Powder Measures - Only a novice would ask

[Hawg]

Mine start at 20 and go to 120.

 

[B.L.E.]

Both black powder and smokeless powder are measured in grains - but black powder is measured by volume, and smokeless is measured by weight.

Actualy, smokeless powder charges are defined by weight but measured volumetrically. I can pretty much guarrantee that all the commercial ammo you buy had the powder measured volumetrically. So is most reloaded ammo except for maybe ultra-serious bench rest shooters. With smokeless, we calibrate our powder measures using a scale.

Black powder charges can be weighed as well, it works just fine. Just remember that with Pyrodex, they don't mean grains literally when they list loads. They mean the volume that would throw that many grains of charge if you were measuring black powder.

 

[Hawg]

That's a nice measure Hawg, I'll keep an eye out for a used one.
My one and only experience at making paper cartridges was OK, but seemed awful time consuming. I have read and seen more ideas on the forums about it. I well give it another go.

Here's a link to the new ones. The third one down. http://www.gunaccessories.com/ThompsonCenter/PowderMeasures.asp It's not solid brass like mine and doesn't seem to have cap storage in the bottom like mine but still ought to be a good long lasting measure. A lil pricey tho.

I've made paper cartridges and it is time consuming. Nice to have when you're shooting tho. I make mine out of tea bags.........When I bother to make them.

 

[Oldfalguy]

Relearning to properly load BP pistols

I am a newbie in that I am coming back to the BP fold and need some reminding of what is the best way of loading of pistols.
BP can to flask to measure to cylinder-
I would like to find a smaller adjustable powder measure-
One that measures from say 10 to 40 gr so that the increments could be measured more precisely. I have had the 0-120 all brass one for about 30 years for use in rifles where a little off wasn't a big deal but can be a bigger deal in a pistol.

 

[Hawg]

A little off with bp in a revolver or rifle doesn't make any difference. BP is more forgiving. I use the measure I posted pics of set between 30 & 40 grs., somewhere in the neighborhood of 35 for my pistols and I have no accuracy or load to load consistency problems.
I have a smaller measure like you're talking about but it's a PITA to use.

 

[Doc Hoy]

Only an opinion

Oldfalguy and Hawg,

I have one of the Measures that Hawg likes and also have that CVA 1400. I like Hawgs because with one measure you can get any load you desire. I like the CVA because it is quicker if you like the volume of the measure spout that is presently on the measure. I am going to get the set of spouts from Cabela's for additional range of loads.

The jury is out as to whether or not remaining hot particles in the chambers present a danger or not. By that I mean that in this thread alone there are those who are concerned enough not to use a measure like the CVA and there are those who say it is not a problem.

The way I do it is to run off a cylinder, put the pistol down, check and mark the target, return to the firing table and check the chambers (visually) and then put the pistol on the stand and reload directly from the measure whether I am using the CVA or the TC.

I am not letting either of these measures go. I like them both.

 

[Hawg]

I have one of the Measures that Hawg likes and also have that CVA 1400. I like Hawgs because with one measure you can get any load you desire. I like the CVA because it is quicker if you like the volume of the measure spout that is presently on the measure.

That looks like the same flask I use.