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Posted: 5/29/2012 5:17:35 AM EDT
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I loaded up my second batch of .223 yesterday(only my second batch of anything ever).
I cleaned up my powder measure with the gun cleaner/dry lube after the last time and everything was ready to go. My last time I hadn't cleaned it with the dry lube and I was also working up many different loads to get an idea of what worked best in my gun. This time though I wanted consistent powder drops since the 120 rounds were all gonna be the same. It would drop consistently and then it would start going off, sometimes by more than .5 grains. One grain in either direction wasn't a big deal for me but when it goes from 23.2 to 23.8 that isn't cool. I could feel a resistance when I turned the handle every so often, like the powder was really coarse or something and catching on the internals. I tightened the locking nut/washer down on the meter but it didn't seem to matter. Suggestions? I've heard this is a really nice measure so I figure it's something i'm doing, or not doing Thanks Paul |
| I think powder is getting stuck in between the slide. I had the same problem with my rcbs. I ended up taking my lyman spray lube and barely shot it to provide some lube to it worked it a few times and another small shot. Ive never had a problem since never had powder stick in the measure |
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if this is a new powder measure the best thing to do is run 1lb of powder through it. when mine was new it was a little erratic.
one thing i can say the has a big effect on the repeatability of the charge is the same exact rhythm. if you bounce/tap at the top and bottom of the throw it will throw more if you just ease to a stop top and bottom it throws less. you have to get a smooth consistent rhythm. is this on a progressive? or are you just throwing the charges from a stand? |
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Are your cases clean and free of sizing lube? When I first got started with my Dillon 650, I was having inconsistent drops using H335. The short version of the story was that I did not tumble clean my brass, after resizing. When I went to drop powder, lube was starting to gum up the powder funnel, causing inconsistent drops. Just a thought…
Respectfully, Matthew A. Roddy |
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With ball powder, you should have NO variation in charges.
Check your mounting, any play in the way it's mounted will throw it off, bench too. If you load the powder ,then seat the bullet, you'll get a vibration that will settle the powder differently. Try throwing the powder charges on 50 or so, and check, that's what loading blocks are for. And make sure there's no static cling, if so, use a dryer sheet and rub the plastic. 'Borg |
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Have two Hornady drops. One set for pistol on AP. The other mounted by Classic press. Neither are what I consider to be BR grade. Drop set for rifle is set 1 grain over charge on 40+ grain charge weights. I then drop my charge into pan that's benn zeroed on pharmaceutical grade scale which measures within 2/10th of 1/10th a grain, .02. Afterwards I pinch off top and trickle to within .5. Scale has .02 repeatability, it's dead nut accurates.
Scale has nothing to do with your issue except. I have noticed Hornady measure to drop powders like IMR-4064 & Reloder 15 to within +/- .05 for total of 1 grain spread. Measure equipped with pistol rotor drops to a spread of 3/10ths with powders like Titegroup. Numbers quoted are not random measurements either. When I set up it's methodical through 10 or more consecutive drops, dropped exactly the same. Measured then recorded and averaged. I shut down twice in each hundred round run to check powder charge weights. Method reflects numbers given. First thing I do with a new drop is wash every part in hot, soapy dish water. Wipe dry all parts and spray metal parts with brake cleaner. Might sound OCD but I've averted some disasters with method. Last year I had styrofoam off lid seal get caught and slowly choke drum off. Just a small piece is all it took. Caught it in charge weight check. Charges were slowly cut a few tenths at first to almost half when check weighed. |
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That's what really hot, soapy dishwater gets rid of. Static. Only needs to be done once. Afterwards just wipe powder tube inside/out with dryer sheets.
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I've cleaned everything with the gun cleaner/dry lube but I do notice a fair amount of static cling. Can that throw off powder drops? Thanks Paul |
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Quoted: Quoted: What kind of powder? I have trouble with stick powders in mine, even ones cut as small as Varget. -Deke H335. Not sure what kind of powder it is OK, so it's not the powder. The next question is do you have a powder baffel in the measure? I also find that with ball powders that i need to tap on the side of the measure gently with a screw driver handle to get the powder to settle some before it measures consistent. -Deke |
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What kind of powder? I have trouble with stick powders in mine, even ones cut as small as Varget. -Deke H335. Not sure what kind of powder it is OK, so it's not the powder. The next question is do you have a powder baffel in the measure? I also find that with ball powders that i need to tap on the side of the measure gently with a screw driver handle to get the powder to settle some before it measures consistent. -Deke I am using a baffle. I wasn't the first time but this last time I did |
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Quoted: if this is a new powder measure the best thing to do is run 1lb of powder through it. when mine was new it was a little erratic. one thing i can say the has a big effect on the repeatability of the charge is the same exact rhythm. if you bounce/tap at the top and bottom of the throw it will throw more if you just ease to a stop top and bottom it throws less. you have to get a smooth consistent rhythm. is this on a progressive? or are you just throwing the charges from a stand?  Only thing I can add to this is to dump powder in hopper and tap on side of the hopper with your finger. This will settle the powder, which you can see. If you don't do this simple step first, you will get poor results. A properly operating Hornady PM will drop exact charges with ball powder, H-335. Practice until you can do this. Use the techniques in BigDawgs post. It's a learning thing. The only way you will learn is to practice. Good luck.
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Quoted: I will typically throw 10 charges and dump them back into the reservoir before I weigh the charge to check for accuracy after filling it up. Probably does the same thing as tapping the side but that is how I was taught and it works for me. Same idea, different method. Settles the powder. |
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My Lee measures never would run right when new until washed. Left to dry and run a continous dump running powder from loaded can to empty can. Some guys completly polish metal hopper and claim it helps. Am running one Hornady hopper polished, the other not. Both work the same inconsistencies.
I will back the others up. If you want consistancy do as others have suggested. Hornady offsets charge well. Why ? Don't know. Shouldn't be that way to my thinking but since ot is offset. Tapping to fill void from offset is neccesary. I sat beside Willy who works Graf & Sons tech desk at vendor table last week. Willy's a lot of fun. Willy says he's thought for years mounting a very small motor with off set shaft like tumblers have would create enough vibration to settle powder. He's never tried but says a clever guy could figure it out easily. |
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Hornady ships the powder measure parts with an anti-rust coating. Failure to remove it entirely before using results in the same description of symptoms. Call Hornady or check their channel on youtube. They devote one episode to cleaning the powder measure prior to use.
If you wish to run a powder through it to settle it down (after throughly cleaning), use Alliant's Promo. Its the best of the bunch for this, in my experience. Reason is graphite and Promo is loaded with it. Promo is a fast burning powder for 12ga shotsells (equivalent to Red Dot by speed & weight, not by volume). Nice bench you have there, df3. Do you not have the baffle or do not use it? |
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Quoted: Hornady ships the powder measure parts with an anti-rust coating. Failure to remove it entirely before using results in the same description of symptoms. Call Hornady or check their channel on youtube. They devote one episode to cleaning the powder measure prior to use. If you wish to run a powder through it to settle it down (after throughly cleaning), use Alliant's Promo. Its the best of the bunch for this, in my experience. Reason is graphite and Promo is loaded with it. Promo is a fast burning powder for 12ga shotsells (equivalent to Red Dot by speed & weight, not by volume). Nice bench you have there, df3. Do you not have the baffle or do not use it? The Hornady measure does have a baffle. Not visible in that pic.  I made the one for my Redding.
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