Shiloh Rifle Forums

Hi all…seeking opinions!

On the thread regarding the Frankford Arsenal powder dispenser, a few posters touched on accuracy of measured charges. This got me to thinking…

Is black powder similar to smokeless powder in that the finer your resolution accuracy (consistency), the better off you are? Or, is there a level where finer and finer measurements of your powder charge no longer pay real dividends?

Obviously, we are assuming that the person assembling this ammunition has real skill at it and is not just slapping things together in a hurry. Precision ammunition in other words…

I used to drop and trickle my powder. I would use a pair of needle nose tweezers to drop individual grains of powder into the pan on an Ohaus 10-10 until I hit the exact weight I was looking for. It was painstaking and slow. Then I went to the Chargemaster to try and streamline things and it worked well.

Now I’ve switched to the Matchmaster and basically found it’s claim of .04 grain resolution to be accurate, plus it drops a little quicker which is nice.

Maybe using these dispensers isn’t the best way though. Opinions welcome!

Do it any way you want. You related to mdeland?

OMG

bobw wrote: ↑Fri Nov 05, 2021 8:45 am Do it any way you want. You related to mdeland?

Ok I’ll rephrase….

Is it worth it to spend time trying for utmost accuracy in measuring BP, or is it not that sensitive to small changes in weight?

Scoop 10 loads and weigh 10 loads and go shoot them and you will have your answer

I think you're worrying a little to much over powder charging. Having a good accurate powder throw is important, but.....improper sight alignment, stock weld, barrel/stick placement, breath control, grip purchase, atmospheric conditions, fouling management etc. are much more important than than a few tenths of a grain variance. Load a cartridge the best you can, and work on fundamentals of marksmanship and atmospheric reading. Might be surprised how your groups will shrink by doing this...not a few grains of powder. Just a thought.
Dennis

There's a thread in Black Powder about a load development article by Moritz that will answer your questions.

What Luke said!

Clarence

What Luke said!

Clarence

Is there a link to that article somewhere?

Here's a link...the author describes how to run a vertical ladder test. You can do the same thing with a chronograph if you chart your velocity readings on an Excel spreadsheet. Doesn't really answer what I was asking, but ladder testing is always good.

https://www.blackpowdercartridge.com/an ... ent-method

One year at the Quigley I won the high senior with a 40 or 41 using my 50-2.5 Shiloh and I used the Lyman 55 and dropped around 110 grains (112 gr usually) of powder right through the drop tube filling the case. That made me wonder why I usually load with precise powder weight. I guess it's a Linus' security blanket thing when it comes to shooting matches
Most of my shooting here at home is 200 yds at bowling pins I use the Lyman mostly for this and I hit just as many using the Lyman as I do the electronic droppers. It's just convenient using the Arsenal. When it fills the pan I seat the wad and compress the powder and the pan is waiting for me to fill the case again.

JonnyV wrote: ↑Fri Nov 05, 2021 4:10 pm Here's a link...the author describes how to run a vertical ladder test. You can do the same thing with a chronograph if you chart your velocity readings on an Excel spreadsheet. Doesn't really answer what I was asking, but ladder testing is always good.

https://www.blackpowdercartridge.com/an ... ent-method

You are asking a question that has been hotly debated for some time. I suspect most good shooters are weighing their charges. I throw mine through a Harrell's powder measure and have good luck. Personally, I have not been able to prove to myself that weighing is better. In fact, my testing has shown the thrown charges to be better. It is just something you will have to figure out for yourself.
Cody

Measuring powder. ---- I use a good drum measure and have done some studies on how to work it. Rubber stops to help the rotation come to a stop without a jar. Weighing a batch of 50 gr drops on a good lab balance, it was giving SD's of weight around 0.3 grains. Since I grain of charge weight gives around 5-8 fps change in velocity, this variation is "down in the grass", and not worth improving on.

You can't go banging the handle around on the measure -- probably the reason the cumbersome old measures with the sliding box (CRS on the name) give such good results is that they FORCE the user to do it right.

CHRIS

Chris: Believe your are thinking 'bout the old and now unobtainium B&M (Bell & Mulding) measure. I have one and it is very accurate. Once easy to find, now hard to find even at the gun show tables selling used/previously owned reloading equipment.

MVA (Montana Vintage Arms) sells a modern clone with reservoir that holds a pound. I loads my Black Powder rounds with one. Like the B&M, the MVA is very accurate and has an accessory micrometer adjust scale.

https://montanavintagearms.com/product/ ... r-measure/

https://montanavintagearms.com/product/ ... ter-scale/