Reassure a noob about powder volume...

[Harpo]

New Lee Classic Turret, with a Pro Autodisk powder measure. I want 4.0gr of HP-38, and the chart says use a .37 cavity. But that charge sure looks lonely in there... Does this sound right?

I thought there would be enough powder to make a double charge obvious, but at this rate you could get a lot more than that in the case, and probably blow your head clear off. Is there a higher volume powder that would be safer, or am I just paranoid?

TIA,
Harpo

 

[brickeyee]

Fast pistol powders often are a very small volume.
Weigh a charge to check, and then be VERY careful about checking charges before seating bullets.

 

[Spartacus451]

Have you weighed the charge? A lee scale is cheap and accurate and takes out all the guesswork. The charts for fixed size cavities are always a ball park estimate. Too many variables in powder and environment to really zero in on an exact charge.

What caliber? Unique is pretty good for filling up the case.

 

[wally]

Weigh your charges, twice at least! Don't trust the tables.

+1 to Unique. You can effectively load every handgun and equal factory velocities of all but the Magnums, but even these can get plenty close.

--wally.

 

[DJW]

The advice to get a scale is good indeed. In my experience the Lee cavity usually throws a light charge..........just my experience. Do buy a scale. Even an inexpensive Lee scale is plenty accurate enough. The peace of mind alone is more than worth the cost. You have too much at risk to cheap out and guess.
Best, DJW

 

[amlevin]

By all means buy a scale. Be aware that light charges of some powders can cause higher than desired pressure. Spell that possible KaBoom. Do not rely on volume alone. Use scale to select the correct cavity and then weigh random charges after that.

 

[Owen]

I'm assuming your are loading .38 special, due to the HP-38 powder, and the charge weight. .38 SPL cases will look almost empty with every smokeless powder I've used. That's because .38 SPL started as a black powder cartridge.

Still, get a scale, and be sure.

 

[Harpo]

You are correct, I'm loading 38sp. I do have a scale, but it's an analytical balance which reads in mg (I'm also a lab nut, long story!) And right again, the charge is consistently light by about .06gr.

Still seems very lonely in there, but at least I know it's right!

Thanks much,
Harpo

 

[Mal H]

Harpo, I'm a scale and lab nut also. I have roughly 70 scales including 3 analytical ones (2 Mettlers and 1 Voland). I also have 1 beam scale that measures in grains. Guess which one of those scales is used most often.

Seriously, I highly recommend buying a scale specifically for reloading which measures in grains. Having to convert from grams to grains will eventually cause a mistake. If you're measuring grains of rice, it's not a problem. If you're measuring grains of smokeless powder - well ....

 

[evan price]

Yes, in a .38 special, that 4 grains looks like barely enough to cover the primer. But it will work. Just use caution not to doublecharge the cases, as you can see, it's very easy.

 

[brickeyee]

1 grain = ~64.8 mg