I just bought some reloads from a seemingly reputable source. Will a quality scale be able to detect a difference ( possible overcharge) in the reloaded ammo? If they are all the same I should be OK. Bought 100 rds. from him. I don't reload yet so I am not versed in this. This thread kinda scared me. Also recommend a good electronic scale for a reasonable price?
Scale checking reloads
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IAhunter
Member
If you knew the type of powder used you could break one or more down and then check the charge weight. I see no value in weighing the whole cartridge, as the weight variances in the cases would not allow you to tell if the powder charge is consistent.
That would not be a reliable method of detecting an overcharge.
Any powder overcharge would be indistinguishable from case weight and bullet weight variations. Unless it was a massive overcharge? And if one round was massively overcharged, then they probably all are and there would be no differences in the weight of the rounds.
When it comes to questionable reloads, it's better to be safe than sorry.
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Fishinfool
Member
Correct answer above.
The differences in case weight, bullet weight variance, amount of bullet lube used, etc. can make a 3 or 4 grain difference easy. That is more than enough to make for a dangerous load if it is a difference in powder weight. No way to know unless you break them down and weigh the powder. I f buying reloads, you safest bet is to buy from well known commercial sources like Black Hills, Ultramax, etc.
Any of the big name elec. scales will work well. That said, I use a powder volume measurer when reloading. I use an RCBS model elec. scale, and always double check with a balance beam scale, usually at the beginning of a reloading cycle, and spot again during the cycle, and again at the end to make sure nothing changed.
Larry
Personally I won't shoot anyone's reloads.
I trust in ammunition that I loaded or ammunition from a major factory.
Instead of buying a scale and giving up labor for free to check consistency of ammunition from a cheap source you do not entirely trust.......may I suggest that you simply pay more for you ammunition and get it from a source that you do not feel you have to double check
I trust in ammunition that I loaded or ammunition from a major factory.
Instead of buying a scale and giving up labor for free to check consistency of ammunition from a cheap source you do not entirely trust.......may I suggest that you simply pay more for you ammunition and get it from a source that you do not feel you have to double check
With all due respect to those who replied to the OP, I beg to differ. With due diligence to cases, projectile weights, and powder charges, weight variation in loaded rounds can be held to less than a grain. I know, because I have done it repeatedly. The first time I weighed my assembled handloads it was done more for curiosity than anything else; I have since done it several times, and most of the time weight variation was less than two grains, and often less than half a grain.
I will agree that weighing assembled loads may not be the absolute best way to determine an over-charge, but it can be done to give an indication, especially in the larger handgun rounds with fairly heavy powder charges.
I will agree that weighing assembled loads may not be the absolute best way to determine an over-charge, but it can be done to give an indication, especially in the larger handgun rounds with fairly heavy powder charges.
No, simply no. You have no idea what powder was used and the variance in brass weight and bullet weight will also skew the weight. An electronic scale can vary several 10ths.
For the price of 100 rounds are you willing to risk you gun and worse you body parts??
Never shoot anyone's reloads. Period. Life is much simpler that way.
Put them away and when you do reload, get a hammer bullet puller and take them apart and save the brass and bullet.
MichiganScott
Member
If you're spooked, toss 'em. You can't save enough to worry every time you pull the trigger. Rule3 is correct about variance.
I don't shoot other peoples reloads, and I don't load for anyone other than my wife and daughters.
I don't shoot other peoples reloads, and I don't load for anyone other than my wife and daughters.
fredj338
Member
Reputable reloaders have ins & license IMO. Never shoot reloads that you did not make or from a major source like Georgia arms, black hills, etc.
No, even if you knew the powder, weighing pistol rds, too small a powder charge to tell if it is double or squib in most cases.
No, even if you knew the powder, weighing pistol rds, too small a powder charge to tell if it is double or squib in most cases.
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fredj338
Member
Depends on caliber, if using mixed brass, the 45acp can vary as much as 5gr, regardless of how carefully you prepare them. Bullets can vary as much as 1gr, cases 4-5gr. So no, you can't weigh loaded rds & learn much. Sure if you weigh every case & every bullet, match them up, you can get that one grain diff but seriously, you would be the only person in 35yrs of reloading, that i heard of doing that. Total waste of time.
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Two grains of what?? You loaded them so you at least know what powder you used. Weighing Unknown loads 2 grains variance is a lot, plus there is no way to tell what powder was used.
No, weighing loaded ammo of unknown components will tell the OP nothing. Even if they all weigh the same what does that tell him?
Heck we do not even know what caliber or bullet type?
Rule 3, the statement was that there was no way to tell if a round was overloaded by weighing it. I simply said that if due diligence was paid to the loads, by segregating brass, bullets, etc., and paying attention to powder charge, the loads could be quite similar in weight. If the OP bought handloads without accompanying load data, that is another issue entirely.
I stand by that statement. IF everything I said was done, any load that weighed over two grains off could be discarded and no harm be done.
Weigh some of yours... if you are a halfway skilled handloader, you will find the same thing I just talked about.
But maybe I take more pride in my handloads than you do.
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And you still haven't learned to read... I specifically said "with due diligence to cases" which SHOULD to those of us who have an education, mean sorting cases by head stamp to eliminate weight variation.
But maybe that is too challenging for you to comprehend.
Maybe in 35 years of reloading you are still a candidate to learn something, too... but you have to learn to comprehend what you read first.
Your points might have some validity if these were personally assembled hand loads.
Do you understand that we are discussing reloads that were purchased? Or did you fail to read the initial post completely?
So please explain to the Forum how it is possible to control case manufacturer, sort projectile weight and pay attention to the powder charge when someone other than yourself produced the ammunition in question.
Weighing purchased reloads is a waste of time. Buying a scale to weigh purchased reloads is a waste of money.
You are wrong on this issue.
bedbugbilly
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I only reload 38 spl and 9mm at this time. I use "range brass" which means that I'm using a variety of head stamps. I only load
lead cast" that I've cast myself. A while back, instead of using my powder measure to drop the charges like I normally do, I did them by hand and weighed each one so that I was sure there was no variance in the powder charge weights. I randomly pulled casings with the same head stamps - loaded them and then weighed them. Each was different. I attribute it to the difference in the casings (different production runs) and the normal variance you can have in cast lead bullets - sometimes as much as a couple of grains. My conclusion - you can't weigh loaded cartridges - even with the same head stamps (and not knowing if they are the same production run) with lead bullets (that you've cast - swaged might be different?) and determine if the powder charges are consistent.
I did the above just to satisfy my own curiosity - another person's conclusion might be different and they might choose to weigh such cartridges as the OP is talking about.
I still follow the rule though that I will never shoot someone else's reloads nor will I allow someone to shoot mine. It's just not a good practice.
lead cast" that I've cast myself. A while back, instead of using my powder measure to drop the charges like I normally do, I did them by hand and weighed each one so that I was sure there was no variance in the powder charge weights. I randomly pulled casings with the same head stamps - loaded them and then weighed them. Each was different. I attribute it to the difference in the casings (different production runs) and the normal variance you can have in cast lead bullets - sometimes as much as a couple of grains. My conclusion - you can't weigh loaded cartridges - even with the same head stamps (and not knowing if they are the same production run) with lead bullets (that you've cast - swaged might be different?) and determine if the powder charges are consistent.
I did the above just to satisfy my own curiosity - another person's conclusion might be different and they might choose to weigh such cartridges as the OP is talking about.
I still follow the rule though that I will never shoot someone else's reloads nor will I allow someone to shoot mine. It's just not a good practice.
old&slow
Member
I agree with fred, rule3, colt , & bedbug, to many variables with cast bullets, mixed brass, etc. to weigh check cartridges. Sometimes even with brass with the same head stamp there is a wide swing on weights.
However, after reading this thread and out of curiosity I had a box of factory Winchester 45 ACP, 230 gr SXT at hand. I weighed all 20 rounds. Average cartridge weight was 323.9 grains.. Extreme spread was a high of 325.0 grains, low of 322.7 grains. Difference of 2.3 grains.
A 2.3 grs. difference in a powder charge can change thing from mild to wild in a hurry.
But it surprised me. I figured the difference, even with factory loads would be much more than that.
However, after reading this thread and out of curiosity I had a box of factory Winchester 45 ACP, 230 gr SXT at hand. I weighed all 20 rounds. Average cartridge weight was 323.9 grains.. Extreme spread was a high of 325.0 grains, low of 322.7 grains. Difference of 2.3 grains.
A 2.3 grs. difference in a powder charge can change thing from mild to wild in a hurry.
But it surprised me. I figured the difference, even with factory loads would be much more than that.
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. . . if the reloader is as diligent and detail oriented as you are . . .
old&slow
Member
Still curious, I weighted 20 of my reloads.
45 ACP , 230 gr XTP, Winchester brass, dropped powder charges, loaded on a Dillon 550.
Average weight 327.0 grs. high 331.2 grs., low 325.0 grs. extreme spread of 6.2 grains.
45 ACP , 230 gr XTP, Winchester brass, dropped powder charges, loaded on a Dillon 550.
Average weight 327.0 grs. high 331.2 grs., low 325.0 grs. extreme spread of 6.2 grains.
fredj338
Member
And there you go. If you are trying o find a 4.5gr powder charge, where?
fredj338
Member
No I read fine. You point is just irrelevant. If I was being so careful as to weigh everything prior to putting it together, then weighing after isn't needed is it? You were missing he ops question entirely. So maybe you are the one that needs reading comprehension skills. You offered nothing to the question, shock. No one learned anything from your diatribe.
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We don't know enough about this man's ammo to really say much but what others have said about weighing not being a reliable method to find an overcharge is true, in general. Nevertheless, any scrutiny of the ammo is better than none.
I agree with the poster who said if you are "spooked" to either tear the ammo down for components or otherwise dispose of it. If something is giving you the creeps, better take note of it and act accordingly. Your eyes and fingers are too precious to ignore your instincts on something like this.
I agree with the poster who said if you are "spooked" to either tear the ammo down for components or otherwise dispose of it. If something is giving you the creeps, better take note of it and act accordingly. Your eyes and fingers are too precious to ignore your instincts on something like this.
buck460XVR
Member
What is considered a "seemingly reputable source"? Your best friend that you know is a diligent reloader, a private company that reloads commercially or some guy your wife works with?
Everyone here says they shoot their own reloads....does anyone here not trust their reloading procedures enough to allow others to shoot them? If you bought 100 rounds from him, he should have a license to produce ammo and thus insurance. If he doesn't and still sold you ammo, and you don't know him well enough to trust him, then throw 'em. More folks blow up guns with their own reloads than with reloads from others.
Everyone here says they shoot their own reloads....does anyone here not trust their reloading procedures enough to allow others to shoot them? If you bought 100 rounds from him, he should have a license to produce ammo and thus insurance. If he doesn't and still sold you ammo, and you don't know him well enough to trust him, then throw 'em. More folks blow up guns with their own reloads than with reloads from others.
There is no need for this "snarky" comment. I was not rude to you
I have weighed loaded rounds and I stand by my statement above. Please take your attitude elsewhere.
I've reloaded since 1975, never had a squib nor overcharge, and only two duds from the same pack of primers. I've tried weighing reloads and it just doesn't work out with the variances in case and bullet weights.
If it works for someone else, fine--but all it proved to me is no two rounds are identical.
If it works for someone else, fine--but all it proved to me is no two rounds are identical.
It ain't worth it.
I agree with rule3 that weighing loaded cartridges is a very poor way of comparing the charge weights within. If Bullseye were used at 3.2 grains, the 6.4 grains would be a double charge weighing 3.2 grains more. Bullets and cases can vary more than that.
I got what was called 'factory reloads' many years ago and after shooting them decided I was either going to shoot new ammo or my own reloads. No more iffy relooads.
I agree with rule3 that weighing loaded cartridges is a very poor way of comparing the charge weights within. If Bullseye were used at 3.2 grains, the 6.4 grains would be a double charge weighing 3.2 grains more. Bullets and cases can vary more than that.
I got what was called 'factory reloads' many years ago and after shooting them decided I was either going to shoot new ammo or my own reloads. No more iffy relooads.
Domino300
Member
I think the key here is in Red above. With big bore handguns, a double charge or squib can be detected as the loads can be 16 gn. plus and thus detected. Not so with 45 auto. 9mm etc.. OP hasn't indicated the cal.
Just don't buy handloads from anyone you don't personally know and trust your life to. If you want to save money on loads, get and read a reloading manual, then decide if you want to invest in reloading your self. If not get recommendations from shooting buddies of a "trusted" commercial reloader.
By simply weighing the whole cartridge? No. There are too many variables involved, not only with the other components, (ie, bullet, case and primer), but also with other things that can add weight, (ie, carbon fouling in the case, primer residue in the pockets, bullet lube if lead bullets were used and etc.) It's more than likely that your "source" is using a progressive press and the chances are very high that he's not prepping his cases very well, let alone trying to keep his ammo within a certain weight allowance.
Even if he did load them all careful enough to get them close enough in weight to show a difference, there is no guarantee that he didn't make a mistake in powder choice or charge weight. His reputation might be built on making the "hotter" loads everyone thinks they need now and he might be purposely exceeding safe pressure limits to get there. Also, the main rules in reloading are that what is safe in one gun, may not be safe in another, and just because it's printed in a manual doesn't mean it's safe to shoot in every gun.
Then there is the question of which powder was used. A little extra of a slow burning powder will jack the pressure up a bit. However the same amount "extra" of a fast burning powder can blow the gun to pieces.
So, while a quality scale will tell you something, it won't be all that you need to know.
I do, and have loaded everything from high quality match grade ammo to range fodder for people I know. Notice I said to "people I know" because the more you produce for other people, the less time you have for your own reloading and shooting.
Actually this isn't true. The mere fact that he sell reloads doesn't require him to possess an ammo manufacturers license. I don't think the license requires the holder to have insurance, but I'm not sure, especially under the current administration, where the truth is apt to change without prior notification.
That is probably true, but I'm still careful about whose ammo I shoot. My best friend and shooting buddy passed away recently, now I can start to break down the several thousand rounds of .223 he loaded for me for our trips to Wyoming several years ago. I'm not worried about them blowing my guns up, but they are hot enough to concern me about continued use of them. There are guys I know that I trust with no problem. There are guys that I know that I don't trust at all. Anyone I don't know falls into the second group, because of the guys that I do know that are in there too.
