Going to be trying loose powder.


AJ

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You will need your powder of choice, a spout or flask, and a powder measure at the minimum. For powder, you need to decide if you want to use Triple 7 2f or 3f. The 3f is finer and will give you more velocity. If you go the Pyrodex route, again you can use P which is 3f, RS which is 2f, or Select.

I changed the medhod I weigh my charges. I now, throw some charges of a given weight by volume and weigh them on my scale. Once I have an average, I weigh all of my loads by this weight. Using this method has given me much better consistancy and accuracy. You can not use weight = to volume though. A 100 gr by volume load of RS is only 80 grains or so by weight.

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Re: Going to be trying loose powder.

Yep, you got it. I have a battery powered scale I take to the range and as I work the load up, I throw three loads in the powder measure (by volume) and weigh each one. I use the average to weigh the loads I test on paper and fill my speedloaders with. When I find the load I want, I weigh all of my charges and fill the speedloaders.

I too would start at 100 and go up. Congrats on the use of a rangefinder, once you get to the far end of the 200 yard shot, 10 yards can make a big difference.

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Re: Going to be trying loose powder.

I use this cheapie little red plastic spout that screws on the jug of powder. I dump that into my cheapie measure. Both of mine combined didn't cost me $6.00 at Wal Mart. You can get as good quality as you want though. Since I now weigh the charges, I don't see a need for a good one.

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Re: Going to be trying loose powder.

I don't go as far as AJ but will have to try it. I too use the red spout from Walmart. I measure by volume and shoot 2F Triple 7. I found with the Triple 7 that if you are consistent with how you measure the loads get real consistent. I am shooting 120 grains with the 250 Barnes bullet. Chrono speeds of 2215fps with but 3 feet deviation ever - low 2214 high 2217

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Re: Going to be trying loose powder.

Using blackpowder substitutes, the charges are measured by volume not weight. When someone says they are shooting 100 gr loads, its a volume equal to 100 grains of black powder. Pyrodex is lighter than black powder as is Triple 7. Standard powder measures are typically marked in 5 or 10 grain increments. Here are some powder measures for volume measurements. I set the powder measure to my desired weight and I fill it up, tapping, shaking, whatever your favorite method is since you have to do it consistantly and I weigh each charge on an electronic powder scale. This will give me an average actual weight. I set all of my loads to that true physical weight instead of by volume.

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