Lee Powder Dippers

cdoc42 · November 4, 2006, 03:06 PM

There was a thread in the past about using these dippers. They come in a set if 15, ranging from a volume labeled as 0.3 to 4.3.

I made a chart which enables me to more rapidly get close to the charge weight I want by using various combinations of these 15. In the past I would just pick up various dippers, trying to get close. Drove me nuts. This chart helps a lot.

As an example, I wanted 69gr of IMR 7828, so I started with dipper #15, volume 4.3. That delivered about 60gr. So I went to 4.6 by using dippers 1 and 15- still not enough. Jumped to 5.0 by using #3 and 15. That delivered 68.6gr and I trickled the rest in.

I'll see if I can put the chart here for the rest of you. Just use a fine magic marker to number your dippers.

VOLUME DIPPER#

0.3 1
0.4 None
0.5 2
0.6 1,1
0.7 3
0.8 1,2
0.9 1,1,1
1.0 4
1.1 1,1,2
1.2 2,3
1.3 5
1.4 3,3
1.5 2,4
1.6 6
1.7 3,4
1.8 2,5
1.9 7
2.0 3,5
2.1 2,6
2.2 8
2.3 3,6
2.4 2,7
2.5 9
2.6 3,7
2.7 2,8
2.8 10
2.9 3,8
3.0 2,9
3.1 11
3.2 3,9
3.3 2,10
3.4 12
3.5 3,10
3.6 2,11
3.7 13
3.8 3,11
3.9 2,12
4.0 14
4.1 3,12
4.2 2,13
4.3 15
4.4 3,13
4.5 2,14
4.6 1,15
4.7 3,14
4.8 2,15
4.9 2,4,12
5.0 3,15
5.1 3,3,13
5.2 1,2,4,12
5.3 4,15
5.4 3,3,15
5.5 2,4,14
5.6 5,15
5.7 3,3,15
5.8 2,4,15
5.9 6,15
6.0 3,4,15

cdoc42 · November 4, 2006, 03:11 PM

The excel spreadsheet wouldn't copy with spaces. The volumes range from 0.3 to 6.0 - Move the dipper# over one space to match 1 to 3,4,15. Sorry about that.

amamnn · November 4, 2006, 03:58 PM

That's a nice chart-- and fine as long as powder density never changes, which unfortunately, it does from lot to lot. Without knowing the powder density--which requires the use of a scale and some math, dippers are not going to be as accurate as a lot of folks want their powder charges to be. On the other hand, for plinking and probably most of hunting applications, you don't need to worry unless your new bottle of powder is at the high end of the density allowance and your old one was at the low end, or vice versa.

cdoc42 · November 5, 2006, 11:31 AM

If I'm just loading 20-40 rounds or so, I use the dippers to get as close as I can to the intended weight, then hand trickle to the last 0.1 grain.

I use a RCBS Powdermaster when I load 100 or more rifle rounds but it's s-l-o-w. So I dip as close to 90% of the intended charge, then hit the button, let it finish the task. While it's trickling, I'm seating the previously weighed round.

November 4, 2006, 03:06 PM	#1
cdoc42 Senior Member Join Date: March 13, 2005 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 1,687	Lee Powder Dippers There was a thread in the past about using these dippers. They come in a set if 15, ranging from a volume labeled as 0.3 to 4.3. I made a chart which enables me to more rapidly get close to the charge weight I want by using various combinations of these 15. In the past I would just pick up various dippers, trying to get close. Drove me nuts. This chart helps a lot. As an example, I wanted 69gr of IMR 7828, so I started with dipper #15, volume 4.3. That delivered about 60gr. So I went to 4.6 by using dippers 1 and 15- still not enough. Jumped to 5.0 by using #3 and 15. That delivered 68.6gr and I trickled the rest in. I'll see if I can put the chart here for the rest of you. Just use a fine magic marker to number your dippers. VOLUME DIPPER# 0.3 1 0.4 None 0.5 2 0.6 1,1 0.7 3 0.8 1,2 0.9 1,1,1 1.0 4 1.1 1,1,2 1.2 2,3 1.3 5 1.4 3,3 1.5 2,4 1.6 6 1.7 3,4 1.8 2,5 1.9 7 2.0 3,5 2.1 2,6 2.2 8 2.3 3,6 2.4 2,7 2.5 9 2.6 3,7 2.7 2,8 2.8 10 2.9 3,8 3.0 2,9 3.1 11 3.2 3,9 3.3 2,10 3.4 12 3.5 3,10 3.6 2,11 3.7 13 3.8 3,11 3.9 2,12 4.0 14 4.1 3,12 4.2 2,13 4.3 15 4.4 3,13 4.5 2,14 4.6 1,15 4.7 3,14 4.8 2,15 4.9 2,4,12 5.0 3,15 5.1 3,3,13 5.2 1,2,4,12 5.3 4,15 5.4 3,3,15 5.5 2,4,14 5.6 5,15 5.7 3,3,15 5.8 2,4,15 5.9 6,15 6.0 3,4,15

November 4, 2006, 03:11 PM	#2
cdoc42 Senior Member Join Date: March 13, 2005 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 1,687	The excel spreadsheet wouldn't copy with spaces. The volumes range from 0.3 to 6.0 - Move the dipper# over one space to match 1 to 3,4,15. Sorry about that.

November 4, 2006, 03:58 PM	#3
amamnn Senior Member Join Date: May 13, 2006 Location: WA, the left armpit of the USA Posts: 1,323	That's a nice chart-- and fine as long as powder density never changes, which unfortunately, it does from lot to lot. Without knowing the powder density--which requires the use of a scale and some math, dippers are not going to be as accurate as a lot of folks want their powder charges to be. On the other hand, for plinking and probably most of hunting applications, you don't need to worry unless your new bottle of powder is at the high end of the density allowance and your old one was at the low end, or vice versa. __________________ "If the enemy is in range, so are you." - Infantry Journal

November 5, 2006, 11:31 AM	#4
cdoc42 Senior Member Join Date: March 13, 2005 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 1,687	If I'm just loading 20-40 rounds or so, I use the dippers to get as close as I can to the intended weight, then hand trickle to the last 0.1 grain. I use a RCBS Powdermaster when I load 100 or more rifle rounds but it's s-l-o-w. So I dip as close to 90% of the intended charge, then hit the button, let it finish the task. While it's trickling, I'm seating the previously weighed round.