weighing reloads

[venomballistics]

A waste of time, especially with handgun cartridges that have small powder charges. Weight of each component will vary enough to tell you nothing. Far better to pay close attention when loading and visually inspect the powder charge in every case before seating a bullet. If a measure won't throw a charge consistently, don't use that powder.

This has largely been my experience as well.
Even in cartridges with generous charges, the combined run out of everything else will mask overcharged and undercharged rounds.
It's nearly useless

 

[rockquarry]

In my process, this is what I do.

Nothing wrong with that.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

Wasting your time. The variance in weights of cases and bullets will constantly give you false info as to the charge weight.

X2.................Waste of time.

 

[judgecrater]

Wasting your time. The variance in weights of cases and bullets will constantly give you false info as to the charge weight.

I have tested your theory. Absolutely true.

 

[Collo Rosso]

Another vote for wasting time. Best thing is to get a routine down that verifies the charge. On the Dillon 550 its became my habit to see the powder charge before I place the bullet. With the rock chucker it's rifle cases in trays charged with a RCBS uniflow. The tray then goes under a lamp were I can see every charge. Works for me.

 

[wrangler5]

Cleaning the brass in a wet tumbler with stainless steel pins leaves a very shiny interior. I have a center light that fits the Dillon 550 tool heads, and even with tall revolver cartridges where I can't see the powder directly, I can see the reflection in the shiny case wall. I've never had the Dillon powder measure throw a low charge, or no charge, but if it ever did I'm pretty sure it would be easy to spot in a case with shiny walls and good light.

 

[Yankeetom]

A thread on squib loads brought this to my attention, out of 34 responses only 2 people brought up that they weigh their reloads to prevent/check for squibs.
How many reloaders here weigh their finished round? One would have to sort their brass by head stamp but can you still figure out the powder charge? Factory ammo varies by a grain or 2. I don't sort my brass but I would if it was a fool proof way to to stop a squib before it happens.
What do the reloaders here say?

I only use brass with the same head stamp, either from fired factory ammo or new. Cost a little up front but to me it’s worth it. The main thing is I weigh every charge, it takes a little longer but it’s much more accurate than relying on a powder thrower to hold tenth’s of a grain! My spread numbers are usually under forty fps and sd is always around ten fps. The weight of the finished round means nothing unless you’re not sure of a double charge.
Tom

 

[rmc]

Weighing a round of loaded handgun ammo may not catch a squib remember the cases vary in weight and the bullets vary in weight ... my answer is to reload on a single stage press, in batches of 50 , and reload in such a way that I can inspect the charged cases 3 times ... with my eyeballs ... and check the powder level in each case very closely ... Three Times , before seating a bullet ... My eyes have never lied to me ... empty , partial charge , correct charge and double charge cases are easy to spot .
Since doing the 3 X Eyeball Check ... no problems going on 45 years ... your eyes are usually very good at spotting things .
Gary

I second that.

 

[bigggbbruce]

I don't sort my brass but I would if it was a fool proof way to to stop a squib before it happens.
What do the reloaders here say?

I have a fool proof method regarding charge weight.

VISUALLY INSPECT CHARGE BEFORE STUFFING A BULLET ON TOP.

 

[DWalt]

Like many above, I charge all primed cases with propellant as a separate operation, then visually check that every case has the same powder level using a flashlight prior to bullet seating.

 

[Neumann]

Variations in the weight of mixed components exceeds acceptable variations in powder loads. At best, you might detect a squib or double load, but there are far better means to that end (e.g., a double charge detector, or visual check). There is no substitute for exercising safe procedures while reloading, especially if interrupted.

 

[cracker57]

I think the responses to this thread are spot on, with 4 grains of powder it is impossible to spot a no charge or if it would fit even a double charge. One will find a variance of more than 4 grains in components alone with the brass being the biggest
I do look into every case before seating a bullet, I also added a small scope to my dillon 650 that connects to my phone and shoots a image straight into the case along with a dillon powder check.
I still have a rod for squibs in my range bag.

 

[bobcantshoot]

I totally agree with the double check. I use a Lee turret but, do not, use auto index. I will weigh case and primer together - insert primer and add powder - Re-weigh to verify charge - put that in the rack. When 50 rack is full then visually look into all to insure no doubles. Then insert bullet to depth and inspect for ripples or splits. I trust it.

 

[sjmjax]

I can only confirm what most have already said.

My last job before retirement was chief production engineer at an ammunition assembly plant for a well known international manufacturer.

We were sent a shipment of 38 special ammunition produced by an European subsidiary. It was suspected of having inconsistent or no powder charges.

We spent considerable effort trying to develop a reliable procedure to detect under charged or empty cases.

Despite it all being the same lot of powder, same lot of cartridge cases, same lot of bullets, we could not reliably detect an empty cartridge or determine if any powder present was within parameters.

Tests would occasionally find over norm cases empty and under norm cases with standard charge.

Only acceptable solution for liability and reputation reasons was to disassemble the entire lot of over 100,000 rounds.

The only real solution as most have emphasized is to establish reliable procedures than prevent erratic power charges to begin with.

 

[bobcantshoot]

sjmjax, Holy Hannah, I can't imagine dismantling 100000 rounds. Unless there is an automated method, It would be cheaper to just scrap the lot. Cheaper than a squib lawsuit.

 

[BC38]

A waste of time, especially with handgun cartridges that have small powder charges. Weight of each component will vary enough to tell you nothing. Far better to pay close attention when loading and visually inspect the powder charge in every case before seating a bullet. If a measure won't throw a charge consistently, don't use that powder.

My thoughts exactly.
Even if you used sorted brass from the same lot and they were all within +/1 1gr, and you weighed all the bullets to make sure they are within +/- 1gr or so of the exact same weight, you still wouldn't be able to tell anything.
Putting together a 1gr heavier than average bullet and a 1gr heavier than average case, then comparing that round to another round with a 1gr lighter than average bullet and a 1gr lighter than average case, you'd have a total variation of as much as 4gr between the 2 rounds.
So how do you tell if that 4gr difference is missing powder, a double charge of powder, or just variations in the weights of the components?

 

[sniper]

I set my powder measure bushing, then weigh 5 charges, then check the weight every 20 or so charges. Then, before I seat the bullets, I look down each case with a flashlight for any visibly different load levels.

 

[bobcantshoot]

Oh absolutely. My flashlight sits right next to the rack.