Loading light?

flipside101 · 01-16-2011, 10:25

When doing some re-loading you obviously get everything dialed in how you want it. Say you are going along and all of a sudden you realize that your powder is a little on the light side (talking 1-2 grains) So instead of having a 5 grain drip you get a 3-4 grain drip. Is this a bad thing?

I heard it's better to be a little light than a little heavy. Will it be a huge factor when shooting? A obvious difference in shooting patterns?

jadedragon · 01-16-2011, 10:31

Bad only if you want your Glock to reload the next round in the mag. Light loads turn your Glock into a powder puff single shot if your rounds are too light. It'll definetly affect POI too.

GioaJack · 01-16-2011, 10:35

If you're talking about a one or two tenth of a grain variance that's normal, depending on the powder you're throwing.

If you're talking about a one or two gain variance you have a severe problem somewhere that needs to be addressed before you load another round.

This concept does not apply if you're loading for 16 inch naval guns. One or two grains makes little difference when your basic charge is 600 pounds of powder.

Jack

flipside101 · 01-16-2011, 10:35

It won't hurt the gun will it? My scale might be off too though I think. I measured the cup and it was 144 grains, then I added powder until I got 149. Once in a while I would measure the powder to see if it's still doing good and I get a measurement of 147-148

I tried a Lee Progressive press last night to see if I like it and it's a lot faster than a single stage rockchucker press BUT the powder drip is a lot more accurate on the rockchucker...

dudel · 01-16-2011, 11:23

How did you come to realize this? 1-2 grains on a 5 grain charge is a problem. You're tallking 20%-40% off the load. Most manuals will suggest you start at 10% off the max load. You could be way under. Too light a powder charge has it's own very negative consequences (ie explosion rather than burn).

If this is a fast powder I'd have additional concerns. How often are you throwing check weights? Seems like you need to throw them more often. An overcharge has a greater chance of ruining a gun; but an undercharge, say like a squib load can do a fair amount of damage as well.

I think you have a session with the bullet puller to look forward to. I hope you didn't load too many. Don't feel bad, it's not like you're the first person who has done this. It's called learning.

Now you need to learn how this happened.

AA#5 · 01-16-2011, 11:35

A load lighter than minimum in the manual can leave a bullet stuck in the barrel - especially with jacketed bullets. The next round fired can damage the barrel.

fredj338 · 01-16-2011, 11:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by flipside101

It won't hurt the gun will it? My scale might be off too though I think. I measured the cup and it was 144 grains, then I added powder until I got 149. Once in a while I would measure the powder to see if it's still doing good and I get a measurement of 147-148

I tried a Lee Progressive press last night to see if I like it and it's a lot faster than a single stage rockchucker press BUT the powder drip is a lot more accurate on the rockchucker...

You are not typing this right or doing something terribley wrong. No powder measure system shoud be throwing charges 1-2gr off. It is not uncommon to get 0.1-0.2gr off, pretty normal w/ some measures & some powders. Is it a problem, not if your loads were not already at starting.
FWIW, you do not check your scale w/ anything but a known weight. That is not a bullet or pan or anything that you have not verified the weight of. If you are using a cheap dig scale, stop, it's only going to cause you problems. You can go cheap on dies & a press, but the scale & measure should be the best you can afford. The powder charge is what is going to cause your KB if wrong.

flipside101 · 01-16-2011, 13:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by fredj338

You are not typing this right or doing something terribley wrong. No powder measure system shoud be throwing charges 1-2gr off. It is not uncommon to get 0.1-0.2gr off, pretty normal w/ some measures & some powders. Is it a problem, not if your loads were not already at starting.
FWIW, you do not check your scale w/ anything but a known weight. That is not a bullet or pan or anything that you have not verified the weight of. If you are using a cheap dig scale, stop, it's only going to cause you problems. You can go cheap on dies & a press, but the scale & measure should be the best you can afford. The powder charge is what is going to cause your KB if wrong.

Well found out my cheap digital scale was reading wrong!

I used the powder scale that came with the Rockchucker and found out I am .2-.3 tenths light only

I will see what a few of them do at the range and "If" needed, tear down and re-bulid.

IndyGunFreak · 01-16-2011, 13:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by flipside101

Well found out my cheap digital scale was reading wrong!

I used the powder scale that came with the Rockchucker and found out I am .2-.3 tenths light only

I will see what a few of them do at the range and "If" needed, tear down and re-bulid.

What kind of digital scale? I'm assuming scale that came with your Rock Chucker is a 505, one of the best beam scales out there. I'd rather use a quality beam than a cheap digital any day of the week.

IGF

unclebob · 01-16-2011, 15:13

Unless I missed something how do you know the scale is on the light side?

dudel · 01-16-2011, 16:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by flipside101

Well found out my cheap digital scale was reading wrong!

I used the powder scale that came with the Rockchucker and found out I am .2-.3 tenths light only

I will see what a few of them do at the range and "If" needed, tear down and re-bulid.

Please don't tell us you found this out by weighing the finished rounds...

How do you know the RC scale is off? What did you test it against? IMHO, not a good idea going to the range with unknown exposives. That what they are. Set off in your hand. I'd rethink your plan.

flipside101 · 01-16-2011, 17:11

I used my digital scale that I use to measure my arrows. I thought it would work good for measuring the powder too. I put the gold colored powder cup on the scale and it measured 144 grains. I then adjusted my powder drip until I got 149 grains which is my 5 grains. I measured powder ever 10 or 15 bullets to be sure it was still reading correctly. It would sometimes read a total of 145-146 and sometime 149-150. So I "assumed" I messed up a bunch of loads and was ready to tear them all apart. Instead I called my buddy who has been re-loading for 10+ years and he came over and showed me how to use a bar scale. I took one bullet apart and found it was 2 tenths shy of 5 grains and NOT 2 grains like I thought. I used a Lee Progressive press and the powder drip has pre-set measurements on it already, I didn't have it on the correct one apparently. They are 2-3 tenths shy of 5 grains and not 2-3 grains like I thought. I adjusted the power drip on the Lee press to a .57 hole and it read 5 grains dead nut! So I left it like that now. I was using the .53 hole and it read 4.8 grains. Low side for .40 cal in the Speer book is 4.9 grains so hopefully I will be ok. If not I will tear them apart and re-load them again.

My scale doesn't read in small increments like 5.5 grains and such. I use it to get close measurements for my archery gear. Gun powder is different.

dudel · 01-16-2011, 17:21

I bet that scale is good to a grain accuracy. Powder measures need to be good to .1 grain accuracy.

BTw, it's a powder DUMP, DROP or MEASURE; not a drip.
It's a BEAM scale; not a bar scale.

I would still pull them apart and start over. Chalk it up to learning. Get a copy of
ABCs of Reloading before you hurt yourself (or someone next to you at the range).

flipside101 · 01-16-2011, 17:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by dudel

I bet that scale is good to a grain accuracy. Powder measures need to be good to .1 grain accuracy.

BTw, it's a powder DUMP, DROP or MEASURE; not a drip.
It's a BEAM scale; not a bar scale.

I would still pull them apart and start over. Chalk it up to learning. Get a copy of
ABCs of Reloading before you hurt yourself (or someone next to you at the range).

Ok sorry for the bad terms. Thought I had it right...

My friend came over to look at them and says they will be ok. He's re-loaded for 10+ years and he did a round up himself to verify everything and all was ok.

WiskyT · 01-16-2011, 17:40

If you have a drip, get a shot and get rid of it.

flipside101 · 01-16-2011, 17:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by WiskyT

If you have a drip, get a shot and get rid of it.

Looks like I need some

to get the "drip" taken care of.

shotgunred · 01-16-2011, 18:01

Certainly sounds like you need to get a different scale that will work for reloading.

flipside101 · 01-16-2011, 18:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by shotgunred

Certainly sounds like you need to get a different scale that will work for reloading.

Got a "Beam" scale now

Houdini · 01-16-2011, 18:45

I allways reload in the middle of the scale.

fredj338 · 01-16-2011, 21:43

Just for fun, what is the load you are trying to put together? Seriously, it doesn't sound like you have done a lot of research on reloading & the gear & how to set it up. Relaoding isn't rocket science, but you do have to do certain things certain ways to be safe & get the best results. Proper gear is one, proper technique is two & proper data is three. You do have & have read at least two diff reloading manuals right?

dudel · 01-17-2011, 04:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by flipside101

Ok sorry for the bad terms. Thought I had it right...

No problem. You've got them now.

My friend came over to look at them and says they will be ok. He's re-loaded for 10+ years and he did a round up himself to verify everything and all was ok.

In that case, I would ask him to come shoot them. Seriously, you've not given enough information about your load, and there are many red flags in what you've described, that I would not feel comfortable shooting them.

A 5 grain load, could be anything from a low power 38spl, to a 45ACP to a high pressure 9mm. You haven't even mentioned your OAL. Even if the powder charge (and selection) is correct, you could still have dangerous pressure spikes.

Keep in mind, there are others at the range. A bad day for you at the range can also mess up someone elses day. Be careful.

flipside101 · 01-17-2011, 18:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by fredj338

Just for fun, what is the load you are trying to put together? Seriously, it doesn't sound like you have done a lot of research on reloading & the gear & how to set it up. Relaoding isn't rocket science, but you do have to do certain things certain ways to be safe & get the best results. Proper gear is one, proper technique is two & proper data is three. You do have & have read at least two diff reloading manuals right?

It's a .40 caliber with 5 grains of powder with Berry bullets, Bullseye powder, CCI and Winchester primers. Yes I have a manual and a Speer book with all the information I need to re-load various bullets. I have researched a lot of info for doing this as it is all new to me. I am borrowing my buddies gear for now. He's been re-loading for 10 years. "I thought" I was 2-3 grains light, but it was actually 2-3 tenths light only. My book says low side 4.9 grains and high side 5.5 grains, I went for 5 grains even. My loads are 4.8 grains right now which "should" be fine. I have since tuned the powder drop to 5 grains even which is now being measured on a "beam scale" and not my digital scale. The Lee press I am using has pre-measured holes for powder and can't be altered. I moved it up a notch and now it's 5 grains dead on. "If" the 4.8 grain loads shoot bad then I will tear them down and re-load them again but I seriously doubt 1 tenth is going to make a huge difference.