What am I doing wrong? Problems with Bullseye & equipment - help/

[bedbugbilly]

So . . . I got ready to load up some sample 38 spl. rounds - got my data down and am using Bullseye powder. I have a set of the Lee "dippers" - was using the .3cc measure to get my load from my powder (which I poured in to a small tupperware container) - I pushed the dipper in, lifted up and then screeded off on a small piece of cardboard - dumped it in to my pan on the digital scale (metal pan). However, particles of powder "clung" to the handle near the dipper reservoir and I noticed after I dumped into the scale pan, powder granules were clinging to the bottom of the dipper reservoir. Hmmm . . .

so, i took what was in the scale pan and with a trickler, added until I got to the grain wt. I was trying to get to (2.8gr). I set my casing in my loading block and got my Lee funnel, placed it over the mouth of the casing and dumped the Bullseye into the funnel and "most" of it ran in to the casing - however, I had individual granules of Bullseye clinging to the interior of the funnel as well.

I took the cartridge casing, dumped it back in to the scale pan and what originally started out as 2.8 grains now only weighed 2.6 grains. Evidently, .2 grains were sticking to the inside of the funnel???

I have washed and wiped well both the dipper and the funnel - what is causing the Bullseye to "cling"? Static charge? What is the solution to get and keep the powder from clinging to the plastic dipper and the plastic funnel?

I just quit until I can get an answer and get this solved - and yes, I know there are auto powder measures but I am just working up loads and loading in batches. Is there a simple solution to this? What keeps the different powders from "clinging" in the various manufacturer's auto measures? If you can't tell . . . I'm frustrated! What am I doing wrong here?

I have my dies set up on a 4 hole Lee turret. I'm loading in batches and once I get my loads figured out, want to make a dipper in the correct size and when I flair the case mouth, pour the charge through the die using the Lee funnel inserted in the top of the die. However, even with the die being cleaned, what's the danger of powder hanging up on the way through and as a result, ending up with a cartridge with a below weight charge?

Thanks!

[C. Latch]

What did you wash them with?

Plain Dawn dishwashing soap has always worked on my lee dippers - wash, dry, dry a little more, let air-dry a while, then they work fine and nothing clings for a long time.

[Bzcraig]

I'm guessing this is your first time using this equipment? Yes, it is static. Keep using and it will go away. It will happen to most all your new stuff.

[oldgeezershooter]

Wipe everything with a dryer softener cloth.

[bedbugbilly]

Thanks. I used some liquid soap that my wife had in the laundry room - and then dried and dried some more. I've been searching on here and ran across someone saying that wiping with a dryer sheet will help as well. I'll wash well again and then when dry, give the laundry sheet a try.

Yes - these are new. I think I had more grains on the dipper and funnel than in the scale pan. I at one time had a nice little brass funnel that I had for BP . . and I'll be durned if I can find it. It's been a long time and if I remember right, I think someone "lifted it" out of my shooting box at a shoot. Once I get my load figured out - I'll be making my dippers out of brass. I got the Lee dippers as I thought they might be handy but for what I'm doing, most of them will die from old age before they ever get used. Maybe I could use some of the larger ones for dipping ice cream? :-)

Thanks for the help . . . I'll have another go at it tomorrow and see if I can't get rid of the "static cling".

[seaboltm]

Do as recommended. With use the equipment will become coated with graphite and this problem will go away. It is a pain, and fine grain powders like Bulleye are the worst offenders it seems. I have a hard time getting my Lee Autodisk to measure less than 4 grains of Bullseye accurately.

[JeffG]

Like the others have already said, they get better as they get coated with use. It is cold, dry and obviously lots of static in the winter. I quit messing with a card to lop off the overfill, just too much fumbling around. Instead, after I push the dipper bottom down into the powder in a coffee cup then lift it out, I run my finger along the stem and lop off the top. When I drop it in the scale pan, I tap it like I'm dumping the ashes on a cigarette. It rarely leaves any clinging after that. As long as I'm careful and consistent, it's within .1 or .2 grains.

[220swiftfn]

Wipe it all down with a used dryer sheet...... Soon enough, the graphite from the powder will keep the charge pretty much at bay by itself.


Dan

[mdi]

Yep, good advise so far. You are using a plastic container for your powder, a plastic scoop, and a plastic funnel, so you'll get static. A wipe with a dryer sheet usually works and I use a glass container and an aluminum or stainless steel funnel when the static gets bad (dry weather, etc.)...

[bangerjim]

You need to become a "static fanatic"! Especially in the winter with low humidities.

Here in AZ where you are now it looks like, we have low humidity all year long, unlike MI ( I lived there for 12 years).

Dryer sheet as said above will work.

banger

[ukrifleman]

Or just wash, don't wipe and let them air dry.
It is the wiping motion that is causing static.
ukrifleman.

[Frozone]

Why Wash??
It's only graphite, makes no difference from powder to powder.

I coat my dippers with powdered graphite and leave em that way.

[w5pv]

Use the dryer sheet it is good also get you some anti-static spray you can usually find it in the computer section of bigger stores.Good luck

[DaveInFloweryBranchGA]

Instead of washing, do as Frozone suggested. You can get powdered graphite at the hardware store. It is used to lube door locks. Dust your dippers and plastic parts with the graphite. Once coated, sticking will be a non-issue. Does the same thing if you just keep using it, as eventually the powder coats the dippers with graphite.

[Beau Cassidy]

Absolutely let your powder funnel and measure get coated with graphite. I have used H380 in the past to do that as it seems like it leaves a lot of residual graphite. Just open the powder measure all the way up and run a hopper or 2 thru. Run a bunch thru the powder funnel, too. Don't ever wash either after that.

[JSAND]

Great advice, I generally just tap the funnel and casing as mentioned before and a couple times doing that its flowing like it's supposed to.

[John Guedry]

Cut up drier sheets work well in your tumbler to keep the media clean.

[rsrocket1]

What bullet are you using that only requires 2.8g Bullseye?
I shoot 4.5g Bullseye with a 158g bullet, but that's with 38 special cases in a 357 mag revolver. A lighter bullet will want even more. The Alliant website recommends 3.5g for a non Plus P load (and that is pretty anemic). Are you shooting a lightweight 38 special gun? If so, 2.8g will probably work, but beware of a very smokey load with lots of soot in and on the gun and some unburned flakes flying around.

Also, please be very careful not to double or triple charge those cases. 2.8g is a very small volume of powder.

[454PB]

Try a glass container, rather than plastic.

[220swiftfn]

What bullet are you using that only requires 2.8g Bullseye?
I shoot 4.5g Bullseye with a 158g bullet, but that's with 38 special cases in a 357 mag revolver. A lighter bullet will want even more. The Alliant website recommends 3.5g for a non Plus P load (and that is pretty anemic). Are you shooting a lightweight 38 special gun? If so, 2.8g will probably work, but beware of a very smokey load with lots of soot in and on the gun and some unburned flakes flying around.

Also, please be very careful not to double or triple charge those cases. 2.8g is a very small volume of powder.

Full wadcutters (seated flush) generally use 2.7-3 grains of powder, and burn very efficiently due to the reduced volume under the deep seated slug.....



Dan

[wallenba]

Yep, the dryer cloth thing... and you can speed up the seasoning by getting a little powdered graphite from the hardware store and rubbing it in with a Q-tip.

[bedbugbilly]

It's been a few days since I posted this - got the static problem under control. The dryer sheet worked well.

As far as the 2.8 gr load of BE it was for some sample WC I was loading. I'm shooting out of several vintage Smiths and a 1910 Colt Army Special. I have a variety of boolits I'm using - the Lee 358-150-1R, the Lee Tl358-158-SWC, a WC that is out of an older Lyman mold that drops at around 152 gr and a RN out of an original antique Winchester mold - that one drops at about 160 - 162 gr - I primarily am using range lead to cast. After I loaded up sample rounds - in .2 gr BE increments - I found that 3.2 gr worked pretty well out of my S & W pre 10 for the SWC and the RN. The data I found on a 158 showed a min of 3.1 and max of 3.5. I'm still playing around with it but I think that I'm going to have to up the load to about 3.4 gr or so of BE. I haven't loaded up any of the RN out of the original Winchester mold yet but will in a couple of weeks. They seemed to drop right at .358 - .359 - I just ran them through the .358 sizer to keep things consistent.

I was using the funnel, dipper, etc. with an electronic scale to just load up some samples to try. I got a Lee Perfect Powder Measure - followed the instructions but instead of running a hopper full through to get things coated up, I ran three. I'm pretty impressed with this measure and it seems to be very accurate - until I get more used to it I'm checking about every 5th load and it seems "right on". I picked up a die adapter off of ebay that screws on to the measure and then allows it to be slid in to the top of the powder through expander die - works very slick. I'm using a 4 place Lee classic turret press - have been loading 9mm and 38 spl and have had no problems with any of the equipment nor the Lee dies - am very pleased with them.

Thanks to all for the help. We used to carry powdered graphite for locks when my family had a lumber yard - I usually had a tube of it in my tool box for lock work but it's like anything else - you can never put your hands on it when you need it. We only have one local hardware in town - I asked for powdered graphite and got a blank look - I guess I was showing my age? :-) It's on my "to get" list to keep with the reloading equipment - I know an old time "mom and pop" hardware that will certainly have it so I'll pick it up when I'm near it.

Thanks to all and have a happy and safe holiday!