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View Full Version : Making a powder scoop from fired .22LR cases......



Harry O
08-15-2018, 07:19 PM
I load a number of cases that use very small amounts of powder (1.5 up to just less than 3 grains each). Doing them with powder drops is more time consuming than I like and the accuracy is questionable with amounts that small.

I have a couple of sets of Lee scoops (and have used them for years), but they were never exactly the right size. I made several scoops from fired .22LR cases. They worked well. And, once you get some practice, they are very repeatable, too. Finding the right length was time consuming, though.

Here is a chart I made for shortening .22LR cases for use with Bullseye powder (that is what I usually use with very small loads). The four dots are the actual cases I made for different amounts (and I checked them several times for accuracy). The dotted line to the right was put in by the computer. I extended the line to the left to make sure it came out on the zero/zero intersection. It did. Also shown is one of the completed scoops.

I cut the case just a little longer than what is predicted, then solder a handle on, then test it. Make small adjustments with a fine file.

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Tatume
08-15-2018, 07:33 PM
Nicely done.

richhodg66
08-15-2018, 10:27 PM
Good work. I have found that for Bullseye powder, a Lyman 55 will throw very small charges accurately. I loaded .32 S%W at 1.1 grain with it and have used it for light cast loads in the .22 Hornet

I like scoops, though. One of the best money spent since I started reloading was one of the Lee sets with the slide rule that tells you what each one throws. I have used those for all kinds of things since I got them almost 30 years ago.

abunaitoo
08-16-2018, 03:42 AM
I've made a number of them for others.
Used different cases, and cut it to length for the powder charge they wanted.
They do work well according to them.
I use the Lee scoops.

Thin Man
08-16-2018, 09:34 AM
This looks like a grand idea. I recently found a mold for .313" round balls. Wanting to try these in 32 S&W and also 32 S&W Long, just, because. Others have said their Lyman 55 powder measure will accurately drop very light weights of Bullseye and I don't doubt that at all. However, as I have never used a powder scoop in the past, this is another opportunity to experiment. Everything about this sounds like fun and a learning experience.

salty dog
08-16-2018, 02:03 PM
The case attached to the nut, what's that for?

Harry O
08-16-2018, 05:15 PM
The case attached to the nut, what's that for?

That is for pan-lubing bullets. The case is for cutting them out.

salty dog
08-16-2018, 05:36 PM
Looks pretty handy. Thanks

Bookworm
08-16-2018, 07:59 PM
I've made a few dippers, and have the Lee sets in yellow and red. Dipping charges can be very handy.

I like what you've done with the graph, I'm going to print it out and save it. For some reason its never occurred to be to use a 22 case.....

Traffer
08-16-2018, 08:29 PM
I made a set of dippers for reloading 22lr. I made incremental sizes for my experimenting of loads. Went from 1.25 gn to 3.0 gn
I made a couple different handles with the dippers able to be inserted. Here are a couple of pictures:225602225603

frankenfab
08-16-2018, 09:07 PM
Harryo, great work!

Traffer..ingenious handle design!

You guys are sharp

atlas366
08-18-2018, 08:52 PM
Very slick. Thanks for the chart!