Spilling Powder While Charging Cases Help Please

s1mp13m4n

s1mp13m4n

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Hello everyone. I have an issue that I can not seem to solve. I am charging 38 special brass with Accurate #5. The brass is sitting in a 38/357 loading block. I am using a Lee funnel and Lee 0.3cc dipper. The dipped powder is going into the funnel. After I charge fifty rounds there is piwder on the block. The loose piwder fills about 1/3 of the 0.3cc dipper. What am I doing wrong? There should be no gunpiwder on the loading block at all.
 
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That amount of powder over 50 rounds is negligible, especially when using Lee Dippers.

There are better funnels on the market, but I wouldn’t bother. RCBS funnels are good and I’ve used them for decades, but LEE funnels are fine. I recently picked up a used Frankford Arsenal set with specific caliber bushings, but I would never buy them at close to retail.
 
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bigggbbruce said:
Dump.. tap, tap.. on funnel.. move to next case..

A little static electricity?? I have graphite I rub on to eliminate sticking on my scale..
Click to expand...

Did not think about static cling. Yep that is happening. I bet it is happening when I move the funnel from place to place. Dump tap tap. How simple is that? I’m an idiot. LOL
 
s1mp13m4n said:
Did not think about static cling. Yep that is happening. I bet it is happening when I move the funnel from place to place. Dump tap tap. How simple is that? I’m an idiot. LOL
Click to expand...

No, not an idiot these are all things we have learned by trial and error:)
Could also be in your humidity issues where the powder is sticking to the funnel or moving the dipper too fast and the powder blowing off the top?
Now if you pick up a case and have a lot of powder in the block you better look for a hole in the bottom of the case, otherwise known as a missing primer LOL
The powdered graphite makes for a good dry lube on the funnel but you can also pour your powder through it a time or two and it will tend to naturally seal and become more slick too.
Karl
 
Check to see if your funnel is fully seated on the case mouth. I just started loading .38 ACP recently. I was having the same problem. I discovered that the shorter cases weren't properly seated in my funnel. I need to make a thinner loading block to let the case mouths be more exposed. (sounds kind of risque, doesn't it).
 
I learned a trick many years ago to stop powder from clinging to a plastic funnel. I wash the funnel with liquid dishwashing soap and water. Don't rinse the funnel with plain water. Let the soap dry on it. Works on powder measure tubes also.
 
Invest in Lee Turret with Auto-measure...
I now have two - a three hole and a four hole and a total of about ten turrets all set up in different cals - PISTOL AND RIFLE
A lot of people slag off Lee vs RCBS etc I don't have a problem
But if anyone wants a RCBS 4X4 I got one For Sale
c/w 4 shell plates and a bunch of dies - buyer collects
BTW - I don't work for Lee and LIVE in UK.
 
It can only be one of two things. Your funnel doesnt fit or your technique is lacking. Sounds like you sourced it.
 
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SPILLED POWDER

Hmmm? Well, no matter how careful I am, I find a speck or two of powder when reloading. No matter how I wipe out the pan with a dryer cloth I find a speck or two hangs back in the pan then comes loose. Not enough to concern me but I dont like it either. I use a RCBS Charge Master, so each is loaded one at a time. I just clean it up and NEVER put it back in the can or reservoir.
 
When that happens to me, I find the mouth of the funnel has caught on the surrounding opening of the RCBS loading block, preventing the funnel from fully seating on the case mouth.
 
By "dump,tap,tap" he means dump the powder measure in the funnel, then tap it against the side of the funnel a couple times to tap out any loose powder. I too think that your funnel isn't seating all the way against the case.
 
Are you holding the funnel with one hand while dumping the powder with the other? Holding the funnel will insure it's flush with the case mouth minimizing any spilling. Like said above, tap the side of the funnel to be sure all the powder drops into the case.

Did you shoot your ammo yet? I might have missed the report.
 
It's very easy to NOT get the mouth of the funnel directly over the case mouth. Any offset or funnel leaning will leave grains of powder on the case holding block .
Make sure there is enough room for the funnel to fit all the way down and over the case mouth . A loading block hole that is too deep will interfer with the funnel .
After dumping powder into funnel , tap on funnel with dipper to dislodge any clinging grains , lift the funnel 1/16 th inch and tap again to make sure the flared case mouth isn't sticking to the funnel . I've lifted the funnel with a case stuck just enough to drop back down and spill a few grains of powder.
You can do the anti static soap coating / dryer sheet rubbing things , they help a little but not for long...tapping works best .
Gary
 
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I got in the habit, many years ago, of watching what I was doing, especially when charging cases. I make sure the funnel is snug against the case, dip, dump (watching if any powder falls out around the case/funnel), and tap the dipper on the side of the funnel, and watching when I remove the funnel for any stray powder. I have a Lee funnel, an RCBS funnel and back when I was reloading .223, I made paper cones to use as funnels because my two funnels were not a "perfect" fit...
 
ArchAngelCD said:
Are you holding the funnel with one hand while dumping the powder with the other? Holding the funnel will insure it's flush with the case mouth minimizing any spilling. Like said above, tap the side of the funnel to be sure all the powder drops into the case.

Did you shoot your ammo yet? I might have missed the report.
Click to expand...

Yes, I am holding the funnel upright so it does not lean to one side while pouring the dipper into the funnel. I noticed powder sticking to the funnel. That was my problem.
 
Plastic funnels are ok................... but I picked up a small hole
tin/aluminum one some where and it works for me.

Smoothed the walls out with some steel wool and gave it a wax job.

A good fit over the case is important..........
good luck.
 
Nevada Ed said:
Plastic funnels are ok................... but I picked up a small hole
tin/aluminum one some where and it works for me.

Smoothed the walls out with some steel wool and gave it a wax job.

A good fit over the case is important..........
good luck.
Click to expand...
Agree , small aluminum powder funnels are the best...hard to find but they work great, powders flows like water .

For transferring powder , from your dipping cup or from your measure reservoir back into the powder container a slightly larger aluminum or stainless steel funnel works so much better than plastic . I found a set of 3 stainless steel funnels , small , medium and large , in the cooking section of wally mart ... absolutely the best thing for transferring powder... beat plastic funnels seven ways to Sunday !
No static and free flowing.
Gary
 
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