Trouble dropping 4831SC with my RCBS & Lee powder measure. Anybody else have this issue?

[eclipse57]

I use both an RCBS uniflow powder measure and the Lee perfect powder measure. For the most part I use them exclusively with IMR-4895 and Varget. Typically they are both trouble free after I get the initial charge setup adjusted.

This weekend I finally got around to loading for my 30-06. I decided to use some Hodgdon 4831SC that I bought last year, but never used. Initially I used the Lee measure. While dropping loads, I noticed that powder was dropping on the downstroke as well as the upstroke. I thought that possibly the Lee powder measure was at fault so I switched over to the RCBS. I found that I was having the same issue with the RCBS measure. I did not think that this was possible because of the rotor design.

I emptied all powder out of the RCBS measure. Cleaned the measure to get all 4831SC residue out of the measure and filled the RCBS with IMR4895. I setup the measure for a load that I use for my 308. I did not have any issue with the 4895.

Has anybody else had this problem with 4831SC? If so is there a known remedy?

TIA

 

[former naval person]

Scale or RCBS Chargemaster.

 

[Kirkd]

I use the same powder. Never tried it with a drop powder dispensor. I learned a long time ago that stick powder doesn't meter well. I tried on Varget. I use the RCBS charge master for stick powders such as H4831SC, Varget, RL-19, etc.

I find that this is a good method for a precision rifle long range shooting. For my other rifle calibers that I plow through a,mo at the range, I choose ball powder because it meters well. Powders such as CFE, H322, H335. For pistols calibers, I find that flake type powder meters inconsistently, but with shot shell reloadong, its "good enough" as I load shot shell at low velocities and am usually 2.0 grains below maximum charge.

I know that is long winded, but I went through it and figured I would pass along what I have learned.



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[FLIGHT762]

It just is the nature of the beast (I just realized this is my 666th post) with the rotor powder dispensers. For large kernel powders it is necessary to drop charges just below the desired weight and then trickle to the target weight. It is what it is. Most of the IMR Rifle powders (3031,4064,4350 and 4831) will not drop precisely. Some short kernel powders like IMR 8208 XBR, H-4895, Benchmark, Reloader 15 and AR Comp will drop pretty well. All of the ball powders drop really well.

When I'm using these large kernel powders, I trickle up. The only other way around it is a tool like the RCBS Charge Master.