Revisiting the Harrell's Powder Measure (throw).

General Firearms Reloading & Ammunition
1

Pappabear bought this unit back in 2017, but we got obsessed with exact output charges and kinda sidelined it.

I started running some IMR 4064 for some mixed brass 69 gr RMR on the Chargemaster, and the agony of the slow chargemaster was too much.

I dug this guy out and really got some acceptable consistency. +/- .2 grains with that God awful long grain rice powder.

I estimate the powder throw to be about 5 TIMES faster than the chargemaster, and honestly I set the Chargemaster .2 low so I can just run with the overthrows that it absolutely loves to give.

https://i.imgur.com/w3FQx58.jpg

2

Have you experimented with which throwers toss stick best? I’ve heard of both these, and Lee’s being best for that. I need to start working up some VV and 4350 loads for bolt guns soon, and I really don’t want to mess with tweezers or any sort of electronic device.

3

This Harrell’s is supposed to be the “kind”. It’s the only thrower I’ve ever used. VV and H4350 would flow good in this. IMR powders definitely cut powder kernels on some throws. But as long as the throw doesn’t have a really stiff kernal cut, I just run it.

I didn’t check weight on a hard powder kernel cut.

4

I use a Redding BR-3 I think it is, but being as anal as I am about my reloading I still weight every charge on my Gem Pro 250.
It’s fortunate that I enjoy reloading as much as shooting, so the additional time spent isn’t noticed.
Like Markm has said, set the measure a couple of tenths low if going straight into the case.

5

Just stop being filthy poors and buy a Prometheus.

6

I don’t even want to look that up. :sarcastic:

7

no, you do not.

8

LOL.

Correct. If you don’t know stay ignorant, because knowing will drive you insane knowing what it can do but not being willing to buy it.

9

Lynwood Harrell lives in my area & my best friend (deceased) lived next door to Lynwood. I have used my Harrell’s for years. I developed a bump technique that works for me.

10

I’m going to be running this measure a lot more. 7.62 gas gun ammo with 4064 will be so much faster to load.

11

I was impressed with my Harrell thrower. Bought a fancy balance to confirm results then trickle up. After a while, I just used the throw and moved on. Did not take long to throw a full tray of charges. My conclusion was similar to yours. +/- .2 grain with RL-15…

12

I can live with the +/- at literally 5 times the speed to meter powder. And if you know how to find a node (which I’m not the best at that process), the +/- shouldn’t change velocity much.

13

Have you considered trying to find a ball powder that will work for your loads? I’ll bet that will throw spot on with tiny deviations.

14

I run some ball for 5.56 on the Dillon. But I still love IMR powders and Varget is what I use for Bolt Gun 308.

The Harrell’s has a niche place for me now. I wish I’d have used it when we were burning through 8 lbs of IMR 3031 for 223 blasting ammo.

15

I use a powder measure whenever possible, definitely saves time. There was a Harrels at a garage sale last year but I missed it by a few minutes. I’m currently using a Lee PPM and a Deluxe PPM. They’re pretty decent.

With a little parameter tuning and the straw mod, my chargemaster runs much faster.

16

My Chargemaster is a friggin psycho. It’ll RANDOMLY fast charge a 223 load like it’s spinning up a 308 or 300 WM charge and overshoot the hell out of the charge.

17

I’ve had mine do that a couple of times. Things that have helped are letting it warm up for 30 minutes and calibrating before throwing charges. I also make sure it is away from fluorescent lights, cell phones, draft sources such as A/C vents, and vibrations from music, etc.

18

We shot a 12 round sample of the loaded ammo today and there was an S.D. of 12.8. Very acceptable.

19

Do you recall your ES number?

Was this a 223 load?

20

My brother uses a Harrells and loves it. I’ve used a Redding BR-3 forever.

Mark, you can modify your Chargemaster’s settings with a few keystrokes. I love their convenience but otherwise they’re agonizingly slow. When I load 7.62 or .338 Lapua in bulk I’ll run two machines at the same time (I can drop the charge from the first machine as the second finishes dispensing and balancing).