I'm thinking of purchasing the Savage. One question I've got is......Is it still a volume measurement for powder? Or do I start weighing the charges?
Thanks
Ken

There are some powders that do reasonable well with Lee dippers but almost all of the powders suited for this rifle need to be weighed. You can not use a bp volume measure to load smokeless in the Savage MLer.

You can buy the lee scale really cheap.

Good Luck

Reloader

5744 is the only powder that really shines with Lee Dipper loads. Weighing is best, even for 5744.

The Lee dipper seemed to work pretty well for me with N120. You must do everything the same each time. You can come pretty close if you tap or tamp each load just the same. My rifle seems to shoot about the same with 57, 58 and 59 gr of N 120 and all to the same POI. The largest Lee dipper gives 57 and 1/2. So if I am off a bit it will not be the end of the world. If you just scoop and load you may have much more variance load to load. Weighing is the best way. For hunting I usually weigh and load into medicine vials from the local pharmacy. Then I have weighed charges all ready to go. It is most inconvenient to have to weigh each load at the range. Any wind throws my scale into a tizzy. If I am trying out new loads I just weigh all possible loads for trial out ahead of time. You have to have a bunch of vials though. I have found a load that works and I may not do too much more research on it. Good hunting.

quote:

Originally posted by D Hunter:
The Lee dipper seemed to work pretty well for me with N120.

What Lee Dipper are you using?

I bring a measure to the range and dump the powder from it to a funnel in the barrel. This works out ok with 5744. I only use it for the extra season. So far it's been reliable.

I recommend weighing the charges. I have a full set of Lee dippers, but the charge weight table is calibrated for the powders of yesteryear. The table says the #258 throws 42.5 gr SR 4759, but current SR 4759 charges from that dipper weigh just a tad over 44 grains.

I take charges in little tubes (came with the Savage Starter Kit I bought from Randy). I also have a small portable electronic scale. You have to be careful to warm it up before counting on it.

jim