OCD and Powder Measures

[TexasJackKin]

[pacrat]

I had a Lyman 55 IIRC that had a weighted "flipper" on the front you could use to settle powder in the hopper. It was a POS IMO because the metering in the cavity was from the side using several sliding bars to regulate cavity capacity. That thing hated extruded "stick" powders. It "cut" powder on every load dropped. And would not drop consistant loads.

My favorite all time measure is the first one I got secondhanded from an estate sale in the early 70s. It is a Redding. Similar to an RCBS I had, but more accurate and does not require different STEMS for various load types.

"Technigue" is much more important to consistant load drops than a baffle of any type. Also makes it a PIA to change powders in the measure.

JM2c

[Mike402]

I consider myself very OCD and I use a Hornady bench rest dispenser. It is more accurate w/ ball powders than stick, as most are.

I use the baffle it came with, but in the end I don't concern myself w/ exact throws. I just set it to throw .1 grains below my target & trickle for exact charges. Works for me & satisfies my OCD requirements

[klewan]

Not OCD, the enemy of the perfect is good enough. Not that any OCD clown will understand what that means...

[8mmFMJ]

I use a Hornady hopper. It works decent. I'll fill it, shake the column, throw 3, set it, throw three, set it, once I get 3 exact weights I dont look back. I use long pencil lead powder almost exclusively.

[JTROKS]

I was loading for accuracy some 22-250 and 308 Win a couple of days ago. Powder measure is a RCBS w/ big powder hopper no baffle and large insert. Filled hopper to. 1/3 capacity to provide consistent downward pressure. Using spherical powder trying for 34.3 grains I get deviation of .6 grains. Sometimes on the money but most of the time +/- .3 grains. I ended adjusting below desired charge then trickle powder to desired weight. As I progress through there was no change in the deviation. After charging all my cases I dump the powder out of the measure to inspect for static sticking. It seems all is clean and no sticking. I'll have to make a baffle to check if that makes it any better. I'm not OCD I just want to get to low .2 or better with my 22-250 and .4 with my 308.

[2shotjoe]

Rcbs 1500 charge master, all the mods done.

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[Mike402]

Not OCD, the enemy of the perfect is good enough. Not that any OCD clown will understand what that means...

Never fails...there's always at least one douche in the bunch

[sofbak]

Never fails...there's always at least one douche in the bunch

I submit that you didn't "understand what that means."

the enemy of the perfect is good enough

Very good advice there for those with a minimum of wisdom or experience. You apparently don't qualifiy......

[Mike402]

I submit that you didn't "understand what that means."



Very good advice there for those with a minimum of wisdom or experience. You apparently don't qualifiy......

I understand the point that was made by quoting Voltaire, and how it applies to this thread. What I was criticizing was the obnoxiously arrogant way it was made.

[sofbak]

I understand the point that was made by quoting Voltaire, and how it applies to this thread. What I was criticizing was the obnoxiously arrogant way it was made.

OK. Much better........ I didn't see it as all that obnoxious or arrogant. Now, "Douche nozzle"?? Well that's close.

Now back to the OP....

without the baffle averaged 4.72 grains with a standard deviation of 0.0440 grains

With the powder baffle in place (and no adjustment to the powder measure) 10 throws averaged 4.69 grains with a standard deviation of 0.0432

Really?? A 2% gain in consistency for (presumably) pistol loads. My POA isn't consistent within 2% so no benefit for me. Not worth it on my bench.

[Mike402]

Now, "Douche nozzle"?? Well that's close..

Touche...that may have been a bit much.

[TexasJackKin]

Now back to the OP....

Really?? A 2% gain in consistency for (presumably) pistol loads. My POA isn't consistent within 2% so no benefit for me. Not worth it on my bench.[/QUOTE]

Yes, I (the OP) have got to agree. But it was an admittedly small sample size, and I just got a new digital scale...........

[sofbak]

Now back to the OP....

Really?? A 2% gain in consistency for (presumably) pistol loads. My POA isn't consistent within 2% so no benefit for me. Not worth it on my bench.

Yes, I (the OP) have got to agree. But it was an admittedly small sample size, and I just got a new digital scale...........[/QUOTE]

I pondered this baffle efficacy issue last night after an experience with AA#7, and may have realized what the baffle is supposed to do.

I was loading Ruger/TC only loads in .45 colt with the AA7, and this was only my second loading session with this powder. I started with the hopper about 3/4 full, and went to work on about 300 rounds.

Doing my normal QC protocol of checking each tenth round for charge weight, I began to notice about 2/3 of the way through, the charge weights were increasing. Not a lot, but a steady, slow creep upward in weight. Then I realized that the hopper was way low-less than 1/4 full.

I concluded that without the added weight of the powder in the hopper, the powder was flowing more freely into the charging meter. AA7 is a very fine granule-not much bigger than table salt.

So I had to wonder if that is the "real" purpose for baffles, to maintain a consistent charge regardless of the amount of powder in the hopper.