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Thread: Can't get my powder measure to stabilize

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  1. #11
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    Tapping may only be a partial solution to static cling in a poorly designed powder measure. Find some way to electrically ground the outer surface of its nylon body in order to bleed off any static charge.

    I was flabbergasted to discover Lee uses nylon for the body material in a powder measure. Absolutely flabbergasted!!
    When you can measure what you are speaking about, and express it in numbers, you know something about it; but when you cannot measure it, when you cannot express it in numbers, your knowledge is of a meagre and unsatisfactory kind. [Lord Kelvin]
    Last edited by niemi24s; 13th January 2018 at 20:39.


  2. #12
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    Some powders just don't meter well.
    My 45 load is a 230 gr. FMJ over 6.0 gr.s of Unique and a large pistol primer.
    I load this on a Dillion Square Deal.
    As The Unique doesn't meter well I have backed the amount back to 5.8.
    I'm getting pretty much the same results I want with a safe amount.
    Ran 550 rounds yesterday and checked on my scale every 25 or so, Charges ran 5.7 to 6.0

    Ball shaped power will meter more consistent than flake.
    Likes (1) :
    PolyKahr (14th January 2018)


  3. #13
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    Quote Originally Posted by PolyKahr View Post
    Well, I checked the drift of the scale, and it is zero. But you may be on to something with the theory of it being dry. Now, Raleigh, North Carolina will never be mistaken for dry like a desert environment. I have lived arid regions, and visited actual desert at Twenty Nine Palms, California. But I have noted that the problem indeed increases when the temperature is low, and the relative humidity drops to reasonable levels. Summers here are brutally hot, with very high humidity. However, lately we have had unusually cold weather, with quite low humidity. That would make Hawkmoon's idea of tapping the powder measure between drops a like solution.

    Wade
    Hi Wade,
    The discussion about heat and humidity brings this to mind:
    I too live in N.C. and have to deal with the heat and humidity. I also use the FA digital scale to verify charge weights. One thing I notice is that when the heat or A/C runs upstairs in my reloading room, the FA scale drifts about .1 to .2 grains...I have to either wait for the unit to stop or go shut it off.
    On the question about powder measures, I use 2 RCBS Uniflow measures that are 25+ years old and have no issues with ball pistol powder or even Unique for that matter. One is mounted to a progressive press and the other is just bench mounted. Mind you that these measures are not set up for or are any good for extruded rifle powder...they are devoted to pistol reloading.
    Maybe something to consider?
    Beauty is skin deep but ugly goes right to the bone.
    Likes (1) :
    PolyKahr (14th January 2018)


  4. #14
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    One possibility that hasn’t been thrown in the mix yet with electronic scales is interference from fluorescent or CFL lighting that can through off the readings.
    NRA Benefactor Life Member, GOA Member, MGO Member

  5. #15
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    I have two electronic powder scales. I haven't used either one for more than ten years. I use a Lee balance scale, and a Dillon Precision balance scale.

    But ... I'm an analog person living in a digital world. I also have a digital caliper, but I use old-fashioned dial calipers.
    Hawkmoon
    On a good day, can hit the broad side of a barn ... from the inside
    Last edited by Hawkmoon; 14th January 2018 at 13:03.


  6. #16
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    So, my reloading bench is in an area illuminated by fluorescent lights. However, I don't know what the relationship between erratic readings on FA scales.

    Wade

  7. #17
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    I've been using the Lee Perfect Powder measure for a few years now and always thought it to be very consistent from 38 special up to 45-70. I do use the "tap" method both loading and dispensing. I was actually impressed with how consistent it measures small pistol charges.
    Last edited by 1911end; 14th January 2018 at 19:16.


  8. #18
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    Quote Originally Posted by PolyKahr View Post
    So, my reloading bench is in an area illuminated by fluorescent lights. However, I don't know what the relationship between erratic readings on FA scales.

    Wade
    Apparently the electric and magnetic fields from the fluorescent lights can introduce noise into the scales electronics. It would be interesting to see if the throws vary as much using a beam. I keep both on my bench but the Redding beam is what I depend on.
    NRA Benefactor Life Member, GOA Member, MGO Member

  9. #19
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    Quote Originally Posted by PolyKahr View Post
    Hawkmoon, I am using a Lee Perfect Powder Measure. So the Autodisk is apparently a superior system? W231 is one of the best in terms of producing consistent powder drops from the Perfect Powder Measure. AA #5 can be finicky, as can Tite Group. CFEPistol is fairly consistent as well, but finding loads for .38 Super, 130 gr FMJ bullets can be tricky. 125 gr is more common, but the original loading was for 130 gr.
    All those powders are notably consistent in my Dillon measures and my PACT scale is stable if left on and warm. The PACT seems not affected by fluorescent lighting, but I cannot weigh on it while my Dillon casefeeder motor is running nearby.
    The gram weights furnished for calibration are a lot heavier than any pistol component. I calibrate with them because that is how the scale is programmed, but
    I have check weights of realistic sizes. A 4.2 gr and a 49.9 gr.

    I tried a Lee Perfect for a while and did not get good performance... so I gave it to a loader who uses it to measure buffer.

    The Lee Safety Disk - like an Autodisk with manual operation - was better, if it had a cavity that gave what I wanted.
    Last edited by Jim Watson; 15th January 2018 at 11:23.


  10. #20
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    Quote Originally Posted by Jim Watson View Post
    All those powders are notably consistent in my Dillon measures and my PACT scale is stable if left on and warm. The PACT seems not affected by fluorescent lighting, but I cannot weigh on it while my Dillon casefeeder motor is running nearby.
    The gram weights furnished for calibration are a lot heavier than any pistol component. I calibrate with them because that is how the scale is programmed, but
    I have check weights of realistic sizes. A 4.2 gr and a 49.9 gr.

    I tried a Lee Perfect for a while and did not get good performance... so I gave it to a loader who uses it to measure buffer.

    The Lee Safety Disk - like an Autodisk with manual operation - was better, if it had a cavity that gave what I wanted.

    Drilling out a smaller hole has been the typical solution to 'disk' style measures when load adjustment was required.

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