NFOA MEMBERS FORUM
General Categories => Help! => Topic started by: gsd on June 28, 2013, 08:40:36 AM
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Whats the best measure for stick style powder?
The Lee Perfect powder Measure I tried before didn't fare too well, weighing in at plus or minus 0.5 gr every measure without much consistency.
I'm getting tired of measuring out each load by hand.
Opinions? Experiences?
Much appreciated,
Dave
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What powder? I use the Perfect for 4064 and it is +- 0.1 after about 20 throws. In my experience with the Perfect, it is necessary to flick the handle after the throw. Not real hard just a light flick with your index finger. I also store the measure with a dryer sheet to prevent static from hanging the powder up.
From what I have read, you can't do much better than the Perfect for the long stick powders. I did not like the cheap plastic feeling of the Perfect, but after some research I decided to buy several and leave them set for each load. That saves more time than anything else. If you want cheap and consistent, short throw into the pan then trickle up. I think the only way you are going to throw problem powders exact is to spend the money on one of the automatic digital dispensers.
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For some stick powders my Lee PPM works well, but not for others. What's weird is H4895 and Varget are very similar powders, and it is usually within .1 grain for 4895 but varies a lot more wih Varget.
I only use Varget for precision loads, so what I do is set my powder drop to meter a few tenths light and then trickle up to the desired weight.
Flake powder is a whole different story.
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Another thing to bear in mind, that I had to learn the hard way. A cheap digital scale can cause you to think your powder measure is inconsistent. I started out with a cheap one and couldn't figure out why I had so much fluctuation. After I bought an RCBS 505 balance scale I found out that my measure was actually pretty good.
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Fair enough. I use a Frankford Arsenal digital scale and calibrate every time prior to loading.
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The Frankford Arsenal one is what I had all the trouble with. It would drift up and down by a few tenths.
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Seems you need to spend at least 100 to get a decent digital scale. I've compared several to my beam and they all seem to drift until you get up there in price.
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I have a Lee perfect powder measure. I get the same +/- .05 variation with stick powder also.
I bought a digital scale by Hornady. It seems to have a +/- .03 variation when I turn it on.
I think I also need to invest is a better model.