Digital Scales

[Bryan Austin]

However 70gr of one brand may take up much more volume (or less) than another brand.

Ah ha, thanks!!! Someone already told me that sometimes different batches of the same bran may also weigh different.

Goex weighed 3gr less for the same volume as Schuetzen.

Thanks!

To the best of my knowledge todays modern 44/40 case holds approx. 2.2cc (or about 35gr) of BP  with a 1/16'' to 1/8'' compression. It's all about the volume (CCs), weight (grains) is just an approx reference as far as I'm concerned. Check out DJ's photos in the Dark Arts.

In my second post, directly below my first post, did you look at my photos?  I lernd't it from DJ!!!!!!!   
http://www.cascity.com/forumhall/index.php/topic,18257.0.html

Thanks Guys!!!

[Fairshake]

Savvy Jack, I shoot a 535 gr Postell with "weighed" 68 gr. charge. Those that say you just dump in powder by volume do not know of what they speak. That much Goex Cartridge will fill a Starline 45-70 case to the top if not drop tubed. The case is then given a .30 Walters wad which is compressed with a compression die to around .340 before seating the bullet to a OAL of 2.85 You have two types of BP loading and some people become confused with the process. With one you load by volume but you do load by weight on those BPCR and Creedmoor loads. I use a $35 electronic scale that was purchased off that E-Site. I check it with my RCBS 750 and it's on all the time. You will not find a single long range rifle shooter that just dumps powder in a case and seats the bullet. Later David 

[john boy]

BUt I thought 70 grs of BP no matter the weight is all you can get in those things, just like xx grs in the 44-40

Sorry Jack - Wrong! Just 'I thought' will get you in trouble and make you drip from behind the ears showing your lack of experience.  Would suggest that if you haven't reloaded the 45-70's, it would be best to just be quite because there are sufficient 45-70 reloaders in the Den that will prove you wrong.  So ...

Using Starline 45-70 cases and a 0.060 LDPE wad, I load a 540gr Mini Groove Bullet seated at the 1st GG band with 75grs by weight of Swiss 1.5 ... that is poured in and then vibrated and then compressed. Very good 1000yd recipe BTW.  I also reload the 2.1's with 72grs by weight for 1000yd reloads using Postells because they wont's seat out as far as the Mini Grooves

[Bryan Austin]

Sorry Jack - Wrong! Just 'I thought' will get you in trouble and make you drip from behind the ears showing your lack of experience.  Would suggest that if you haven't reloaded the 45-70's, it would be best to just be quite because there are sufficient 45-70 reloaders in the Den that will prove you wrong.  So ...

Using Starline 45-70 cases and a 0.060 LDPE wad, I load a 540gr Mini Groove Bullet seated at the 1st GG band with 75grs by weight of Swiss 1.5 ... that is poured in and then vibrated and then compressed. Very good 1000yd recipe BTW.  I also reload the 2.1's with 72grs by weight for 1000yd reloads using Postells because they wont's seat out as far as the Mini Grooves

I never claimed to be right!

Guess I could do the same with the 44-40 with different weight bullets to? (That is a question)

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy

There is absolutely nothing wrong with keeping a scale on your bench for Black Powder. How else are you going to know if your dipped loads are consistant, even for CAS loads? Charges portioned out by dipping can vary greatly depending on your technique. Even with a powder measure, your technique in operating the mechanism will have an effect on how consistant your loads are. Always operate the measure, whatever type it is, with the same force every time you throw the lever or operate the rotor to keep your loads as consistant as possible. Different amounts of force can cause vibrations which will pack the powder differently for each throw. You need to keep everything consistant for consistant loads. And your scale is your best way to establish a base line.

I have an inexpensive Lyman digital scale that I use for both Smokeless, and as a sanity check for CAS BP loads. Don't remember the model #, it isn't made anymore anyway. Go for price, the electronics inside are pretty much all the same.

As far as the 38-40 or 44-40 holding 40 grains, I have said this many times but obviously it needs saying again. Different brands of BP weigh different amounts. They do not all weigh the same. For instance, according to my notebook, 2.2CC of Elephant FFg weighed about 37.5 grains, the same amount of Goex FFg weighed about 34.5 grains, and th4e same amount of Schuetzen FFg weighs about 33 grains. In addition, modern cases have less powder capacity than the old fashioned balloon head cases. So while an old ballonhead 44-40 may well have held 40 grains of 19th Century BP under a bullet, my modern cases will only hold around 33 grains of Schuetzen FFg under a Mav-Dutchman bullet.

[john boy]

Which, and least expensive, digital scale would you recommend for BP (Goex Products)?

OK, let's get back on the thread topic ... scales

I've been using digital scales like this one (under 20 bucks) since 2004 when I got into BPCR.  In fact, I have 3 of the digital scales and they work.

Here's an example of a cheap scale that works that measure in grains (gr)!
http://cgi.ebay.com/100-x-0-01-Gram-Digital-Scale-Weight-05-Carat-Oz-Gn_W0QQitemZ260460521774QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item3ca4a8292e&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

[Bryan Austin]

lol, I decided on this one with the .2 accuracy.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120456950474&ssPageName=ADME:B:EOIBSA:US:1123#ht_1323wt_966

[john boy]

Jack, your in safe territory with a 0.2gr accuracy digital.
Why?  Because when reloading with original gunpowder, accuracy will remain the same with a 0.5gr variance.  I got this choice bit of knowledge from VBull, a recognized world class shooter.  He was on the winning 2007 World Creedmoor Match Team in South Africa that year.  Plus, between him and his wife, who only shoot Creedmoor (800-900-1000yds), they hold over 40 National Titles

Just don't use the digital scale in a drafty area, excessive cold temperature and keep it flat on a hard surface when reloading.  And save your invoice if you bought one with a Lifetime Warranty.  I have returned 2 of my Neva digital scales for new ones.  It wasn't because they were out of calibration, it's because they just died.  I load all my multiple caliber BPCR reloads using a digital, except the 45 Colts for CAS