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tdxm

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
So I just finished up 4 one pound bottles of A24 (all the same lot from the same order from Grafs), Mec Sizemaster, #30 bushing was giving me 16.5 gr.

Started with a new lot of A24 I ordered from Grafs months after the first 4 pounds. Now the Mec bushing #30 is giving me 15.1 gr.

I know, lot to lot can differ, but nearly 1.5 gr less? Sound normal?
 
Humm, yeah, that sounds like a lot. Are you using a powder baffle, and if so which one ?

Also, what level are you keeping your powder bottle at ?

With the bigger square flake of the Vectan's, this may be normal, I don't know.

I haven't seen this on AS, and I've been loading a one heck of a lot of it, and I don't even know what the lot numbers are/were, and/or if they've differed from the multiple batches that I've bought from Grafs.

But maybe due to the flake design and size, this amount of density change may be normal from lot to lot ?

I haven't started machine dropping A-24 yet, but will be tomorrow because I'm flat out of my 7/8th's ounce Trap loads, - shot the last box tonight, and ExtraLite is just too hard to get so I stocked up on A-24.

Also the powder bushing chart only starts at #31 MEC bushing :

Image

https://www.grafs.com/uploads/technical ... ile/23.pdf

But if you assume that each step in bushing size step is approx .5 grains, your 15.1 grains would be a #30 :

Image


Let us know what lot (batch) numbers (and date code) you had and have now.
 
I load on a mec9000.
Using tall powder bottle with the metal baffle.
I get very accurate drops, on spec or 0.1 grain off sometimes.
#33 bushing gives me 16.2 gr A24. #32 gives me 15.3-15.4 grains.

So long as I keep the bottle with 1" powder in it or so, my drop stays the same... well, I've never gone below that anyways. I measure fairly often, probably have 150 measurements written down from loading the last couple thousand 3/4oz loads. My A24 is from batch# pb15570
 
Dave in AZ said:
I load on a mec9000.
Using tall powder bottle with the metal baffle.
I get very accurate drops, on spec or 0.1 grain off sometimes.
#33 bushing gives me 16.2 gr A24. #32 gives me 15.3-15.4 grains.
"On spec" with what ?

According to their bushing chart, #33 should give you 16.8, not 16.2, and #32 should give 16.1 not 15.4.

Or by "very accurate" did you actually mean "very consistent" (from drop to drop) ?

The M/S metal baffle does cause some resistance, so maybe that's why your drops are slightly light.

My A-24 inventory :

8 X Batch No: PB15570 (Recent order)
5 X Batch No: PB15092
1 X Batch No. PB15140 (opened bottle under bench)

BTW, what are you loading for your 3/4 ounce loads (how much A-24)?
 
MEC 9000 on an Automate, no baffle, get "very consistent" drops at 17 grains with a #34 bushing.
I love the stuff for my 7/8oz.loads, I did find I had to go back to a 1oz. wad because the stuff is kinda bulky. LOL

Steve
 
Republican said:
Dave in AZ said:
I load on a mec9000.
Using tall powder bottle with the metal baffle.
I get very accurate drops, on spec or 0.1 grain off sometimes.
#33 bushing gives me 16.2 gr A24. #32 gives me 15.3-15.4 grains.
"On spec" with what ?

According to their bushing chart, #33 should give you 16.8, not 16.2, and #32 should give 16.1 not 15.4.

Or by "very accurate" did you actually mean "very consistent" (from drop to drop) ?

The M/S metal baffle does cause some resistance, so maybe that's why your drops are slightly light.
...

BTW, what are you loading for your 3/4 ounce loads (how much A-24)?
Yes, "very consistent". "On Spec" with the numbers I listed, 16.2 grains for #33... so again, very consistent. Think I tried #31, 32, 33, 34 bushings, all threw lighter than folks reported here, for me.
Metal baffle, I'd planned on removing it as folks don't seem to talk it up here... but it came with my press, drops have been consistent with it so far with Promo and A24, and powder doesn't leak, so leaving well enough alone.
3/4oz loads: Rem ACF hull, 16.2gr A24, CB1075-12, 335 gr #9 lead (bar's average), and ch209 primer (avg 1251, sd 12, ES 26) or Fed209A primer (avg 1279 fps, don't have SD right now but posted those chrono runs somewhere). 0.055" crimps.
 
Republican said:
Steve Y said:
I love the stuff for my 7/8oz.loads, I did find I had to go back to a 1oz. wad because the stuff is kinda bulky.
What is your 7/8th's ounce load ? I need to settle on a new 7/8th's ounce load to replace my ExtraLite loads.
7/8oz. #8 shot
AA hull family
CB1100-12 wad
Fiocchi primer
17 grains A-24

Steve
 
Dave in AZ said:
3/4oz loads: Rem ACF hull, 16.2gr A24, CB1075-12, 335 gr #9 lead (bar's average), and ch209 primer (avg 1251, sd 12, ES 26) or Fed209A primer (avg 1279 fps, don't have SD right now but posted those chrono runs somewhere). 0.055" crimps.
I think we talked about this before, but those numbers look about right with what I tested back in 2015 :

Image


So I'm thinking I'll do the same charge weight for both, by 3/4 ounce skeet loads, and my 7/8th's oz trap loads: 17 grains (with either a W209 primer, or my newfound Federal 209A's).

And my goal of course is to reproduce my ~16.4 grains of E.L. in Gunclubs for 34 ounce and 7/8th's ounce.
 
tdxm said:
Ok,

So old A24: Batch PB 15392 Can: 20159093004

New A24: Batch PB 15570 Can: 20169029888

New A24 drops 16.5 gr with the Mec #32 bushing verses Old dropping same with #30

Strange.
Thanks for the numbers. Yeah, so 2 bushings off. More than usual, but I wouldn't sweat it. It is what it is.

If anything, it's closer to their published bushing chart, so maybe your early batch wasn't quite rite.

So other than that, you liking A-24 in the loads that you are using it in ?
 
Only contribution I can make is a general comment re the Vectan bushing chart. Based on my experience with PrimaV, AS, and GM3, the chart is pretty darned close. When starting on a new load I'd suggest using what the chart shows ( not up one or up two), drop a few, weigh, and go from there. You might be real close with no change required. It is entirely possible that you will end up DOWN one from what the chart shows. And, this is on a 9000, have not tried them on a single stage.
 
Discussion starter · #15 ·
Republican said:
tdxm said:
Ok,

So old A24: Batch PB 15392 Can: 20159093004

New A24: Batch PB 15570 Can: 20169029888

New A24 drops 16.5 gr with the Mec #32 bushing verses Old dropping same with #30

Strange.
Thanks for the numbers. Yeah, so 2 bushings off. More than usual, but I wouldn't sweat it. It is what it is.

If anything, it's closer to their published bushing chart, so maybe your early batch wasn't quite rite.

So other than that, you liking A-24 in the loads that you are using it in ?
Yes A24 is awsome. I'm currently using it in Remington (Nitro, STS, GC) and Win HS hulls, 3/4 oz with the Pink DRXXL wad. A few months ago I was using it in Fed papers and blue and clear Fio and Rio hulls, DRXXL Orange.

Love the stuff, Thanks for recommending it.
 
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