An expensive (branded) strain-gauge electronic scale.So we have had a few threads to help out new guys over the last few weeks. Thread on best piece of equipment, thread on sharing your reloading bench setup. So how about we share what was the worst/biggest waste of money you purchased for reloading! This will take me a little bit of thinking as I have wasted a lot of money lol.
Brass! I was thinking about the wrong new truck. My son gave me some Hornady brass (too expensive for me, ha) but it seems to work fine and is holding up with heavy loads in my 308. Starline is my favorite now but R-P is what I use for my EDGE.Hornady brass
I always look in the brass to see if all are at the same powder level or for light loads I have a plastic rod to see if they are the same height.Cheap digital scale thinking it would be faster. After a major overpressure round went off and had smoke coming out around my bolt I tested it vs a good 'ol RCBC beam scale. I now take it slow and precise using a beam scale.
-RCBS concentricity tool
Some will probably disagree but that's what makes the world go round.
Mine was to different powder auto dispensers (The RCBS Charge master) I realy thought these would improve my loading time and accuracy, They did not. I bought one and found that half the time was spent dumping error charges. So based on other peoples recommendations I bought another one to speed up the process (Some had as many as 3).
The second one was no better at dropping consistent charges than the first. and only complicated the process. so I set out on a mission to evaluate the powder charging process altogether.
I found that with a very good powder measure and beam scale, speed and accuracy was better than using the charge masters. I loaded 50 rounds with one system and 50 more with the other and it wasn't even close.
I checked each load individually and found the measure and scale came out on top with almost 100 % accuracy. the charge master was close to 20% rejected. Curious as to why, I started dumping more loads and If i waited long enough it would give me an error message and the charge had to be dumped.
Once I got the powder measure calibrated and got my rhythm down there were almost no rejects. I also checked these loads with a digital scale that measures to 0.01 g so there would be no human factor. this confirmed that the beam scale was being read correctly and accurately.
Some feel that this level of accuracy is not necessary and I don't disagree, but when I load, I don't want or need any excuses for poor accuracy and except the human factor as the problem.
So I have reverted back to a simple and time proven method that gets me the most consistent loads in less time with less problems.
I sold both of my Charge masters and have never looked back. and of all the poor choices I have made for reloading this has been the most costly one.
J E CUSTOM