Custom loads question

[wingnut]

Thanks but sanity is long gone...

Who cares and "What, me worry?"

[Cofisher]

Alfred E Newman was a reloader?

[wingnut]

Yep. His forte was flat, smoked and/or punctured primers and separated case heads. Et tu, Brutus?

[Pitchman1968]

Hello RanchRoper, I am extremely careful about powder weight when reloading pistol cartridges (eg. .44 Mag) using less than 20 grains of powder because plus one grain can often exceed manuals' pressure guidelines. With those loads I use a balance beam to measure powder for each cartridge. Conversely, when loading higher volume cases (.30-06, .303 Savage, .308 and .45-70) I have found that plus or minus 1 grain of powder has little effect on velocity and accuracy. For example, with .45-70, my recipe calls for 33 grains of IMR 4198; with a specific level Lee Dipper full of 4198 I am consistently in 32-34 grain range. The Lee Dipper system significantly reduces the time required to charge cases and accuracy results are satisfactory.

[RanchRoper]

Thanks. I will be doing a lot of weighing and measuring before I send any lead down the barrel of either pistol or rifle.

The Lee auto drum powder measure comes with the press. Also a balance beam scale and I ordered a Frankford Arsenal digital one too. Will follow manual to the letter. My 1860 Henry is a toggle link action so no hot loads ever.

[BigAl52]

I think you will find RR that your auto measure might be off a tenth or 2 at times but I dont think you will be seeing that its off by a full grain or 2. Wingnut threw a couple of links at you for the RCBS auto measure. Those work real well. I have one and like it alot. It does save a bunch of time over throwing charges one at a time on a scale.

[RanchRoper]

This is the gizmo that comes with the press...gets mostly good reviews.

https://leeprecision.com/auto-drum-powder-measure.html

[wingnut]

This is the gizmo that comes with the press...gets mostly good reviews.

https://leeprecision.com/auto-drum-powder-measure.html

That will do fine to throw +-.2g charges for <=25g once it is calibrated. Its great for your near future requirements. Good practice/procedure demands that you confirm the weight about 1 of 10 throws.

[RanchRoper]

From the Hodgdon site for pistol ammo 45 Colt / 250 gr LRNFP / Hodgdon Universal powder.

starting load = 6.5 grs, 742 FPS
max load = 7.8 grs, 941 FPS

Will be interesting to see what the manual says. Regardless I will start low and work up over time. Will likely shoot first few in revolver to see how they perform compared to the factory I shoot now. Nerves of steel & cowboy up...

[Rifletom]

'so no hot loads ever'. Good move. Thinking 7.0-7.2gr Universal ought to work rather well. I have a feeling after you get comfortable doing this, you'll likely up-grade your beam scale. You have a very good start tho.

[RanchRoper]

Agreed.

[BigAl52]

Nerves of steel wont be needed because I already know the intelligence is there.

[clovishound]

I've had the auto drum measure for a while. It is a good powder measure IMO. You should have no trouble with it throwing within a couple tenths of a grain. Keep in mind it may take a dozen or so throws for it to settle down.

For pistol caliber loads that are not near max, I weigh the first dozen or so throws in a session. After that, I weigh every tenth throw, and check EVERY throw (weighed or not) with a powder check die. The powder check die will alert to a grossly over/under throw. I can pretty easily see a half a grain difference with it. You will find that some powders measure more consistently than others. I find that Universal meters quite well for me.

One word of caution with an electronic scale. If you place an empty case on the scale and tare it, then throw powder and weigh, be very careful if you dump a throw back in the hopper. You can easily forget to dump the throw, place the case now containing a full powder load on the scale, tare it, and then add another throw of powder. When you weigh, it will show the proper amount on the scale, but contain a double throw.

You can avoid this by using a pan, which is slower, or using a powder check die, which will catch your mistake. I've had a couple very unusual situations that were caught by my powder cop die. "Eyeballing" each and every throw is another acceptable method of QC. You may need to install a light to be able to see properly.

[RanchRoper]

Good info for sure. Thanks. Rest assured I will be the slowest reloader around for quite awhile. Double and triple check everything.

[JEBar]

one point to consider that runs a bit contrary to some .... when it comes to powder charges, unless you are loading maximum pressure loads, don't obsess over a few hundreds of a grain .... I used to .... my powder charges had to be exact .... over time I came to realize that a few hundredths over or under really makes on difference .... having said that and I do believe it, for hunting rounds I find I fall back on old habits .... not so for mid load range ammo

[RanchRoper]

I will go by the book for awhile. Thks

[JEBar]

absolutely .... as you should ..... time and experience will bring you to a point where you are very comfortable with your process .... the time will come when you look back and wonder what all the apprehension was about