Last 2 reloading questions for awhile-I promise

[Eric M]

So I'm all set up and messing with my dies. I actually loaded my first 10 130G Hornady SP with H4831 and a starting load of 56 grains ( per the website and the annual magazine). This brings me to my first question- I was thinking of trying out the H4831 SC thinking it would cycle through the powder measurer better maybe? Just out of curiosity does anyone know much about the difference between these two powders? Besides being "short cut" when looking at starting loads the Berger manual for instance gives me a start load of 53 grains with the SC, but I'm given a start load of 56 with the 4831. Just puzzled me a little.

So my second question (finally) is about my dies. I am using new brass for my first loads, but I wanted to practice using my sizing die. According to the flyer that comes with the RCBS dies, I have the steel version not carbide. When I put my old brass in the press it expends the primer no problem but seems to catch when withdrawing the case. It did this 4 times in a row so I stopped because I was worried about damaging the die somehow. Is this normal or did I set the die incorrectly?

Thanks. I appreciate all the responses and pm's from this thread.

[bobcat]

Sounds like it's accurate enough. Those bullets aren't necessarily going to be exactly 130.0 grains anyway. And even if the scale was off by 1 to 3 tenths of a grain, that's not enough to prevent you from loading safe and reliable ammo.

[Eric M]

Sounds like it's accurate enough. Those bullets aren't necessarily going to be exactly 130.0 grains anyway. And even if the scale was off by 1 to 3 tenths of a grain, that's not enough to prevent you from loading safe and reliable ammo.

Thanks. That's kind of what I thought but I wanted to hear it from someone else before continuing. Plan to start with minimum loads anyway but I'm trying to keep accurate records.

[bobcat]

My RCBS scale is 32 years old and I've never checked it for accuracy. Maybe I should, I don't know, but it's never been a problem. I've also weighed bullets like you did and they usually are within a couple tenths of what they're supposed to be.

[h20hunter]

Eric, just for kicks I put 12 projectiles one by one on my digital scale. 110 gr Nosler Accubond. Lowest was 109.3, range average was right at 109.5/109.6. IF you want to go to what I would say is the extreme, group them in sets of 10 for weight and load them that way. Me, hunting rounds, I'm not sweating the difference. Load 'em up and let 'em fly.

[Smokeploe]

Eric M
I use a nickel, they weight 77.1618 grains. So set your scale to 77.1 and it should be very close 77.1-77.2 grains. 
Smokeploe

[Eric M]

Thanks guys

[Bofire]

another good reason to start loading at minimum or close, for powder charges. then work up.
Carl

[Eric M]

Eric M
I use a nickel, they weight 77.1618 grains. So set your scale to 77.1 and it should be very close 77.1-77.2 grains. 
Smokeploe

The scale is telling me the nickel weighs 76.3 grains.

[JLS]

I wouldn't sweat it.  You should be starting at or near minimum loads and workin cup anyway.  I've even reloading for over 20 years and I have never checked my beam scale.   If your scale is indeed off, you are looking at less than 0.1% error.

[nwwanderer]

Should be a balance screw on your scales if you have a known weight, then see if it repeats

[Eric M]

I wouldn't sweat it.  You should be starting at or near minimum loads and workin cup anyway.  I've even reloading for over 20 years and I have never checked my beam scale.   If your scale is indeed off, you are looking at less than 0.1% error.

Gotcha thanks. I guess as long as it's the same each time, it's the correct weight for me. And I am starting with minimum loads.

[Bofire]

also H4831 does not flow very well due to the shape, if you ever load a spherical powder they flow much better.
Carl

[Bill W]

also H4831 does not flow very well due to the shape, if you ever load a spherical powder they flow much better.
Carl

What Carl said is true.  Also your powder measure is "bridging" on you and not dumping a full load as some powder is getting stuck in the drop tube.  One thing to watch for is when it dumps a full load AND also what is stuck in the drop tube.   When I used a measure with 4831 I would set it a bit light and then use a trickler to bring it up to the proper weight.  All charges would be measured on the scale.   Also, rap the measure a couple of times each throw to sort of break up the bridging if it is occurring

Ball powder and short cut stick measure so much better. Ball usually throws the same every throw.  Short cut stick minimizes bridging.

[JLS]

When I use my powder dispenser I always give the handle a little "tap-tap" on each stroke.  I set it lower than the desired charge weight and trickle the remaining amount in.

Like Carl said, part of what you are experiencing is simply due to the powder.