Any Problem Trickling Powder By Hand?

I have found that a much more precise method is to use a large straight walled case (think 45-70) to trickle powder into the pan on the scale. By rotating it with my thumb and two fingers I can consistently drop individual granules.

The_Savage said:

Hi all,

I was just wondering if putting my brass and primer on my scale, zeroing it, then throwing powder into it and then removing or adding powder to reach my desired grain weight on the scale while wearing gloves is a valid method of weighing charges. Thanks in advance!

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You can do that, I think it's easier to trickle into a pan and then dump it in the case though. A lot of zeroing if you're doing every case.

Sounds tedious. I just throw slightly light powder charges into the cases, dump a case into the scale pan, trickle to the target weight and call it good.

That's ok for a few rounds, but you will get awfully tired after a few hundred.

I agree with these guys. If I’m trickling, it’s straight into the pan, then funneled into the case.
I use an old translucent pill bottle to trickle.

Buy a powder trickler from the likes of RCBS; not expensive, works well.

Get this and you don’t need a funnel

https://www.lymanproducts.com/powder-pal-universal-funnel-pan

The_Savage said:

I was just wondering if putting my brass and primer on my scale, zeroing it, then throwing powder into

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No, that doesn't sound like a "valid" method of weighing charges to me. Why would you put your brass and primer on the scale? You're trying to weigh your powder charges before you put them in your cases. You're not trying to weigh your powder charges after you've put them in your cases.
At any rate, the way I do it (when I'm trying to be precise) is to zero my scale first, then set it to the desired weight. After that I choose one of my Lee powder dippers that throws a powder charge (for whatever type of powder I'm using) that is slightly less than what I have my scale set for. Then, using an RCBS powder trickler like George P recommended, I trickle powder into the pan on my scale until it balances and the scale's pointer is pointing at zero.

George P said:

Buy a powder trickler from the likes of RCBS; not expensive, works well.

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Seriously. Powder tricklers are not expensive, and one will save you many headaches caused by trying to trickle powder onto a scale by hand - whether you're wearing a glove or not.

I just use my Lee dipper and stop a kernel or two at a time after zeroing my scale then dump into the Cade via funnel.

The_Savage said:

Hi all,

I was just wondering if putting my brass and primer on my scale, zeroing it, then throwing powder into it and then removing or adding powder to reach my desired grain weight on the scale while wearing gloves is a valid method of weighing charges. Thanks in advance!

Click to expand...

In a Rube Goldberg kimd of way....

The_Savage said:

Hi all,

I was just wondering if putting my brass and primer on my scale, zeroing it, then throwing powder into it and then removing or adding powder to reach my desired grain weight on the scale while wearing gloves is a valid method of weighing charges. Thanks in advance!

Click to expand...

If it works for you, do it. You didn’t mention if it’s a beam or electronic scale. A beam’s a bit more trouble to zero, and electronic scale has a tare button that makes it easy. Either scale, assuming check weights verify accuracy, will do just fine. Good luck.

I still don't own a powder trickler. I find it more efficient and precise to use a 7.62x54R case with the mouth crimped into a V and tap it lightly with my finger to dispense individual grains. For weighed charges, I set my measure to dispense a couple tenths short of the target charge (variable with powder type and measuring consistency). An overshot is harder to compensate for than slowly trickling grains in to bring it up to weight.

I have used a trickler and a baby spoon to add grains to the pan. The spoon works best once you get the hang of shaking it just so to drop individual grains. Then dump the pan contents using a funnel.

I set my powder measure for a slightly low charge, dump that into the scale pan. And then trickle powder in from a separate pan, by tapping it gently.

Too much more of that and I'll probably buy a powder trickled.

I use Lee dippers to 'trickle' it in, just like salting food with a spoon. My method is similar to WrongHanded's, but I use the next size down Lee dipper, dump one whole dipper full in the pan, then scoop another scoop up and 'salt' it in until it levels at '0'. Saves all that "<insert powder name here> doesn't meter" hassle.

entropy said:

I use Lee dippers to 'trickle' it in, just like salting food with a spoon. My method is similar to WrongHanded's, but I use the next size down Lee dipper, dump one whole dipper full in the pan, then scoop another scoop up and 'salt' it in until it levels at '0'. Saves all that "<insert powder name here> doesn't meter" hassle.

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I like the dipper idea and by-passing the powder measure entirely. At least for some applications.

Depends on the scale, some are really bad about slow increases in weight.

Its pretty easy to test though, slowly trickle up to your desired weight then remove the charge. Then dump the entire charge back on all at once. If the scale says the same charge weights two different weights, you know to not trust it.

For heaven sakes buy a powder trickle and be done with it once and for all!

Get a pan and a funnel, or a pan with an integral funnel. Otherwise it’s an absolutely phenomenal waste of time.

Varminterror said:

Get a pan and a funnel, or a pan with an integral funnel. Otherwise it’s an absolutely phenomenal waste of time.

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Even then it could be a phenomenal waste of time, just a little less of it gone forever.

I've got a couple of brass measuring spoons I stole from Grandmas kitchen 25 years ago.

Can get a big scoop and bring the beam scale up close. Then a couple of taps to get it dead nuts.

I have an RCBS trickler. I prefer the spoon. I do flip the trickler over and fill the bottom with powder to scoop out of.

I use an ancient Vibrashine electric trickler.

Caplock said:

I've got a couple of brass measuring spoons I stole from Grandmas kitchen 25 years ago.

Can get a big scoop and bring the beam scale up close. Then a couple of taps to get it dead nuts.

I have an RCBS trickler. I prefer the spoon. I do flip the trickler over and fill the bottom with powder to scoop out of.

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Heck yeah, big scoop of powder from granny's spoon is a charge I'm familiar with. And yep, the bottom of the trickler does work great as a dish

I'm laughing pretty hard.