RCBS powder dispenser

[Nova66et]

My RCBS powder dispenser does not like IMR 4064. I reloaded about 80 rounds of 243 last night and had to weigh every pull. Powder ranged from .3 to 5 gns light or heavy. It felt like the powder was getting stuck and you could feel it trying to break or cut the powder as you pulled the handle. Any one else have this with certain powders or do I need to start working out again?

Jeff

 

[Cemetery21]

Cutting is typical of stick powders in most measures. You should get a little more uniformity by running several drops through to settle the powder, then trying to use a consistent stroke every time.
It has been a long time since I loaded stick powders, for that reason. When I wanted precise loads, I would drop just little light then trickle up to the charge.

 

[judgedelta]

I got one of these baffles for my dispenser. Really helps with consistency, but I haven't tried stick powder.

http://www.amazon.com/Prairie-Dog-6...3-fkmr1&keywords=rcbs+powder+dispenser+baffle

 

[AABEN]

I only use stick powder in my PACT HIGH SPEED DISPENSER. I use ball powder in my Lyman #55 I use 3 of them 2 for my hand guns and one for my 223 for gust hunting.

 

[hoghunting]

When I wanted precise loads, I would drop just little light then trickle up to the charge

Extruded powders are almost always cut in many manual powder measures, so I always drop light and trickle up too. Ball powders drop perfectly, but most of my rifles loads are most accurate with extruded powders.

 

[cfullgraf]

I like using a baffle in my drum style measures. They help me get more consistent throws. Some folks have success without the baffle.

When installing the baffle, make sure the peak of the baffle is perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the drum. This keeps the holes in the baaffle from being directly over the metering cavity in the drum.

Finally, consistency of operation of the measure is important. Do it the same way every time as best you can. If you tap or vibrate the measure on each stroke, do it every time, if you don't, try to minimize the vibrations. Cutting the grains of powder is a fore gone conclusion to do your best to get through the cuts.

Finally, i run 15 or 20 charges through the measure before weighing charges. It helps settle the powder column. Throw these charges as you would for charging cases.

You should be able to reduce the variability of the powder charges but there will always be some variability. With rifle size powder charges, a small variation such at 0.1-0.2 grains is a very small percentage and does not affect your ammunition's variability.

Hope this helps.

 

[Ks5shooter]

I use this .............

http://www.pact.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=14&Itemid=126

 

[lightman]

I've owned a Herters, 2 RCBS and a Harrells and none of them work really well with extruded powder. Practice will help, but I've never got them close enough to load, for my taste. Like others have said, throw low charges and use a trickler. Theres nothing wrong with your measure, its just the nature of that type of powder. Thats why I eventually bought a Chargemaster.

 

[DR915]

I don't have that problem. I also cut a McDonalds straw about a inch long. I only have 1 or 2 loads off out of 50. It works!

 

[mnhntr]

As other have said drop it a little light and trickle it up

 

[SmokingFrye]

I had the same issue and found that the cutting couldn't be avoided and static electricity was the issue with the inconsistent drops. I do not try and load quickly so I dropped light and trickled up. It's more work, but my reloading time is like therapy so I don't mind.

 

[geist262]

I bought a chargemaster for stick.