Powders ranked as to how well they meter

[Oldnamvet]

I have seen lots of charts ranking powders as to their burn rates but I would like to see one that ranks the powders as to how well they meter to give consistent weights. Anyone ever seen anything like that?

 

[Car Knocker]

Nope.

 

[HSMITH]

I haven't seen one either. Not to be a smart alec or anything of the sort, but when I finally bought a really good powder measure the desire for a metering chart has been pretty much gone. I bought a Redding 3 BR and absolutely love it, 800X is about the only thing it doesn't eat with boring accuracy. 800X gives me about .3 grain variation, plenty accurate but with most powders the scale never deviates at all.

 

[bakert]

Never seen any kind of chart like that.
HSMITH, 800X gives some really good results in many types of reloads but it is a real SOB to meter in just about anything. That Redding must be a nice measure.

 

[donkee]

700x is a real pain. I needed to measure out 3.1g for the mak but switched to Unique since it meters great in my ADPM with charges over 2.5g.

 

[The Bushmaster]

Never really needed a metering chart...I weigh every charge I drop and I use a trickler to bring charges to the desired weight. I'm in no hurry when I reload. I still have 37 years left. Plenty of time to load, shoot and reload...

 

[goon]

In general I have found ball powders to meter very consistently, even if the measure binds as you are working the handle.
Flake powders like Unique are consistent enough for my purposes but not perfect.
Stick powders are terrible but can be used if you adjust the measure the right way. If I ever get serious about using IMR 4350 for anything I will need to get a powder trickler.

Although this is not a "chart", I have found this to be a pretty good rule of thumb to work with.

 

[Clark]

800X is the worst in my RCBS Uniflow.

 

[Smokey Joe]

Metering powders

Oldnamvet--My experience jibes with Goon's. I DO use a lot of IMR 4350, and I do use a trickler; weigh every charge, and the results are worth it to me.

If I were more upset with the metering of stick powders I'd investigate these new "short-cut" stick powders. The makers claim they burn exactly the same as their longer-cut counterparts, and meter much better.

 

[wrangler5]

<snip> That Redding must be a nice measure.

The Redding is indeed a superb measure. A powder baffle keeps uniform pressure over the metering cylinder until the hopper is down to about 1/4 full. Quickly-interchangeable large and small (diameter) calibrated metering cylinders allow very precise settings from large rifle to small pistol loads.

I use the powder measures on my progressive press turrets for the majority of my output, but for working up stepped loads during load development, or for those approaching maximum levels, I'll use the Redding. I've never used 800X, but for all of the powders I have used the results are as HSMITH noted - boringly accurate.

 

[PO2Hammer]

It's a great question.
I'm going to start loading next month and if I knew how accurately a Redding 10X would meter Clays or W-231 for .45acp loads, it might save me money on my equipment choices and determine my handloading strategy.
(fishing for answers).

 

[HSMITH]

PO2, I haven't used a 10X but my 3BR meters Clays and 231 very very well.

 

[PO2Hammer]

Thank you.

 

[zeke]

Am liking powders that meter more consistently for producing practice loads that aren't loaded close to max, and aren't weighed every charge. Hp-38 , AA-2230 and 1680, H322, AA-7 etc.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

My bet is each one of us would have a different list. It depends upon your technique. For example 800x is an easy powder for me to dump at +/- .1 grn yet others have lots of problems with it. I periodically wonder why, but all I can figure is that my Pro2000 and the Uniflow have just the right vibration/shaking to be consistent.

 

[W Turner]

My Lyman #55 is spot-on with Accurate #5, Clays gives me .2-.3gr. variations regularly.



W

 

[308win]

You can make a baffle out of a two liter bottle top by cutting notching sides; works good in my Uniflow.

 

[ScreamnEagle]

I have found "ball" powders like the H380 to measure VERY accurate and rank #1 on my list for accurate loads, then the "Flake" Powders like 2400 measure out well too , I give them #2 on my list, Then there are the powders like the IMR lines (4350 and so on) that are extruded, Ugggh, didn't get e wrong it is a very good line of powders, my dad uses it but all he does is hunt, he dosen't care about the 2-3 tenths of a grain off like I do. I would place extruded powders #3 on my list of favorite types of powder.

Hope this helps you out.