When do you stop...

[Arkansas Paul]

When loading rifles, if I'm using an extruded powder, I'll throw it a little light and trickle.
For ball powders, I throw and go. Especially with H380. You can set the measure and throw nearly exact powder charges all day with that stuff, which is why I use it every chance I get.

For pistol stuff, I don't weigh every load. I check about every 20. As has already been mentioned, its because pistol powders tend to do well out of a measure.

 

[Kerf]

Best group I ever shot in my life was with new brass culled from the flat ends of the bell curve and the powder was loaded with Lee Powder Dippers. All the precision brass and powder weighed to the tenth of a grain never came close. Go figure; sure opened my eyes to what counts.

 

[Jcinnb]

Thanks for all the responses. Very helpful.

Certainly did not mean to rehash and old thread. My apologies.

 

[Walkalong]

Don't sweat it, and this isn't one of the subjects that get rehashed a lot.

 

[TexasShooter59]

FWIW, I have not read one of these threads before, so it has been pretty interesting!

I tend to do what a friend who is a long time reloader told me: weigh every load for the first 10-15; then every 5 for another 15-20; then every 10. That's obviously using a powder measure. For dippers, it's the scale and weigh every charge.

 

[blarby]

What is the point of weighing every charge with a dipper ?

 

[TexasShooter59]

I wondered if I'd have to explain that...

I "dip" to get most of the charge in the pan and then trickle up, while watching the scale. I use this method for testing new loads, and also it just works better (for me) on extruded powders so far. I'm still pretty new to the extruded powders, so I don't have "a system" ironed out yet. I use a Redding measure for the ball powder using the weighing method mentioned above. When I had to start loading 100-150 rounds at a time, I decided I HAD to get a measure! Until that point, it was dip and trickle each round.

 

[GLOOB]

I suspect it will never fade.

I don't weigh any of my actual throws, but I never have. I mean, I will measure when I get set up. But then after that, all I'm doing is checking the cases on a loading block to make sure non are shortchanged or doubled. But then, I'm not concerned with being +-0.1 grain, at all. I put this in the same boat as cleaning primer pockets. Until I have proven to myself that it makes a worthwhile difference, I will not put forth the effort. That's just me. One of these days, I might finally do some testing. Maybe one day it'll matter to me. If it matters that much to you, perhaps you could do some blind testing to see if it's really worth it. (Blind test, as in give your friend both sets of reloads, and have him load your gun for you!) Until then, I suspect you'll weigh every one, because it's definitely better in theory, if not in practice.

 

[Bovice]

Once all my brass is prepped and ready to load and I'm setting up my press, I adjust my powder drop to the weight I want, checking charge weights until it's right. Once I hit the number I want, I take two more measurements. If it's the usual +/- 0.1 then it's good to go.
About halfway through the process I re-check. It hasn't ever moved.

 

[788Ham]

This last week, I was loading some '06 rounds, using IMR 4064 powder. I have an Redding #3BR thrower, good thrower I might add. Using the extruded powder, sometimes I won't but just start to throw a weight of powder, it will balk a tad bit, then when that powder is dropped, it will be over by .3 to 4 of a grain on my scale. Other times, a smooth throw, it might be .3 off, I then trickle the rest to level. Ball powders don't affect it that way, just extruded. I trickle and weigh each and every round I load, yes, it takes more time, but when loading, I'm not in any hurry anyway. YMMV

 

[BullfrogKen]

If you use a quality powder measure that throws your powder well, you'll learn to trust it or you won't. Once you learn to trust that your measure will consistently throw the same weight - plus or minus a tenth or two of a grain - you'll learn it's probably an unnecessary step.

 

[TexasShooter59]

I did not expect to get involved with this topic, but maybe I am now!

One thing I have to deal with is the Redding drifting while I'm using it. Some of you on this board helped me out a lot in getting fairly consistent with it. But, it seems that the micrometer will drift a little during the course of being used for a session. So, I feel like I have to check it periodically, and I usually have to readjust it a little at some point. If it did not do this, I could charge quite a few without weighing. If you have any tips on this, I would appreciate it. And yes, I do tighten the thumbscrew on the side, before anyone asks!

This is a Redding 3BR.

 

[TexasShooter59]

788Ham, sounds like my experience when I tried Varget in the Redding.

 

[blarby]

Using it more of a scoop then, than an actual measuring device.

Fair enough !

I have a great set of lee scoops. If the power ever fails, and my last balance beam breaks...they are good enough. Within .2g of the chart I have, If I dip and level correctly.

I'm going to be making a selection of some BP scoops soon.

 

[TexasShooter59]

At some point, I would like to try making some custom dippers for actual measurements versus a scoop. It's on the To-Do List!

 

[dickttx]

"I don't know. I have about 2000 down range and 1000 in ammo boxes, mix between 9mm, 7mm RM, .223 and .380 and I still weigh every charge by hand. Can't help it, I'm a little OCD, I'm an Accountant, so I probably won't every stop."

JW, as an accountant you should be familiar with internal control, testing, and sampling. Works the same way with a powder measure. Once you have confidence in what it is going to do, you can trust it (but verify occasionally).