Precision Reloading -- Powder Measuring "Electronic or Mechanical?"
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- Опубліковано 18 тра 2018
- THIS VIDEO IS RELATED TO HUNTING. VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED.
After reloading for many years I have tried a variety of Electronic scales but for precision I always come back to my old balance beam. Sometimes simple is better.... - Спорт
Great video and great information
Glad it was helpful!
This is perfect timing as I’m looking to get back into deer hunting after stopping as a teenager (20 years ago) and I’ve recently been researching reloading kits.
Used to have a 300WM. Going to give a 7MMRM a try this time around.
Love your videos. They really get me keen to get back out there.
Great stuff Adam. We have all been there when other things get in the way of our real passions but it always comes back. Good luck with the renewed passion.
Thanks for the tips...I haven’t taken the leap to re-loading but this helps when I do.
Pleasure mate. If you want supreme accuracy, consistency and value for money then reloading is definitely the way to go long term. Yell out if you decide to take the plunge and I will gladly point you in the right direction.
Beam scale and a Redding BR3 for me! It’s pretty amazing how accurate the BR3 is for both small pistol and large rifle charges!
Mark Manes. That combination certainly gets the job done without fuss👍
That Steve is exactly what I've done. Gave up with digital scales about 9 months ago. Luckily I didn't spend too much money on them to find out the hard way that they all seem to suffer a drifting zero. After a really poor batch of 50 6.5CM where after two dozen rounds I knew I had a problem, I "unmade" the rest and found there was a clear pattern of increasing charge weight between each recalibration. Since I went back to the balance beam the last two batches of 6.5CM have seen significantly reduced ES and my 500-600m goat percentage has markedly improved. I couldn't bring myself to sell the two sets of digital scales cos its just not fair to pass that onto someone else. Didn't get anywhere with Hornady or RCBS with my story though!
It’s a shame because the idea is great but the reliability of many just doesn’t generate faith.
Great advice. Thanks
No problems
good advice. The RCBS chargemaster seems to be the only automatic powder dispenser ive ever seen consistantly work ok, and i dont mean well i mean OK. Great video
Thanks Ian.
haha - I'm old school too & do the same exactly the same :)
In reality, I prepare a batch of 80-100 shells, then have a reloading session which even with "throw & trickle" does not take that long, but confident that loads are always consistent. I reckon you always shoot better if you are confident in yourself & your gear.
My thoughts exactly mate
Again 100%...its hardcase... I back my thrower of a little then trickle my way too precision like you...funny how we all think the same way...I know every pill thats goes in my mag is total "money"... and if I miss its me not the gear!!
That's it brother..................
Couldn’t agree more with this video ,boss,.the old rock chucker powder beam is pretty hard to beat for accuracy.I have found that now that I have 2 calibers I am using a chargemaster for my 6.5 x55 and use a standard powder thrower for my 223,one thing is though ,I keep coming back to the balance beam to check every ten or so rounds off for accuracy. I hope you guys are all well.
Cheers Troy. The KISS method certainly works well for me. Surviving yet another lockdown but other than that we are all good. Thanks for your input mate.
On the money Robbo, I've been using an Ohaus M5 tuned by Scott Parker in the US. I won't even consider trying to beat it. Works everytime.
I love my electronic gear but sometimes a plain simple mechanical device is far more consistent, easy and reliable.
Very interesting Robbo! I'm currently using an RCBS Chargemaster and some jewel scales for my precision work. I have considered the top end balance beams and Harrells. I will continue the thinking process!
We can always come up with some excuse to spend more money if we think long enough. Keep thinking mate...........
Hahahaha. True that!
I use a Tuned Lyman M5 in a custom hardwood box mounted to the wall with a sliding glass front, trickler with external turning access, and an adjustable aluminum bracket to hold a webcam for a magnified view of the beam pointer with zero parallax. It may be a bit much but it is consistent as it gets in my opinion and easy to use.
Wow that is very interesting. As you mentioned it might be a bit much for some but in the end if it helps you on the road to accuracy and consistency then that is all that matters. Thanks your input mate.
37 foxes ,was a good day .
That is a good day.
I realize this is an old video. I have the RCBS chargemaster 1500....its okay, occasionally will zero wander and slugish. I'm considering the redding scale and powder thrower.
Always nice to fall back to the analog gear. You won’t go wrong with your choice 👍
I have two of the RCBS lite electronic dispensers and I find them to be extremely accurate. They weigh the charge as they dispense the powder and then re-weigh the charge once more and indicate whether the charge is within spec or either over or under. I have tested them against other electronic scales and a balance beam from RCBS and they have proved accurate. The issue I have with balance beam scales is that the reading varies depending on the angle at which the indicator is viewed how "precisely" the balance beam lines up with the index mark. It is my belief that a good quality electronic scale will outperform the the analogue scales in both accuracy and speed. I also use a UPS and line conditioner to make sure the line voltage coming into the unit is consistent. I will periodically recalibrate as well. I enjoy your videos offer my best regards.
That’s good to hear Jack. Haven’t tried the RCBS myself so I can’t make comment. Viewing beam scales is a good point and the main reason mine are up at eye level
One advantage of the RCBS electronic scale is it auto feeds the powder, taking about 20 seconds to do it, you can use that time to expect brass or do another process of reloading, like hand prime, seat/crimp , then come back 20 sec later and the power is ready to pour into a cartridge.
Ever so slightly faster with more precision
I use Lee powder cups, a trickler, and the RCBS 10-10 balance beam. I enjoy slowing down a little.
Exactly. Slow and steady wins the race
@@BoltActionProductions When I was young I made mistakes thinking too fast, now I make mistakes cause I forget stuff. I heard of a brain surgeon that once said to the crew, "Now people, let's not rush things, we haven't a moment to waste." My son reloads 9mm, 45 and 223 in volume on a fancy and expensive progressive press, he and my grandchildren like to shoot a lot. He is more interested in speed than absolute accuracy when reloading and buys expensive factory ammo for hunting and self-defense.
As we get older slowing down can have some advantages when hunting and reloading. Thanks for watching Ed.
I like electronic scales, great tool, I just don't trust them a whole bunch. Had a Lyman 1000 for 30yrs or so, works great, never used it for powder. Use a Hormady M scale and a BR3 as well, BR3 only gets used for ball powders. Had a Chargemaster for the last 8-9 yrs, worked well, have an Autotrickler coming. And if or when those scales krap out, which they eventually will, I'll still have the beam scale, and the 3 other scales to do cross verifications with.
As you mention the electronics certainly have their place but it is always confidence inspiring when you go back to the balance beam. Thanks for watching Dave.
Used to weigh every load on a balance beam scale always
Yes Pete. Some cartridges are very forgiving and others need some TLC. If your give them all a little love you often get a lot back....
I was loading a 300WM nearly at max I couldn't afford to be over and the accuracy was tops
100% agree...
I knew you would know what I was talking about. Sometimes you just can't beat old school..........
its a trust thing...I trust that old school gear...electronic gadgets for precision reloading scares me...I'll stick to what I know works...you to by the looks!!
They have their place but not so much for me as I tend to agree with your "trust" comment.
I just bought a Lyman pro 6 and love it , but when working up loads I use my redding balance scales , I worked up a load for my 17 Remington with 25 grn hornady hollow point with h414 , top load 27 grns,I had .54 moa with 26.5 grns of power then with 26.7 grns.164 Moa this is for three shots it's a hunting load , just just by going up .2 reduced the group size , the smallest before that was with my 220 swift it was blc2 and 52 grn Berger that for three shots .198 , i will probably not do it again I was happy with a 1/2 ins for hunting , not saying I am fantastic shot at I miss like everyone else but sometimes it all comes together , all groups are measured centre to centre , all these reloads was done with my balance scales, I check every 10th round on the balance scales when using the electronic pro 6 so you make a good point old is more accurate probably because more time is taken but if you want make a lot of rounds which are still accurate that pro 6 is hard to beat and I'm old school myself ,reloading is a hobby in its self nice video best regards steve ps just bought myself a venom arms custom in 264 Winchester mag with a t8 mod included, it's on a Mauser action I payed 500 quid for it off my mate who's a gun dealer and collector it's a bit gem
Never reloaded for the 17 Rem myself but I had a few mates that did many years ago. Very touchy to reload with extreme care needed when getting towards the top end. For that cartridge I would definitely confirm with the balance beam as you did.
That new rifle you picked up sounds very interesting.........
Bolt-Action Productions in the uk we have to send our FAC ( fire arms certificate ) off for a new cal to be added and it has to be approved not a problem I have bigger cals , when I get it I will try and get some videos out or pictures I don't have a lot of time this time of year with work if you interested I will keep you posted when I have my cert back which can take up to three months I know what your thinking and I agree with you lol 😂
Definitely interested to see some photos. Keep me posted
Agree 100%
In my experience electronic scales have been useless, some of them bordering on dangerous.
I use an RCBS 10-10 and it's excellent 👌
Yes mate you definitely need to spend some decent coin if you want anything consistently accurate.
Bolt-Action Productions for sure! That's why I'm moving back to high end factory ammo haha they shoot just as good in my rifles and I absolutely loathe handloading so it means more time in the bush and less time behind the bloody reloading bench haha 👌
Big move Tony. They might group well but Chronograph most factory ammo even the premium stuff and you will usually be disappointed. Often to the point that it is like dropping a cartridge size. For argument sake I can load my .308 comfortably faster than similar weight in factory 30/06. There are some great factory ammo out there but consistency and velocity are where I find they are usually let down. Goodluck with the move.
P.S. I wouldn't say I loathe reloading but I am definitely with you and would prefer to be hunting. I just pick the times I do it. Times when the Royal wedding is on. HaHa
Bolt-Action Productions Oh yeah for sure! I'll be putting them through the magneto speed and verifying drop out at distance before settling 👍 I'll always still handload every now and then anyway haha.
Haha yes that is a great time to be handloading!!
If it is for the longer range rifles one of the biggest issues you may have is variation in velocity from shot to shot which literally makes the ammo useless for that purpose. Hopefully I am wrong...
Yeah, it's sad that those old 5-0-5 scales that used to be made by an Ohaus factory in New Jersey, USA, are now light-weigh aluminum scales made in China. Ohaus now sells 5-0-5's under their own name. Those that have used both the old ones and the new ones generally give them poor reviews. RCBS, consequently, dropped Ohaus like a hot potato. Ironically, RCBS's new balance scales -- the M500 and the M1000 -- are also made in China. Both seem to get very positive reviews. I gave my old 5-0-5 to one of my sons before I realized that the new ones were not the same. I now have a RCBS M1000 and I'm very pleased with it. One of my sons is a chemical engineer and former lab technician; he tells me that balance scales are a far better choice for most things. Yes, you can get good digital scales, but to get comparable accuracy and repeatability they cost a lot more and have a lot more that can go wrong with them. EXCELLENT VIDEO. YOU GIVE GOOD ADVICE.
Yes, I certainly won't be letting go of some of my older reloading gear in a hurry. Thanks for watching mate.
What’s the picture of the 204 Data? Can you give us a close up of that? I am starting to reload for my tikka 204. Cheers.
That is just my reloading data for my rifles. I don't tend to share my
reloading data because I often push pretty hard. I build up
carefully one step at a time which is what you need to do IMO. What I
can tell you is my Sako 85 .204 shoots both the 35gr Berger and the 39gr
Sierra Blitzkings very well with the latter being my favourite on
varmint size targets. The rifle also prefers ADI BM8208. You won't have
any issues finding a good load for your Tikka. They just shoot.
Bolt-Action Productions do you play with the seating depth? I am using 8208 also.
The .204 doesn't seem too fussy. I just seat to fit in the mag. My brothers Tikka .204 out shoots my Sako when it comes to grouping but mine is still no slouch.
Brother's or brothers'? Sorry, I can't help myself.
Hey steve do you have anything to do with hunting haven?
Not really mate. I think they may have used one of my photos on their Facebook page.
Bolt-Action Productions yeah the one of the sako 7mm on there ebay as well just thought i would let you know love the vids
There's a nagging question answered. ( for me at least.)
Thanks very much.
Just my observations over the years Reg. I have given the electronics a fair go but keep returning to my old scales. Just like coming home........
Yes Steve, I can understand how and why you'd rather use the beam scales.
Cheers!