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Hornady digital powder dispenser issues.

crazymonkey

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 12, 2022
Messages
701
Location
gilbert,Arizona
Having issues with my dispenser at a terrible time . It seems to throw charges at .5 to .7 over no matter what. The powder is 4831sc so it shouldn't be an issue. The dispenser was warmed up and calibrated as I always do before I load . It's on the slow setting and with it set for 58 gr I'm consistently getting 58.5 to 58.7 over charges . I've tried to re calibrate it and it doesn't seem to help .
 
Having issues with my dispenser at a terrible time . It seems to throw charges at .5 to .7 over no matter what. The powder is 4831sc so it shouldn't be an issue. The dispenser was warmed up and calibrated as I always do before I load . It's on the slow setting and with it set for 58 gr I'm consistently getting 58.5 to 58.7 over charges . I've tried to re calibrate it and it doesn't seem to help .
Contact Hornady for consult/recommendation.
 
Can you use a beam scale and thrower in the meantime? An electronic scale?
I could let it do it's thing then adjust the charge weight by pulling powder out. I've got till Wednesday to figure out a solution . I'm heading back up to help on a disabled youth elk hunt . Dan has his rifle setup with a camera for Aj to shoot . I was trying to stay light and in Dan's comfort level with cailber/ scope setup should he need to make a follow up shot for Aj. My 280ai is probably 9 lbs all in and my 7-08 is probably 16 lbs . I've got ammo loaded for the 7-08 so if I can't get it figured out I'll take the 7-08.
 
Having issues with my dispenser at a terrible time . It seems to throw charges at .5 to .7 over no matter what. The powder is 4831sc so it shouldn't be an issue. The dispenser was warmed up and calibrated as I always do before I load . It's on the slow setting and with it set for 58 gr I'm consistently getting 58.5 to 58.7 over
I think your problem is,it's not level.If the spout is tilted down hill just a little,it will dump a tad more powder after it stops, throwing an over charge.My fix for this problem was to shim the front two pads under the dispenser with printer paper strips until the dispenser tube is level or just a thickness of a sheet of paper uphill,until it quits throwning over charges.
charges . I've tried to re calibrate it and it doesn't seem to help .
 
Thanks guys I'm outa time to load for the 280ai so I'm going to bring my 7-08 . It's a heavy rifle but the barns ttsx at 140 gr shooting near 3100 should be enough for any elk . Just about double the Cary weight!! I'll try and figure it out in about two weeks when I'm back . Probably going to be another replacement from hornady this is the second one already.
 
Having issues with my dispenser at a terrible time . It seems to throw charges at .5 to .7 over no matter what. The powder is 4831sc so it shouldn't be an issue. The dispenser was warmed up and calibrated as I always do before I load . It's on the slow setting and with it set for 58 gr I'm consistently getting 58.5 to 58.7 over charges . I've tried to re calibrate it and it doesn't seem to help .
I have and use the Hornady Lock-n-Load powder dispenser or measurer which ever we call it, circa 2008 ish. I have exact issues as you stated, the longer it is on the worse it gets, even on the slow dispense setting and small case capacity charges are worse. Extremely frustrating and was (sometimes still) going to turn it into a pile of red Hornady dust. My mind set is that it is not working properly and if I broke it and caused it to really crap out I'm out nothing. My working solution is to literally pinch the dispenser tube between my index finger and thumb to slow the rpms, sometimes almost to a stop, it then slows down and goes into trickle mode. This happens usually about 10 rounds in and is why I have my loading short multiple loading sessions as to longer ones to help my frustration levels. I hope this helps you as dumb as this sounds. I've been loading for over 40 years and will not be without a self dispensing powder measurer. I had an rcbs prior to this one(Hornady was my late father-in-law) and I actually think I had fewer overthrows with the Hornady vs rcbs before it started acting goofy anyway. I have gotten use to this nuance and when I don't catch it(slow it down) in time I reset it with the enter button to re-weigh the charge and dump out 6-10 kernels to get what my desired charge weight. 3 kernels of H4350 or Varget is 1 10th of a grain as per Hornady said scale. May not be the answer you wanted to hear but this is a currently working solution to your exact problem. The only time I don't use the Hornady Lock-n-Load is when I'm loading for pistols with ball powders and then I use the old rcbs manual thrower and verify the charge on the Hornady scale. I apologize for the long answer.
I am going to replace it one day but I keep using it this way as described because I would rather put money into more components and keep shooting, as frustrating as it is.
All of this being said what powder dispenser does everyone use recommend? I'm not talking auto v trickles that cost more than our first pickups. This is based on good ole boy equipment operator wages. Y'all prefer red or green, I guess Lyman also?
 
Thanks guys I'm outa time to load for the 280ai so I'm going to bring my 7-08 . It's a heavy rifle but the barns ttsx at 140 gr shooting near 3100 should be enough for any elk . Just about double the Cary weight!! I'll try and figure it out in about two weeks when I'm back . Probably going to be another replacement from hornady this is the second one already.
Just to let you know that understand your frustration. In about 10 minutes I'm going to change out a scope for a mule deer hunt coming up on Monday, I have discovered that my Midas tac is not returning to zero while verifying my dope. The good news is that I have all of my dope and am staying with mil reticle. Good luck on your hunt.
 
I have and use the Hornady Lock-n-Load powder dispenser or measurer which ever we call it, circa 2008 ish. I have exact issues as you stated, the longer it is on the worse it gets, even on the slow dispense setting and small case capacity charges are worse. Extremely frustrating and was (sometimes still) going to turn it into a pile of red Hornady dust. My mind set is that it is not working properly and if I broke it and caused it to really crap out I'm out nothing. My working solution is to literally pinch the dispenser tube between my index finger and thumb to slow the rpms, sometimes almost to a stop, it then slows down and goes into trickle mode. This happens usually about 10 rounds in and is why I have my loading short multiple loading sessions as to longer ones to help my frustration levels. I hope this helps you as dumb as this sounds. I've been loading for over 40 years and will not be without a self dispensing powder measurer. I had an rcbs prior to this one(Hornady was my late father-in-law) and I actually think I had fewer overthrows with the Hornady vs rcbs before it started acting goofy anyway. I have gotten use to this nuance and when I don't catch it(slow it down) in time I reset it with the enter button to re-weigh the charge and dump out 6-10 kernels to get what my desired charge weight. 3 kernels of H4350 or Varget is 1 10th of a grain as per Hornady said scale. May not be the answer you wanted to hear but this is a currently working solution to your exact problem. The only time I don't use the Hornady Lock-n-Load is when I'm loading for pistols with ball powders and then I use the old rcbs manual thrower and verify the charge on the Hornady scale. I apologize for the long answer.
I am going to replace it one day but I keep using it this way as described because I would rather put money into more components and keep shooting, as frustrating as it is.
All of this being said what powder dispenser does everyone use recommend? I'm not talking auto v trickles that cost more than our first pickups. This is based on good ole boy equipment operator wages. Y'all prefer red or green, I guess Lyman also?
I use a Frankford Arsenal IntelliDropper. Works great and I am happy with it. After 2 years it decided to lockup and not drop the entire load. I tried everything to fix it. I made a call to Frankford and they sent me a new one in less than a week, no questions asked. For support alone I recommend them.
 
Just to let you know that understand your frustration. In about 10 minutes I'm going to change out a scope for a mule deer hunt coming up on Monday, I have discovered that my Midas tac is not returning to zero while verifying my dope. The good news is that I have all of my dope and am staying with mil reticle. Good luck on your hunt.
I hate it when stuff doesn't work! Good luck with your hunt. I'm just helping out on a youngsters first elk hunt . He's got some medical issues so his dad's rifle is setup for his son . I'm just bringing a just incase dad needs to make a finishing shot rifle .
 
Make sure you are setting the "slow down function" to 1.5gr or more--- it will slow down ahead and trickle up to your charge weight ( kind of) use the mc Donald's straw trick and set it .5gr under then trickle to your charge weight. I've had one for years and that's the only way I can get it to weigh correct charges (I heard rcbs is pretty much the same)
 
Having issues with my dispenser at a terrible time . It seems to throw charges at .5 to .7 over no matter what. The powder is 4831sc so it shouldn't be an issue. The dispenser was warmed up and calibrated as I always do before I load . It's on the slow setting and with it set for 58 gr I'm consistently getting 58.5 to 58.7 over charges . I've tried to re calibrate it and it doesn't seem to help .
Try the number two process, I have been using mine since 2010 and have never had issues after setting it to 0.8 before every loading session it will still throw a heavy weight once and a while but not very often and then only .1-.2 over YMMV but it's worked for me.
 

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