Re: Cutting powder?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Grump</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I call BS. One or two or five kernels out of how many hundred/thousand in the charge? Come on.
I believe the common belief is that cutting = the charge might be on the heavy side, a threat to uniformity.
However, I have actually *measured* thrown charges from at least three types of measures (Ideal #55, RCBS, I think it's called Uni-Flo, Dillon...maybe a Li'l Dandy too...) and found that most of the time, the throw that does NOT cut any kernels are usually the heaviest.
Perhaps someday I will transfer all those scraps of paper with weight results to spreadsheets. What was odd, though, was that overall variance and standard deviation between charges was *smaller* with the #55 when I did NOT use the "knocker" on the powder pickup position, but the variation and sd was *smaller* with the Dillon slide-type measure when I DID rap the housing 3-5 times with a 3/8-inch open end wrench on powder pickup.
With either method, though, there were frequent enough .4-grain heavier than average throws that I don't trust them for ammo to be used beyond 300 yards. Even if I just tossed the "no cut" charges. </div></div>
+1... I have to agree. I cut kernels all the time. Even in my benchrest loads. If you feel 1 or 2 cut. If it makes you feel bad, or causes concern, weight the charge.