Powder measure variances

Jim Watson,
Cell phone vibrators are dirt cheap on the surplus market, and I've done the same thing myself moving granular materials.
I've seen the vibrators on commercial powder bins but never tried it myself on small scale powder bin.
That's actually a BIG idea that will get past most people.

I use them on the sand blaster & shot peening machine to get granular materials to drop into delivery systems evenly.

John Aengus,
The first thing I would do with a Dillon is check the spring washer under the powder adjustment bolt head. That spring flattens out over time and let's the bolt move.
Dillon will send you a few for free, and you can try to put a little more curve in that spring/washer.

The coil spring both 'Slaps' the charge bar back into place, the 'Slap' reduces 'Stiction' and allows powder to flow better,
It also give you a consistent start/stop point.

Weights on powder often help. Cheap as a stack of common washers.

Greasing the slide rails on the powder dispenser help also.

A baffle will help with some powders, some I didn't see any change.
I will say most powders will benefit from an added baffle.

This maker, and this maker ONLY, produces a superior replacement for the Dillon bolt.
The thread engagement and spacing on this Maker's bolt replacement works VERY well.
I'm using about 10 of these and exactly ZERO has ever moved on its own.
I have every other type, the clickers, the locking, the graduated, the plastic stick on, not one has worked as well as these even in the very old throwers.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Fits-Dillo...56088.m4084.l1313.TR12.TRC2.A0.H0.Xscrew.TRS0

I don't usually give specific brands, unless it's the ONLY source, or the product works exceptionally well. These thumb screws are DEAD ON.
They are so closely fit they take a little bit of work to get into the assembly, but worth the effort if you decide to go this way.
Since it's a US producer, it doesn't take 3 months to arrive either...

Keep in mind the graduations on knobs may not correspond to definable changes.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
The best way to maintain consistent powder column weight in my opinion. Get a funnel, sit it in the hopper and fill the hopper to the bottom of the funnel then fill the funnel. As you throw charges the powder in the funnel will slowly trickle out of the funnel and replace what was used, refill funnel as needed

slightly off topic but I threw some charges of IMR 4350 last week and man what a pain with cut kernels. Much worse than Varget or H4831SC, seemed like every other throw wanted to jam up. I am about ready to buy a Johnson Quick Throw next month. I have some more to load today and am going to use my yellow Lee dippers and trickle up

szhYLEc.jpg
 
Last edited:
I load only for common handgun cartridges, using a Lee Turret Press with Lee's Autodisk powder measure. I mostly load .45 Auto, and the .53 size aperture conveniently drops 5.3 grains of Winchester 231. I spot check the charge from time to time, and it never seems to vary by more than +/- 0.1 grain.

Before I set up the Autodisk, I used Lee's often maligned Perfect Powder Measure. I don't think W231 is particularly subject to bridging but, to alleviate that possibility, I developed a habit of gently tapping the handle of the measure three times at the top of each stroke and three times at the bottom of each stroke. I had very little variation.
 
Aguila you are fine the Lee throw is actually easier on powder than the ones with metal drums and sides. W231 is a fine powder, stick powder is what gives throws a fit

on the subject of rifle loading. Flat nodes do exist you can load this one with a Lee dipper and be ok out to 1000 yards. .4 grains variance with only 28 FPS ES


testing 4831SC in a .260 Rem with 140 Nosler CC's


44.5 gr


Shots: 5
Average: 2728 FPS
SD: 4 FPS
Min: 2726 FPS
Max: 2737 FPS
Spread: 11 FPS
Barometric Pressure: 30
Temperature: 50
--------------------------
Name: Nosler Range Test
Notes: Powder test


44.3 gr


Shots: 5
Average: 2739 FPS
SD: 10 FPS
Min: 2721 FPS
Max: 2749 FPS
Spread: 28 FPS
Barometric Pressure: 30
Temperature: 50
--------------------------
Name: Nosler Range Test
Notes: Powder test


44.1 gr


Shots: 5
Average: 2730 FPS
SD: 7 FPS
Min: 2726 FPS
Max: 2743 FPS
Spread: 17 FPS
Barometric Pressure: 30
Temperature: 50
 
Last edited:
Dillon Powder Measure

Dillon Powder Measure: The Dillon Powder measure has a built in baffle and sets on top of the expander/powder funnel device. The powder under the baffle stays pretty much the same. I have run reservoirs from near filled to nearly empty literally hundreds of times. Sorry, I don't buy into this about the Dillon measure. Other measures like the UnfiFlow are a different story. I checked my Dial-A-Grain scales with RCBS test weights. Found no problem there. With these excessive swings in weight it would be good to check scales. Next look to the set up with the Dillon measure. Lastly, I'd look at my loads. This may be two sets of problems. Start simple looking for the answer that will cover the most bases.

Addendum: Powder Measure-The spring on the end of activating rod needs to be tight. Ran into this problem myself. Instructions came from the Mother Ship. The coils need to be wide enough to insert a credit card. Make sure the plastic wing nut affair is not slipping down the rod. You may give them a call for help. Also, make sure you have the most recent version of the measure.
 
Last edited:
I have some more to load today and am going to use my yellow Lee dippers and trickle up
Click to expand...

Hounddawg; in your picture a few posts back, you show a RCBS LiteChargeMaster in the background. I love mine. Never seen it be off by so much as 0.1 grains for CFE Pistol, CFE BLK or Benchmark, compared to my Lyman digital or the Lee balance. Are you saying it's not consistent on the 4350, or you just not using it there?
 
Hounddawg; in your picture a few posts back, you show a RCBS LiteChargeMaster in the background. I love mine. Never seen it be off by so much as 0.1 grains for CFE Pistol, CFE BLK or Benchmark, compared to my Lyman digital or the Lee balance. Are you saying it's not consistent on the 4350, or you just not using it there?
Click to expand...

For long range development I need a finer resolution of measurement than the scale on the Chargemaster can deliver. The RCBS scales are only capable of a resolution of .1gns and a repaetability of plus or minus .1 gns. Once I have a load is developed that is fine for throwing practice or even match charges IF I manage to find a flat velocity node at least .3 gns wide or greater. During load development I want to be within .05 gns. If I have test 5 rounds loaded at 40.5 gns I know all 5 or 10 rounds will be minimum of 40.45 and maximum 40.55 for a maximum of a .1 gn spread. With the Chargemaster they could be two at 40.4 one at 40.5 and three at 40.6 depending on the mood of the load cell and software algorithm. The big boys use $1K scales that measure to .0001 grams using magnetic force reduction tech

last edit - for 300 yards and less the velocity consistency is not a big factor even for BR shooters. They get .1 groups with 100 FPS ES loads at 100
 
Last edited:
I just figure the Lite is shades more accurate than any thrown charge, Autodrop, Johnson, or otherwise. Isn’t it?
Click to expand...

on the courser powders probably so I see your point but compared to a throw it is slow. I suppose I could use a second pan and have it dispensing while I am trickling to weight.

Mine is a old 1500 Chargemaster and compared to a throw it is like molasses. Uusing my old Hornady throw I can generally get within .1 or .2 with Varget and SC4831 and .1 with a fine powder like .223 or TAC.

But longer powder is a stick cutting hassle. If this load works out as far as accuracy and velocity I will retire the Hornady to the progressive press and get the Johnson just for stick which is what I load 90% of the time.
 
Last edited:
A scientific method

A friend, an avid reloader, claims that he has had Stormy Daniels do a "Motorboat" on his Uniflow. Expensive but measures perfectly.
 
got off my wallet and ordered a Johnson Quick Measure, looks like the Hornady will be retired to ball and flake only. If I can get consistent throws of .1 gn accuracy with no cutting I will be thrilled
 
Do you have a baffle in the powder tube? Are you tapping the handle on both the up and down strokes. Double taping helps fill the measure and helps it fall out into the case. Consistency on how you are operating the measure is key.
 
I reload .45 auto only for 5 different .45 autos & always use Bullseye.Never any noticeable variation that I have observed.
 
I had use most brands of powder measures in my life from the Ohaus Duo, Saerco, Forster Benchrest, Lyman 55, RCBS Uniflow to the Harrel and they all have their differences. Some more than others, but powder baffles does help a little and keeping the strokes up and down the same. For rifle I use a tickler. For pistol I use them as is.
 
Jim Watson:

Is using Unique to load 9mm the best answer? Is loading a tiny 9mm case with a powder that doesn’t measure well in the OP’s powder measure the best idea? I don’t want to suggest going with the powder of the month, but wouldn’t it be a better idea to load 9mm with a powder that is known to run well in 9mm and is known to meter well in such a tiny case? Doesn’t finding the best load for your application include being able to load consistently on your equipment? My 9mm load is 4.5 grains of something. To me a .4 grain variance seems like quite a lot. I don’t think I would want to be that far off.

There is some great advice in this thread on ways to make your powder measure more accurate. And finding the best load for your application surely does include making changes to your equipment to get the best results. But I’m thinking it might be time for the OP to go shopping for a different powder. At some point he is gonna need more powder anyway, right? That bottle of Unique is gonna run dry sometime, Yes?
 
Hounddog,

When you get Quick Measure you will find it does not cut grains at all. Some will chime in that cut grains don't affect powder burn rate, thereby missing the point. The act of cutting grains jars the whole powder measure, changing settling.

I added a baffle to my Quick Measure with its cuts on an axis perpendicular to the metering cavity entry. I then use the funnel method you showed for volume loading and having the funnel spout over the center of the baffle ensures the powder in it doesn't compact anything entering the metering cavity. This, and firmly anchoring the stand to my bench is how I got mine to throw 0.1 grains essentially all the time. Otherwise, I'd get an occasional 0.2-grain deviation. I don't load rifle on a progressive press enough to try out their Dillon adapter, but I'd like to just out of curiosity at some point.

My powder baffle templates include one on the last sheet for the Quick Measure with several possible dispensing cuts to choose from.
 
Thanks UncleNick , I will be sure to make a baffle or two. It should be here in the next day or two.

In the meantime I took berettaprofessor's suggestion and used my Chargemaster to drop a 30 charges for a load workup.

I used two pans, set the CM to - .1 gn from the test weight. While one pan was filling was throwing I trickled the other to weight on the Lyman. When changing charge weight every three loads that CM worked fantastic.

Once the load is developed and no adjustments required I will be using the Quickthrow to charge 50 cases then go back to trickle each to weight and seat the bullet
 
I miss the old days, when people EXPECTED powder measures to have variations in the charge weight....

They were considered a convenience, not a precision measuring tool.

There is a LOT of reloading where tiny variations in powder charge weight do not make any significant difference. If your measure threw your desired powder charge within that range, you were good to go.

If not, or if more precision uniformity was needed (or desired) then you weighed each charge on a scale.

Why do people seem to think it should be different today???
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top