My First Loads

[catsfan20]

Finally got some 215 grain SWC from Dardas bullets today and loaded two different rounds for my new model 58. Loaded 20 total rounds 10 with 7.9 grains of Unique and 10 with 8.4 grains of Unique with CCI 300 primers and Winchester brass. I put what I think is a good crimp on the brass, but being as this was my first go at it I'm sure that will have to be adjusted.

I will shoot them this weekend and will hopefully like one of the two loads and be able to run out the rest of the 100 bullets I ordered at that level.

 

[Titegroups]

Crimps look good to me. I have a 657 but haven't loaded for it in a while. Very satisfying to craft and shoot your own. I've pulled that same handle probably 50000 times now.

 

[Dragon88]

Appearance of the crimp varies a lot based on depth of the bullet's crimp groove and thickness of the brass, but those rounds look pretty good. Congrats on your first handloads.

 

[Kelly Green]

The crimps in your photos look pretty good. I use a lot of Winchester brass in my reloads. It holds up well and can be used over and over.

 

[kennyb]

good job...41 mag.may be my fav.to shoot and reload

 

[jubela#4]

Those loads look fine to me too. I load a lot of 41's with 7.5 grains of Unique and the same type of bullet.

 

[venomballistics]

crimp looks at least close enough to right and equally important, uniform

 

[peppercorn]

catsfan, you are motivating me to get off the bench. I have been luking in the reloading section for a while now. I have the 'A B C s' of reloading and need to just do it.

Is that bench you have home made or did you buy it somewhere?
I overwhelmed myself out of setting up a work space because I
thought I needed to 'clear out' a space in the already crowded garage!

It looks like you are set up inside the house and with a smaller bench maybe I could be too?

 

[Skip Sackett]

Cat,
GREAT JOB! KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK! Wait until you pull the trigger on those babies! Way to go! Let us know if you need anything AND, post pictures of the targets, please!

Pepper,
Quit fooling around and get going NOW! There is an election coming up and NO ONE knows what is going to happen in the next 5 years, no one. If you want ammo, components, you had better start getting them now. At fair prices and in the quantities you want. Remember what happened to ammo after November of '08! Components too.
Sit on the fence long enough and feeding your guns ain't gonna happen.


Then, after both of you feel comfortable reloading, you can start your quest to begin casting!

Every shooter should be a reloader, every reloader should be a caster.

Simple as that.

 

[blujax01]

Hey Catsfan, good work!

Now you should add a photo of your bench here:
http://smith-wessonforum.com/reloading/171571-lets-see-your-reloading-benches.html

 

[catsfan20]

catsfan, you are motivating me to get off the bench. I have been luking in the reloading section for a while now. I have the 'A B C s' of reloading and need to just do it.

Is that bench you have home made or did you buy it somewhere?
I overwhelmed myself out of setting up a work space because I
thought I needed to 'clear out' a space in the already crowded garage!

It looks like you are set up inside the house and with a smaller bench maybe I could be too?

I took a Black and decker workmate and just put a 3/4 piece of birch ply wood on top with some 5/16" bolts. It tips up a little on the up stroke after flaring the brass, but other than that it is pretty solid. I may add some weight to the front end to help with that.
The 58 was a gun I wanted not only for the fun of shooting but because it gave me a real excuse to reload!

 

[venomballistics]

I took a Black and decker workmate and just put a 3/4 piece of birch ply wood on top with some 5/16" bolts. It tips up a little on the up stroke after flaring the brass, but other than that it is pretty solid. I may add some weight to the front end to help with that.
The 58 was a gun I wanted not only for the fun of shooting but because it gave me a real excuse to reload!

been down to a similar bench myself.
now you need to learn how to cast bullets. make thousands of them and store em in bins hanging from the benches framework. it wont tip after that

 

[catsfan20]

Tried out the loads this evening. I shot the loads at 7 yards with my hands rested on the bench.
7.9 Grains of Unique:

8.4 Grains Unique

Both 5 shot groups had one flier that is probably a product of the guy shooting in the booth next to me. I tried to shoot between his shots so that I wouldn't flinch from the unexpected blast. However, for my first reloads I was pretty satisfied with the groups especially with my average shooting ability.

Both groups grouped well however the 8.4 grouped more close to POA POI. I enjoyed shooting the 7.9 grains more when I loaded a cylinder free hand so I figure an inch high of POA really isn't that big of deal at 7 yds.

 

[catsfan20]

Ended up loading the rest of my Dardas bullets with the 7.9 grains of Unique. This load will work for now. I am satisfied with the Dardas bullets and plan on buying 1000 more and 500 new brass casings to build up a decent stock pile with before spring. Reloading and shooting your own loads is very satisfying. I kinda relate it to tying your own flies which I dabble in from time to time.

 

[venomballistics]

looks to me like the 8.4 load was a bit more focused overall.
Flyer not withstanding, it looks a little tighter and has a POI closer to POA

 

[Jimfix44]

Every shooter should be a reloader, every reloader should be a caster.

Amen to that !

 

[catsfan20]

looks to me like the 8.4 load was a bit more focused overall.
Flyer not withstanding, it looks a little tighter and has a POI closer to POA

Yea I agree, but just for fun shooting and trigger practice, I found the 7.9 grains to be more enjoyable to shoot.