[Tang419]

Does a difference of +/- .1gr really hurt ? A friend and I were discussing this. He uses his Lee powder measure/dispenser. He keeps checking the loads out of the dispenser on a balance beam scale until he gets to the load he wants, then just starts cranking out ammo. I've been paranoid since I started reloading, and I scale out every single load, trying to make sure my .300 WM ammo is exactly the same from cartridge to cartridge. My loads are right up near max, so thats why I try to be cautious.

Am I being too careful, or is he being too careless ?

[rcmodel]

+/- .1 grain in a large belted-mag is meaningless.

+/- .1 grain in a .25 ACP is a lot!

I weigh every 10th. round when throwing rifle charges, just to make sure the powder measure hasn't slipped or went wacky.

I weigh every charge when loading close to max small pistol rounds.

rcmodel

[Tang419]

Thanks man

[mkl]

Agree with rcmodel.

Think of it as a percent difference.

Plus or minus less than two percent or so probably will not be noticeable unless you are into really serious bench rest shooting.

The slower powders have a little more tolerance for variations in charge weight.

As long as you can stay within +/- 2% or so of your desired charge weight regardless of how you get there (throw or weigh) you will be okay in almost all cases. (Hunting accuracy, using lower to medium range loads.)

If you are pushing the top of the maximum range, or going over, all bets are off!

[dardascastbullets]

And if you want to see how +/- 0.1 grains affects the standard deviation shoot your loads through a good chronograph. It is interesting especially with the lesser volume loads.

[D. Manley]

Loading pistol rounds I only check once every 100 rounds when I reload the primer feed. That said, I do spend an extraordinary amount of time adjusting the (Dillon) PM and fine-tuning the throws prior to beginning. Taking a little extra time & weighing 10-throw drops and fine-tuning the PM accordingly can result in very consistent charges. On rifle rounds, I weigh every charge.

[GaryL]

If you are pushing the top of the maximum range, or going over, all bets are off!I think this needs to be emphasized. The only linear relationships in powder variations are localized and in a small range. In some calibers, the difference between a top notch performer and a hand grenade isn't very much.

[TooTaxed]

GARYL is quite correct. If you are loading "top of the envelope" on velocity/pressure, you should definitely measure out each powder charge as exactly as you can. If you think about it, you can probably drop your powder charge half a grain, gain more safety factor and peace of mind, and have an inconsequential loss in velocity.

Personally, after fifty years of reloading, I avoid "Full Tilt Boogie" loads. My most accurage loads tend to be lower velocity...the trade off for high velocity is generally less accuracy...and the firing involves more wear and tear on both the rifle and the shooter. For long range loads I very carefully use high quality...read expensive!...bullets specifically designed for the purpose. (check the user ratings for specific bullets on the Midway website.)

If you are loading normal velocity/pressure rounds, +/- 0.1-gr doesn't make any practical difference, considering the other factors in aiming and firing. It's a waste of money to use expensive bullets for shooting to 200-300 yards.

[Tang419]

TooTaxed, are you speaking of Bergers ?

[TooTaxed]

TANG419, for long range hunting I like Nosler Partitions, Nosler E-Tips, or Barnes Triple Shoks in my 6.5 x 55 Swede or .30-06 bolt guns.

For long range target to 1,000 yds I've always liked the Sierra Matchkings...but recently I've found the Nosler Accubonds to be possibly even more accurate...and cheaper! For me, the Bergers haven't been any better than the others.

[possum]

i normally load my rounds light, i load for handgun only, and i make loads that even +/- .5 gr i would still be good. Even in the worse case scenario if there was a crazy change i would still be good. i give myself alot of wiggle room.

[JackOfAllTradesMasterAtNone]

Kinda like others have said... I don't weigh every charge I throw.

But I probably weigh more at tighter tollerances than most people do.

It depends on the cartridge, small pistol or large rifle? Yes a 1/10gn difference in .25acp a lot different than 1/10gn in a .44mag.

Having a semi progressive press, I can load target pistol rounds that even if there was a double charge, it wouldn't be disasterous.

For my .45acp Bullseye loads, I weigh every 10th throw allowing 3% variance. That's roughly 1/10gn difference on a charge of 3.8gns of Bullseye. My powder measure is better than that, but that's what I'll allow for timed and rapid fire loads @25yds. I don't allow the same tollerance for my 50yd slow fire loads. I weigh every one down to the Nat's arse.

For other lead castings for .38spl/.357mag and .44mag I'll allow more slack. Again, my powder measure is more accurate than that with the powders I've chosen, so I still only weigh the 10th charge just for piece of mind. Tollerance is determined by the load/powder used. Certainly 1/10gn difference of Unique is a different load than 1/10gn difference of AA#9 since the charge weight of AA#9 is could be three times as much.

But, my pistol huntin loads are near maximun loads. I weigh every charge of AA#9 and Win296 at max load where a mistake could make for a really bad day. +- 1/10th grain is not acceptable.

Most of my rifle hunting loads are also at or near maximum. I weigh every charge +- 1/10th grain is not acceptable.

Loading for the 30-30 or the boys practice .243 or .270 rounds. +- 1/10gn is quite acceptable.

-Steve

[Tang419]

I like max loads. I wish I Hornady would sell us their powders :D

[Grumulkin]

I weigh every charge. Having done so for many years, I can tell you that even with a powder that seems to be measuring dead on for quite a number of rounds, occasionally a charge will be 0.2 or 0.3 gr. or more off which I don't consider satisfactory. Safe yes; satisfactory to me no.

I make no distinction between "hunting accuracy" and "target accuracy."

[Kestral]

I`ve got into the habit of weighing the bullets as well,esp lead,opened a box of 500 lead 158 .38 spec ,they started at 148.2 upto 161.4grns.A box of 500 9m jkt 124 grn started at 118.9 upto 131.8, I adjust my powder now to the bullet weghts.Kestral

[Shoney]

When I was doing a lot of long range shooting, I weighed not only the powder charges, I also sorted bullets by weight.

Additionally, I processed my brass for uniformity, then did a volumetric measurement/sorting of each case using chemistry glassware, called a "buret", a long glass tube with very fine measuring calibrations on the side. I used the 100cc models with the smallest possible stopcock, so I could dispense extremly small drops of water. This method eliminates the need to weigh the brass empty, or to then weigh it full of water to determine volume.

[mkl]

message deleted on second thoughts.

[rfwobbly]

Additionally, I processed my brass for uniformity, then did a volumetric measurement/sorting of each case using chemistry glassware, called a "buret"... so I could dispense extremely small drops of water.

This sounds tedious, but very interesting. I take it this is after re-sizing, so there must be a primer or a plug in place. It's certainly not the new primer. How do your cover that big leak at the bottom ?

[1858rem]

maybe he neck sized only and uses a universal deprimer

[WNTFW]

Ideally you want a load that can tolerate a +/- .1 grain variance. That is for safety and accuracy as well. I was just reading someting earlier tonight about how to adjust powder for case weight variance in .308's. The example given given was .240grain to compensate for a given case variance.

I'd look at a few other things to keep your efforts in balance. One example is a set of check weights. Why worry about that little weight if you are not checking if your scale is accurate & repeatable. Sorting cases and uniforming primers pockets may be something to try.

It also depends on the load & it's use. In a gas gun standing @ 0-100yds should'nt be affecting you. Same for most pistol rounds on steel plates & bowling pins. Those are more mass production type of runs.
Shooting my bolt gun prone past 200 for group size, I'm more meticulous about everything. Less shots easy to weigh & trickle every round.

It also depends on safety as others have stated. I tend to weigh more. I don't push the upper loadings much. Better to be safe than sorry.