Scale & Grain Question

[dumoulin]

I love reloading my .300 and 7mm, but I hate to weigh each load as I do not trust the powder dispenser. This can make is unnecessarily tedious especially with the crapy scale I have. So my question is should I be fussy if I'm 0.1gr. - 0.5gr. +/-. I know it can make a slight difference but how much is the question. Enough to worry about?

[fish_e_o]

Originally Posted by dumoulin

I love reloading my .300 and 7mm, but I hate to weigh each load as I do not trust the powder dispenser. This can make is unnecessarily tedious especially with the crapy scale I have. So my question is should I be fussy if I'm 0.1gr. - 0.5gr. +/-. I know it can make a slight difference but how much is the question. Enough to worry about?

for general shooting it hasn't made a difference for me. further out there (beyond 500 yards) it will make a difference

[Dmay]

What powder dispenser do you have?
What powder are you using?
Measuring by volume can be as accurate as by weight.

[fish_e_o]

i guess the best way to know is shoot through a chronograph

[220swifty]

A trick I use is to set the dispenser a grain or so short, then trickle to finish.

[Hotwheels81]

I'd say anything past .3 grains is quite noticeable in magnum cases past 200M

In cases around the .308 size .2 grains can be seen around 100M

In .223 cases I can spot .1 grain variations at 300M


That me being picky tho... The farther out you go the more obvious it becomes, brass volume plays another role, primers another, barrel quality and profile...

Best way to know is to try it as long as your under max and have a bunch of wiggle room.

[elkhunter11]

If you want to weigh every powder charge, and still load fairly quickly, consider the RCBS Chargemaster. They are on sale for $379, and RCBS has a $50 mail in rebate, which brings the price down to $329.

[Mike_W]

Originally Posted by elkhunter11

If you want to weigh every powder charge, and still load fairly quickly, consider the RCBS Chargemaster. They are on sale for $379, and RCBS has a $50 mail in rebate, which brings the price down to $329.

X2 Chargemaster is the greatest reloading tool I have bought to date!!!

[Lefty-Canuck]

Originally Posted by Mike_W

X2 Chargemaster is the greatest reloading tool I have bought to date!!!

X3....only thing I wish is that I had one years sooner!

LC

[460 G&A]

I hand weigh each load, I know what you are talking about. I'm asking the wife for a chargemaster for Christmas. I have heard nothing but good stuff about them.

[wwbirds]

From Natchez in US no problem shipping to Canada and Rcbs Chargemaster is $289 with $50 mail in rebate
Rob

[Lefty-Canuck]

Originally Posted by 460 G&A

I hand weigh each load, I know what you are talking about. I'm asking the wife for a chargemaster for Christmas. I have heard nothing but good stuff about them.

I used to do the same....set up a powder throw to drop enough just under the desired weight....then trickle up to what the scale was set.

Was good and I got fairly quick at it....but the Chargemaster is awesome.

LC

[Andrzej]

Chargemaster from Natchez and not going back.

If charge is .1 gr over I scoop 2 pieces of IMR 4350 and it is right on.

I like all my rounds to weigh the same but if you are in the center of sweet spot or node I don't think that .5 grain would make difference for normal hunting.

[Thunder Elk Hunter]

Chargemaster is the way to go from Natchez.

[Grizzly Adams]

Originally Posted by 220swifty

A trick I use is to set the dispenser a grain or so short, then trickle to finish.

That's the route to go. If you can't be bothered, better buy your ammo at the store.

Grizz

[Lefty-Canuck]

Originally Posted by Grizzly Adams

That's the route to go. If you can't be bothered, better buy your ammo at the store.

Grizz

LOL....technology escape you?....

....Once you write your note and set free your carrier pigeon we can all read about it once the pigeon lands...

LC

[Silverado04]

Originally Posted by 220swifty

A trick I use is to set the dispenser a grain or so short, then trickle to finish.

Definitely the key if you can't afford a chargemaster, haha.

[32-40win]

Even the chargemaster scale is a .1+/- variation, so, add in the variables of wind, parallax, mirage, trigger control, shoulder pressure, holding thru recoil, a .2 variation is pretty tough to nail down as being any kind of a culprit as to what happens on a given shot. Is a person ever sure his technique at the bench is perfectly consistent? Shot to shot variations thru a chronograph help to an extent, but, will they spot a high charge, low reading or a low charge, high reading on a scale to start with? Anything under a .3 variation is pretty tough to see the results on, and likely 98% of shooters are not good enough to spot a .3 variation in an outdoor situation.
Here is an interesting article wriitten about an indoor range some very good shooters used years ago;
http://www.angelfire.com/ma3/max357/houston.html

[dumoulin]

I've been using a dispenser to get a rough measurement and them tricking some in. Problem is the dispenser is sometimes off.

I think part of the problem is the power (IMR 4831) as it is harder for the dispenser to evenly dispense.

I wonder if the Lynmann 1300 would do a better job$ There's one for sale on the forum....

[dumoulin]

Originally Posted by 220swifty

A trick I use is to set the dispenser a grain or so short, then trickle to finish.

Ya...that's what I'm doing now but the dispenser and scale aren't consistant enough. I might have to change that.