Consistency of factory powder charge vs. Dillon 650

[plodder]

Using my Dillon 650 I load a lot of .223 at 27.5 grains of Varget. I double check charge rates a lot, especially when starting a new run of brass. I find that the powder measure in the 650 is consistent in +/- .10 grains (27.4 to 27.6 grains).

While I know that this variance is not good enough for benchrest target shooting, it is good enough for my typical range sessions.

Anybody out there know how consistent charge rates are in typical factory loaded .223?

 

[Steve C]

A .1 grain variation makes no difference in accuracy and will hardly make a change in a load using 27 grs as it is a very small fraction of the total powder charge.

If you where loading a handgun with a very fast powder in a small case with a charge of say 2.5 gr then that .1 variation makes a greater difference.

Factory loads are set using bulk powders by their lab to produce pressure the manufacturer specifies. Loads vary depending upon lot of powder used. Ammo is produced in batches and the batches are mixed in process so ammo in any particular box may have quite a variation in charge weight but the pressure and velocity produced will be quite uniform.

 

[HighExpert]

My pistol loads will consistently best factory for spread and SD. I load on a 550b but your results should be equivalent.

 

[BYJO4]

A .1 variance is fine and you will never notice a difference in accuracy with tiny amount. It will also match up to any factory ammo you buy.

 

[plodder]

I understand and agree that the +/- .10 grain accuracy with 27.5 g. of Varget is OK. But what I wonder is if anyone has ever pulled a batch of factory loads and actually weighed the powder in each case so that there might be some comparison of typical reloads vs. factory.

 

[warhwkbb]

Your powder measure is better than my powder measure with Varget. I cant keep Varget within .2g
Problem is, you will fill the case at around 26 grains. Your 27.5g is a compressed load not well suited for a progressive. Next time you buy powder, you may want to try a ball powder like AA2230, 748, H335 etc.
I've used Varget for plinking ammo at 25.5g over a Hornady 55g FMJBT. But this will probably not be the most accurate load in anyone's rifle. Others will chime in on how Varget works best with the heavier bullets.

 

[Bart B.]

Benchresters metering small kernel extruded powders such as H322 get charge weights in a 2/10ths grain spread. Such stuff wins matches and sets records for events through 300 yards, so, exactness ain't all that important. Smaller spreads help at the longer ranges, but not by very much.

Sierra Bullets meters all their powder charges into cases with a 2/10ths to 3/10ths grain spread and their best match bullets shoot into 1/4 MOA at 200 yards testing them for accuracy. They don't prep cases nor work up loads with a new lot of components, either. Go figure that out.

Measuring Federal's Gold Medal Match .308 Win. powder charges of IMR4064, it's 3/10ths grain spread has produced near 1/2 MOA accuracy at 600 yards.

Exact charge weights of powder's not all that important for best accuracy if you use the right stuff in the right quantities. If you use good bullets that are a few ten-thousandths larger than groove diameter in a good barrel in a well built rifle, super-accurate ammo's rather easy to make, even with brand new cases.