How often do you check your loads?

[MovedWest]

I load with a Forster single stage press and load for consistency for both pistol and rifle. My scale is a RCBS Chargemaster 1500, so I weigh every charge. If there's a discrepancy, I stop to figure it out and fix before I start again.

For OAL, I measure every round until I'm confident things are flowing correctly - usually the first 5-8. After that I usually check OAL every 5 rounds for pistol and every round for rifle.

For cartridges that get a crimp I make sure to trim to length regularly and groups cases and bullets by weight for consistency.

-MW

 

[Steve C]

When using my single stage I do a visual check comparing powder levels in the loading block.

On my Hornady LNL I pull every 10th charged case and check the powder weight on the scale.

Don't check OAL ater initial set up, never had enough change to worry about.

 

[ku4hx]

Several times initially to get everything adjusted to where I want it. Then after ten I check COAL and powder charge weight. If everything is still in spec I go onto production. Every 100 rounds I do a random COAL check.

Last night, after reaching the 650 round count in 9mm, the powder measure started binding. I stopped production, disassembled the measure, cleaned it and "lubed" it with Motor Mica. After reassembly, I verified its operation and rechecked the charge weight a couple of times ... it was dead on. I'll be finishing this 1,000 round run today.

My machine is a 1993 vintage Dillon RL550B and this is SOP for me.

I do have a high intensity LED light in the toolhead's central hole, so every charge is visually checked as the bullet is set in place. Using a bulkier powder that would overflow the case in the event of a double charge makes that a little less necessary, but I do use Bullseye so, SOP again, is every powder charge in every case of every cartridge gets a visual check.

 

[Zendude]

I check every round for the first 10, then once every 15 or 20 rounds. I reload handgun only on a Lee 1000 progressive press. Also I make sure to keep the powder level in the hopper above half full.