Powder cop issues

[119er]

This thing is so simple it confuses me how inconsistent my results are.

Powder Cop: the notched stem was hanging badly out of the box and continued to after degreasing it. The surface was fairly rough so I polished it with 220 grit lapping compound in my drill. This smoothed it up a good bit. I then installed it in my press (LNL AP) per instructions with wad guide finger thing in place b/c I'm doing .223.

I am using H335 in the powder measure supplied with the press. I settled the powder, made my adjustments, and verified consistency. I get variations every now and then of 0.2gr under to 0.3gr over, but the powder cop raises a different height every time even with the same charge weight +/- 0.1-0.2.

Is it possible that the powder settles into the case differently every time? If I bump the press a few times the o-ring will line up proprerly and other times it drops below the mark! Remember this is with nearly identical charge weights! The case is LC 11 with a target charge of 25.5gr of H335. Has anyone run into this before? Hornady says it can detect up to a 1 grain difference with fine powders in most cases.

 

[cfullgraf]

I do not expect the powder cop die on my Hornady progressive to tell me that my powder charge is off a little. I only expect it to tell me that the charge is way over or way under.

When the powder drops into the case, it settles different with each drop so it fills a slightly different volume after the drop. The weight of the stem in the powder cop die will settle the powder differently.

As far as consistency of your powder measure, the key is to operate it the same way every time. Also, I find it takes longer to settle the powder column on my progressive press than if I was just batch charging off the press.

I also prefer to use a baffle in my powder measures and have been using two baffles turned 90 degrees to each other in the Hornady L-N-L measure on the press. I am convinced one baffle does help, but the jury is still out on two baffles.

Some folks have success moving the baffle up higher in the reservoir. Tweak the bend in the baffle so that it grips the sides of the reservoir at the desired position.

Hope this helps.

 

[tcj]

+1 on how to use the powder cop. It is great to let you know that you have a bad drop but not by how much.

Haven't had the drop consistency problem (I load 9mm & 30.06),,,you may want to rub some dryer sheets on the outside of the powder measure to reduce any static cling of powder and also re-clean all parts of the drop with a good dose of the one-shot cleaner. Another thing that you can do is if it is not dropping smoothly is to run some graphite through the powder drop.

 

[jim243]

If the stem was a bit rough then you may want to smooth out the hole it rides in as well.

I use the RCBS "Powder Checker" die and it uses two rods one for the index and the second that actually rides up and down to indicate the amount of powder in the case. I can tell if my charge is 0.1 grain over or under by sight. I use it mainly for 223 loads since it is hard to see into the mouth of the case, and by using it I can tell if my charge is correct or wrong.

You may want to try using the RCBS die instead.

Jim

 

[fguffey]

I load with a powder lock out die for pistols, I use a powder checker for on tapered neck cases, my lock out die nor my powder checker die is a powder measure, again, I find reloading is not fair, neither my lock out die or my powder checker die measure volume.

I do not want to seat a bullet in a case that does not have powder, the lock out die will lock up my press if there is is problem with the amount of powder.

F. Guffey

 

[Blue68f100]

The powder cop dies is design to ONLY GIVE YOU AN INDICATION of the charge. It's sensitive enough to detect small powder deviations. But it's only an indication. NO powder cop or lockout die are scales. Setup your powder dispenser to give you the most accurate drop you can. If your loading rifle a few 1/10's will not make a difference. Ball powder are what I use when on my LNL-AP, handgun. If I load rifle loads I'm weighing every charge for accuracy.

 

[119er]

I know that the powder cop is not a scale, but I'm talking major differences from .250" to .375". That seems excessive to me and I understand it may not be a function of the die causing this. In my opinion results such as these make it nearly useless for anything other than if you're within 10 grains of you target weight. The reason for the post was to see if anyone had similar results because the literature supplied with the die claimed a 1 grain sensitivity with fine powders, of which H335 is.

.5 grain charge variation is more than I like, even in plinking ammo such as this. The rifle I'm loading for is ridiculously picky about charge weight. 25.0 shoots 2.5 moa and 25.5 shoots 1 moa.

I feel the die issue is resolved. I will start another thread about powder measure consistency. Thank you all!

 

[the count]

I use the RCBS Lock Out die. I think this is superior to the powder cop

For the simple reason that it will stop the entire press dead in its tracks with an over or under load. There are a bunch of other things to watch anyway if you have a more involved progressive setup. But as stated by other with the powder cop, it will not stop with rather smaller deviations. Depending on the powder and case size etc. I would say the lock out will catch an over/under charge that is >20% than what its set for. Thus it will get the most common problems for sure, which is a double charge or no charge. It is good reloading practice to measure ever 50th or so case with a scale anyway to make sure the powder dispenser is working right.

 

[Blue68f100]

Are you using the std course adj piston that came with the LNL. I find that I get a lot better fine control using the micrometer head. Once I think I have it set right. I take 10 drops measure each the add them together to get the avg. From the avg I can tell if I'm actually running high or low and adj accordingly. I don't use the powder your using. If it's a flake powder it's bridging. If so the addition of a vibrating device to help it settle will help.

btw. I use a powder cop die and it does detect a 0.1 gr difference on my handgun loads.

 

[BYJO4]

The powder cop die should be consistent. I would call Hornady and explain the problem. I think you could have a defective die in which case they will replace it.

 

[cfullgraf]

Are you using the std course adj piston that came with the LNL. I find that I get a lot better fine control using the micrometer head.

The micrometer adjuster only makes it easier to "dial in" the powder measure. or return to a previous determined powder charge.

Once you have the powder measure set, the powder measure is not more accurate or consistent with either the standard metering adjuster or the micrometer adjuster.

The stem inside the metering cavity is the same between the two adjusters.

(Note, I use micrometer adjusters on all of my five drum style powder measures).

 

[fguffey]

I use a micro adjust dial caliper to measure the protruding adjuster, it turns all of my powder measures to micro adjust. Then there is the protruding stem above the seating die, the dial indicator turns all my seating dies to micro adjust, then there is the full length sizer die, instead of adjusting the die off the shell holder with a feeler gage I can use the dial indicator, that turns my full length sizer dies into micro adjust full length sizer dies.

F. Guffey