What's your favorite method of precise powder measuring?

[Mozella]

Here's my two cents worth.

I love reloading but I absolutely HATE individually weighing each charge. So I've invested some time in developing ways to automatically measure powder accurately not only because I'm addicted to precision shooting but because I shoot F Class competition with .223 and 6mm BR.

Unfortunately, it's hard to judge how well various pieces of equipment work because you can read things like "I've used my So-and-so brand automatic powder dispenser/scale for over 10 years and it has never let me down yet". Or, "The Such-n-such auto dispenser is fantastic. It is never off more than .2gr". Often there no mention of what kind of performance these guys experience at the range.

While some folks might be happy with a .2gr variation, I'm not one of them.

I currently use a well tuned Hornady Lock-n-load case activated powder dispenser with a micrometer adjustment on a progressive press. I have carefully gathered data on my powder inventory by throwing and then weighing a large number of charges to a precision of .01gr on a digital scale. Then I calculate the Standard Deviation and Extreme Spread of these charges so that I can reject powders which don't meter accurately enough.

For example, IMR 8208 XBR gives 23gr loads 68% of which are within .07gr of the target weight and the extreme spread is plus or minus .1gr. I consider that pretty good for an automatic powder drop. I'm not sure an expensive electronic powder dispenser/trickle/scale rig would be an improvement, at least from what I read.

I have made careful accuracy tests comparing this degree of precision with loads made by weighing each charge to an accuracy of around .05gr or less which is about as close as I can get without tearing my hair out. Sometimes I can it the weight within .02gr, but on the fourth try on a particular case when I've been overshooting the target weight, I am willing to accept a .05gr error rather than lose my temper since I HATE weighing individual charges. But a.05gr error is my personal limit for hand weighing.

When I test at the range, I can't tell the difference between the two charging methods; auto or manual. It should be said that I scan my 5 shot groups and measure them using On Target scoring software and then study the results in an Excel spreadsheet so that I can detect even small deviations in precision.

My best .223 recipe using 69gr SMKs and automatically dispensed IMR 8208 XBR shoots 1/4MOA most of the time and never worse than 1/2MOA. I'll continue to use the case activated powder drop until I can prove to myself that there is an advantage to hand weighing each charge. So far, it's a tie, at least for me.

 

[schmellba99]

I use a Chargemaster if the load necessitates anything other than normal powder drop.

And frankly, the vast majority of people and rifles will never notice a .1 grain difference - you really need to get to long, long range stuff before that becomes relevant.

I've had some overcharges with stick powder, usually just .1 grain. Most of the time I simply dump that pan back into the hopper and run another charge. I don't like to get the idea I'm in some kind of hurry when reloading anyway, so the 15 seconds is likely not going to make or break my loading session.

 

[4runnerman]

Small, Very good Digital scale, Scoop to with in 3 Tenths and trickle rest.

 

[m&p45acp10+1]

I do my best to work up a load that is not so dang picky about being exactly the same from one cartridge to the next.

For the ease of things I use a Hornady DPS. I can adjust at how much below the target weight I want it slow down at. It then starts to trickle up.

 

[Mr.RevolverGuy]

I hope my rcbs chargemaster continues on its path. it will absolutely throw what I ask it to. measured by Hornady beam scale and rcbs beam scale. As a backup and quicker processing for ball powder a 20 year old uniflow.

 

[Kosh75287]

Throw to within 0.4 grains, then trickle up. Easier with ball powders than flakes, but it more or less works all powder types, depending on the level of patience of the reloader.

 

[brasscollector]

Sometimes I can (h)it the weight within .02gr

What brand of scale are you using? I would go crazy as well trying to tune my powder charges to hundredths of a grain. Most digital scales only show down to .1gr increments, some only show .2gr.

 

[AzShooter]

I use a Dillon 650 with their powder dispenser on it. It throws within 1/10 of a grain. I check every few hundred rounds. I like to load a lot of ammo in one sitting and can load up to 800 rounds per hour when I'm in the mood.