Powder Scales @ Shortrange Benchrest Matches

[Pete Wass]

Thanks Al,

I have seen other folks report similar findings when using the B&M measure. I wonder why they aren't more popular and/or why they fell out of favor?

Pete

 

[mike in co]

al n,
i dont suppose you have some oem 8208 you could run thru that and then maybe some n133 ?
thats excellent for that powder.
mike in co

 

[Dick Grosbier]

Thanks Al,

I have seen other folks report similar findings when using the B&M measure. I wonder why they aren't more popular and/or why they fell out of favor?

Pete

Slow and awkward to use are a couple of the reasons. In 1982 when I started shooting nobody used them probably because Homer Culver was making his measures and other people were making similar measures by that time that were and still are completely adequate. I used a B&M for a while but gave it up for a Saeco/Masker that was 10 times faster and just as consistent as far as I could tell. Remember this was before digital scales. I used the Masker converted Saeco for several years before acquiring an Original Culver at an attractive price. The Saeco was every bit as good as the Culver IMO it was just different, and when you asked someone how much powder they were shooting they might say 52-1/2 clicks which meant nothing on the Masker 0-1" Micrometer.

 

[gacamp]

Lime Green. I visited the Shamrock in Dublin Ga (MGGOA) today. I didn't take my glasses, but I looked and observed loading equip. I only saw 3 chargemasters (of course I didn't look in all the motor homes). Some I did. I ask people if I could go pee pee (use their restroom) but I was really doing undercover chargemaster hunting.. Had a great time.
Jim Carmichael shot a potential LV Agg world record,, low .13agg. He must have covered his green machine , because I didn't see it.
HFV

I can assure that there were quite a few more Chargemasters in use at the Shamrock than three, quite a few are used by Southeastern Division shooters year-round.

 

[JerrySharrett]

I can assure that there were quite a few more Chargemasters in use at the Shamrock than three, quite a few are used by Southeastern Division shooters year-round.

Yep, Tommy walked by several campers that had Chargemasters being used inside, mine included. I can name at least 5 I know of myself.

 

[Al Nyhus]

al n,
i dont suppose you have some oem 8208 you could run thru that and then maybe some n133 ?
mike in co

Powders I've dispensed through that measure: the currently available 8208 'pulldown' , XBR8208, N135, N133, N130, H322, H4198, H322, IMR4320, WW760 and WW748 Re15 and Re22.

 

[Al Nyhus]

Thanks Al,
I wonder why they aren't more popular and/or why they fell out of favor?
Pete

Hi Pete. Honestly, they're painfully slow in comparison to a standard measure. Not that it's a big deal, but out here we run two yardages a day with a warm up at each yardage, so things do move along pretty quickly. The 'micrometer' dump tubes that came with this one have really sloppy threads, so the insert tends to shift a bit when you tighten the locking nut down..making it a bit of a pain to adjust to the last few tenths of a gr. But a few wraps of teflon tape seems to have cured that. I imagine a custom charge tube with better fitting threads and a true micrometer head would be slick, though.

Hope to see 'ya at a match somewhere this season. -Al

 

[llogan7708]

Who makes a good digital scale? I have one of the small Lyman digitals, and it isn't worth a tinkers damn. It jumps around and never gives me the same weight twice.....even on a previously checked load. I take a beam scale to matches, but it's slow and wind can really mess with it.

 

[ReedG]

Al, my brother and I both had B&M measures back in the '60s and they are very accurate throwers but I never could get the hang of how cumbersome they are to use and duplicate charges with. The new Quick Measure is in the same category. I think it is a creative way to dump powder but, like the B&M, it doesn't allow charging directly into the case like a Harrell's et al. My shooting skills can't outshoot my Harrell's and it certainly is more convenient and quicker to use than any of the "digital" stuff.

 

[mike in co]

go do a search on these forums...
the mx123 is excellent at about 325...
there is a better one in the line for more money.
most all reloading product scales beam or electronic are plus or minus 0.1 which can stack up.
the benchrest issue is to get a PORTABLE scale that is more accurate than 0.1 AND is repeatable....
for home use i say the mx123.....tho some can't seem to be able to use one....

lots of companies make "good" scales...the problem is, that in benchrest, typically "good" aint good enough.
mike in co

Who makes a good digital scale? I have one of the small Lyman digitals, and it isn't worth a tinkers damn. It jumps around and never gives me the same weight twice.....even on a previously checked load. I take a beam scale to matches, but it's slow and wind can really mess with it.