Toprudder
Member
That is essentially how I work up my pistol ladder loads. I tare the casing, drop powder, and trickle as needed. I don't bother with a scale pan or powder funnel.
What clever little things have you "invented or discovered" that you can share?
- Thread starter James THR
- Start date
That is essentially how I work up my pistol ladder loads. I tare the casing, drop powder, and trickle as needed. I don't bother with a scale pan or powder funnel.
Bad idea, all cases do not weight the same. This is why you see bench rest shooters weighting everything, including cases. This would particularly dangerous in pistol brass because of the small amounts power used and just a grain or two could cause a dangerous over-load.
Paddy
member
He's zeroing the scale with each case he's weighing so variation in case weight is removed from the process. This is how I do it too, although I also place a loaded round or just a bullet on the scale so that the total weight being weighed is higher than just a case and powder. I find this makes the scale more accurate.
jell-dog
Member.
I'm feeling really dumb here!
Weigh case, tare (reset) scale, charge case, place case + bullet on scale?
The bullet would be of a known weight that you place on the scale with the charged case?
To get the charge weight subtract known bullet weight?
Thanks!
Paddy
member
No I had read a fellow who was getting erratic weight readings on his digital scale until he added some weight to the platform so that the scale was weighing in the middle of its range (or closer) because a case and powder was ver close to the empty tare of the scale. So I put one or two bullets on the scale and then zero it. Sorry for the confusion. Maybe not all scales will have this result, but it works for me.
Cemetery21
Member
I think they are saying they tare with the empty case AND a bullet or loaded round, then charge the empty and weigh. The thought being that the scale is tared with more weight and maybe that gets the scale up to a more reliable range.
I used to do something similar with a scale that was getting old and tired. I have an old S&W round flat screwdriver and I would place that under my pan and leave it there when in use. (about the size of a half dollar, if anybody remembers what those looked like)
I used to do something similar with a scale that was getting old and tired. I have an old S&W round flat screwdriver and I would place that under my pan and leave it there when in use. (about the size of a half dollar, if anybody remembers what those looked like)
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Gravedigger56
Member
Necessity is the mother of invention. Laziness is the father.
Made from PVC pipe. The square part does not have the corners glued, so that it can be taken apart. I slotted the ends slightly so they insert and remove easier. Also, I ran some small bungee cord inside the pipe so it folds up easily, and more importantly, unfolds with the correct ends together so it is quick to reassemble.
The netting is called "cargo netting" at the local fabric shop (thanks to my wife for finding that). Held to the pipe by tie-wraps every 6" or so. I let the netting drop down in the bottom to catch and hold the brass, and also have an apron that I can lift up onto the shooting bench.
Here it is folded for transport:
It does a good job catching brass, except for my SKS which launches casings straight up into low earth orbit.
Here is a neat simple gadget I found at the local Big R store. Works fast and great on picking up brass from the grass, concrete, dirt, gravels. etc. and I don't have to bend over.
http://www.gardenweasel.com/garden-weasel-products/garden-weasel-tools/weasel-nut-gatherer/
deadeye dick
Member
Not very computer savvy what does ^^^this^^^ mean
Toprudder
Member
I've got one of those, too. Doesn't work well in leaves/grass or coarse gravel, plus you have to spot all the casings before you can pick them up. Better to catch them before they hit the ground.
lckdnldd
Member
Simple but it works. That is one of my 3/8" steel targets in front of the chrony. It has saved my chrony a few times. Since this pic was taken I have also replaced the ears with wooden dowels.
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dds51968
Member
I do the same zero/tare on each case after resized and primed. On the very first 20 reloads I made, the third was a squib.
After I understood the ramifications of a squib, I figuee this was a great way to eliminate that possibility. I will also check the stated weight of the digital scale on my RCBS 505 every 7-10 drops.
It makes the process lengthier to be sure, but I've got time. I make it to my gun club about twice a month with around 500 to have a good time with.
"Better safe than sorry"
Sage advice that never gets old.
After I understood the ramifications of a squib, I figuee this was a great way to eliminate that possibility. I will also check the stated weight of the digital scale on my RCBS 505 every 7-10 drops.
It makes the process lengthier to be sure, but I've got time. I make it to my gun club about twice a month with around 500 to have a good time with.
"Better safe than sorry"
Sage advice that never gets old.
Gravedigger56
Member
Thanks, good to know.
I found a couple of heavy-duty camera tripods in the basement. I think I'll pick up a large, fine mesh fishing net and try that method out at the outdoor range. Heard it works pretty well.
scythefwd
Member
gravedigger, any chance I could get you to post some plans for that puppy?
scythefwd
Member
Couldnt bring myself to pay 65 for a tray. 12 bux in bins, had the aluminum flat bar that I bent in my vice, 6 dollars for a bulk pack of the screws... Had some that would work but I had to have the screws on the brackets match lol. Spray painted blk with some high temp enamel I had laying around for my smokers lol.
The whole album is the various stages, test fittings, etc. I did have to drill 2 holes in my sturdy mount, but it didn't seem to mess with the rigidity of the mount.
Skinnedknuckles
Member
- Joined
- Jul 3, 2011
- Messages
- 249
I love this thread and want to thank everyone who has contributed. It is interesting how it will go dormant for a while then a new post will start a new surge of posts.
Paperwork was starting to bury my bench with load sheets, set up instructions, and other data and manuals. I purchased some heavy duty 3-hole plastic sheet protectors and an easel-style 3-ring notebook. I put all the load sheets in one section, followed by reloading equipment instructions, and finally by different firearms assembly/disassembly instructions. Now it is all neatly stored in one place and I can find what I need quickly.
Also, I make up 3x5 index cards with the specific loading information for different hand loads I use regularly. It lists the bullet, primer, seating plug, crimp style and amount, power weight and setting on the Lee Adjustable Charge Bar, and COAL. I keep a dummy cartridge (no primer or powder) seated to desired length and crimped for each of my "standards" to make die set up easier and quicker.
Paperwork was starting to bury my bench with load sheets, set up instructions, and other data and manuals. I purchased some heavy duty 3-hole plastic sheet protectors and an easel-style 3-ring notebook. I put all the load sheets in one section, followed by reloading equipment instructions, and finally by different firearms assembly/disassembly instructions. Now it is all neatly stored in one place and I can find what I need quickly.
Also, I make up 3x5 index cards with the specific loading information for different hand loads I use regularly. It lists the bullet, primer, seating plug, crimp style and amount, power weight and setting on the Lee Adjustable Charge Bar, and COAL. I keep a dummy cartridge (no primer or powder) seated to desired length and crimped for each of my "standards" to make die set up easier and quicker.
Chewy4480
Member
Gravedigger56 I'm so building one of those!
Gravedigger56
Member
Sure, when I figure it out. What I want is something compact that can be easily adaptable to use both on outdoor as well as indoor ranges. The net material shouldn't be hard but figuring out how to mount it to a tripod may be a challenge.
Lost Sheep
Member
Simplest would be a tarp on the ground where most of your brass is landing. Next up from that idea is the largest umbrella you can find laid upside down there. Or a camping tent rainfly positioned to catch the brass.
If you have a roof overhead, sew or clip netting, sheets or shower curtains to the umbrella. Hang the umbrella from the roof and shoot from inside the circle of the curtain. You will have to do something about the umbrella handle, of course.
Collapses to a minimal size. Simple to make. Lightweight.
Just ideas. Not better than Gravedigger56 (post 1235), just different. Possibly simpler.
Edit: Gravedigger posted that the brass catcher is actually TopRudder's design. My thanks to Gravedigger for letting me know, to TopRudder for the design and my apologies of not proofreading well enough to have caught my mistake. I hate it when that happens.
Lost Sheep
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Toprudder
Member
I've seen a simple brass catcher, where the person made a large hoop that the bottom fit into a 50cal ammo can. He just opened it up on the bench, set the hoop in it, and started shooting. All the spent casings fell into the ammo can. I have been wanting to make one like that.
For netting, my wife went to a local fabric store and found something called "cargo netting". Works perfectly. I have a bunch left over that I want to experiment with.
For netting, my wife went to a local fabric store and found something called "cargo netting". Works perfectly. I have a bunch left over that I want to experiment with.
Gravedigger56
Member
Seems to be some confusion. The photos on that post are of the catcher designed by toprudder not me. I wish I could take credit for it but I'm not that creative.
Toprudder
Member
I wish I could take credit for it but I'm not that creative.
Necessity is the mother of invention. Laziness is the father. I'm getting too lazy to bend over and pick up brass.
