Armory Sponsor
Posted: 3/9/2010 5:02:15 AM EDT
|
Varget, Lee dipper 1.6. or 25.5 grains Hornady 55GR FMJ.
This formula sound right? Using the dipper because my Lyman 500 scale is a total piece of crap. Does a scale that doesn't suck for <$100 exist? |
|
You should weigh that powder charge. Don't trust a dipper until you know what weight it throws, and you have developed a technique that produces a consistent throw weight.
If the charge 25.5 grains of Varget, then you're in good shape. Problem is, you don't know. Whether you shoot the cartridges depends on your tolerance of risk. I'm guessing you should ask for help with your scale. |
|
AeroE is right...
You should NEVER trust a volume-metric powder measure of any type with extruded rifle powders such as Varget. It's an EXCELLENT way to seriously injure or kill yourself. WEIGH your charges, as it's incredibly difficult to get a GOOD consistency with volume-based powder measures and this type of powder. Ideally, you should buy a powder trickler, a scale, and weigh every charge. |
|
Quoted:
Varget, Lee dipper 1.6. or 25.5 grains Hornady 55GR FMJ. This formula sound right? Using the dipper because my Lyman 500 scale is a total piece of crap. Does a scale that doesn't suck for <$100 exist? look for an Ohaus 10-10 on ebay should be able to get one below $80 and its the same scale as rcbs 10-10 just less money and differant paint |
|
I understand why you should not trust the dipper to measure your powder charge.
That said, using Varget and only Varget rifle powder you probably wont blow up your rifle due to the fact a full charge of varget powder will fill a case to the top unless you tamp or vibrate the powder to make it fit the case. Also, not using a good scale you are handicapping your self right out of the gate. When in doubt, use AeroE's advice. |
|
Case in point with measuring by volume and LEE charts.....
My Lee disc powder measure by the charts throws 6.0 grains of Unique with the .66 Disc (from memory and the disc number could be wrong) but weighed out on a calibrated scale its really 5.4 grains. Roughly 10% off from the Lee charts....In this case it was on the negative side but could just as easily been +10% and if at a near max load been nasty. |
|
Quoted:
I don't know if it's possible to overcharge a .223 case with Varget for a 55 grain projectile...but get a scale, even a $20 Lee safety scale. You might be surprised by how much variance there is in your charges. 55_grain I agree, but Varget is one of a group of special cases, so it's especially important for a beginner to understand that although the case full of Varget is safe, another suitable gunpowder for the bullet such as H4198 is not safe with a case full. Good bench practices should be practiced with every load combination. |
|
Just pony up for a good scale and don't look back, if you get a good scale you'll
use it for the rest of your life. Not to flame anyone but if you spend 50.00 dollars more for a trustworthy scale that you know if GTG every time, it's cheap insurance in the long run. I know, got two that I could not trust and trashed; than I bought the one I should have. Yes lesson learned: the hard (expensive) way. sdshooter.................... |
|
Quoted:
Just pony up for a good scale and don't look back, if you get a good scale you'll use it for the rest of your life. Not to flame anyone but if you spend 50.00 dollars more for a trustworthy scale that you know if GTG every time, it's cheap insurance in the long run. I know, got two that I could not trust and trashed; than I bought the one I should have. Yes lesson learned: the hard (expensive) way. sdshooter.................... Same here. I first bought one of those $20 dollar scales and it was the biggest piece of crap I have owned. Now I use the RCBS 5-0-5, which is a balance scale. But it is very easy to work and I just trust it more than a digital scale for a similar price. Good luck. Henry |
|
I believe that both the Lyman that you have and the RCBS that your orderd are made by Ohaus.
Lyman customer service has been good to me. I would consider calling them to have the scale re-calibrated. the entire scale is calibrated as a set. Base, beam, and pan are all balanced together. Ohaus warns against swapping parts. Maybe consider getting the Lyman factory calibrated, and pass it on here at a fair price to another new reloader since you decided to buy a new one. I've used my Lyman 500 since it came new with my expert kit, and can't say anything bad about it. Regards, Fritz. |
| I was using Varget for .223 for a while, I made my own dipper. I took a .45 case and put in the charge of powder I needed for the bullets I was using, trimmed the case down to the level of the powder and soldered a copper handle on it, when the powder was level to the top of the case, it was exactly the weight I needed for the load, it worked very well for me. Of course I weighed the charge SEVERAL times, (probable 20 times or more) before I was comfortable with using it, I'd still weigh the charge every so often. |
|
Quoted:
I believe that both the Lyman that you have and the RCBS that your orderd are made by Ohaus. Lyman customer service has been good to me. I would consider calling them to have the scale re-calibrated. the entire scale is calibrated as a set. Base, beam, and pan are all balanced together. Ohaus warns against swapping parts. Maybe consider getting the Lyman factory calibrated, and pass it on here at a fair price to another new reloader since you decided to buy a new one. I've used my Lyman 500 since it came new with my expert kit, and can't say anything bad about it. Regards, Fritz. Sorry for the OT post....fritz-er, you've been here 5 years and finally made your first post? 
|
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
I believe that both the Lyman that you have and the RCBS that your orderd are made by Ohaus. Lyman customer service has been good to me. I would consider calling them to have the scale re-calibrated. the entire scale is calibrated as a set. Base, beam, and pan are all balanced together. Ohaus warns against swapping parts. Maybe consider getting the Lyman factory calibrated, and pass it on here at a fair price to another new reloader since you decided to buy a new one. I've used my Lyman 500 since it came new with my expert kit, and can't say anything bad about it. Regards, Fritz. Sorry for the OT post....fritz-er, you've been here 5 years and finally made your first post? Wow! I didn't notice that. Five years? You lurker! 
I have used a now-no-longer manufactured RCBS digital scale for 13 years. I use a set of Lee dippers, but only to get me in the ball park of the charge I'm weighing. I use a trickler to get it exact. |
|
My little Hornady balance type scale works great, it was around 50-60 bucks. It's accurate, easy to "zero" and use, and I have no need for anything else. I agree with Aero and others.............DO NOT just trust the dipper/volume throw. Weigh it at all costs, just to be sure, before you start loading. If your scale sucks, do what you can to get it figured out, or get another one. No way would I just trust a dipper. |
Armory Sponsor