How many to start with?

[novalty]

Well I finally got my reloading items set up. Ran a few empty rounds (no primer or powder) through to make sure I had OAL, and crimp right for 230 FMJ RN Berry Plated:1.265 OAL and .471 crimp--which hand cycled in my S&W 1911 without problems. Filled up my Uniflow Powder measure, and metered it all out per the RCBS recommendation in the manual. Set up my RCBS 5-0-5 scale, and measured several leads that came to 230, then checked my Lyman #49 manual which recommends a start load of 5.9gr of Unique for 230gr FMJ. I adjust the meter and got it so the Uniflow was dumping 5.9gr's pretty consistantly. Have a 250 round box of leads, but don't know how many rounds I should load initially with 5.9 grains of Unique. Should I just run say 50, then shoot to see if maybe I should bump up the powder to say 6.1? Just wondering as Alliant's website is showing a recipe of 6.5gr. Unique for 230TMJ RN, using the same CCI#300 primers, and a slightly shorter OAL of 1.26. Any thoughts or suggestions would be welcomed. Thanks in advance!

 

[Maximumbob54]

I never load more than ten for a starter load. If they are all wrong then I don’t have that many bullets to pull. If they all feed and cycle right then I go home and start the factory line…

 

[gregintenn]

I will usually load 5 or 10 at the starting load, and 5 or 10 at .1 or .2 increments up to near the max. When I find a promising load, I'll go back and load a box or so for further evaluation.

 

[JohnnieB]

When I was working up loads, I usually loaded enough for one magazine or cylinder full unless I was working it up for a High Capacity gun, then I stopped at 10.

Now I just check my database, grab the right turret, powder, primers, boolits and shiny empty brass and reload until I run out of something. Usually energy!

 

[novalty]

Ok, that makes sense. Will load just 8 rounds so I can run a full clip through my 1911.

 

[CWH44300]

there is nothing worse then taking ammo apart

 

[novalty]

there is nothing worse then taking ammo apart

At least the way that doesn't involve a trigger . Where abouts in "The Way Life Should Be," are you?

 

[snowman]

there is nothing worse then taking ammo apart

I'll second that one. I only load two starter rounds, but then I only have revolvers, so no cycling issues to evaluate.

Andy

 

[CWH44300]

At least the way that doesn't involve a trigger . Where abouts in "The Way Life Should Be," are you?

Lebanon, How about you?

 

[novalty]

Lebanon, How about you?

Cornish here.

 

[CWH44300]

Cornish here.

Pleased to meet you. What do you like to shoot?

 

[Titegroups]

Would depend on how far I had to travel to shoot, if it was my backyard i would load only a mag full, It's almost an hour round trip for me so I load 10 of each at the starting load and increase them by about .2g on the way up carefully evaluating each set for any signs of pressure as I go. Another great tool is a chronograph so you can keep an eye on velocity relative to what the published data shows.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Nothing left to do here. I agree between 5 and 10 rounds of a new load usually gets you the information you need.