Hornady L-N-L Bench Rest Powder Dispenser Woes

[One78Shovel]

I have been loading with my Dillon 550B for years. Of course it has the auto powder dispenser and does well on most powders.

Buuut, I am reloading 30-06 for my M-1 Garand w/IMR4064 which the Dillon Auto powder dispenser does not meter well.

So I bought the Hornday LNL as it is reported to meter the IMR-4064 very well. I tried it and it was terrible. My weights were all over the map. Have drained the hopper and cleaning it again with the receommended One Shot then will try again.

I was doing the double tap up and down as required but nothing worked. Sometimes the handle operation was smooth then other times it was hanging on the upstroke and I just powered past.

Anyone have any suggestions I am not thinking of?

Thanks
-178S

[LGB Loader]

How much deviation are you having?
If it is only 1 or 2 tenths of a grain, don't worry if it is only blasting ammo. Any reason why you are using IMR 4064? A slower powder like IMR 4064 would not be my first choice to use for the M1 Garand. and I would stay away from higher register charges. they are not good for the M1 Garand's system.

If you are referring to the Hornady LNL powder measure, you really have to make sure that you clean the powder measure and then prime the PM in order to get a much better consistant powder throw.

Do you have a single stage? I only handload rifle on a single stage with the exception of my 223 REM blasting ammo for the the black rifles.

If you are making precision ammo, then I suggest you use your Uniflow or other powder throw and trickle charge to weight if your throw is not consistant enough.

You can also do this with Lee dippers as well.

I used dippers for years, then I got a Uniflow and trickler but still liked the dippers better since I could use the dipper to throw a large charge and then trickle with the dipper to a specific charge alot faster than I could with a Uniflow and trickler.

Enter the RCBS Chargemaster combo... I cannot say enough about this piece of equipment and scale combo.

Good Luck.

LGB

[One78Shovel]

How much deviation are you having?
If it is only 1 or 2 tenths of a grain, don't worry if it is only blasting ammo. Any reason why you are using IMR 4064? A slower powder like IMR 4064 would not be my first choice to use for the M1 Garand. and I would stay away from higher register charges. they are not good for the M1 Garand's system.

If you are referring to the Hornady LNL powder measure, you really have to make sure that you clean the powder measure and then prime the PM in order to get a much better consistant powder throw.

Do you have a single stage? I only handload rifle on a single stage with the exception of my 223 REM blasting ammo for the the black rifles.

If you are making precision ammo, then I suggest you use your Uniflow or other powder throw and trickle charge to weight if your throw is not consistant enough.

You can also do this with Lee dippers as well.

I used dippers for years, then I got a Uniflow and trickler but still liked the dippers better since I could use the dipper to throw a large charge and then trickle with the dipper to a specific charge alot faster than I could with a Uniflow and trickler.

Enter the RCBS Chargemaster combo... I cannot say enough about this piece of equipment and scale combo.

Good Luck.

LGB

LGB-
IMR 4064 is a very common powder for M1-Garand. I am loading to military spec. Also, it is a recommended load by NRA.

I am using my Dillon with just two stations. Sizing and bullet seat.

Started by tumbling brass. Apply lube, size and knock out primer. Trim cases then go back to the press to seat primers.

I'm get a swing from 46.8-47.2 grains with 47 grains being target. As I raise the handle it hits resistance halfway up and I have to apply pressure to pass the point. Then down swing is unobstructed.

Thanks
-178S

[LGB Loader]

LGB-
IMR 4064 is a very common powder for M1-Garand. I am loading to military spec.

That is a new one to me, my friend and I have been assembling ammo for my Garands for at least 2 decades. This was my first Military firearm.
Too slow a powder will result in too high a pressure in the system when the bullet clears the gas port. This could and usually does result in a bent op-rod.
IMR 4064 is great for heavier bullets but again, you run into the same above problem. The Garand should do it's best work using a 147-165 grain bullet. Flat base or boat tail will do while the boat tail will hold velocity better at extended ranges ( 500+).

I don't even want to argue with you about this and wish you well.

LGB

[One78Shovel]

That is a new one to me, my friend and I have been assembling ammo for my Garands for at least 2 decades. This was my first Military firearm.
Too slow a powder will result in too high a pressure in the system when the bullet clears the gas port. This could and usually does result in a bent op-rod.
IMR 4064 is great for heavier bullets but again, you run into the same above problem. The Garand should do it's best work using a 147-165 grain bullet. Flat base or boat tail will do while the boat tail will hold velocity better at extended ranges ( 500+).

I don't even want to argue with you about this and wish you well.

LGB

Thanks- No worries.

IMR-4064 has an adequate burn rate with ample data for reference. Hornady Sixth Edition uses IMR-4895 and IMR-4064 for their load data for the M1.

If you have the time you might find these links interesting.

Here's a link to the NRA M1 Garand load data for 147 grain to 180 grain bullets hosted on Master Po's site. As you have stated, the concern is gas port pressure - too much will over accelerate the oprod potentially damaging it or the heal of the receiver. Powders should be no faster than IMR3031 nor slower than IMR4064.
In military cases 47 grains of IMR4895 or 48 grains of IMR4064 should duplicate M2 Ball.

http://img202.imageshack.us/img202/2205/4064.jpg

http://masterpostemple.bravepages.com/M1load.htm

http://www.exteriorballistics.com/reloadbasics/gasgunreload.cfm

Best regards,
-178S

[LGB Loader]

178S,
Okay, I get it... You like Ortech's advice at Gunboards.com and alot of what he posts makes alot of sense just like the one you quoted per below.

Here is his post below dated 4-24-2010 @ 1227 AM.

Ordtech
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Here's a link to the NRA M1 Garand load data for 147 grain to 180 grain bullets hosted on Master Po's site. As others stated, the concern is gas port pressure - too much will over accelerate the oprod potentially damaging it or the heal of the receiver. Powders should be no faster than IMR3031 nor slower than IMR4064.
In military cases 47 grains of IMR4895 or 48 grains of IMR4064 should duplicate M2 Ball.

http://masterpostemple.bravepages.com/M1load.htm

I do wish that you would had stated that you are quoting someone else's experience/post and not writing your post as if you had the experience. I think that was misleading.

I also see that you are quoting Tenntex32 on this same thread.

Poot, my Hornady Sixth Edition shows that they used both IMR 4064 and IMR 4895 for 168gr and 178gr bullets for their M1 Garand data. They unfortunately did not list any IMR data for 150gr bullets but did list H4895 for 150 grainers at a max load of 46.4gr./2600fps. ... but then again I'm not a Garand guy.

The whole thread can be seen on this link for all the calgun spectators of this present thread.

http://forums.gunboards.com/showthread.php?169259-M1-Garand-reloading&p=1311807#post1311807

I am not saying that this is the case here but I have had alot of newbies try to school me on something they have no personal experience with and can only respond by quoting somebody else both on the web and in real life.

As I originally posted, IMR 4064 would not be my first choice. I'll stick to IMR4895, thank you very much.

I will not post anymore advice to you as you seem to have this under all under control but your original post (How do you make a powder measure drop consistant charges) does lead me to believe that you have alot to learn which, in turn, I was trying to help you with.

LGB

[One78Shovel]

LGB,
Not trying to stir a fuss here. Was just surprised you were not aware, as you mentioned in your earlier post, that IMR-4064 was not a 'common' powder for M-1 Garand.

Anyway, thanks for the welcomed advise.

Happy loading.

-178S

[LGB Loader]

IMR 4895 is alot more commonly used than IMR 4064. some people use IMR 4350 and would call that commonly used.

When I said in my prior post "That's news to me", guess I used poor choice in words. Yes, I know that people are using IMR 4060 and it is a great powder. I use it in my bolt action Rem 700 chambered in 308 WIN with 168 SMK's exclusively. I really get great results with this combo in this particular firrearm. I have about 5-6 pounds of it in my powder stock. But it is not the first powder I would choose for the M1 Garand. That is why I asked why you chose it. I understand that now that I have seen where you have found your info.

Some people post that they use Varget with great success or even IMR 4350. These would also not be the first powder I would try for the M1 Garand.

Good Luck with your search for a good pet load

LGB

[Justintoxicated]

I just got mine setup and right now I'm using the rifle meter for doing pistol. It tends to have about .1-.2 grain swing from my desired load. But then again I don't even have the right meter yet