Maybe I'm doing something wrong, but I put RL22 in my hopper to load some 6.5x55. Using the powder dispenser mainly to get a close charge and then add a little more to get the right amount on the scale. The cylinder ended up jamming - like the powder had gotten stuck. When I took it out of the press, powder started pouring from the die. Finished the rest of the rounds by pouring directly from the bottle onto the scale cup. Worked fine with my ball and flake powders. Is the stick too much for them or do I need to change something?
Hornady AP powder measure doesn't like stick powder?
- Thread starter Armymutt
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Reloadron
Contributing Member
Just about all powder measures using that design have that drawback with stick powders, especially large stick types like RL 22. I use a RCBS Uniflow with a baffle and you can hear and feel the "crunch" as the measure cuts the sticks of powder.
I manually throw the powder charges light and place on the scale and then use a trickler to get to desired charge weight.
Ball and flake powders are not a problem and yes, will meter much better. No "crunch".
Just My Take
Ron
I manually throw the powder charges light and place on the scale and then use a trickler to get to desired charge weight.
Ball and flake powders are not a problem and yes, will meter much better. No "crunch".
Just My Take
Ron
Hi,
I've had similar problems ended up doing a few different fixes. The first one that fixed what sounds to be your problem, the rotor won't reset, was fixed by added another spring or some rubber bands so the rotor resets after dumping powder with more force. On the upstroke, you sometimes have to use a little extra force to cut the powder like ReloadRon described.
I also ended up making a baffle for my LnL measure with some soda cans. I found instructions on an old (from 2008) post here, post #9 to be specific. http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=366367&highlight=Hornady+Powder+Measure+Variability
If the link takes you to the archive, search Hornady Powder Measure Variability on the site and you'll be able to download the PDF. I used the 2 1/8" one.
Hope this helps,
Demos
I've had similar problems ended up doing a few different fixes. The first one that fixed what sounds to be your problem, the rotor won't reset, was fixed by added another spring or some rubber bands so the rotor resets after dumping powder with more force. On the upstroke, you sometimes have to use a little extra force to cut the powder like ReloadRon described.
I also ended up making a baffle for my LnL measure with some soda cans. I found instructions on an old (from 2008) post here, post #9 to be specific. http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=366367&highlight=Hornady+Powder+Measure+Variability
If the link takes you to the archive, search Hornady Powder Measure Variability on the site and you'll be able to download the PDF. I used the 2 1/8" one.
Hope this helps,
Demos
stubbicatt
Member
Your experience is a nearly universal one with the larger extruded powders. To my knowledge there is no fix, but there are other methods such as those electric measures that throw a charge into a scale pan, and you then dump it into the cases. It is slow going to be sure.
You might try Ramshot Hunter, as it is in the very near burning range as RL22 and a ball powder.
-Personally I prefer extruded powders, but I have no issues weighing each charge and using a trickler, as I load single stage.
You might try Ramshot Hunter, as it is in the very near burning range as RL22 and a ball powder.
-Personally I prefer extruded powders, but I have no issues weighing each charge and using a trickler, as I load single stage.
carbine85
Member
I found that using the smaller cyclinder in my RCBS seems to make it easier. I also recommend the powder baffle. You should be using one regardless. It helps fine tune your powder charge.
longdayjake
Member
Lee powder dippers. That's what I use for extruded rifle powders. And yes, they are actually VERY accurate.
grubbylabs
Member
The powder dippers as suggested by longdayjake or through by hand off the press, and trickle up. It seems that I am not the only one who does that.
While the Lee powder measure does not leak stick powder like it does every thing else, it does however, feel like it is going to collapse because of the force it takes to cut the stick.
While the Lee powder measure does not leak stick powder like it does every thing else, it does however, feel like it is going to collapse because of the force it takes to cut the stick.
Having tried most of the tricks to use extruded powders on a progressive, and having used a fancy Chargemaster to avoid powder drops, I've finally just stopped using most extruded powders altogether. There are some excellent ball powders out there that give up very little to their stick cousins even for precision rifle rounds. And there are some short-cut stick powders that do very well in powder drops.
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