Does anyone throw their powder for their rifles?

[BountyHunter]

Benchrest shooters throw every charge. However they usually use ball powder. The short cut powders should work well too. Consistency in operation of the powder measurer is a big factor.

Not anymore they don't, even in the short range game, more than a few are weighing every charge. Long range, you had better weigh every charge otherwise you are wasting your time, bullets and barrel!

We watched two top end SR shooters try the long range game and loaded at the match by throwing charges. They were not even remotely in the game as bullets were all over the target.

IF you are after max accuracy, weigh every charge to the .1 minimum.

 

[gohring3006]

I've used both methods and had good results with both I'm like everybody else I tested my thrown loads about every 10 loads or so now I'm a little more patient so I weigh my charges on a beam scale not sure if its more accurate but it makes me feel better about my longrange load testing...

 

[Canadian Bushman]

Not anymore they don't, even in the short range game, more than a few are weighing every charge. Long range, you had better weigh every charge otherwise you are wasting your time, bullets and barrel!

We watched two top end SR shooters try the long range game and loaded at the match by throwing charges. They were not even remotely in the game as bullets were all over the target.

IF you are after max accuracy, weigh every charge to the .1 minimum.

Thats the first hand experience and opinion i was looking for.

 

[7magcreedmoor]

I weigh everything, using my rcbs powder measure (with the baffle and the micrometer stem) set just a tiny bit light, and trickle to desired charge on my plain old fashioned balance beam scale (also rcbs). I tried digital scales when they were flavor of the month, but they drove me nuts with variation, drifting out of calibration two or three times during a batch. My balance beam doesn't drift (I kept all the check weights that came with the fancy gizmo scales) and out of curiosity when everybody and their brother was talking about how fast the all-in-one scale/dispensers are supposed to be, I ran a timer on a couple batches with my setup and found that I average 50 loads in cases in 25 minutes, each weighed, no estimating, no guessing. I don't need to be faster, and even if the gizmo were faster, I would have to wonder about that "calibration drift" problem...

 

[davkrat]

For long range loads where your velocity spread is the achilles heal I would absolutely suggest weighing every charge. I always do just because I'm anal about it. For short range paper punching it might not matter. As a test I once threw some charges without weighing them and went out and shot paper at 100 and I was still the limiting factor in the group size.

I have a couple hundred rounds of 110 grain VMax loads in .308 that I consider my plinking loads. I had some BLC-2 that didn't really work out for what I was hoping to use it for so I used the meter to throw all those charges. For rapid fire and blowing up milk jugs at 300 yards they are perfectly fine.

With reloading steel powders and shot charge for waterfowl hunting I have to load everything much like rifle loads. I picked up a digital scale for that purpose as weight 35 grains of powder followed by 500 plus grains of shot is impossible on a balance beam.

 

[Canadian Bushman]

I guess its fair to say the consensus among long range shooters is to weigh everything as close as possible?

I dont see any reason to burn componets doing any experiments.

I have a couple hundred rounds of 110 grain VMax loads in .308 that I consider my plinking loads. I had some BLC-2 that didn't really work out for what I was hoping to use it for so I used the meter to throw all those charges. For rapid fire and blowing up milk jugs at 300 yards they are perfectly fine.

BL-C is a spherical powder, and probably meters pretty good, correct?

 

[davkrat]

BL-C is a spherical powder, and probably meters pretty good, correct?

Yep, probably part of the reason I decided to throw it. Funny thing is last night I was throwing charges of H4831 for my ladder test and it was throwing those big long kernels extremely consistently. Funny when you aren't trying to throw the exact same weight it does. Mr Murphy I guess.

 

[bigngreen]

I throw under weight charges then trickle up everything, nothing I've seen would induce me to drop a charge straight into a case and think I'm going to do anything at long range with any solid results other than burning powder, bullets and time!

 

[Canadian Bushman]

Yep, probably part of the reason I decided to throw it. Funny thing is last night I was throwing charges of H4831 for my ladder test and it was throwing those big long kernels extremely consistently. Funny when you aren't trying to throw the exact same weight it does. Mr Murphy I guess.

Im a firm believer in murphy's law

 

[tulku]

I have not followed the BR Game in quite a while , so here's a Question for Bounty Hunter or anyone else who does . Since the BR Guys weigh every Charge , what are they using for a Scale ...... these days ? Standard Scales are only good to about +/- 0.1 Grains . I know there are Digitals that are supposed to do +/- 0.02 Grains and that Cost a few hundred Bucks . I'm not sure about what the Sartorius does or Costs . Just wondering what is currently available that does what it's advertised to do ?

 

[jlreff]

I use ramshot ball powder and throw my charges. have noticed little difference over the chronograph, or in the groups.

 

[villagelightsmith]

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't all factory loaded ammunition measured by thrown volume?
Can anybody with first hand knowledge give any confirmation?

 

[Chadp82]

I used to throw things. I got tired of patching walls and breaking windows.

 

[vmaxmike]

I was wondering if any of you guys are throwing your powder charges, and if so i was curious to the variance in weight of these charges and any opinions about throwing over weighing?

I've used a Redding BR throw for many years, my observations :

Some powders meter better than others, but .1 +/- is very achievable

Consistency in level of the column of powder and your technique in running the handle are of great importance.

If you're shooting competitively or at longer distances then IMO it warrants the extra time to throw light and then trickle to exact weights.

100yrd hunting or ammo for a gas guns I throw and then visually inspect the load block for obvious errors, then seat the bullets.

As is usually the case the quality of the tool (throw) will dictate your results.



M.