To make loading on the bench quicker I am looking for a bunch of vials to take different measured powder charges, from 10gn 3F to 60+gn 2F. On ebay there are plenty of little plastic vials from 0.5ml upwards. The only trouble is I don't know what size(s) to get, does anyone on here use these and can they recommend me what size(s) to get?
Mknight702,
Carbon6 provided a link in post #4 that may help with the conversion you requested.
However, I would recommend that you at least check out what
SKS Packaging has to offer. That link will take you to the page that has
glass vials, and it shows the capacities in drams. One dram equals 27.34 grains. I bought a bunch of the 3 dram size of the cork-stoppered vials. Three drams would be right at 82 grains maximum capacity, although I have not checked this to verify the accuracy. I would like to get a plastic shotgun shell box to hold them, but I'm not sure of the "gauge" to order. The choices are 12 and 20, and these vials are in between, within a few thousandths of the diameter of a 16 gauge shell. I want them to fit in the cells in the shell box, but not rattle around too much. The height is also a factor. With the cork installed, the height is 2.864" or just shy of 2-7/8".
If any of you boys reading this own any of these plastic shotgun shell boxes, I would appreciate it if you could provide me with the inside measurement of the individual cells for your 12 and 20 gauge boxes. These 3 dram glass vials measure 0.736" in diameter (I measured a 20 gauge shell at 0.678", a 16 gauge shell at 0.722", and a 12 gauge at 0.790"). If you can let me know, that would help me decide which size of unmentionable ammo box to order.
I know
Mknight702 asked about plastic, and these are glass vials with cork stoppers. If you browse the SKS website, you'll also find similar glass vials with screw-on tops, and a plethora of plastic containers. You may find just what you want, but you'll be on your own. I prefer the glass. It isn't that I'm worried about static electricity... black powder comes in plastic bottles, N-SSA shooters have been using plastic loading tubes for decades, and "speed loaders" for muzzleloaders are usually plastic. I just like glass, and I prefer the cork stoppers to the plastic lids. There's too much plastic in my life already.
Also,
Buffalo Arms sells glass vials with plastic screw-tops. They say these will hold over 150 grains, and will fit in a 20 gauge shotgun shell box. That 150 grain capacity sounds a little optimistic to me, but maybe they're right.
Nothing wrong with carrying pre-measured charges to the range.
Best regards,
Notchy Bob
