Weighing finished rounds?

[chickenfried]

A while ago when I was looking into reloading, one of the things I wondered about was weighing the finished rounds to detect no powder or a double charge. Consensus seemed to be that this was a waste of time, due to variations in the weights of cases, bullets, and/or primers throwing off the weight as much as a double charge or squib would. But on a whim I tried it out today, all the rounds were within .7 of a grain from each other.

Thinking as a final step in reloading while watching a movie or game I'll weigh the finished rounds and check them in the case gauge. Already caught one with a burr on the rim with the case gauge. Just wondering what the more experienced reloaders think?

[Hans Gruber]

I'm not more experienced, but if you are genuinely worried about a double charge or empty case, I don't see the harm if you have the time. I guess this may be a good idea if you have a dodgy powder drop on your progressive and you don't have a powder level checker thingy.

[f4tweet]

Use an RCBS lock-out die. Problem solved. This is especially helpful when using low charges in large cases ala 7.0 gr of Titegroup in a 357 Magnum case. . The case could probably handle a double charge. Ask me how I know.

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=536792

[chickenfried]

I have a spot for a powder check. Currently the dillon is installed but I also have the rcbs. Yup being a nervous nelly. Have the powder check and still visually check for powder in the case before seating the bullet.

[phish]

I usually throw powder 50 cases at a time while they're in the tray and give them a glance. It's impossible to discern slight weight differences by sight alone, but can catch any egregious throws and re-throw the charge.

After 1000s of rounds, you eventually can tell when powder bridges and you get a short throw by sound alone.

[chickenfried]

Holy !@#$% look who popped in, Hey phish! I"m on a progressive so no trays for me

[phish]

Yeah, resurfaced after a loooooooooong hiatus, got a lot of spare time on my hands these days, lol.

[Mssr. Eleganté]

Yup being a nervous nelly. Have the powder check and still visually check for powder in the case before seating the bullet.

Are you still tapping the ground three times with your foot and turning in a circle after seating each bullet? If I recall correctly, that was really slowing you down last time you reloaded and only giving you slightly better results.

[Jonathan Doe]

For my long range rounds, I weigh the cartridge cases after I prep them. Then I use single stage loader to load my rounds. Every thing should be close to the same. I don't weigh the finished rounds.

[bruce_ventura]

Squib loads are my worse nightmare for my semi-auto rifle reloads. Lodging a bullet in the bore will definitely cause the receiver to blow up in your face. I need my eyes for work, would like to see my kids grow up, etc.

I always weigh my finished loads by putting 4-5 cartridges together on a balance (not a powder balance). They always weigh within 0.2 gram. Takes just a few minutes to check 50-80 rounds for a cross the course match. Cheap insurance.

That said, I dropped a firing pin on a squib load exactly one time. The primer made no apparent sound, and the bullet did not leave the case. Later I pulled the bullet. The inside of the case was dirty but contained no powder. That was the last time I accepted reloads from anyone.

[Spyduh]

I have a spot for a powder check. Currently the dillon is installed but I also have the rcbs. Yup being a nervous nelly. Have the powder check and still visually check for powder in the case before seating the bullet.

Thats exactly what I do and what every one should do every single time. The safer you are the less likely you'll have a KB.

[Mstnpete]

I use a Dillon 550. And I always visual check before sitting the bullet.
And helps to weigh the powder charge on the digital scale every now and then.

[Jonathan Doe]

I single load my rifle rounds. I measure powder on electronic scale for each case within .1 grain, and visually check it when I am done. Never had a problem.

[Voo]

Work smarter, not harder.

Lay them out in a tray and throw powder in each one. Once you're finished, you can visually inspect them at a glance. Anything out of sorts will be obvious as you can immediately compare them to the other rounds you have.

If you have the time and inclination, go right ahead and weigh the final product. I'd rather weigh each charge individually, 1 by 1, than to make them and THEN weigh them after the bullet after the fact. Seems horribly inefficient to repeatedly perform actions to the bullet when you can simply get it right on the very first pass.

[chickenfried]

I'm on a progressive so no trays for me. The way I see it the more safety checks in a routine the better. All it takes is one bad round to ruin your day. I guess my question is, is weighing the finished rounds an effective way of detecting a squib or double charge?