Hornady Case Activated Powder Drop

[littlebob3]

I have a Hornady Case Activated Powder Drop on a Lee Master. Last week I set up the Powder Drop to drop 4.0 of 231. Made 100 and went to the range… I was very happy with the load and was able to keep in 1.5” at 34 feet.

The problem is... today was going to make another 100… so I check the make sure it was dropping 4.0… and to my surprise it was 4.2. I’m using a RCBS Chargemaster and have not turned it of in over two weeks… and I always 0 it before check the weight.

Thanks for Any Input.

Littlebob3

 

[kingmt]

Mine is worse then that. Hornady after 2 weeks of email(which is only the 3rd one I got from them) asked me to return it to them so they could find the problem.

If yours only creeped .2gr I would call it good. I assume you through back the first few to get ride of the packed powder.

 

[Blue68f100]

I have the Hornady on my LNL-AP. Every time I set it up, I drop a min of 20, preferred 40 to get every thing settled down. I have the baffle in too. Once set it holds good. I never leave powder in it due to the moisture content can change impact the charger. Any charge <15 gr should have the smaller Pistol Rotor installed.

 

[littlebob3]

Thanks You...
I drop about 10 to make sure I’m getting the right amount. I wonder if it the temperature or something like that.

 

[littlebob3]

I have the smaller Pistol Rotor installed but the powder was NOT removed... I will try that and see if that could be it.

 

[Bovice]

My hornady powder measure has been very consistent. Every 50 rounds I will check the charge weight, and it stays where I left it.

Make sure that when you are adjusting it and checking the charge on a scale, you aren't short-stroking the handle or working the handle too fast. That will throw a lighter charge. Then, when you're actually loading, if you go slower than when you were calibrating, you will suddenly see higher charge weights. Remember that it's like an hour glass, it doesn't just laserbeam the powder down into the case. It needs time to trickle the powder.

I have seen people reload using these powder measures and they're cranking that handle so fast that powder is spilling everywhere. That's a good way to end up with a squib. Move it slowly and deliberately, and the same every time.

 

[cfullgraf]

The problem is... today was going to make another 100… so I check the make sure it was dropping 4.0… and to my surprise it was 4.2. I’m using a RCBS Chargemaster and have not turned it of in over two weeks… and I always 0 it before check the weight.

Thanks for Any Input.

Littlebob3

First, you should throw 20 or thirty charges before you begin measuring your charges, that settles the powder column. The more the better. I find that my measure will drift a bit over a run if I did not get the powder column to a uniform density.

I am a fan of baffles in my drum style powder measures. Make sure the peak of the powder baffle is 90 degrees to the rotational axis of the drum. This keeps the holes in the baffle from being directly over the inlet to the measuring cavity. Some folks have good luck without the baffle though.

Weighing 10 or twenty throws to get an average is a good idea. But, throw the charges the same way as they get dispensed on the press. If you throw the charges differently, they will weigh differently. With the case activated powder measure, it gets jostled around quite alot which affects the density of the powder column in the measure.

Finally, I find I must re-adjust a powder measure a little if I have not loaded for a few days or more. Not much adjustment is needed but the change in the powder does show on the scale. I am not sure why, but I guess the powder is taking or losing moisture from the atmosphere.

Until you are confident that your procedures yield consistent results, weigh charges frequently during your loading session. As you build confidence, you can stretch out the interval. I weigh one charge every 30-50 cases when I get started which will get stretched to every 100-150 or so when I see the charges are settled down.

If the test charge is too heavy or light I will weigh one or two more before I decide if i need to make an adjustment. Some variability, plus/minus 0.1 grain is normal particularly if the next test charge is on weight. Remember, scales show discreet numbers. The actual weight is within some range within that discreet value.

Hope this helps.

 

[BYJO4]

My Hornady powder measure is extremely consistent. I do pour unused powder back into its container when done loading. When I fill the powder measure (with baffle installed), I tap the sides of the hopper several times to get powder into the cavity below the baffle and then hand cycle 20 drops of powder. 99% of the time my charge will be exactly what is was when last used. Extreme moisture can affect any powder and can cause you to make a slight adjustment to the powder measure but should not be an issue in an area where you control the humidity.