Idaho45guy
08-21-2017, 08:55 AM
Started reloading for my .45 Colt last Fall and then realized I needed DougGuy to do his magic on the cylinders before I spent any more time and energy developing loads for it. Put it on hold (still need to get his address and info and send it and a check away...)
Then I bought Glock G29 10mm for my new hiking/woods gun and immediately began reloading exclusively for it. Ordered a couple of different barrels and spent months working up different loads for the three different barrels and for my GSSF matches.
I had been using a Lee single stage press and a Lee powder measure, along with the Lee mechanical scale (was all part of a starter kit I bought).
I had achieved some degree of success and achieved some impressive groups. Still, most groups contained a bothersome flier that opened up things considerably.
At my last GSSF match, I was at the 5yd target and got the first few shots in a nice tiny circle, then a flier. Then the rest in a little group. After I finished, the RO said I should check my powder measure since what he saw indicated that my loads were not consistent.
So, while getting another batch of reloads ready for this weekend's match, I set the charge at 5.2 grains of 231, checked it with my electronic scale and my mechanical scale. I then weighed every single load with both electronic and mechanical scales.
What I discovered was disturbing; my powder charges varied from 4.8 to 5.7! And they were erratic; some would be perfect at 5.2 for up to four or five loads, then suddenly I got 4.8, then a 4.9, then a 5.2, then a 5.5, etc, etc...
I stopped any attempt at loading and further and went to bed. The next day, I went into town and was talking to my stepdad about what had happened and he said he had a powder measure I could have. It was an old RCBS Uniflow from the late 70's in mint condition, other than a fine layer of dust. I took it home, cleaned it up, and gave it a try.
It never varied more than half of a tenth of a grain across the ten or twelve loads I weighed. Perfect!
I then realized that the dozens of different loads I had tried the past few months were now virtually worthless since I have no idea just how accurate they were.
I feel dumb for not catching it earlier, but am glad I did.
Then I bought Glock G29 10mm for my new hiking/woods gun and immediately began reloading exclusively for it. Ordered a couple of different barrels and spent months working up different loads for the three different barrels and for my GSSF matches.
I had been using a Lee single stage press and a Lee powder measure, along with the Lee mechanical scale (was all part of a starter kit I bought).
I had achieved some degree of success and achieved some impressive groups. Still, most groups contained a bothersome flier that opened up things considerably.
At my last GSSF match, I was at the 5yd target and got the first few shots in a nice tiny circle, then a flier. Then the rest in a little group. After I finished, the RO said I should check my powder measure since what he saw indicated that my loads were not consistent.
So, while getting another batch of reloads ready for this weekend's match, I set the charge at 5.2 grains of 231, checked it with my electronic scale and my mechanical scale. I then weighed every single load with both electronic and mechanical scales.
What I discovered was disturbing; my powder charges varied from 4.8 to 5.7! And they were erratic; some would be perfect at 5.2 for up to four or five loads, then suddenly I got 4.8, then a 4.9, then a 5.2, then a 5.5, etc, etc...
I stopped any attempt at loading and further and went to bed. The next day, I went into town and was talking to my stepdad about what had happened and he said he had a powder measure I could have. It was an old RCBS Uniflow from the late 70's in mint condition, other than a fine layer of dust. I took it home, cleaned it up, and gave it a try.
It never varied more than half of a tenth of a grain across the ten or twelve loads I weighed. Perfect!
I then realized that the dozens of different loads I had tried the past few months were now virtually worthless since I have no idea just how accurate they were.
I feel dumb for not catching it earlier, but am glad I did.