Ken Mollohan

Here is my method of setting my Redding measure. It’s been very useful and reliable for my use. It virtually eliminates the tedious ‘drop and weigh, adjust, drop & weigh” trial measure setting process.

For any new powder, or new batch of powder:

• 1. I zero the micrometer reading, throw ten charges and weigh the few flakes that are dropped.

WRITE IT DOWN. Return powder to the top of the hopper.

• 2. Set the micrometer to read 1.0. Throw ten charges and weigh the total powder dropped.

WRITE IT DOWN. Return powder to the top of the hopper.

• 3. Set the micrometer to read 51.0. Throw ten charges and weigh the total powder dropped.

WRITE IT DOWN. Return powder to the top of the hopper.

• 4. Set the micrometer to read 101.0. Throw ten charges and weigh the total powder dropped.

WRITE IT DOWN. Return powder to the top of the hopper.

Write the following information on a label on the side of the canister:

A reading of 1.0 = (reading 2 - reading 1) 10 grains of powder.

A reading of 1.0 = (reading 3 - readings 2 & 1) 50 grains of powder.

A reading of 1.0 = (reading 4 - readings 2 & 1) 100 grains of powder.

Note that these values should be - and almost always are - the same. It is very seldom that I see a difference that isn’t obviously due to increasing accuracy of larger samples. For example, I might have three values of 0.9, 0.89 and 0.92. I can pretty well rely on a change of 0.9g powder resulting from a micrometer change of 1.0 units. For example, If I want a load of 45g of this powder, I estimate a measure setting of (45/0.9 =) 50.0. If I KNOW I’m nowhere near high pressure levels, I will sometimes use this to set the measure and go on from there. If I feel a need for precision, I will check weigh the result. Let’s say I find that ten charges at a setting of 50.0 weighs 48.9g, being short by 1.1g.  Increasing the measure setting by (1.1/0.9 =) 1.2 units will put me dead on the money.