Powder Measuring for Competition Shooting

[GregLaRoche]

For competition target shooting, what are people’s thoughts on measuring by volume vs by weight?

 

[longcruise]

You can be so consistent with a volume measure that it probably wouldn't make any difference. Especially if you use a measure with a shear top funnel. Fill it to a bit heaping and the tap the side of the measure to settle before shearing. Tap the same way every time! Here's the results of doing it that way and then measuring each charge. Ten charges.

94.3
94.2
93.5
93.9
93.8
94.1
94.1
94.0
94.1
94.3

94.0 Average Weight
.25 Standard Deviation
.8 Extreme Spread

 

[ADK Bigfoot]

A recent day day at the range produced the following for me....all weighed (+.1 gr. , -0 gr.) Rifle is a .50 caliber TVM Late Lancaster with a 38" barrel.

60 Grains GOEX 3F, cast .490 rb with lubed pillow ticking patch (.018). Average 1575 fps, extreme spread of 16.5, standard deviation of 7.5. Tight group of 4 with one a bit out (me.)

70 Grains GOEX 3F, everything else the same. Average 1700 fps, extreme spread 13, standard deviation of 5. Best group so far.

80 Grains GOEX 3F, same with the addition of a lubed felt wool wad under the patched round ball. (Last week 80 grains was starting to tear patches.) Average 1775 fps, extreme spread 6, standard deviation 2.8!!!!​

For competition, I always weigh charges. Also for my first shot hunting.

ADK Bigfoot

 

[Loyalist Dave]

Note the second reply was when using a rifle. With the rifle you are sometimes reaching out farther than with the smoothbore (and this thread is in the smoothbore section). So when you're going out to 100 yards, which for many smooth bores is 2X their normal range, the muzzle velocity if it varies too much will impact the target scores. Going beyond 100 yards, it very much will effect the scores. So the difference between dropping a ball into the 9-ring vs. the 10-ring or hitting an X will matter to you. A deer on the other hand at 100 yards or less isn't going to notice the variance.

LD

 

[dave951]

I'll have to say I use a mix of the two methods, but with purpose. When testing a new bullet/powder, I'll weigh every charge and every bullet to hold the variables as tight as possible.

When assembling ammo for a match, I'll have the powder measure set to throw a certain weight. I'll already have bullets weighed while in the casting process and held within a certain range. Those bullets that don't fall in that range are immediately returned to the pot. As I make up cartridges, I'll check the measure about every 10th round to ensure it's holding close to the tested optimum. So for example, a musket round shooting a RCBS Hogdon that was tested with the minie at 380gr and a charge of 42gr 3f Old E and that load shot a verified and repeatable 2moa, will be "production" loaded at a minie of 380+- 1gr, and a charge of 42gr from the measure at +-.1gr. I've found the very slight variance in the "production" ammo to not be a factor in the heat of a North South Skirmish Association team match. In shooting individuals, I will weigh every bullet and every charge because I want max accuracy and I'm shooting much slower and more precisely.

 

[nhmoose]

All the big slug guy including the ones making the barrels that win use volume.

Many unmentionable bench rest in modern use guess what volume scoops.

What does that tell you. It tells me you need to read many BOOKS on it.

 

[GregLaRoche]

You can be so consistent with a volume measure that it probably wouldn't make any difference. Especially if you use a measure with a shear top funnel. Fill it to a bit heaping and the tap the side of the measure to settle before shearing. Tap the same way every time! Here's the results of doing it that way and then measuring each charge. Ten charges.

94.3
94.2
93.5
93.9
93.8
94.1
94.1
94.0
94.1
94.3

94.0 Average Weight
.25 Standard Deviation
.8 Extreme Spread

I just reread this thread and was wondering what a “measure with a Shear top funnel” was. Can someone post a link where I can see what one looks like?
Thanks

 

[Grenadier1758]

Here is a link to a measure offered by Track of the Wolf.
https://www.trackofthewolf.com/Categories/PartDetail.aspx/85/1/MAS-120

 

[45man]

Every powder measure uses volume. Hand held, scoop or bench. It works but I wondered so I weighed a bunch on the scale and they shot worse then anything. I also quit weighing balls or bullets. Same thing happened when I sorted to 1/10 gr, shot the worst. To shoot ML's it is to relax. Do not complicate it. My friend up town worries about one granule of powder but uses the wrong fit to bore and thinks he is good but can't hit anything. Stay with the volume measure.

 

[45man]

By the way, plastic measures do not ignite powder from static. I have used my Redding forever with BP.