Armory Sponsor
Posted: 10/15/2009 11:21:47 AM EDT
|
Who uses powder throwers to load 223? Are they pretty consistan? Do you throw the powder, measure, then trickle for every load or do you throw powder, Seat bullet, and call it a day?
Hope the question makes sense? I current use a charge master but wanted something faster to load plinking ammo. - |
|
Honestly doesn't matter which caliber you are reloading for.
It depends on the powder, I believe it's ranked in the following order, if I'm wrong someone will correct me. Stick Powder like Varget, it won't be very consistent +/- 0.6 grains Flake powder is a little more consistent over stick +/- ?? grains Ball powders H335 are very consistent. +/- 0.2 grains |
|
I can get +/-0.1gr with my $20 Lee Perfect Powder Measure with H335, H332, RL7, RL10x, and TAC. Haven't tried Varget, where the "sticks" are a little longer. I measure every three-four throws since the measure is new to me and I don't quite trust it 100% yet, but so far it's been impressive. Before I used a scoop + trickler. |
| I have a Lee PPM, RCBS Comp. Uni-flow, Hornady LnL (w/Micro adjuster), & Redding BR3 and the Redding is by far the best but the cheap Lee powder thrower throws Varget better than all of the others hands down. For ball, flake, or small extruded(H322 & Benchmark) the Hornady and Redding throwers are good for .1gr off 1 out of 10 throws so I recommend those over the RCBS |
|
Quoted:
I can get +/-0.1gr with my $20 Lee Perfect Powder Measure with H335, H332, RL7, RL10x, and TAC. Haven't tried Varget, where the "sticks" are a little longer. I measure every three-four throws since the measure is new to me and I don't quite trust it 100% yet, but so far it's been impressive. Before I used a scoop + trickler. +1... Well worth the $20. Mine works very well with varget as well. For precision/ rifle rounds I mostly use my Lyman DPS2, and I have progressive setups for pistol and bulk .223, but every once-in-a-while I still break out the Lee Perfect Powder Measure when I want to throw a bunch of charges quickly, without setting up the progressive. - AG |
|
I just recently started using my "newly" purchased (well new as in about 3 months ago) Lee Perfect Powder Measure for loading my .223. I've noticed that it takes about 10 cases to get a consistency of +/-0.1 gr. Why, I just don't know.
I'm pretty anal about my procedures, so I always check the charge using a electronic scale with the Cabela's name on it, then check it again with the Lee Safety Scale. If I'm doing just planking rounds once I go though my procedure of setup. I then check every 10th or so charge on the electronic scale and the safety scale. If I'm loading for test rounds. I set up the LPPM near what I'm looking for then trickle with the safety scale. ....just a side note here. It seems the Cabela's electronic scale has its good days and bad days. On the bad days, if I had half a mind, I could toss it into the next county. When I reload for the .40's. I use the Auto Disk loader, and have not a problem with it. Once I get it set....it stays within the +/- 0.1 gr...and it has been like that for a couple years now. I guess I should say I only use VihtaVuori powders....both for the .223 and the .40's. |
| My ancient RCBS Uni-Flow will throw h335 +/- .1g or better. H335 is a ball powder and as mentioned above the Lee PPM works better with "stick powders" like Varget and H4895. You need to develop a technique when using a thrower. I use a light "tap" at the top and bottom each cycle of the thrower handle. When working up loads or running a batch of "match loads", I will use the thrower to get in the ballpark and then trickle up to the desired weight. |
|
Quoted:
I have a Lee PPM, RCBS Comp. Uni-flow, Hornady LnL (w/Micro adjuster), & Redding BR3 and the Redding is by far the best but the cheap Lee powder thrower throws Varget better than all of the others hands down. For ball, flake, or small extruded(H322 & Benchmark) the Hornady and Redding throwers are good for .1gr off 1 out of 10 throws so I recommend those over the RCBS My Hornady or any of my Dillon Pm's throw ball powder exact. My Hornady or any of my Dillon Pm's throw flake powder + or - .1 gr. Hornady PM throws Re-15 + or - .2 gr. Varget or IMR powder, I throw light and trickle up. I don't load these often. Technique and tuning/polishing have worked for me. |
|
Here you go, the best of the best.
http://www.harrellsprec.com/ I have the Schuetzen / Pistol Measure and I can use it with my 223 and 7.62x39 as well as all my pistol cartridges. If you want accuracy Harrel's id the way to go, everything else is just OK. |
|
Quoted: If you use the safety scale every time, why do you bother at all with the electronic scale? Just checking them against each other?I just recently started using my "newly" purchased (well new as in about 3 months ago) Lee Perfect Powder Measure for loading my .223. I've noticed that it takes about 10 cases to get a consistency of +/-0.1 gr. Why, I just don't know. I'm pretty anal about my procedures, so I always check the charge using a electronic scale with the Cabela's name on it, then check it again with the Lee Safety Scale. If I'm doing just planking rounds once I go though my procedure of setup. I then check every 10th or so charge on the electronic scale and the safety scale. If I'm loading for test rounds. I set up the LPPM near what I'm looking for then trickle with the safety scale. ....just a side note here. It seems the Cabela's electronic scale has its good days and bad days. On the bad days, if I had half a mind, I could toss it into the next county. When I reload for the .40's. I use the Auto Disk loader, and have not a problem with it. Once I get it set....it stays within the +/- 0.1 gr...and it has been like that for a couple years now. I guess I should say I only use VihtaVuori powders....both for the .223 and the .40's. I probably don't measure as often as I should. I use a Lee Safety Scale and usually only measure when changing loads. I've checked it after 10 or so rounds... no change, checked it after 100 rounds, no change. I'm probably getting too lazy with it and should check more often, but it just keeps coming back in the right spot (with TAC powder). Then again, I'm using 24.5 grains of TAC for .223, which is a fairly moderate load, so even if it goes over or under a little, no harm done. Just don't tap the powder measure... had to pull 19 bullets several weeks ago because I was being stupid and tapping the measure... don't ask  At least I had the smarts to check the weight of powder in those rounds!
|
|
Who uses powder throwers to load 223?
Not using a powder measure to load .223 would be like using scissors to mow your grass! Even the cheap Lee PPM (which throws stick powders amazingly well) would do fine. When using a measure, develop a consistent technique. Another thing is not to worry about throwing a couple of tenths of a grain or so variation. You need to look at the PERCENTAGE of the total load weight that your variation is. 98% or so is so close that you can never tell the difference on target. |
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
If you use the safety scale every time, why do you bother at all with the electronic scale? Just checking them against each other?I just recently started using my "newly" purchased (well new as in about 3 months ago) Lee Perfect Powder Measure for loading my .223. I've noticed that it takes about 10 cases to get a consistency of +/-0.1 gr. Why, I just don't know. I'm pretty anal about my procedures, so I always check the charge using a electronic scale with the Cabela's name on it, then check it again with the Lee Safety Scale. If I'm doing just planking rounds once I go though my procedure of setup. I then check every 10th or so charge on the electronic scale and the safety scale. If I'm loading for test rounds. I set up the LPPM near what I'm looking for then trickle with the safety scale. ....just a side note here. It seems the Cabela's electronic scale has its good days and bad days. On the bad days, if I had half a mind, I could toss it into the next county. When I reload for the .40's. I use the Auto Disk loader, and have not a problem with it. Once I get it set....it stays within the +/- 0.1 gr...and it has been like that for a couple years now. I guess I should say I only use VihtaVuori powders....both for the .223 and the .40's. I probably don't measure as often as I should. I use a Lee Safety Scale and usually only measure when changing loads. I've checked it after 10 or so rounds... no change, checked it after 100 rounds, no change. I'm probably getting too lazy with it and should check more often, but it just keeps coming back in the right spot (with TAC powder). Then again, I'm using 24.5 grains of TAC for .223, which is a fairly moderate load, so even if it goes over or under a little, no harm done. Just don't tap the powder measure... had to pull 19 bullets several weeks ago because I was being stupid and tapping the measure... don't ask At least I had the smarts to check the weight of powder in those rounds!
Just double checking everything I guess. Time consuming no doubt, anal, really no doubt. |
Armory Sponsor