When measuring powder for target shooting does a tenth of grain make any difference or am I just being too finicky?

About everyone will tell you how the benchresters just use powder throwers (once there set). My expensive BR 30 or somesuch with 2206 type powders will vary up to 0.5gr. every now and then, but that's me swinging off it, not a benchrester.

So apparently 1/10g. isn't going to make a difference, they reckon, but when I was shooting .223 to 900 yards I needed everything going for me, so I weighed exactly. (Also a good idea when using max. loads.)

These learned people here on AR go to great lengths re primer pocket burrs (heck I didn't know they had any), neck turning, runout checks, etc. and everything seems to need to be perfect. . . except the powder charge.
Figure me that one?
Anyway, I'm thinking if an error of 1/10th is OK, just where do you draw the line. Seeing I weigh anyway, why not get it spot on. It's not hard with a dribbler boys, and that gets rid of one possible error.

I agree, most scales are only accurate to 1/10 anyway. Case capacities vary more than that so it all sort of evens out.
BTW JAL, the reason for removing the burr, if there is one, is it makes the flash from the primer hit the powder charge evenly. Think of a garden hose on 1/2 stream & then put your hand over half of it, it bends the stream, sim. to the burr on the flash hole. I only bother on my target rounds not hunting ones.
A lot of guys spend a lot of time preping brass & such but it still comes down to the shooter/rifle 99% of the time. If the rifle isn't capable of 1/4moa then all the brass prep. in the book on't make it happen.

It depends on case capacity. One tenth grain will make a difference in a 17 Remington. It won't mean a hill of beans in a 338 Lapua Magnum.

A powder charge can be measured either by weight or by volume. The benchrest clan has found that measuring consistantly by volume yields smaller groups. But some smokeless gunpowders by virtue of their granule shape do not measure well.

Hummm...

I start a load by doing it with volume (Lyman 55 powder measure), and finish with weight (RCBS 10-10 scale and a powder trickler). My final weight is never less than my desired weight, and I limit it to no more than 0.1 grain over my desired weight.

When working-up loads I have seen as little as 0.2 grains make a difference, even in large cases.

Here in 1993 on this subject we can see assoc prof Bradshaw with his benchrest not agreeing with Bart Bobbit, the high power guy going to Camp Perry.

http://groups.google.com/group/rec.guns/browse_frm/thre...35f/6e196b706ddefc6f

quote:

Originally posted by fredj338:
I agree, most scales are only accurate to 1/10 anyway. Case capacities vary more than that so it all sort of evens out.
BTW JAL, the reason for removing the burr, if there is one, (etc.)

Thanks fredj338, having never noticed a burr, I assumed they (if any) would be standing into the case, therefore not impeading the flame of the primer ???

I've always assumed that the guarentee of +/- accuracy in most scales, is the ability to maintain that over the range of the SETTINGS, compared to check weights.

If so, I can't see why a good clean scale out of drafts etc. can't REPEAT it's indication within about a granual of powder. Mine certainly indicates the difference.

Therefore, if the indication is checked with quality clean check weights, and all else OK
I believe one could say the scale as then setup is accurate almost to reasonable perfection.
After all, it's consistancy we need, and if my rifle shoots best at what I think is 26gr of powder, and it's really 26.1 what do I care.

Where am I wrong, anyone?