44 Spl. A little light and a little short

Agreed, its density tends to produce a narrower range than less dense powders. But the difference in most application between it and something like W231/HP38 isn't really large. Here's a 9mm example:



So you have a range of 0.5gr. with either producing nearly the same rise in pressure. Normalized to the exact same pressure the range of Titegroup is only infinitesimally narrower. It's not like it's Clays we are talking about.

ATLDave said:

I guess I'm just lucky.... I have left powders in hoppers for weeks and weeks for a high-volume load. I know I have left AA#7, HS-6, Silhouette, and VV N320 each for periods of a month or more in Lee powder measures without any apparent damage to the hopper or powder.

I may be the only pistol reloader in the world who has never messed with Titegroup, but it seems like nasty stuff! Blows up guns with bullet setback... eats powder hoppers...

Click to expand...

None of my several Lee hoppers have discolored, although I almost always put left over powder and the turret away after loading. It is the Hornady that seems to have the type of plastic that reacts with the powders.

D.B. Cooper said:

Wow. Lot of good reading here.

Well...it happened again. Loaded about 30 rounds (everything set up exactly the same as the last time I used it - haven't touched it.) Before I started, I checked the powder charge. 5.9 grains Unique. Out of 10 throws, the range was 5.9 - 6.1. After bout 30 rounds...it was down to 5.3.

From that point on, I couldn't get any consistency at all. 0.5 grain variances from throw to throw (with the drum going all the way around all four positions between throws.) I completely filled the powder measure, and, after that, it started throwing 6.0 grain charges with better consistency (5.9 - 6.1).

Somewhat frustrating.

I hope to start loading rifle cartridges in the next few weeks, so I'll be looking to see how it meters 4895.

Click to expand...

Are you using the baffle in the hopper? Try loading with and without, always with the same fill level, which I run at 1/2-3/4 full to start.

D.B. Cooper said:

Wow. Lot of good reading here.

Well...it happened again. Loaded about 30 rounds (everything set up exactly the same as the last time I used it - haven't touched it.) Before I started, I checked the powder charge. 5.9 grains Unique. Out of 10 throws, the range was 5.9 - 6.1. After bout 30 rounds...it was down to 5.3.

From that point on, I couldn't get any consistency at all. 0.5 grain variances from throw to throw (with the drum going all the way around all four positions between throws.) I completely filled the powder measure, and, after that, it started throwing 6.0 grain charges with better consistency (5.9 - 6.1).

Somewhat frustrating.

I hope to start loading rifle cartridges in the next few weeks, so I'll be looking to see how it meters 4895.

Click to expand...

Did you leave the powder in the hopper or remove it after use?

I expect a ± 0.2gr swing with Unique. This is why I quit using it for there are other powders that meter better and are just as good. Unique is a very forgiving powder though. Extruded stick powders are another type of powder that has a larger than ± 0.1 swing. Then there is the crunching that goes on when the rotor cuts them. You never will be exact but since you are dealing with a much larger charge the error is low.

A load never goes in my case without a second weight or volume check with any auto stuff.
Here is what I have learned they have not perfected any of the three auto powder dispensers
that I have tried.
Powder types like flakes & rods & such make a big difference.
But for lots of cases like 100+ I always use the lever action type like you mentioned or various
others per powder type or volume they all vary in their dependability but I have so many &
tried different loads till now I know which to use per powder & load, especially low pistol loads
they are the hardest.
They all eventually begin a mathematical advance or decline so just weigh every load on an
independent scale & have a powder trickle or dipper for minor changes & adjust the charger
as needed.
On the o.a.l. I never seat a bullet below book instructions for pressure increases.
I try not to mention mfg.