Powder charge by weight or by volume?

[jackelope]

I've read that grains by volume isn't consistent. I bought a grain scale and a bunch of plastic test tube type things on Amazon and my plan was to weigh out my loads on the scale. Am I wasting my time? Is the volume method close enough? I haven't experimented at all, but wanted to try a few volume measurements and then weigh them for consistency.

Thoughts?

[slowhand]

Interested!
Tagging along for the ride.
I've only ever seen it done By volume.

[Watimberghost]

First off, I am definitely a novice... What i did to start was weigh 10 different loads by volume and used the average to measure out my loads. Over the last couple years ive found no difference when just loading by volume when shooting. So all i do know is load by volume.

[HntnFsh]

Volume for me. Weight is splitting hairs.

[idahohuntr]

I use a scale to weigh out loads when I'm loading up quick loads for a hunt - and it is far more consistent/accurate than measuring by volume.  HOWEVER - I've never detected a POI difference with the less consistent volume measurements...so I've not seen any practicality to weighing out loads...by volume is close enough.  .   

[woodswalker]

For rifle accuracy, i weigh, for loading blasting ammo i use volume.  Most of the time my powder measure is +/- 0.25 grains, so for a nominal 57 grains i can get from 56.75-57.25, which if its not a max load and I am just making up shooting ammo its close enough for me.  I DO weigh each and every one of the thrown charges for accuracy loads, and will trickle them up to final weight(I throw them at 56.5 for a 57 grain load and add the last 0.25-0.75 grains with the trickler)

90% of my handguns are volume loaded (25 ACP to 500 S&W), the TC Contender being the exception, it gets weighed.

[jackelope]

For rifle accuracy, i weigh, for loading blasting ammo i use volume.  Most of the time my powder measure is +/- 0.25 grains, so for a nominal 57 grains i can get from 56.75-57.25, which if its not a max load and I am just making up shooting ammo its close enough for me.  I DO weigh each and every one of the thrown charges for accuracy loads, and will trickle them up to final weight(I throw them at 56.5 for a 57 grain load and add the last 0.25-0.75 grains with the trickler)

90% of my handguns are volume loaded (25 ACP to 500 S&W), the TC Contender being the exception, it gets weighed.

This was mostly for muzzleloader purposes.

[Sabotloader]

I've read that grains by volume isn't consistent. I bought a grain scale and a bunch of plastic test tube type things on Amazon and my plan was to weigh out my loads on the scale. Am I wasting my time? Is the volume method close enough? I haven't experimented at all, but wanted to try a few volume measurements and then weigh them for consistency.

Thoughts?

I continue to use a known good volume measure.  Several times I have thrown powder by volume and weighed the results.  For me there really has been enough difference to worry about especially hunting.  Were I shooting targets for money it would make sense to be as consistent as possible and weighing would certainly probably be the correct weigh to go.  But you still have to consider a few grains one way or the other with BP or any of the BP subs is nothing like a few grains of real Nitro powder. Even BH which is basically a BH powder you will not see much difference with +/- 5 to 7 grains difference.

The necessity is if you use a volume measure - be consistent in how you measure.  Develop a routine that works for you and repeat it each time.  doing this you will be surprised how close you can stay load to load.

This is a table I am developing from loading BH in my volume measure then weighing the results.  You can see there is a difference but in the end I really so no difference in my shots on a target.

   7/11/19   8/22/19   8/24/19   9/18/19
1   82.5           82.9           83.0          82.3
2   82.6           83.6           83.8         82.9
3   83.3           83.2     84.0          83.9
4   82.7           82.7           82.3          82.3
5   82.0           83.7           82.7         82
6   82.5           83.6           82.9         83.6
7   82.4           83.4           83.3         83.2
8   82.8           83.3           83.2         82.6
9   83.3           83.6           82.9        83.6
10   82.6           83.6          82.5        82.6
11   83.2                     82.6        82.7
12   82.1                              83.1
13            
14            
15            
16            
AVG   82.7         83.4        83.0       82.9
   Lot #6   Lot #6   Lot #6   Lot #6
            
SDEV    0.4         0.3        0.5       0.6
            
         

[jackelope]

Thanks for all the input. Sounds like a waste of time(and money) at this point.

[Bushcraft]

Just come over and use my high-volume lab-grade powder dispensing and measuring equipment.  We'll fill up those tubes in a jiffy with absolutely perfect charge weights.

It's as good an excuse as any to BS and sip a good whiskey. 

[jackelope]

Just come over and use my high-volume lab-grade powder dispensing and measuring equipment.  We'll fill up those tubes in a jiffy with absolutely perfect charge weights.

It's as good an excuse as any to BS and sip a good whiskey. 

Doesn’t sound like I need any fancy tubes or powder dispensers with a muzzleloader. Just eye it up and call it good.

[Bushcraft]

Just come over and use my high-volume lab-grade powder dispensing and measuring equipment.  We'll fill up those tubes in a jiffy with absolutely perfect charge weights.

It's as good an excuse as any to BS and sip a good whiskey. 

Doesn’t sound like I need any fancy tubes or powder dispensers with a muzzleloader. Just eye it up and call it good.

At first glance I thought you were doing a ladder test or something.  Didn't notice the muzzleloader aspect of thread. Aaargh! (hand to forehead)

In that case...just take a WAG on the powder amount and get as close as you can. 

[jackelope]

Kinda where I’m at. Fill the measure up with powder. Tap it 2 times to compact it down and call it good. Tap it 5 times and there’s room for more powder. Don’t compact it?
I guess I’m overthinking it.

[HntnFsh]

I never tap mine down. Just scrape off the top with the powder measure funnel.

[Karl Blanchard]

Kinda where I’m at. Fill the measure up with powder. Tap it 2 times to compact it down and call it good. Tap it 5 times and there’s room for more powder. Don’t compact it?
I guess I’m overthinking it.

I was always told if you tap it more than twice you're playing with it