Hornady LNL powder measure & small charges of W231?

[IMtheNRA]

I just got a Hornady LNL measure and I'm getting inconsistent charges with small amounts of W231. My target charge is 4.6 grains (9mm) and most of the time that is what i get, but sometimes I see +/- .2 and rarely a +/-.3 grain variation!

My RCBS measure has no problem keeping consistent charges, even with the large rotor installed.

I suspect that Hornady's standard rotor is not as capable of dealing wth small charges as well as RCBS and I should get the small or pistol rotor.

Is anyone else experiencing inconsistencies with Hornady's standard rotor?

 

[Guy B. Meredith]

W231 is my standard powder, 4.8 grains in .38 spl. Rock solid consistency. Once in a while I check after the first dozen or so to make sure, never fails.

I do tap the powder measure hopper, make several powder drops into brass and dump back in to the hopper to settle the powder.

 

[IMtheNRA]

Guy,

Do you have the standard rotor and the removable metering inserts?

 

[realbuffdriver]

Also, if you are not using a powder baffle, the loads will be apt to change as the level of powder in the hopper changes.

 

[EddieCoyle]

I suspect that Hornady's standard rotor is not as capable of dealing wth small charges as well as RCBS and I should get the small or pistol rotor.

You nailed it. For small charges, get the pistol rotor.

 

[Spartacus451]

Is there a powder baffle available for the LNL measure?

 

[zxcvbob]

I suspect that Hornady's standard rotor is not as capable of dealing wth small charges as well as RCBS and I should get the small or pistol rotor.

The irritating thing about it is, you have to replace the whole drum when switching back and forth between the large and small metering insert. (and take the powder drop linkage apart, etc.) Why couldn't they have made a small metering insert that fits the large drum? (that's how C&H's powder measure works)

 

[Waldog]

A RCBS powder baffle will fit the Hornady measure. It needs a VERY slight bend. Works GREAT!

 

[Spartacus451]

A RCBS powder baffle will fit the Hornady measure. It needs a VERY slight bend. Works GREAT!

Great! I have one lying around that I am not using.