danmdevries
Master
I'm fairly new to reloading. While I've bought the equipment over the course of the past few years, starting with a Hornady LnL AP press in 09, I haven't loaded many rounds. Back when I first started buying reloading tools, ammo and components were nonexistant, as now. Once components became available c. 2011, I picked up some bullets, and early 2012 I bought powder and primers.
I had a used laboratory balance scale, but before I even attempted to load my first round, I knocked it off the bench and it broke. I bought an electronic scale with Hornady's name on it and dove into my first batch of ammo.
I figured for safety reasons .38sp rounds would be my best bet since I shoot from a Ruger GP100 so a slight overcharge isn't going to take out my hand.
My first batch of 10 rds I measured and filled the charge for each. The second batch I ran 20rds and again, weighed each charge. The third time I wanted to use the progressive press's capability to crank out 100rds. The individually loaded rounds were flawless.
I adjusted the powder thrower on my press to 3.4gr of titegroup. According to my scale, I was throwing 3.1-3.6gr. I assumed the variance was due to the scale as I could weigh the same charge two times and get a 0.1gr difference.
I ran out 100rds of .38 158gr LRN. Every 10th round I dumped the powder in the pan on the scale to check, and noted a significant variance between rounds but was still within range. Again, I attributed this to the scale, and continued since none weighed in at an unsafe level.
I finally got around to shooting them. I had two squibs. Some rounds had a normal report, others were louder, and then there were the two squib rounds.
Anyone else have issues with consistent powder throws in the Hornady LnL AP? Is it the powder? Titegroup is a flake powder, I have a can of Unique but it appears that's a flake powder as well. I don't know if it's a technique issue with my loads or if it's an issue with the powder thrower not being able to meter accurately enough, but I'm scared to try loading anything else at this point.
I was gearing up to retool for .45acp but I don't want to do any auto rounds until I've got the metering issue figured out.
What am I doing wrong? I have a suspicion the squibs may have been seating depth adjustment rounds that accidentally made it into the wrong bin as the bullets barely made it into the barrel, so I'd imagine it was primer ignition only. That isn't my main concern. My main concern is the variance between throws. Is it technique? Powder? Equipment?
I had a used laboratory balance scale, but before I even attempted to load my first round, I knocked it off the bench and it broke. I bought an electronic scale with Hornady's name on it and dove into my first batch of ammo.
I figured for safety reasons .38sp rounds would be my best bet since I shoot from a Ruger GP100 so a slight overcharge isn't going to take out my hand.
My first batch of 10 rds I measured and filled the charge for each. The second batch I ran 20rds and again, weighed each charge. The third time I wanted to use the progressive press's capability to crank out 100rds. The individually loaded rounds were flawless.
I adjusted the powder thrower on my press to 3.4gr of titegroup. According to my scale, I was throwing 3.1-3.6gr. I assumed the variance was due to the scale as I could weigh the same charge two times and get a 0.1gr difference.
I ran out 100rds of .38 158gr LRN. Every 10th round I dumped the powder in the pan on the scale to check, and noted a significant variance between rounds but was still within range. Again, I attributed this to the scale, and continued since none weighed in at an unsafe level.
I finally got around to shooting them. I had two squibs. Some rounds had a normal report, others were louder, and then there were the two squib rounds.
Anyone else have issues with consistent powder throws in the Hornady LnL AP? Is it the powder? Titegroup is a flake powder, I have a can of Unique but it appears that's a flake powder as well. I don't know if it's a technique issue with my loads or if it's an issue with the powder thrower not being able to meter accurately enough, but I'm scared to try loading anything else at this point.
I was gearing up to retool for .45acp but I don't want to do any auto rounds until I've got the metering issue figured out.
What am I doing wrong? I have a suspicion the squibs may have been seating depth adjustment rounds that accidentally made it into the wrong bin as the bullets barely made it into the barrel, so I'd imagine it was primer ignition only. That isn't my main concern. My main concern is the variance between throws. Is it technique? Powder? Equipment?
