powder tenths, do they really matter

[mikeyr]

I am getting into reloading rifle for the first time, I have reloaded handgun since the mid 1970s.

So I got myself a 308 Win for xmas

I have a Dillon 650 and was planning on using that but my LGS said I would be better off handloading the 308 and weighing each charge since the Dillon powder drop will vary too much with IMR 4064.

I have done some tests and it does vary a few tenths, out of 50 drops, 1 was .3 heavy, 4 were .2 heavy, 6 were .1 over. On the low side, again I had one that was .3 light and 2 that were .2 light and 5 that were .1 light, that leaves 33 rounds that were perfect and since I am loading in the middle of the min/max range none were near being dangerous.

What do those tenths mean to accuracy ? I am still a "happy to get it in the 12 inch target at 100 yards" kind of guy and hope to get my shots much tighter soon but I just don't think those tenths make that much of a difference. do they ?

So I handloaded my first batch on a old single stage, that took forever !
I complained to my LGS about the time and he suggested instead of setting up the Dillon for 308, I should look into a RCSB Chargemaster combo to do my charge weighing and speed things up on the single stage. I am ok with that but I have had bad luck with digital scales being eratic and prefer my beam scale for weighing. I know some people complain about the speed of the Chargemaster but it has to be faster than dropping powder and then trickling up since while its doing the trickling, I can be loading the last round.

My real issue is I want to speed up my 308 loading but I know that as I get to be a better shot, weighing each charge individually might be the better way to go and the Chargemaster might be more useful down the road. I realize that for now, I believe (tell me if I am wrong) that the Dillon will still make ammo that is more accurate than I am, but that might change and I would prefer to spend the money only once.

I think I am ok with using the single stage because I wont be going through hundreds of rounds per range session on the 308 like I do my 9mm and 45LC handguns, so if the Chargemaster (or other brand) will speed things up AND BE ACCURATE on the powder drops, I am fine spending the extra small amount of money on the Chargemaster vs. converting the Dillon to 308. I just don't want to be sorry to have a Chargemaster sitting on my bench in a few months that I no longer use because I changed my mind and use the Dillon

[jericho89]

Tenths will make a difference, but probably not enough of a difference for most peoples shooting. As long as you are within the range you are safe. If you are trying to get into one hole then you will have issues with the variance. At 100 yards you will not see that much of a difference, and those rounds are probably more accurate that most shooters.

The real test is, since you already loaded up some rounds on the single stage, load some up on the progressive and compare them. See if you even notice a difference.

[Steelplate45]

The 'tenths' will prolly just

give you a small vertical spread.

For my pistols and AR, I use a 550. For my precision Rem 700, I use a Rockchucker single stage, and trickle load each charge.

[ghettojet]

For my semi auto rifles it wouldn't bother me. For bolt action I trickle to .02 of a grain. the Dillon powder measure is capable of dropping within .1 every time. It is suprisinglh accurate.

Saying that, and as someone who has a 550, 650 and 1050. I use a harrels powder drop and a dandy? Trickler with an electric scale for my bolt action rounds.

[MrElectric03]

For just plinking you won't notice a difference. If you are going for longer range accuracy then it's worth the time to get them uniform. I load my 308 on my rockchucker and trickle the powder. My 650 gets used for .223 and pistol rounds. Not that I don't trust the Dillon powder charge because I've found its very accurate but I don't need to make bolt action rifle rounds in bulk.

[M1NM]

Your Dillion will drop more consistant charges during production loading. Once you get going moving the handle the same each time causing the same vibrations and powder settling in the reservoir will improve consistancy.

[Beelzy]

It won't matter at all. Unless you are trying to put multiple shots into the same ragged hole.

[JMP]

I am getting into reloading rifle for the first time, I have reloaded handgun since the mid 1970s.

So I got myself a 308 Win for xmas

I have a Dillon 650 and was planning on using that but my LGS said I would be better off handloading the 308 and weighing each charge since the Dillon powder drop will vary too much with IMR 4064.

What do those tenths mean to accuracy ? I am still a "happy to get it in the 12 inch target at 100 yards" kind of guy and hope to get my shots much tighter soon but I just don't think those tenths make that much of a difference. do they ?

4064 is made up of medium sized sticks that will not meter precisely on a powder drop so it is generally weighed individually.

That said, if you are okay with 12" at 100 yards, it won't matter that much as long as you are in a safe range. It makes more importance with greater distance.

If you are shooting a modern bolt rifle, it is hard to put too much 4064 in a 308 case without compressing the load a bit.

[Pauliedad]

Find a load you like .5 away from max and go for it.
After all my rifle brass prep, I like super accurate in .308
I use my 650 for de cap and resize. Off to be trimmed, deburred, then wet tumbled.
Back into case feeder to prime. Then I use my two ChargeMasters to drop all the loads. Back into station 4 to seat, another pull for the very slightest of crimps, and Ta Da!
Very consistent ammo surprising quick.
Not as fast as what you're proposing but again, once I get into brass prep, I have different expectations.

[robert101]

I think you need another reliable source as your LGS person is a little off. I have the Dillon powder dropper on my 550B and it is very reliable to +-.1 with Varget, and most of the Alliant brands. Your progressive press will be fine for reloading the 308 Winchester

[SixPointEight]

If you shoot 12" groups at 100 yards, then you probably wouldn't see the difference between 41gr and 45gr, forget about tenths.

Buy the cheapest plinking bullets you can, load it over 42.X gr and come see us when you're shooting 3" groups or better and you're sure your ammo is holding you back

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G920A using Tapatalk

[stranded1980]

I love IMR 4064 for my bolt action rifles, it's all I use. However, I don't like being more than 3 tenths of a grain off, and I feel it meters terribly in the Dillon powder measure.

As a result, I still load my 270 Win & 303 Brit with a Dillon 550B, but in station 2, instead of using a powder measure, I use the Dillon AT-500 die with a funnel. I then use the RCBS Chargemaster to dispense and weigh the powder. Whenever I raise the ram, I stop and pour in the powder down the funnel. It would work for the Dillon 650 as well.

Here's the Dillon die: http://www.dillonprecision.com/#/con...500_Powder_Die

And here's the funnel:

http://www.dillonprecision.com/#/content/p/9/catid/3/pid/23633/Plastic_Funnel

The only slow part of the process is waiting for the RCBS Chargemaster to finish dispensing powder. In retrospect, I wish I bought 2 of them, to keep up with the Dillon. If I could do it all over again today, I'd probably buy 2 of the Lyman Gen 6 powder dispensers when they're on sale.

[MarkG35]

It depends what your trying to shoot.And if it matters to you.

They matter to me!

[tanks]

It depends on the load. For most rifle cartridges it won't make a difference. Example for one of my loads:
250gr bullet, 77gr H-4198 max. 2,935fps min 2,908 fps avg. 2,924 fps, avg. press. 51,951ps
250gr bullet, 78gr H-4198 max. 2,957fps min 2,926 fps avg. 2,945 fps, avg. press. 52,067

As you can see for the above cartridge a grain of powder makes only about 1% difference in velocity. A fraction of powder in tenths etc., is not going to make much of a difference in field performance.

Now, if you are going for a benchrest competition then that is a different ball game.

[mikeyr]

some clarification...I shoot within the 12" circle at 100 yards now, I certainly expect to get much much better and get within a inch or 2 as I practice. Heck, I can hit the target with my handgun at 100 yards. And yes, its a 308 bolt rifle that I got and I am loading for.