Bulleseye powder problem

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frayluisfan

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Hi, all.

I have a Dillon 550 and have loaded 1000's of rounds through it, generally finding it to be very accurate/consistent with the powder charges the powder measure throws. Typically, when I check random charges, I find them varying by no more than .1 grain. But recently I am trying Bulleseye powder for the first time--loading for .40 S&W, I am trying to load a batch with 5.3 grains with a 180gr bullet (about the middle of what the Speer manual suggests) but charges are ranging anywhere from 5.1 to 5.5. I've never seen my reloader do this with another powder. Any ideas/suggestions?

Thanks!
frayluisfan
 
Welcome to the club. Bullseye powder is a thin flake and has a tendency to that problem. I have found that it’s usually not too bad with loads over 4.0 but the larger the diameter of the chamber of your powder measure, the more the variance. I found that it helps if you bounce the handle a few times each time the chamber fills, it will “pack” the powder in the chamber a little and help the consistency.
 
Static electricity perhaps. Static spring sprays work. Washing the measure with Isospropyl Alcohol works. Some folks have actually grounded their measures.
 
That's interesting...I have a Uniflow with the pistol chamber that I use exclusively with Bullseye. That one throws charges of 2.5 - 6 consistent to the precise tenth grain on 9 out of 10, and I can't remember it ever throwing outside of a tenth in either direction.
 
Badda-boom, badda-bing!

Especially with my Dillon powder measure, I find that consistency in the operation of the press is essential to consistency in powder throws. Each operation should be repeated exactly, with a modest bit of "slam-bang" (not to be confused with WHOO-BANG!) going up and going down. It holds with other measures as well - my Lyman 55 gets "bumped" at the upstroke, "bumped" on the downstroke, then 2 throws of the clapper. Nothing violent or the like, just enough vibration to bump the powder into the measure with repeatable results. You have to use the proper bar (small vs large), and you have to keep other things equal. If you do that, you should find a minimal variation. Try it out & see what happens.
Cheers,
George J.
 
Thanks all. I tried some more rounds, and the first 3 random checks indicated things were settling down some. A bit of variance, but all within .1 grain, which is fine with me.

Maj Dad, thanks for your advice about being consistent in how I raise the arm of the press. I hadn't thought about that before, but will definitely keep it in mind.
 
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