Lee Powder Dippers..random Thoughts

Superhornet · January 9, 2006, 09:47 AM

Anyone else use these volumn loading dippers for hunting loads?? Loaded 300WSM using W760, 180 grain Accubond using these dippers and that load accounted for 5 whitetail, one elk and one buffaloe. Of course these loads are low side or middle of the road and not max, but they did do the trick. Both Accubonds found on far side of elk and buffaloe under skin, with massive lung damage. I did not do the shooting, but of course got to do the butchering and cutting of meat.....

Crosshair · January 9, 2006, 11:35 AM

I wish they had more of the smaller dippers. I can't make a load between .7 and 1 because I don't have a .1 dipper. kinda frustrating at times.

**Mike Irwin** · January 9, 2006, 11:43 AM

"I wish they had a smaller dipper..."

Make your own with some cut down .32 or .38 brass. Solder on a stiff piece of wire to serve as a handle.

T. O'Heir · January 9, 2006, 12:47 PM

Nope. They're not accurate enough. The charge can vary plus or minus a full grain.

**Mike Irwin** · January 9, 2006, 01:26 PM

And as long as you're not up against the firewall, a grain variation isn't that big a deal...

Using stick powders in my RCBS Uniflow will often give me anywhere from half to a grain variation.

With ball powders, the variation factor is cut back significantly.

Superhornet · January 9, 2006, 01:35 PM

T.O'HEIR---------I wish you would have told me that before those 5 whitetail, one elk and one buff were shot. Longest whitetail 220 yard rangefinder yardage...AND as an afterthought...won a new Glock 17 shooting 9mm handloads (dipper loads) at Fort Benning many years ago.

Leftoverdj · January 9, 2006, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Nope. They're not accurate enough. The charge can vary plus or minus a full grain.

Not for those who bothered to read and follow the instructions.

Crosshair · January 9, 2006, 03:30 PM

I'll have to try a .22 LR case. Thanks for the idea Mike Irwin.

Olaf · January 9, 2006, 05:06 PM

I use the dippers often. I find that they work quite well - I get charges consistently within .1 to .2 grains, above or below the intended weight. They save much time, as well. I do not use them for all powders, such as flake powders (I've found that they are inaccurate for this)....but for extruded powders, they work very well.

Bogie · January 11, 2006, 11:51 PM

One theory in benchrest is that density of the load can mean more than the actual weight of the charge.

**Mike Irwin** · January 12, 2006, 12:25 AM

"One theory in benchrest is that density of the load can mean more than the actual weight of the charge."

And I'd say it's a very valid theory.

kcoop9999 · January 12, 2006, 03:20 AM

I've been loading for over 20+ yrs and as long as you ALWAYS OBEY SAFTEY RULES they work great. I load for close to 30 different cartridges and like my dipper set enough that I've about worn out the original box. The only round I Don't use them on is .17 Remington, because in that round, one full grain can be just enough to go from a mild load to just plain too hot! A precise scale is truly a must when working with that little devil! All others get loaded with the dippers once I've got a load worked up!!

deadin · January 12, 2006, 09:25 AM

If you are that worried about a 10th of a grain (or even a whole grain) in a rifle load, you must already have a scale or you wouldn't know that the dippers aren't precision instruments. Get a dripper and weigh out each load.
If you are working around maximum loads or trying for super accuracy loads, you should be doing this anyway.

Dean

shero · January 17, 2006, 05:41 AM

yep, i use them and like em, handy easy and safe (I always follow the instructions)

jimmy

BIGJACK · January 17, 2006, 08:58 AM

When i am loading for precision shooting i use the next smallest dipper and top the charge off on the scales. I hardly ever use the powder measure any more-I have found the dippers are faster and a little more consistent.

I wound up with a set of the dippers in about 1979 when I bought a rifle and a bunch of reloading equipment and ammo at an estate sale. I never used them for a long time but when I did decide to try them out for hunting loads for 30-06, 7mm mag and .243 I checked the consistency with my balance and found that the variation was about 1-1.2 % or about 0.5grs, This was with the 230 dipper which is next to the biggest in my set. This is probaly a lot closer than standard factory ammo.

January 9, 2006, 09:47 AM	#1
Superhornet Senior Member Join Date: March 24, 2005 Location: florida Posts: 292	Lee Powder Dippers..random Thoughts Anyone else use these volumn loading dippers for hunting loads?? Loaded 300WSM using W760, 180 grain Accubond using these dippers and that load accounted for 5 whitetail, one elk and one buffaloe. Of course these loads are low side or middle of the road and not max, but they did do the trick. Both Accubonds found on far side of elk and buffaloe under skin, with massive lung damage. I did not do the shooting, but of course got to do the butchering and cutting of meat.....

January 9, 2006, 11:35 AM	#2
Crosshair Senior Member Join Date: December 16, 2004 Location: Grand Forks, ND Posts: 5,333	I wish they had more of the smaller dippers. I can't make a load between .7 and 1 because I don't have a .1 dipper. kinda frustrating at times. __________________ I don't carry a gun to go looking for trouble, I carry a gun in case trouble finds me.

January 9, 2006, 11:43 AM	#3
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,390	"I wish they had a smaller dipper..." Make your own with some cut down .32 or .38 brass. Solder on a stiff piece of wire to serve as a handle. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

January 9, 2006, 01:26 PM	#5
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,390	And as long as you're not up against the firewall, a grain variation isn't that big a deal... Using stick powders in my RCBS Uniflow will often give me anywhere from half to a grain variation. With ball powders, the variation factor is cut back significantly. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

January 9, 2006, 03:30 PM	#8
Crosshair Senior Member Join Date: December 16, 2004 Location: Grand Forks, ND Posts: 5,333	I'll have to try a .22 LR case. Thanks for the idea Mike Irwin. __________________ I don't carry a gun to go looking for trouble, I carry a gun in case trouble finds me.

January 9, 2006, 12:47 PM	#4
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	Nope. They're not accurate enough. The charge can vary plus or minus a full grain.

January 9, 2006, 01:35 PM	#6
Superhornet Senior Member Join Date: March 24, 2005 Location: florida Posts: 292	T.O'HEIR---------I wish you would have told me that before those 5 whitetail, one elk and one buff were shot. Longest whitetail 220 yard rangefinder yardage...AND as an afterthought...won a new Glock 17 shooting 9mm handloads (dipper loads) at Fort Benning many years ago.

January 9, 2006, 05:06 PM	#9
Olaf Senior Member Join Date: June 12, 2005 Location: not from Svalbard Posts: 346	I use the dippers often. I find that they work quite well - I get charges consistently within .1 to .2 grains, above or below the intended weight. They save much time, as well. I do not use them for all powders, such as flake powders (I've found that they are inaccurate for this)....but for extruded powders, they work very well.

January 11, 2006, 11:51 PM	#10
Bogie Senior Member Join Date: June 5, 2000 Location: Job hunting on the road... Posts: 3,827	One theory in benchrest is that density of the load can mean more than the actual weight of the charge. __________________ Job hunting, but helping a friend out at www.vikingmachineusa.com - and learning the finer aspects of becoming a precision machinist. And making the world's greatest bottle openers!

January 12, 2006, 12:25 AM	#11
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,390	"One theory in benchrest is that density of the load can mean more than the actual weight of the charge." And I'd say it's a very valid theory. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

January 12, 2006, 03:20 AM	#12
kcoop9999 Member Join Date: August 21, 2005 Location: Soutern Iowa Posts: 29	Lee dippers I've been loading for over 20+ yrs and as long as you ALWAYS OBEY SAFTEY RULES they work great. I load for close to 30 different cartridges and like my dipper set enough that I've about worn out the original box. The only round I Don't use them on is .17 Remington, because in that round, one full grain can be just enough to go from a mild load to just plain too hot! A precise scale is truly a must when working with that little devil! All others get loaded with the dippers once I've got a load worked up!!

January 12, 2006, 09:25 AM	#13
deadin Junior member Join Date: September 6, 2005 Location: Ocean Shores, WA Posts: 1,052	If you are that worried about a 10th of a grain (or even a whole grain) in a rifle load, you must already have a scale or you wouldn't know that the dippers aren't precision instruments. Get a dripper and weigh out each load. If you are working around maximum loads or trying for super accuracy loads, you should be doing this anyway. Dean

January 17, 2006, 05:41 AM	#14
shero Junior Member Join Date: October 29, 2005 Location: perth western australia Posts: 14	yep, i use them and like em, handy easy and safe (I always follow the instructions) jimmy

January 17, 2006, 08:58 AM	#15
BIGJACK Junior member Join Date: October 8, 2005 Location: Pell City, Alabama Posts: 287	When i am loading for precision shooting i use the next smallest dipper and top the charge off on the scales. I hardly ever use the powder measure any more-I have found the dippers are faster and a little more consistent. I wound up with a set of the dippers in about 1979 when I bought a rifle and a bunch of reloading equipment and ammo at an estate sale. I never used them for a long time but when I did decide to try them out for hunting loads for 30-06, 7mm mag and .243 I checked the consistency with my balance and found that the variation was about 1-1.2 % or about 0.5grs, This was with the 230 dipper which is next to the biggest in my set. This is probaly a lot closer than standard factory ammo.