Should I pull them and start over

[AK_Maine_iac]

I found a load my Thompson Encore really likes. 46.1 gr of RE15 under Speer Hot-Cor 250gr HCSP.
The only problem is last night i loaded up 50 of them. Using my powder thrower. I dumped five loads weighed them on my electronic scale to double check them. All came out at 46.0 Then i would trickle the .1 gr to finish off the load.
After i loaded the 50 of them something did not feel right. So i broke down five of them. I discovered my electric scale was out of calibration. Instead of the 46. i was getting 57. grains.
I am not sure if i should try them or just pull and start over.

 

[JohnM]

Sounds to me like there should be no question!
And get your scale checked out before you use it again!

 

[rcmodel]

PULL THEM!!

I have no idea what caliber you are talking about, so can't check your load.

But 11.0 grains too much is gonna be off the charts in just about any caliber.

rc

 

[AK_Maine_iac]

Sorry it is for 35Whelen It is time to get my beam scale out of the draw. Also start pulling. At least i am thankful i always double check. I think maybe a box of 100ct bullets had falling over on top of the scale while in the draw. That may have thrown it out of calibration. Not sure just guessing. Will be taking it in to get RE calibrated, and by a set of check weights ASAP.

Lesson learned

 

[rcmodel]

Still 3.0 grains over max according to the Lyman #49 manual.

Pull them!!

rc

 

[hAkron]

I would pull them. I bought myself an RCBS collet style bullet puller and it makes the job much easier. It's not as kind to the bullets as the kinetic type puller, but it's really quick. I have a plastic bin on my reloading bench where I toss anything that needs to be pulled. Maybe a bullet that sat too deep, or crooked, or a live round that came home with me in my range brass, or a completed round that missed getting a primer...whatever. Once I have enough in the bin I break out the collet puller and go to town.

 

[AK_Maine_iac]

Pulled them all. Reloaded 5 of them using my RCBS beam scale, Rechecked each load twice before seating the bullet. 35Whelen 250 gr Hot-Cor with 50.0gr of Reloader15. Now to get to the range and start working them up to what the gun likes.
5@ 51.0gr
5@ 52.0gr
[email protected]
Also went to town and got a Speer manual they give a range of 50.0 up to 54.0 using the 250 Hot-cor w/Re15

 

[twofifty]

AK-maine are you new to reloading?

If you are new then why have you decided to work up from 51gr when your new manual says to start at 50gr?
Your previous load for the same cartridge, which you say the Encore liked, was 46.1gr. Going to 51gr is a big jump in pressure...

 

[Hondo 60]

That's FAR too much - the only answer is to pull 'em.

 

[AK_Maine_iac]

Yes i did say 46.1 gr is what it liked. But i do not trust the loads that i have loaded with the electronic scales i have been using. Pulling everything i have loaded with them. Start all over again working up loads.
I called the tech support at Alliant powder. They said to start at 51.0grs and work up to 54.0 max with the speer 250gr Hot-Cor. They said if i was using the 225gr bullet to start at 50.0 and work up.

I will also try 5 @ 50.0 first.

Reloaded all the time in the 60's and 70's Just started up again a few months ago.

 

[Trent]

Glad you got off easy on this one and caught it before there was an accident.

If you reload, sooner or later, you'll screw something up and have to pull a bunch of bullets. Stuff happens.

I had a similar incident once about 10 years ago, but mine cost me a pistol. I always check my scale calibration before I sit down for a session.

 

[jgiehl]

If you have to ask or sit there and stare at them in wonder.
Then you already have the answer to the question you are asking.

 

[Blue68f100]

You've got your answer, PULL THEM.

Now electronic scales are good but they are not ones you can turn on and start using them right away. There is a Warm UP period for the electronics to heat up and stabilize. This times vary from scale to scale but most are 5-10 min. With my RCBS RangeMaster 750 it about 5 min. I use it with the AC Power adapter ONLY. If your using the battery for power it will turn off in 5 min of no use. You can test your's by turning it on, Zero weight something, re check Zero in 1 min. It will probably be off. I do not do any reloading during the warmup time. I use that time to load primer tubes and set out other supplies. One it has warmed up now's the time to run calibration. Once that's done, see if the zero has not shifted. If good your set to start using it. Now for those scales that are strictly battery powered and have battery saver feature. I HATE THEM BECAUSE THE SCALES ELECTRONICS DOES NOT STAY WARM. I will use a power adapter so it does not cycle off.

Another test to do to check your scales electronics is this. After it has been on say for 1hr and every thing is stable put your smaller calibration weight in note the reading. Now come back in a hour and see if it the same reading. If it is your good to go but some will have a different reading. For this test to be done fairly the scales need to be covered so there are absolute NO WIND CURRENTS. Most scales will tell you when you have a stable reading, some do not. If you have one that drifts I would call the MFG and get a replacement. Good scales will not drift, some of the cheap ones do. But that's why there cheap. You get what you paid for.

I also try to stay above the lower 10% range of the scale, this is where the most error occurs. This is pretty easy to do with the use of the powder pan. If you ever over load one you should throw it out. Some are built with over load protection some not.

When not in use remove the scales tray. I also cover mine with a hard cover. This will prevent anything from over loading the scales when not in use.

 

[Striker Fired]

My RCBS scale manual said that it should be sitting still for 1/2 hour before using it.So if you move it to your reloading bench, it is "supposed"to sit for 30min before using it.I always have my scales on a seperate shelf/bench or whatever solid platform,than my press,that way when using the press it doesn't send any vibrations to my scales(both electronic and beam).

 

[AK_Maine_iac]

Now you guys have me wondering? My bench sets in front of (about 4 inches) the baseboard heat. Also directly under a large window facing North. When it gets below 0 would the fluctuation of warm heat from the baseboard and the cold air from the window cause an electronic scale to mess up?

 

[bergmen]

I quit using my electronic scale because it was a pain to calibrate, it couldn't be trusted in adverse conditions and it was visually impossible to confirm that it was accurate.

The beam scale, on the other hand, is visually obvious, easy to set up and is intrinsically accurate. Old school, but the only one that I trust and depend on.

Dan

 

[dmazur]

If I had to sort a few thousand cases by weight, I would probably want an electronic scale. Hopefully, a +/- 0.2gr performance would allow using a relatively inexpensive one.

I would still try to set it up and calibrate it correctly, keep it away from drafts, etc. but it wouldn't be near the level of concern I would have if I was using it to verify a powder charge.

I also gave up on electronic scales for powder and I'm quite happy with a RCBS 1010.

 

[towboat_er]

If ya have to ask...........PULL EM.

 

[lyrikz]

ahaha, your question was worse then mine.

I was .9 over because my bullet grain weight was off, you are 10 some odd grains over. DO NOT DO IT..

Also, if you have to ask, pull them. Thats the motto around here and it works.