Hornady powder measure

M

Mike40-11

New member
So I've been using a Lee Perfect Powder measure for 8 years or so. Works fine but it's mostly plastic so it always seems like I'm going to break it or wear it out. So I figured I'd upgrade to the Hornady. All metal, nice and solid. Looks good, feels good. Filled it up with 4064 to load some 30-06. Dialing it in for 46 gr., checking against my 505 scale. I get it set, but I'm seeing variation of about +/- 0.5 gr. With the Lee I see +/- 0.1 for the most part, now and again maybe off by 0.2 gr. So I went back to the "cheap-o" Lee.

I use the same technique on both, rotate down and triple tap to settle the powder before I dump.

Does the Hornady just not like stick powder or is there something I'm missing in setup or operation?
 
The Hornady will cut the stick powder and at the same time...jar the powder
in the hopper. Lee uses a lastimire (sic) wiper which will slide over the stick
powder and not cause jarring.
 
I got the Hornady powder dispenser that came with my Lock N Load AP to dispense a very consistent 47 gn of 4064. It was dropping exactly 47.0 gn 9 times out of 10, and the ones that weren't exact were only .2 gn up or down.

Maybe it likes being mounted to the LNL AP.
 
Did you give it a good cleaning to remove the shipping oils?
Did you place a baffle inside the tube to help uniform the powder weight?
I noticed you tapped on the drop cycle you also have to tap on the fill cycle.

If you shift to pistol loads there is a pistol rotor and piston that you should get.
 
"LASTIMIRE"

SMOKE:

I wonder if "lastimire" might have been an I.T. person's courageous attempt to spell "elastomer" based on how it was pronounced to them by an engineer/ techno-jock in a hurry, rather than written out for them? I don't have the rest of that passage in front of me, so you'll know more about the context in which "lastimire" was printed than me (and this is ABSOLUTELY NOT a criticism, nor a lampooning of your post).

You might re-read that part where you saw it, substituting "elastomer" in place of it, and see if it fits well. If so, then I'd bet that Lee Precision would appreciate your input and correction (if it IS a correction). For all I know, "lastimire" might be a proprietary word of Lee Precision's coining.

All the Best.
 
I have the Hornady powder measure and until just now never really knew why it measures large stick powder so poorly . I'd say Smoke is more likely right then not . The hornady works real good with smaller grain powders but 4064 , 4350 are a pain to throw . Sometimes the powder will lock up the the whole thing and it takes quite a bit of force to cut/break a piece of powder . When doing so it most certainly jars the unit . Hell it effects me and some things on the bench as well when it really locks up .

I'll add that I can't throw 4064 with in .1gr either . I think my best was .3gr for a few throws then I hit one of those teeth rattling lock ups and it had a .5+gr swing .

If the cheap Lee powder measure throws 4064 really well . I may just pick one up for throwing large stick powders .
 
Do you have the correct metering assembly in the measure? Many folks don't realize that the measure generally comes with the rifle assembly installed and they start to load pistol ammo and can't get consistent charge weights. Pull the metering assembly and check.
All measures need the following:
1) Degrease all metal parts (and protect plastic parts from degreaser). I like Hornady One Shot Cleaner and Dry Lube as it doesn't attack the plastic. Allow to air dry.
2) Wash all plastic parts in soapy hot water and allow to drain and dry (don't rinse)
3) Run a hopper of graphitized powder (or simply some powdered graphite) through the measure. Don't try to clean the measure after--you want some graphite on the parts.
4) When you fill the hopper, shake it a little to settle the powder.
5) ALWAYS throw at least 10 throws (returning powder to hopper) before you ever start to weigh any charges.
6) ALWAYS throw at least 3 throws any time you change the metering setting before you ever start to weigh a charge
7) Despite steps 5 and 6, you sometimes will have to throw another 10 charges before the weights ever settle down
8) Always operate the measure the same way. If bench-mounted, always "tap-tap" the handle on the up- and down-strokes.
9) Sometimes, no matter what I do, a measure simply will not settle down. I then go to another measure. Amazingly, the next day or so, the problem measure will be back to throwing +/- 0.1gn all day with the same powder and charge weight. Who knows--position of moon, planet alignment, something.
Bench-mounted, my most consistent measures are my Lee PPM and my Hornady L-N-L.
 
Noylj:

It's good you mentioned the different rotors . Not sure about other powder measures but Hornady does make separate rotors for rifle and hand gun throws . The powder measure comes with the rifle rotor and you can/should buy the hand gun rotor http://www.midwayusa.com/product/16...or-and-metering-assembly?cm_vc=ProductFinding

I just finished loading 50rds of 45acp using Longshot . I do have the handgun rotor and I was only able to throw with in .2gr . Most throws were with in .1 but the extremes were .2gr . Verified with check weights and beam scale . Now long shot is a pretty good metering powder compared to IMR 4064 . I'm still impressed anyone can throw 4064 to with in .1gr . In my head I just don't see how it's possible and that has nothing to do with any powder measure . It's more to do with the powder it self and how it sits in a small space . It's a stick powder and like throwing a bunch of sticks in a trash can . Sometimes they get all crossed up and take up much more space leaving space in between each stick .
 
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