problems with a precise electronic scale

[wildcat westerner]

Hello Tricky,

Yes, weighing primers might seem ridiculous, however when you add up all the little things that are virtually meaningless when trying to shoot extremely accurate groups at 1,000 yards from a concrete benchrest, little things like this, when added up in total can mean the most significant portion, in the long run.

I did note seeing a shooter on the website Accurate Shooter directly throw charges into cases and fire five shots from a .284 and have less than ten fps difference. That feat absolutely floored me.

Gene S.

 

[Trickymissfit]

Hello Tricky,

Yes, weighing primers might seem ridiculous, however when you add up all the little things that are virtually meaningless when trying to shoot extremely accurate groups at 1,000 yards from a concrete benchrest, little things like this, when added up in total can mean the most significant portion, in the long run.

I did note seeing a shooter on the website Accurate Shooter directly throw charges into cases and fire five shots from a .284 and have less than ten fps difference. That feat absolutely floored me.

Gene S.

I've gone so far as to shoot the same case (indexed) to try and wring the very last bit of performance.

I can also tell right up front (as I was right there) that the U.S. Military reserve service rifle champion used an open sighted M14 rifle in 7.62x51 with a national match chamber and peep sights. They used a Forster Co-Ax press with Forster N.M. dies. Bullets were pulled via Forster bullet puller. Powder was thrown via a Lyman #55 with the Sinclair bottle adapter and baffle. Otherwise stock. Cases were Lake City N.M. that were selected out of hundreds of once fired (literally thousands) brass. Bullets were as pulled (we didn't know how to select them). Primers were Federal match. I really don't remember what powder we used, but seems like it was from Accurate. Thing is that there was nothing really special, but very basic ideas done right. Ralph shot 6" groups (by my eyes) with open sights. Of course we all know that was the shooter even though he had some pretty good ammo and a superb rifle.
gary

 

[rcoody]

Hello Tricky,

Yes, weighing primers might seem ridiculous, however when you add up all the little things that are virtually meaningless when trying to shoot extremely accurate groups at 1,000 yards from a concrete benchrest, little things like this, when added up in total can mean the most significant portion, in the long run.

I did note seeing a shooter on the website Accurate Shooter directly throw charges into cases and fire five shots from a .284 and have less than ten fps difference. That feat absolutely floored me.

Gene S.

I am always trying new things. For about the last 6 months it has been very accurate powder charges. That is accurate for me. previously I was using the chargemaster. I read that they were only accurate to 0.15 grains so I decided to check it. bought a jempro 250 and found out that was being generous. So I have 2 jempro 250s sitting side by side and I throw charges and trickle on one jempro and check on the other one. They both drift but as long as both agree I think I am good. I think I am weighing charges to the O.02 grains.

That said I am beginning to wonder if all this is necessary. If you do your ladders you can find accuracy nodes that are a couple of tenths of a grain or greater sometimes. With a quality powder thrower you can average in the 2 to 3 tenths of a grain in charge variation. I believe my next experiments will be in that direction.

 

[Bart B]

I've never done a ladder test; never had much faith in them.

A 3/10ths grain spread of IMR4895 under Sierra 155's in new cases produced half MOA accuracy at 600 yards in good match rifles.

Benchrest records through 300 yards are set with thrown charges having a 2/10ths grain spread in charge weights.

Exact charge weights are not critical for best accuracy through 700 yards.