powder charge ?
- Thread starter rebs
- Start date
polyphemus
New member
If you are looking for consistent results then your work has to be equally consistent,assuming uniform brass bullets and primers,your powder loads have to have as narrow a variance as possible and this puts you in trickler territory.
And then is when you find out the points at which your loads lose or gain accuracy.That is to say you make minute changes test and compare.
And then is when you find out the points at which your loads lose or gain accuracy.That is to say you make minute changes test and compare.
I think what accuracy looks like to you will deteman your answers .
No , a powder measure dump will not be as accurate and consistent as weighing each charge but what else are you doing to insure accurate loads ?
Match primers , separating by head stamp . match grade seating die , uniforming flash holes , shall I go on ?
OK. Qualify of gun and shooter ??? 
If you don't do all the things that help consistency . I'm not sure how much just making one of them perfect will really show in group size . If you are in fact doing above and beyond when it comes to loading these 45acp why would you stop at weighing each charge ?
No , a powder measure dump will not be as accurate and consistent as weighing each charge but what else are you doing to insure accurate loads ?
Match primers , separating by head stamp . match grade seating die , uniforming flash holes , shall I go on ?
OK. Qualify of gun and shooter ??? If you don't do all the things that help consistency . I'm not sure how much just making one of them perfect will really show in group size . If you are in fact doing above and beyond when it comes to loading these 45acp why would you stop at weighing each charge ?
Last edited:
WellI set my Uniflow to dump 4.0grs. Then I started loading rounds on my RCBS 4x4 progressive. I loaded up 200 rounds of these and I really don't think I can hold and shoot them much more accurately standing with a two hand hold.
This is 10 shots from 10yds,
As is usually the case I had one (#7) that just didn't want to run with the pack.
Similar 10 shot group right before the one above of the same ammo,
All of this was loaded with mixed brand brass using my own cast bullets over 4.0grs of Bullseye lit with Wolf LP primers. I don't use anything special, just size to .452", lube, and load. I have shot several better groups with this same load, and I have shot far worse, but these are about the average for when I am doing things almost as good as I can. I would have to say I doubt, (and I say this because I have tried it,) that I personally can get mcu better with weighing each charge out by hand. There is the user part that comes into play and I simply don't see the sights as well now with bi-focals as I did 20yrs ago without glasses all together. I feel I can still hold my own though, and while I am sure these won't win any trophies, I'll still get one for "Participation" right...
This is 10 shots from 10yds,
As is usually the case I had one (#7) that just didn't want to run with the pack.
Similar 10 shot group right before the one above of the same ammo,
All of this was loaded with mixed brand brass using my own cast bullets over 4.0grs of Bullseye lit with Wolf LP primers. I don't use anything special, just size to .452", lube, and load. I have shot several better groups with this same load, and I have shot far worse, but these are about the average for when I am doing things almost as good as I can. I would have to say I doubt, (and I say this because I have tried it,) that I personally can get mcu better with weighing each charge out by hand. There is the user part that comes into play and I simply don't see the sights as well now with bi-focals as I did 20yrs ago without glasses all together. I feel I can still hold my own though, and while I am sure these won't win any trophies, I'll still get one for "Participation" right...
Attachments
Last edited:
expendable
New member
It depends on what kind of accuracy you are expecting, what distance are you shooting at?
I'm not sure what power you are using, but if safe load 10 each at 4.0, 4.1, 4.2 and so on, now load one of each weight into the mag and shoot one group.
If your not shooting out past 15 yards or so i don't think you will see much difference.
I'm not sure what power you are using, but if safe load 10 each at 4.0, 4.1, 4.2 and so on, now load one of each weight into the mag and shoot one group.
If your not shooting out past 15 yards or so i don't think you will see much difference.
I don't use Ransom Rests when shooting pistols. Therefore accuracy has to be really bad before I notice it, because the error due to my hold and trigger pull are so large. I won't, and I don't see accuracy variation due to tenths of a grain powder differences. In fact, all my pistol ammunition is thrown, and the measure does not hold to a tenth of a grain even with ball powders.
Another issue is velocity averages, extreme spreads, and standard deviations. Get your chronograph out and test a lot of ammunition. If you were to do a double blind test I will bet you would be unable to distinguish, based on averages, extreme spreads, and standard deviations, tenth of a grain differences in strings less than thirty shots. My chrony only goes to 32 shots. I see a different average, different extreme spread, different standard deviation each time I shoot the same ammunition at the range. I do see differences between half grain charges during load development, but it takes the larger sample sizes before they start appearing as distinct.
I ran a recent test attempting to find an ultra low recoiling, accurate load in the 44 Spl. I came to the conclusion that ultra low powered 44 Special rounds, loaded with Bullseye, are not going to be accurate in this pistol. I bumped up the powder charge a half grain and still it was awful. However, using a load of 6 1/4 grains Unique, a rather light load with Unique, accuracy was excellent. But velocities were higher. It is evident to get good accuracy in this cartridge I had to bump the pressures up. Maybe if I experimented with something like Trailboss, I would get accuracy with ultra low velocity loads, but I don't know.
Another issue is velocity averages, extreme spreads, and standard deviations. Get your chronograph out and test a lot of ammunition. If you were to do a double blind test I will bet you would be unable to distinguish, based on averages, extreme spreads, and standard deviations, tenth of a grain differences in strings less than thirty shots. My chrony only goes to 32 shots. I see a different average, different extreme spread, different standard deviation each time I shoot the same ammunition at the range. I do see differences between half grain charges during load development, but it takes the larger sample sizes before they start appearing as distinct.
I ran a recent test attempting to find an ultra low recoiling, accurate load in the 44 Spl. I came to the conclusion that ultra low powered 44 Special rounds, loaded with Bullseye, are not going to be accurate in this pistol. I bumped up the powder charge a half grain and still it was awful. However, using a load of 6 1/4 grains Unique, a rather light load with Unique, accuracy was excellent. But velocities were higher. It is evident to get good accuracy in this cartridge I had to bump the pressures up. Maybe if I experimented with something like Trailboss, I would get accuracy with ultra low velocity loads, but I don't know.
Code:
[SIZE="3"]6.5" M24
240 LSWC Valiant 3.0 grs Bullseye lot 919 WLP (brass) primers
T = 90 ° F 2-Sep-15
Ave Vel = 568
Std Dev = 11
ES = 41
Low = 544
High = 584
N = 12
Poor accuracy, vertical stringing at 25 yards, at 50 yards, aimpt top crossbar
240 LSWC Valiant 3.5 grs Bullseye lot 919 WLP (brass) primers
T = 90 ° F 2-Sep-15
Ave Vel = 629
Std Dev = 18
ES = 59
Low = 596
High = 655
N = 25
Poor accuracy at all distances
240 LSWC Valiant 6.25 grs Unique thrown lot 6/21/98 Mixed Brass WLP (nickle)
T = 90 °F 2-Sep-15
Ave Vel = 867
Std Dev = 13
ES = 42
Low = 852
High = 894
N = 11
Good accuracy at 25 and 50 yards. [/SIZE]g.willikers
New member
There's a lot of similar questions about accuracy being asked.
But for any kind of meaningful answer, the term "accuracy" has to be defined and it rarely is.
So, how about one?
What are your expectations with a .45?
Speak to us.
Vague questions get vague answers.
But for any kind of meaningful answer, the term "accuracy" has to be defined and it rarely is.
So, how about one?
What are your expectations with a .45?
Speak to us.
Vague questions get vague answers.
My gp100 will shoot 1.5"-2" at 50 yards with rounds made on my 550b and I know there is at least .2 gr of variation. Charge is 7.8 gr of unique. Cases prep is zero, not weighing cases, only prep is not using mixed brass.
Every pistol and powder is different but I'd be very surprised if .1gr of powder has a noticeable impact difference at 25 yards. Haven't seen it in any of my pistols or loads. Especially if your shooting offhand. That would be one accurate gun and shooter. Too many other variables. Most powder drops on a progressive don't hold less than .1 and plenty of good ammo is turned out.
Every pistol and powder is different but I'd be very surprised if .1gr of powder has a noticeable impact difference at 25 yards. Haven't seen it in any of my pistols or loads. Especially if your shooting offhand. That would be one accurate gun and shooter. Too many other variables. Most powder drops on a progressive don't hold less than .1 and plenty of good ammo is turned out.
Last edited:
It really depends on the design of the specific powder measure and the specific powder.
A Lyman 55 is hard to beat because of how the measure chamber slides in relation to the way the powder drops. Add a granual powder instead of sticks and the accuracy of the measure increases.
A Lyman 55 is hard to beat because of how the measure chamber slides in relation to the way the powder drops. Add a granual powder instead of sticks and the accuracy of the measure increases.