Powder measuring and dispensing

[Hunt]

Finally getting it all together for my first reloads got the dies figured out so that is good news. Need advice on a good reliable powder measuring and dispensing system for single center fire rifle cases. Cheapy Lee beam scale doesn't make the cut for me.

[Munk]

Get yourself a powder measure. You dial it in to what you want, throw the charge into the scale's tray, and if it's within .2 to .4 grns, your rifle won't notice (so long as it's bigger than a .223).

You could also just use a trickler that's got a screw feed.

Or lay out the massive cash (about 300) for an electronic/automatic powder thrower with a built in electric scale that always throws to within .2 grains.

[rjf]

How does a beam scale not work? Be aware of drafts causing the balance to not settle out.

[Stryfe76]

My Lee Safety Scale was super touchy, if I breathed or moved too fast within a few feet of it it would start swaying up and down. I got tired of holding my breath and trying to measure in slow motion like a ninja and replaced it with an electronic scale.

[CSACANNONEER]

My Lee Safety Scale was super touchy, if I breathed or moved too fast within a few feet of it it would start swaying up and down. I got tired of holding my breath and trying to measure in slow motion like a ninja and replaced it with an electronic scale.

If you electronic balance is not sensitive enough to pick up small breezes caused by movements or breathing, I'd look for one that does. Electronic balances will also give faulty reads if hooked up to 110V without a UPS or if there are any other electonics, phones, cel phones, etc. in the immidiate area.

[Fjold]

I have an RCBS chargemaster combo plugged into a UPS and it is very quick and accurate. But for over 25 years I just threw charges with a RCBS Uniflow measure into the pan of my 5-0-5 scale and trickled in the rest of the charge.

[Low-Pressure]

I've been happy with my RCBS Rangemaster 750 Scale and Hornady Lock-N-Load Powder Measure.

[Stryfe76]

If you electronic balance is not sensitive enough to pick up small breezes caused by movements or breathing, I'd look for one that does. Electronic balances will also give faulty reads if hooked up to 110V without a UPS or if there are any other electonics, phones, cel phones, etc. in the immidiate area.

The electronic will start jumping around if my face is about a foot from it or if I have a breeze or fan blowing near, but if I'm moving 2-3' away it doesn't jump around and take 5min to settle like my beam did.

[Hunt]

My Lee Safety Scale was super touchy, if I breathed or moved too fast within a few feet of it it would start swaying up and down. I got tired of holding my breath and trying to measure in slow motion like a ninja and replaced it with an electronic scale.

yes exactly will gladly pay more for faster way to do things

[Hunt]

If you electronic balance is not sensitive enough to pick up small breezes caused by movements or breathing, I'd look for one that does. Electronic balances will also give faulty reads if hooked up to 110V without a UPS or if there are any other electonics, phones, cel phones, etc. in the immidiate area.

what is a UPS

[bumpo628]

what is a UPS

Uninterruptible Power Supply

Basically a rechargeable battery that people usually use to power a computer in case the power goes out. It gives them time to shut down and save instead of losing their work in progress. Some higher end units regulate the incoming power (filter out high and low voltage) and eliminate 'noise'. Apparently some electronic scales suffer when subjected to dirty power.

[GeoffLinder]

Never own just an electronic scale, start with a good beam balance, add electronic later. RCBS, Midway, or Dillon beam balances all work fine, forget the Lee scale. Get a set of check weights too, nice to know your scales meet some form of calibration, hopefully they even agree with each other

Redding and RCBS manual powder measures are what I am familiar with and both throw reliably and as accurately as I need them to.

[Switchbarrel]

Powder charges

Finally getting it all together for my first reloads got the dies figured out so that is good news. Need advice on a good reliable powder measuring and dispensing system for single center fire rifle cases. Cheapy Lee beam scale doesn't make the cut for me.

I'd never go back to a balance beam after getting and using my PACT scale/dispenser combo. If you're worried about loading during a power outage, get a digital scale that has both AC/Battery capability (there's a few). Much faster and less tedious.

http://www.6mmbr.com/powderdispensers01.html

Old test but still good info.

-or, a lot of short range benchrest shooters use one of these with a scale to confirm charges - this is a very fast way of throwing charges. You just have to be consistent and some powders work better than others.

http://www.harrellsprec.com/online_store.html

-Rick

[ireload]

The electronic will start jumping around if my face is about a foot from it or if I have a breeze or fan blowing near, but if I'm moving 2-3' away it doesn't jump around and take 5min to settle like my beam did.

I had a PACT electronic scale a few years back. It was touchy as well. I got around that by wearing a respirator and the fluorescent lamp I use above my bench also threw off the reading (eratic). Yes my wife dubed the garage "the drug lab". I wound up ditching the electronics and used my 5-0-5 scale more.

[SixPointEight]

If you electronic balance is not sensitive enough to pick up small breezes caused by movements or breathing, I'd look for one that does. Electronic balances will also give faulty reads if hooked up to 110V without a UPS or if there are any other electonics, phones, cel phones, etc. in the immidiate area.

I've heard they can also be picky about fluorescent lights? True or not IDK because I don't have one.

ETA: lol, the post above me says it too