fowl_language
04-02-2012, 02:51 AM
I'm sure someone has probably done something like this, but I'm also sure that someone will need this information later and it would be a shame for something like this to go to waste. I only had a few powders to test with and only one lee perfect powder measure (LPPM) but I think this might be some information people may want to see.
Methods:
- Weights were taken on a Hornady GS-1500 +- 0.1 , powder scale.
- Weights were taken with each pull of the handle from the up position followed through to the up position.
- Powder measure was pushed to the down position until a thump was felt and up until the same thump was felt.
- All powders (except for the Alliant steel was metered at full capacity).
- Weights were taken only after 20 pulls of the handle were completed after each powder change.
- Weights were taken only after the H GS-1500 scale was calibrated to the 100 g standards.
- Standard deviations (STDEV) from the mean (average) were calculated to quantify the amount of variation between each pull of the handle.
- 50 trials each at a standard pistol (38 special, 3.0 CC RED DOT) were used to quantify deviations from the mean for each powder.
- 50 trials each at a standard rifle CC (.223 Rem, 1.65 CC BLC-2) were used to quantify deviations from the mean for each powder.
- All screws on the LPPM were tighten enough to make the handle operation difficult but not impossible, enough to not allow for any spillage with small or large powders.
Results:
http://i514.photobucket.com/albums/t345/sagebrushhunter/Reloading%20Stuff/leepowder_measure_accuracy_test_graph2.png
Graph - Lee Perfect Powder Measure results for both a common pistol caliber volume (38 special) as well as a common rifle caliber volume (.223 Rem). Error bars are the standard deviation from the mean, (how much variation or "dispersion" exists from the average (mean, or expected value). A low standard deviation indicates that the data points tend to be very close to the mean, whereas high standard deviation indicates that the data points are spread out over a large range of values, wikipedia).
http://i514.photobucket.com/albums/t345/sagebrushhunter/Reloading%20Stuff/leepowder_measure_accuracy_test2.png
Conclusions:
It seems like the smaller diameter disk powders (BLC-2 and Win 231) meter better at lower densities through the LPPM. Although, the smaller diameter powders also meter better at higher densities than the larger diameter powders. The most accurate powders seem to be those with smaller diameters (DUH!). The LPPM did meter the smaller powders well enough (for me) to load many cases continuously. There was enough slop evident in the larger powders mainly Alliant (steel, red dot, unique) to warrant individuals measuring powders within cases by hand before loading, especially during testing phases. Two powders tested with the lowest standard deviation between all powders tested, Win 231 and Hodgon BLC-2, both powders had the smallest standard deviations between pours of both the handgun and pistol case densities. Alliant Blue Dot was the only powder tested, that metered better in smaller densities than it did during larger densities. All other powders measured during the test displayed > .1 gr standard deviations during pours.
In conclusion smaller powders meter in the LPPM better than larger diameter powders in both rifle and pistol charges. The LPPM meters smaller charges more accurately than larger charges with all powders. Keep all screws tight on the LPPM when charging cases and the smaller the powder the better.
Personal thoughts:
I did this test on a whim just to see how I was charging my cases when reloading, it opened my eyes a little bit and helped me see that my observations were correct. Smaller powders work better in the LPPM. <-- but the larger powders are not as bad as I thought they were. As long as the LPPM screws are tight and you can muscle through the pour motion it is a pretty reliable metering device. This is true as long as you are metering small charges, the larger charge you go with Alliant Powders the more error you introduce. I know a lot of folks don't use these powders on a regular basis, but I thought someone might get some use out of it.
FL
Methods:
- Weights were taken on a Hornady GS-1500 +- 0.1 , powder scale.
- Weights were taken with each pull of the handle from the up position followed through to the up position.
- Powder measure was pushed to the down position until a thump was felt and up until the same thump was felt.
- All powders (except for the Alliant steel was metered at full capacity).
- Weights were taken only after 20 pulls of the handle were completed after each powder change.
- Weights were taken only after the H GS-1500 scale was calibrated to the 100 g standards.
- Standard deviations (STDEV) from the mean (average) were calculated to quantify the amount of variation between each pull of the handle.
- 50 trials each at a standard pistol (38 special, 3.0 CC RED DOT) were used to quantify deviations from the mean for each powder.
- 50 trials each at a standard rifle CC (.223 Rem, 1.65 CC BLC-2) were used to quantify deviations from the mean for each powder.
- All screws on the LPPM were tighten enough to make the handle operation difficult but not impossible, enough to not allow for any spillage with small or large powders.
Results:
http://i514.photobucket.com/albums/t345/sagebrushhunter/Reloading%20Stuff/leepowder_measure_accuracy_test_graph2.png
Graph - Lee Perfect Powder Measure results for both a common pistol caliber volume (38 special) as well as a common rifle caliber volume (.223 Rem). Error bars are the standard deviation from the mean, (how much variation or "dispersion" exists from the average (mean, or expected value). A low standard deviation indicates that the data points tend to be very close to the mean, whereas high standard deviation indicates that the data points are spread out over a large range of values, wikipedia).
http://i514.photobucket.com/albums/t345/sagebrushhunter/Reloading%20Stuff/leepowder_measure_accuracy_test2.png
Conclusions:
It seems like the smaller diameter disk powders (BLC-2 and Win 231) meter better at lower densities through the LPPM. Although, the smaller diameter powders also meter better at higher densities than the larger diameter powders. The most accurate powders seem to be those with smaller diameters (DUH!). The LPPM did meter the smaller powders well enough (for me) to load many cases continuously. There was enough slop evident in the larger powders mainly Alliant (steel, red dot, unique) to warrant individuals measuring powders within cases by hand before loading, especially during testing phases. Two powders tested with the lowest standard deviation between all powders tested, Win 231 and Hodgon BLC-2, both powders had the smallest standard deviations between pours of both the handgun and pistol case densities. Alliant Blue Dot was the only powder tested, that metered better in smaller densities than it did during larger densities. All other powders measured during the test displayed > .1 gr standard deviations during pours.
In conclusion smaller powders meter in the LPPM better than larger diameter powders in both rifle and pistol charges. The LPPM meters smaller charges more accurately than larger charges with all powders. Keep all screws tight on the LPPM when charging cases and the smaller the powder the better.
Personal thoughts:
I did this test on a whim just to see how I was charging my cases when reloading, it opened my eyes a little bit and helped me see that my observations were correct. Smaller powders work better in the LPPM. <-- but the larger powders are not as bad as I thought they were. As long as the LPPM screws are tight and you can muscle through the pour motion it is a pretty reliable metering device. This is true as long as you are metering small charges, the larger charge you go with Alliant Powders the more error you introduce. I know a lot of folks don't use these powders on a regular basis, but I thought someone might get some use out of it.
FL