N310 metering

Loading .45 with a Dillon Square Deal B and using N310 for the first time.  Seems to fluctuate a tenth of a grain up or down (checked every round for first 50 then every ten till I just decided screw it and started cranking out the rounds).  Was wondering if it was my scale, Pact electronic which has been consistent, but when I went to empty it after noticed the powder seemed to be sticking to the sides of the powder reservoir from I assume static electricity.  Haven't noticed this with other powders including VV 3N37.  Is this normal?  Ammo shoots good/accurate.

"Ammo shoots good/accurate"

Rifle shooters are anal about +/-.1 gr. @ 200-1000 yds.

At 25/50 y.... don't be...

I use that powder in a Dillon 550 and have not had that experience. I use a Dillon beam scale and it is spot on to the point that once I set it, I don't check it very often.

Are you using an electronic scale? Is the air conditioning on? 

Measure 30 rounds write down the measurement. 

Take the average' 

Calculate the Standard deviation its the sum of squared differences , excel also has a STD function marco. STDEV I think. 

Sum 1-30 (N-Avg)(Squared)if your Standard Deviation is under 1 you are good.

More time dry firing less time being reload anal is what I believe

Christopher Miceli wrote:More time dry firing less time being reload anal is what I believe

True that

rich.tullo wrote:

Christopher Miceli wrote:More time dry firing less time being reload anal is what I believe

True that

I've had better results with live fire training than dry firing.  But I agree with the statement about being to  anal  with reloading.

Thanks for all the replies.  Yes on electronic scale and no on A/C.  Out in the garage and it is a little humid.  Probably am too anal,  just hadn't noticed the variance using 3N37 or 231.  I'll just keep going and spend time shooting.

if you are seeing static electricity on your powder tube wipe it down with a dryer sheet... they also work great in your tumbler to pickup dirt..

Electronic Scales round up to the nearest 1th or 2ths. If it is inconsistent it could be variance in the scale. Thus I would not fret over a 10th. If your load is 4.0 and its throwing over 4.2 or under 3.8 then I would be concerned. 

Also if you tear weighing the charge with the powder in the case, then the error 1th of on the brass and the error 1th  on the charge could make that method a little difficult to get accurate measurement. 

RT

cheap electronic scales are not exact and by cheap I mean most everyone sold for reloading by reloading equipment makers. If you want more accuracy step up to ohaus or others in scientific grade but they cost a lot more. The best thing is just to set your powder measure and then throw 10 charges and weigh and get a average in the charge you want. oh, 310 is one of the best metering powders you can get but there is always a but,,, its somewhat  sensitive to hot and cold, so if its cold you might need to bump up the charge a little if its hot then just hold on!

I set my scale empty at zero and check at 5 gr with the RCBS wire weight.  Then if I throw 3-4 charges in a row that weight in between 0-5 gr, like 3.8gr, then I feel I am good to go.  I have extended that to 10 charges and taken the total which is seldom exactly 38gr.  I have more confidence working in the actual charge range 0-5 gr on my M5 type scale.

I've used dryer sheets in the tumbler but never to wipe down powder tube.  Tried it and works great, thanks!  I weigh by dumping powder into a cup on the scale.  Loaded another 1050 rounds yesterday at 4.5 and spot checking seemed pretty consistent again.  Not sure what was up, scale on fritz or humidity or maybe the dryer sheet did it.  Either way cranking out the rounds and life is good.  Thanks for all the info/suggestions!

what are you loading, 185 fmj-hp? that's a hot load for any lead bullet unless its lighter than a 185.

Zero 185gr JHP

I'VE FOUND WITH ELECTRIC SCALES THAT THEY TEND TO FLUCTUATE WHEN FIRST TURNED ON. I LET MINE "WARM UP" BEFORE I WEIGH CHARGES. THAN I WEIGH 10 IN A PAN AT ONCE AND DIVIDE BY 10. FOR AN AVERAGE. MY LEAD 185GR IS 3.85 OF VV310. WITH 10 CHARGES IN THE PAN OF COURSE IT WEIGHTS 38.5 GRS. JP

These days my Gempro 250 is on 24x7. I still occasionally notice some drift but when I tare the scale empty, put on the pan and check the weight the pan is exactly correct. I then tare the scale with the pan, remove it  and check the negative weight. I can check the system at anytime, by removing the pan and determining the weight difference, it should be 134.56gr to 134.58gr. the scale has a .02 potential variation. 

My 185 loads are 3.8 of BE. Depending on humidity they may be 3.82 or 3.84 but in any case they are 3.8 +- less than .05gr

I having endearing trust in my Ohaus 10-10 balance beam.. It's almost as old as I am.. I no longer use, have, or stock VV310.. It metered very well in the 1050.. I also use a quite a lot of BA-10 for very light short  line loads, which looks almost identical to VV310.. It also meters very well.

What kind of loads of the BA-10 for 185gr Zero's?  Googling it sounds clean and a chunk cheaper than N310.