16ga.com ~ View topic - Acceptable variance in shot and charge weights?

Just curious...what do you feel is acceptable variances in shot and charge weights when reloading?

Let's just say you're using a 1oz. charge bar and the load requires 22.5 gr of powder.

What +/- variability is acceptable?

Member Joined: 17 Jan 2005 Posts: 138 Location: Parma, OH

I've heard +/- 0.2 grains for powder and +/- 5 grains for shot for hunting loads. The variation I'm sure increases with a reloader like a MEC, PW, etc. Maybe 0.5 gr for powder and 10-15 grains of shot if you're using a reloader?

Mike Doerner

If you are using bushings, the variance will not be as close as a UCB. On my MEC with the UCB and using the PC red baffle, my powder variance is 1/10+- grain or closer. Most of the time it throws the exact charge. On the Shot side with #8 shot it is + or - 6 pellets what ever that is. When I set the Pellet charge of the UCB that seems as close as I can get with my scale.
I like the UCB, some do not. In my estimation the PC powder baffle is a must if ya got a MEC.

The powder baffel definitly made a world of difference on my mec.
I also love the ucb. I can usually get to where Iam with in a 1/10 of a grain of powder also, and about +/- 3 BB's. Which I think if I remeber correctly with 8 shot was about 1 to 1 1/2 grain on my scale.