Newb to hand loading: Charging a round?

[Lost Sheep]

I have an answer: Adjustable dipper.

You mean a powder measure.

Back when I started I made some dippers out of brass cases. File them down until it throws what you need. Change powder lot number and you might have to make a new one.

Nope, dipper. But I see from the smiley icon you were being wry.

I contend that a dipper, skillfully wielded, can deliver any powder with consistency equal t that of any powder measure. I admit that I have not tested my contention, and the caveat "skillfully wielded" gives me a lot of cover, too.

But dippers do have an advantage. You will never run out of powder without knowing it.

Unfortunately, dippers are slower, both to use and to adjust and do require care and skill in use.

But they are undeniably cheaper.

You don't need a file to adjust a dipper. A flat-nose machine screw that fills the diameter of the dipper, screwed in from the bottom makes a dandy, moveable floor to the dipper. No different than most powder measures' design.

Lost Sheep

 

[GLOOB]

A flat-nose machine screw that fills the diameter of the dipper, screwed in from the bottom makes a dandy, moveable floor to the dipper..

That must make it kinda hard to use the last quarter pound of powder.

 

[Walkalong]

you were being wry

Yep, just teasing. Besides, if we are not at max, we don't usually have to worry about our perfect technique or lot changes and shooting at close range like most do with pistols the vast majority of us will never see the difference in perfect charges vs +/- .2 Gr charges. Bullseye shooters perhaps, but certainly not me. Very soon after I started reloading I traded for some reloading supplies. One thing I got was an old Hornady pistol measure that used bushings. It loaded ammo that shot as well or better than I could. One dropped 4.9 to 5.0 Grs of W-231 and that shot well with any 200 to 230 Gr bullet I could find cheap. Later I set it up to work automatically on my Projector press. When I got tired of buying bushings and modded them by opening them up (I even made a couple from 1/2" brass stock) I saved up my pennies and I bought a 10X measure.

 

[tcoz]

With all due respect guys, I don't think we should be giving any more information to OP without him doing some (a lot of) studying about reloading which it's obvious he hasn't done. All of these numbers are going to confuse him to the point where he might feel he has enough information to try it and the results could be disastrous.

OP, I'm not trying to be disrespectful to you, but handloading isn't something to be taken lightly. Educate yourself by watching a bunch of YouTube videos, read the forums (especially this one) and read at least a couple of good manuals before you even load your first round. If you don't do these things I can almost guarantee that you're going to damage your gun (best case) or hurt yourself (worst case). I'm serious, it's dangerous if you don't know what you're doing.

 

[Lost Sheep]

That must make it kinda hard to use the last quarter pound of powder.

Not if you use a short screw, but you do have a point. The extra height (not to mention irregular shape of the screw head) is a complication.