Powder filling

shoff14

Whats some of the methods you guys have come up with to fill the cartridge so you don't screw up?

reloader44mag

shoff14, what do you mean by "screw up"?....spill, wrong charge weight, etc. If ya could get alittle more specific that may help you to get a good answer. reloader44mag.

shoff14

Basically the wrong charge, overfill, under fill, ect.

reloader44mag

Well, you need a powder scale. Make sure before you start measuring that the scale is at "zero" and move balance weights to the desired weight and make sure the powder you put in the scale "pan" is enough for the scale to balance at "zero", not less or more but "zero" and you will have the desired amount you want to put in the case....I use a lyman powder measure and lyman scale. I adjust the powder measure to "throw" the weight I want, as I adjust the measure, I weigh the "throw" until I get the correct weight. After that I charge my cases and weigh the charge after every 25 rounds to make sure I am still "throwing" the desired weight. It may sound complicated but it is really a simple operation.........If you don't have a powder measure you will need three things for sure, a scale, powder scoops, and a powder trickler..and EACH charge will need to be measured, I started this way, it works but is slow going. I only reload handgun, some rifle guys will tell ya to use the second method I described to get absolute equal charges. Hope this helps. good luck reloader44mag

Tailgunner1954

It depends on what your loading. With most rifle rounds it's easy to do, while with most handgun cases it's a tad more difficult.

Keeping distractions to zero while charging cases is critical.

In general, using a powder that fills the case more than 1/3 full will give you a fast visual referance, while one that fills 90+& of the case will leave no doubt in your mind (my favorate rifle load stops 1/4 to 1/2 way up the neck)

Pearyw

I put all my cases in a tray and look at the inside with a flash light after I fill them with powder. If any look different than the rest, it is easy to see.

flyingtorpedo

I like that as well for a final check before seating a bullet.

2-blade

When you are young and cocky check every thing twice,when you are old and senile {like me}check every thing 3 times

greystone

I use a single stage set-up. Some powders will have a tendency to "bridge" more than others. I weigh each and every charge. I set my powder measure light and then trickle in. After all the cases are filled I also use a flashlight to look in to see if they all look the same. I only need to load 30-40 rounds of rifle ammo a week so this works for me

dcs shooters

I use a Lyman 1200 DPS II for all rifle loads. It measures powder onto a scale every time. All you do is dump it into the shell. Wish I bought one years ago, well worth the price. I reload pistols with Dillon Square Deal's and have a desk light over them so I can see powder in brass.

amamnn

I've become absolutely paranoid about double charges and/or squibs in my golden years.......... I too use a digital scale/dispenser and would never go back to the old 17th century measures technology. Also, I use mainly powders that I know fill the cases more than halfway.

sandwarrior

shoff,

1. Keep distractions to a minimum(as noted above)
2. Set powder charge carefully, weigh often if just filling. I usually weigh each rifle round and pour in through a funnel. So, you need to establish a habit of how you move through your cases to fill them {edit:}so that you always get every one. THEN FORM A HABIT OF DOUBLE CHECKING! Once I was distracted and started at the wrong end of the row filling cases. I left four cases unfilled in that batch of 60. Kind of embarrassing. Not to mention serious had any of those cases stuck a bullet down the barrel and then had it followed by a full power round. Both habits were forgotten with a bunch of distractions that day.
3. One powder out at a time...and empty the powder measure when done loading a batch. Again, focus on good habits.
4. Keep one set of cases out at a time. When I was a kid we loaded a bunch of .243 and .257 cases. They got mixed up one time. We caught it before it went through the rifle. The problem here is that a sized down .243 case will hold tight against the walls of a .257 chamber...and fire!...with almost 1/4" of free headspace. I saw what happened when stuffing the bullets. On the .243 cases the bullets stuck way out.
5. Same with primers
6. Same with bullets. A bag of heavy bullets could blow a rifle or pistol up in your face if working up two different loads.
7. 3-6 all pertain to working up loads in different bullets and different calibers so you can take more than one rifle to the range with different loads. You need to have habits like double checking and securing away...the components you are not using.
8. This should really be no. 1. Start low and work up.

fishmasty

When I am loading rifle cartridges. I seat the bullet immediatly after charging the case with powder. then I know that I know it has only been charged only once. I also weigh every 3rd powder charge.

Rocky Raab

I'm with fishmasty; I hate load trays. I use plastic baskets or tubs and move each case from the left one, do whatever operation is next and then drop it into the right-hand basket.

I use an electronic powder dispenser/scale, but also use a mechanical measure for large volume reloading, and even use Lee powder dippers for some things, mainly small runs of handgun ammo. No matter which way I dispense powder, I pick up one case, funnel in the powder, check it visually and then immediately seat a bullet. I think that's the ONLY foolproof way to avoid empty or double-charged cases.

savage204

I throw a charge, weigh it, trickle to proper weight, pour into funnel on the case, then seat the bullet. Been doing that for years and I've
never had a problem,,,,,Knock on wood,,,,,

oneoldsap

I place all my cases in the tray bottom side up after priming, then turn them over to charge them one at a time. I do this because years ago I skipped a row of cases and had 4 duds (the only misfires I've ever had) and i've been reloading since 1967 . Find a system that works for you and repeat.