Here are the statistical results of A little experiment I conducted this morning.

I took three different old loads that I worked up by weighing the powder.

I used a Lee Perfect Powder measure.

The powders I used for this experiment were Reloader 7 (7.62x39 cartridge), H414 (30-06) and IMR 4350 (300 wm).

I then set the powder measure as near to the desired load as possible and threw 50 powder charges, weighing each one and recording the weight on my RCBS 505 powder scale.

The purpose was to:

1. See how consistant the Lee powder measure is.
2. See how consistant I am
3. See the differnece between large grain and small grain powders when measured by volume
4. See if measuring by volume would keep me reasonably close to +/- .1 grain, or .2 grains total range of weight, which I believe can affect accuracy with these loads.

It was no suprise that Reloader 7 and H414 metered pretty well when compared to IMR 4350.
What did suprise me, the Lee Perfect Powder Measure did not bind once while I was testing IMR 4350. I detected no "cut grains" occuring during the process.

I still have the raw data available for those who wish to see it, but it isn't posted in the link.

Uh Oh.... It's a good thing I don't do proof reading for a career... I forgot to give you the desired load information.

Reloader 7 = 27 grs.
H414 = 56 grs.
IMR 4350 = 70 grs

Sorry for the ommission.

Mike, Don't know if it just me but, can't get the link to open!

All I get is 'page not found.'

quote:

I detected no "cut grains" occuring during the process.

There is a reason for that: The Lee measure is manufactured with a wiper for an edge, not a solid edge that cuts. That is its claim to fame, and some of its downfall.

quote:

Originally posted by smedley:
Mike, Don't know if it just me but, can't get the link to open!

Thanks for the heads up on that.... I have it posted in my Yahoo Briefcase. I don't have another place to post it.

I could e-mail a copy to anyone who requests it. It's on a Microsoft Word Document.

Has anyone been able to access it and read it?

I am a weight kinda guy.

I know "all the benchresters throw volume charges blah blah blah."

But I am very anal about my charges. I use a jewelers scale (accurate to the hundredths of a grain [x.00gr], not tenths [x.1gr]) and a pair of tweezers (each kernel of rifle powder ranges b/w .03 and .05gr).

I use one of those Harrel "super duper extremely accurate yada yada yada" Premium Culver Measure powder dispensers to throw the initial charge and then top it off. They're pretty good, though only accurate to +/- .1gr (i.e. the same accuracy of common digital scales).

Does it work? I guess so. Usually my loads deviate around +/- 7fps or so over 5-7 shot strings.

I know I don't need to do all this crazy shit as I only hunt and don't benchrest. I also know I don't need to neck size only w/o using an expander ball.

But what the hell, I got nothing better to do.

With all the variables which are not easily controlled, it seems like weighing the powder charge is one of the easiest variables to control.

I'm a weigh-er, too.

Add me to the weighers list....every charge every time. Heck, I don't know what all the fuss is about. It doesn't take that much more time to weigh and trickle each one. BUT, I'm just a hunter and don't go through that many rounds/year.

FMC, that's beyond anal my friend. Unless you are shooting very small charges of powder, your loads will not detect a 0.1gr diff. Put the tweezers down & step away from the jewelers scale.

quote:

Originally posted by fredj338:
FMC, that's beyond anal my friend. Unless you are shooting very small charges of powder, your loads will not detect a 0.1gr diff. Put the tweezers down & step away from the jewelers scale.

As a matter of fact when you're throwing powder charges over 75 grains, +/- .5 grains don't mean squat!!!

I weigh my hunting loads to WN +/-.2 or .3 grains as I don't actually shoot thousands of big game stuff a year....the 223 and 22-250 stuff is always ball powder and meters extremely well....weigh it to insure it's right and again every 20 rounds or so....

After playing with a number of calibers, I find volume will make more consistent loads when changing lots of powder than weight. I think this is why benchresters load by volume. They find a load that works, then return to that measure setting, no matter what the weight is the change in lots yields near the same velocity. Vapodog is right, weighing every charge will just wear out the knife edges on your scale faster and gain you somewhere between little and nothing. Try changin lots of powder and load some by volume of your proven load and some by weight. I think you may be surprised at the result.

You are probably right Vapo. Still, I weigh my charges on an elec. scale & am happy w/ 0.2gr for 45gr volumns & up. The idea of tweezers & a jewelers scale makes my good eye hurt.

quote:

Originally posted by Slatts:
Add me to the weighers list....every charge every time. Heck, I don't know what all the fuss is about. It doesn't take that much more time to weigh and trickle each one. BUT, I'm just a hunter and don't go through that many rounds/year.

Second this motion!!!