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Posted: 8/27/2010 9:04:44 PM EDT
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I used a Hornady PM for years, then I found a Redding PM at the funshow for a great price.
I did a little tuning on it and posted the results Here. It measures Re-15 + or _ .1 gr. I dropped 20 charges several times on different days. I was very happy with the results. Then I was on the hunt for a PM for my buddy who is just starting to reload. At another funshow I found 2 more Redding PM's. We each got one. Then I found a Uniflo. So I decided to do a side by side test with my polished up Redding and stock Redding PM's. The untuned Redding was disassembled, dust cleaned off, surface rust wire brushed off, and waxed. By "waxed" I mean paste wax used on wood floors. I do this to all of my PM's. (It's a common woodworking method used on table saw tops.) 
This stuff. Apply with rag, let dry, wipe/buff off. Metal parts become very slick, powder is unaffected. So I adjusted the tuned Redding to throw 24.0 grs of Re-15. Threw 20 charges. Adjusted untuned Redding to throw 24.0 grs Re-15. threw 20 charges. The untuned did not have a baffle, the powder hopper was taller, and the inside was not polished. These were features of the "tuned" Redding. So anyway both measures threw identical + or - .1 charges of Re-15. I was shocked and disappointed with the results. All of that polishing on the "tuned' PM for no gain. 
But if your tests always work like you think, you don't learn anything. So now I think the "best" mod to a PM is a simple waxing. 
The 2 Redding's are in the middle of this PM p0rn pic. Uniflo on the left, "Tuned" Redding, untuned Redding, and Hornady. Since this pic, the untuned Redding got a new handle like the "tuned" Redding. Yes, I tried the other two measures (they were waxed also) with the 24.0 gr Re-15 throws. The Hornady and Uniflo were + or - .1grs with 90% of the throws, the other 10% were + or - .2 grs. Then I tried Varget in all 4 PM's. "Tuned" Redding, I didn't adjust the throw, it was throwing 23.0 grs, was + or - .1 gr for 20 throws. Surprised here. Untuned Redding, I didn't adjust the throw, it was throwing 24.0 grs, was + or - .2 gr for 20 throws. Not bad. Hornady, I didn't adjust the throw, it was throwing 24.1 grs, was + or - .2 gr for 20 throws. Already knew this. Uniflo, I didn't adjust the throw, it was throwing 24.2 grs, was + or - .3 gr for 20 throws. On to BLC2, a ball powder. "Tuned" Redding, I adjusted the throw for 26.0 grs, was + or - .1 gr for 20 throws. Untuned Redding, I didn't adjust the throw, it was throwing 26.9 grs, was + or - .1 gr for 20 throws. Hornady, I didn't adjust the throw, it was throwing 27.1 grs, was + or - .0 gr for 20 throws. This PM has been doing this for years. 
Uniflo, I adjusted the throw for 26.0 grs, was + or - .1 gr for 20 throws. So wax up those PM's that you may be having trouble with. |
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