Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Methods to "settle" rifle powder

Aside from a drop tube, what are some common ways to do it? I've got a fairly compressed load worked up in new rifle using Nosler LRABs and I don't want to mash the nose of that relatively soft and pointy bullet any more than I have to when seating it. I mashed one tip out of a dozen or so I loaded a few days ago, but it could have been the bullet. Any tips to gain a little extra room? I'm not crunching too terribly much as is.

On a side note, I found that this bullet shoots pretty well for me in my 6.5x47L. (6.5mm 129gr version). RL17 makes 2,900fps from my 22.5" barrel and shoots around 1/2 MOA at 100yds. The bullet wasn't very picky with RL15 either, but I didn't quite get the speed. Looking forward to shooting at further distances in coming weeks.

Get that bullet shaped thingy your wife or significant other keeps in her bedside table. Cover the mouth of the case with your finger while it's in the loading block, and touch the case with that thingy for a few seconds.

Ahh. I do remember seeing that on one of those Midway USA tech tips on the Sportsmans Channel. If Larry says it'll work, I believe it......

Along with a drop tube, pour the powder slowly and tap the case rapidly with your finger as you pour it. That's how I got a powder charge that went up flush to the case mouth to settle down to the bottom of the neck.


If your wife is currently using her thingy, that is...

I've done it by partially seating the bullets of a batch in a loading block and then putting it on top of the running clothes dryer for 10 or fifteen minutes. Then the bullets can be fully seated.

I've also done it by charging the cases in a loading block and placing a piece of flat plastic on top. Big rubber bands hold the covering plate in place again for 10 or 15 minutes on top of the dryer. Seating the bullets as normal afterwards.

JPro, get a bit the appropriate size and ream the seater top out a little and that will give you a little extra room on your tips. powdr

The handiest way to fit more extruded powder into a case is the famous old swirl technique.

Place your powder charge into a scale pan via your favorite powder measure or scale. Pour the powder charge into your case using a funnel. Pour the charge slowly along the side of the funnel so that the kernals swirl down into the case.

An even more effective method is to use a vibratory brass tumbler. Hold the brass against the stem of the tumbler as you add the powder.

I purchased a foot vibrator for $5 in a yard sale. You touch the filled case to it and watch the powder settle instantly.

Rub the sides of the filled cases with an electric toothbrush.

Ya know, you guys hitting those cases with vibrating instruments are gonna be real shocked when the case lets out a little groan and spurts that powder back out at your face....

Do I understand correctly that you are or, are not using a combination of swirl technique when vibrating a settled load?

LOL

You just gotta know when to quit

I use and electric engraver



Maybe it's because my wife (or girlfriends) never needed one of those other thingies

A few years back Big Stick answered an identical post in detail. Stick posted that he prefers to admire pictures of George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Ingwe and Shrapnel and in that order while vibrating cases.

He said anybody who does it differently is a window licker.

either, or.......not both......not that it would hurt anything, just not necessary.

Use an old electric toothbrush. Works great.