Loaded Ammo Weight

[kimbrel425@yahoo.com]

Just to make it clear, I don't currently have any loads in question. Just a curiosity question. Right now everything is slow and steady

[mjmagee67]

Just to reiterate I've seen 9mm case weight vary by 8 to 10 grains. My load is 3.3 to 3.4 grains. All weighing a finished round gives you is the weight of the finished round. It's not a QC. I've even seen case weight vary more than my charge weight in the same brand case.

[bluebird]

Just to make it clear, I don't currently have any loads in question. Just a curiosity question. Right now everything is slow and steady

I take that you have a Lee single stage?

Visual inspection is probably the quickest. It's very easy to spot a double charge.

If you ever decide to upgrade - Dillon XL650 has a powder checker which makes it rather foolproof (it even detects no charge).

As mentioned by everyone else already - weighing loaded rounds is a bad idea because there are variations with bullet and case weights. You *might* be able to do that with cartridges that uses a much higher charge weight but I wouldn't bet on it (plus I think for 223/556 - for example - you would already spill powder if you double charged).

I hope you understand that reasoning.

P.S. and don't bother with beam scales. They're stupid for reloading (imho).

[kimbrel425@yahoo.com]

I have a Lee Challenger and Classic Turret press

[TomReloaded]

Some, probably most, powders are impossible to double charge a 9mm case with. Many will spill over from being so full with a double, nevermind being able to actually seat a bullet.

It's better to use proper methods, checks, and pay attention though. Double charges tend to happen because someone is distracted or being very sloppy.

[PatC415]

Just sit high enough to peek down into the case after it's charged.
As suggested, load several rounds of the powder charge, to familiarize yourself with what to look for as far as case fill.
I use a Classic turret...love it.
Good luck, load safe!

[JackEllis]

I did this for the first 100 or so I loaded but...first I weighed all the primed cases and entered the numbers in a spreadsheet (iPad was helpful for this). Then I weighed the projectiles and entered those numbers. Then I charged a case, seated the bullet, weighed the completed cartridge and compared that value against the sum of case weight, bullet weight and powder weight. If you're going to use completed cartridge weights to double check yourself, you should do what I did, but it is a lot of extra work, especially if you're preparing hundreds of cartridges.

Once I fired those completed cartridges without injuring myself or anyone else, I moved on to assembling them without all the weighing. To make sure I don't forget something, I prime a batch of cases and insert them in a cartridge box bottom up so I can see that they're all primed. When I'm ready to charge, I transfer primed cases to a loading bloc, bottom down. Then I charge and seat a bullet one case at a time and put the completed cartridge into a cartridge box. I don't like having cases with powder and no bullet in a loading block because I can be klutzy and the last thing I want is to have almost half a pound of powder from .30-06 cases scattered all over my bench.

I know nothing about pistol cases but for the rifle calibers I load, it is impossible to double charge a case because they just can't hold that much. The bigger risk is seating a bullet in a case with NO powder.

[swift]

Figured this is where we would end up.

You pull them apart. If you have any doubt about the quality of your loads, you pull them apart. You don't take shortcuts. You don't guess. You don't try to outsmart yourself. You pull them apart.

You cannot weigh them. Too many variables for it to be even remotely accurate with pistol rounds.

I've done the experiment, weighing 50 9 mm cartridges to find the heaviest 10 and the lightest 10. Pulled the bullets and weighed separately the bullet, powder and the case (with primer). The powder weight range was pretty small (less than a grain) from min to max. The case and primer was a significant contributor to the weight differences.

This is what I expected, but I had some time and wanted to take a few measurements.

[stilly]

So how do I check loaded rounds to do make sure they aren't double charged? I like my hands too much not to ask ��

Okay time out. TIME THE **** OUT.

Do you have another account that you used to come in here and stink up the forum with some bull**** post about digital scales being all inaccurate and all compared to a beam scale?


I am just curious. Because you clearly have NOT read any books at this point.
the first section of any modern reloading manual where they talk about hmm, I dunno, their equipment and RELOADING...

Stop watching the ****ing you-tube videos and LEARN the SCIENCE behind the ART man... You are gonna **** yourself and others up if you keep charging ahead. I am glad you want to keep your fingers and ****, but this is NOT art class, this is DETONATING MINI 30k PSI charges near your face and living to tell about it class...

Had you read with any type of reading comprehension, ANY reloading manual, you would not have even asked this question.

I will answer it though. The short answer is- YOU DO NOT. You check your rounds BEFORE they are loaded. Loaded = bullet placed on top and crimped while primed case has powder in it.

Seriously man, reloading 101 = You resize, decap, reprime, flare, charge, seat and crimp. DONE

You should already have your powder dropper adjusted ahead of time to know what it is dropping. Double charge means you charged TWICE. You only do everything ONCE. The only thing you can do multiple times is resize, if you wanna resize that one shell 20 times, knock yourself out, and when you are done, prime, flare, charge and seat/crimp...

You SERIOUSLY need to have a sit down with an actual reloader and watch them make something.

I realize that I am getting ahead of myself a bit here and you are just asking questions, but I know that something is driving those questions so you best empty your pockets now and toss that **** you been making while waiting around for other things to show up on your doorstep. You can **** with clay and paint, but you do not **** with primers and powder when you do not yet have a decent understanding on what happens when a bumps fuzzies with b.

You been busted like the cat in the lingerie drawer...

Now here is what you can do before you are all up and running making full blown ammo with every 3rd or so pull on a turret:

Place shell in, decap/resize, prime the shell, flare, remove and WEIGH the shell, TARE it out with the shell on the digital scale. In my case I am using a Gemini Pro 20, then you put the shell back on the press, CHARGE it ONCE, take it off and weigh it. The weight SHOULD be the weight of your charge, if it is WAY off by not enough, you need to either trickle in more powder to bring you to what you want to be at or you dump it back in the tube and adjust the dropper to give you more powder. Likewise if it is too much, adjust the dropper for less and dump out the powder in the case, then charge the case again after it is empty and place it on the scale. Keep doing that until it is hitting your weight or where you want to be around. So if you are making some ladder 9mm, then you see using wst and 115gr pills you want 5.0gr of powder, then you can make some at 4.9 and then some at 5.1 and 5.3 and see what you like more and examine the shells. Looking good? Does 4.9 work as well, maybe you are happy with 5.1, 4.9 charges? Then you adjust for about 5.0 exactly and when your dropper goes over or under to 4.9 or 5.1 or ANYWHERE in between there you should be good.

Nobody but precision/match shooters will weigh their rounds after they have been completed. It serves no purpose unless you have some weird weight constraint or something.

There you have it, no go west young man and THOU SHALT READITH THINE BOOKS!

Oh **** I just read that you have a press already. Oh wow look the **** out, let me know when you go to the range that day because I want to bring a couch to hide behind...



Seriously though, you are at a point where you have equipment that can potentially kill you, at the very least shoot out yer eye, you need to grasp a full understanding on what is going on and how to handle what you are doing.

[jericho89]

Just remember no powder more dangerous than a double charge. Either way you use your eyes learn what a normal charge looks like and any that don't look right you weigh.

[rm1911]

So how do I check loaded rounds to do make sure they aren't double charged? I like my hands too much not to ask [emoji16]

One the advantages of progressive presses is it's really hard to double charge. In fact I'd argue it's pretty much impossible. Every stroke moves the round ahead one station. As long as the powder bar actuates you only get one charge.

The powder charge thingy on my Dillon square deal b is really accurate. I've loaded hundreds of rounds and checked it and it's never more than .1 off. Usually less.

As for single stage presses...well there are a couple of options. One, just charge then go right to seating the bullet. In other words, take a primed case and charge it then put it in the press and seat bullet. It's slower but it's pretty much guaranteed to not double charge. Two, use a loading block. Charge all the cases then set it down and inspect with a flashlight. Shouldn't take long. Also, use a powder that is hard to double charge without it being obvious. 9mm isn't too hard. 45 is tougher. 5-6 grains in 9 fills majority of case but not nearly half in 45.

Single stage loading pistol is slooooooow. I can't imagine doing it that way.

[kimbrel425@yahoo.com]

Stilly...don't get your panties all twisted. I've read plenty, watched videos, etc. Rather than just assume an answer to my question, I reached out. Don't be the typical dick head on a forum.

[stilly]

Stilly...don't get your panties all twisted. I've read plenty, watched videos, etc. Rather than just assume an answer to my question, I reached out. Don't be the typical dick head on a forum.

I am never a dick. In fact, I am one of the nicest guys you will ever get to know, if you ever are that lucky.

And if you read so much already then you should have known better than to ask that. I call them like I see them... Put down those comic books and graphic novels, Eugene didn't know **** about reloading or "manufacturing bullets" as he put it.

Now, I am going to go capture a few bell towers.

Have fun.

[kimbrel425@yahoo.com]

Comic books? Sure guy. You're so nice you had to explain how nice you think you are.

[robert101]

Well a couple of things. 1) Stilly does have a different way of explaining things but I've never read a post in which he is condescending. It is true he will take a little different approach. I enjoy reading his commentary. 2) OP, I understand your reason for asking the question and no fault to you for asking. I've asked many a simple question regarding this hobby and to many advanced loaders, I'm sure they thought it dumb.

So, all is good and it seems you have gotten the attention needed on the subject. Have a good day and enjoy this great hobby of ours.