-05-2018, 06:26 AM
Some have attached very small vibrators to powder measures. Those used in cell phones or pagers or others available on EBay are examples.
I bought several on Amazon but never got around to trying the experiment. I planned to just wire them to a battery. My order history shows this:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00PZYMCT8/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0156U7WWC/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I could karma a set or two out (assuming I can find them...) if somebody more organized and motivated than I am might want to try the theory out.

Jim Watson
06-05-2018, 12:48 PM
Ol' Glen is pretty sharp, but making up terms is annoying. I have been using a powder MEASURE for several decades and he can't make me call it a "meter."

Any road, the ten (or 20) drop sample is good on single stage loading because scale error is figured on the full range and has a much greater effect at the low end.
But how well does it work on a progressive? The cycling of the machinery has an effect on the powder settling into the measure cavity and I would not expect consecutive manual function to deliver the same amount.

SecondsCount
06-05-2018, 03:43 PM
Ol' Glen is pretty sharp, but making up terms is annoying. I have been using a powder MEASURE for several decades and he can't make me call it a "meter."
......

I agree. It is kind of silly and he is really trading apples for apples when using the term meter. I consider a meter to measure something when in reality, the scale is the powder meter and like he states, it should be called a powder dispenser.

SecondsCount
06-05-2018, 03:48 PM
I am going to try the 10X throw method as a few years ago I was playing with several powder dispensers, two electronic scales, and a Dillon Eliminator scale which is mechanical.

What I found is that there are inaccuracies in all of them, even the Dillon Eliminator. Like others have stated, being as consistent as possible will yield the best results.

Jim Watson
06-05-2018, 04:27 PM
I agree. It is kind of silly and he is really trading apples for apples when using the term meter. I consider a meter to measure something when in reality, the scale is the powder meter and like he states, it should be called a powder dispenser.

No, no. A "Dispenser" is one of those things that automatically feeds powder out onto a scale until the desired weight is reached.

TiroFijo
06-06-2018, 08:02 AM
Ol' Glen is pretty sharp, but making up terms is annoying. I have been using a powder MEASURE for several decades and he can't make me call it a "meter."

Any road, the ten (or 20) drop sample is good on single stage loading because scale error is figured on the full range and has a much greater effect at the low end.
But how well does it work on a progressive? The cycling of the machinery has an effect on the powder settling into the measure cavity and I would not expect consecutive manual function to deliver the same amount.

I reload on a RL 550, so everything is the same (vibrations, etc.) in the loading cycle when I take out the cases with powder to weight the charges and check the consistency.

I have even checked the effect of the powder level on the measure (it has only one baffle at the bottom, no extra ones), with small grained powders there is zero effect as long as you are one inch or more above the baffle.

JohnO
06-06-2018, 08:30 AM
Has anyone tried his method of setting the scale up for 10 times the charge weight and throwing 10 charges for a total?

That is a suggestion I got from talking with Brian Enos when I ordered my Dillon press years ago. He said if he drops 4 charges and the average is where he wants it, load.

TiroFijo
06-06-2018, 08:58 AM
With small grained powders in my Dillon RL550, I get close to exactly the same weight every time. Perhaps one or two throws in ten is 0.1 grain off, measured carefully with a balance beam scale.

None of this matters for "normal" shooting, the pistol will group almost exactly the same (and POI will normally be the same) at 25 yds with some rounds loaded with +/-0.2 grains of powder.

WDR
06-06-2018, 09:18 PM
I'll often throw 10-20 charges and then weigh and divide to get an average when setting up the powder measure on my 550. If you go by any one individual charge, you'll be chasing tenths back and forth forever. Perfection is the enemy of good enough. Consistency helps a ton for sure. I usually toss the first 10 throws back in the hopper, if it's been sitting for a while, or after refilling, just to help things settle to "normal" during operation.