To Re-Load or Not???
- Thread starter stavman11
- Start date
I forgot about copyright stuff...I will just have to buy my own..I guess this is how the old timers end up having all the books they talk about. I do wonder what all they changed, everyone that reloads talks about how loads change from edition to edition.
Rebs...honestly you can never have too many books. I have Hornady, Lyman, Hodgdon Annual and Lee. I am going to get a few more. Some people think that Lyman is the best cause they actually list the most accurate loads tested. I think Lee takes their info from the other manufacturers, and I like Hornady because I use a lot of Hornady bullets. The newest edition is supposed to also give 5.56x45 loading info plus the newer powders that have been released.
storeyteller
Member
I have been thinking about getting the RCBS load ballistic software program. It is around $100 but looks pretty cool. Any experience with this or another program?
I find rifle reloading easier then pistol mainly because I reload lots of 50 for a rifle and several hundred for pistol in a specific caliber at one sitting. The main cost after equipment is the brass which can be reloaded numerous times as compared to the bullet, primer, and powder for each round.
I find that the savings pays for the equipment in a couple of years if you shoot regularly and I get great satisfaction from shooting my own ammo.
When I reload for rifle I can select the bullet I like for the round and I get the powder I like for that caliber and bullet. Then I work up the load that is the most accurate and I'm ready to go hunting.
Also when reloading a rifle round it's a little safer as it would be hard to double charge a rifle case but easier with a pistol round because of powder charge verses case capacity.
Anyway I've been doing it for 30 years with a single stage RCBS press and it works for me.
I find that the savings pays for the equipment in a couple of years if you shoot regularly and I get great satisfaction from shooting my own ammo.
When I reload for rifle I can select the bullet I like for the round and I get the powder I like for that caliber and bullet. Then I work up the load that is the most accurate and I'm ready to go hunting.
Also when reloading a rifle round it's a little safer as it would be hard to double charge a rifle case but easier with a pistol round because of powder charge verses case capacity.
Anyway I've been doing it for 30 years with a single stage RCBS press and it works for me.
storeyteller
Member
Yep, no worries about double charging in .223. I fill 'em up with Varget, scrape the loose powder off the top and seat the bullet.
James, I dont put that much CFE223 in the case, It comes up to about the shoulder give or take and depending on the bullet size, but I have noticed different books really vary the loads of varget. that and H335. I have a hard time just finding the bullets I load when looking for CFE!!!
storeyteller
Member
Grover, you and GMC have gotten me interested in the CFE, but none of the manuals I have list it and Hodgdon doesn't list any it on its site. I will try it out at some point, just got too many irons in the fire right now.
I really do admire what you guys are doing.
I really do admire what you guys are doing.
storeyteller
Member
26.2 gr of varget. Working for 50gr z max 53gr v max 55gr Nosler's and 69gr SMK. Max published data for the 69's is 26.0, so it's a tad hot, but it's working out real nice. I have my double auto disc thrower set up for 26.2 so I never have to change it out. When I load heavier bullets I use the Lee PPM.
Once the lawyers got involved the standard loads for many calibers of rifle and pistol calibers in reloading manuals were lowered. This was because the lawyers said the guys writing the books didn't know how old the rifles and pistols these rounds would be fired in. This is because the metallurgy had changed over the years and some of the loads listed could cause a problem with older rifles or pistols as compared to new ones.
My reloading manuals all come from the 60's and 70's and I won't be buying any new ones.
An example would be the 35 Whelen rifle round which can be fired in new bolt action rifles like the Remington 700 or some very old lever action rifles that are much weaker.
JaPes
Member
If you're using Hornady projectiles, it is. Otherwise, I like Lyman's & Lee. Good general data in there.
Here is my first shooting of the 55 gr Varmint nightmare x-treme hp from midsouth shooters
24.0 of H335 with OAL of 2.230 gave me the best group @ 100 yds. I love H335 powder, I use less of it and it does not seem to be temperature sensitive from 90 to 34 degrees.
24.0 of H335 with OAL of 2.230 gave me the best group @ 100 yds. I love H335 powder, I use less of it and it does not seem to be temperature sensitive from 90 to 34 degrees.
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stavman11
Member
So hit the range like I said on Friday, here is the synopsis of my trip....
the 40gr Bullets performed Real well. Max FPS was 3033, lowest was 2805. Seemed very accurate at all loads, but could see the difference at the high FPS Loads
Need to go Higher towards the 28gr level and see how they do
The 50gr seemed very similar to the 40gr as far as accuracy. Highest FPS was 3056 lowest was 2805..... Actualy sweet spot seemed in the 2850-2900 range.....
Like I said.... OAL was too long, but all fired just Fine. Gunna adjust the Seating Depth and add some more powder to the 40gr and see what I get next trip out
So yes, 40gr work Great in the Sport guys....
A couple Pics from the shooting Day... Not bad for me... EoTech at 50yds from a table/Bench....
Seems when I slow down my groups Tighten up..... Duuu they should shouldnt they
5rds 40gr with 26.2 Powder... Not bad for reflex at 50yds
3rds 40gr with 24.9 Powder...
5rds 50gr with 24.9 Powder.... all bunched a bit right... my Fault..
5rds 55gr with 26.2 Powder... had that Bulls eye Surrounded...LOL
JRader
Member
Excellent info. You guys have me pricing reload setups before I've even fired around out my 15OR! The $$ savings look significant.
JRader
Member
I like the idea of spreading the work out over a week or so. I don't have huge amounts of time all at once but I can usually manage 30 minutes here or there with another solid hour or two on the weekends. I think I would find shooting my own loads, snicker snicker, very rewarding.
JRader, that is exactly how I do it, little by little and spread it out over the days. There is something extremely rewarding about shooting your own loads and having them be really accurate. It can become addictive and when you shoot one that doesnt work it drives you harder to make one that does.
V-Max and Varmageddon Comparison
Ok I bought some Nosler Varmageddon because they were about $10 cheaper for 250. They are both ballistic tip.
Tips the V-max has a poly tip the Varmageddon has a metallic/poly tip. they both claim explosive/violent expansion
base they are both flat based, the v-max has a slightly rounder edge.
Nosler .811" length V-max .817"
tip length Nos .126" V-max .134"
Here are the pics, you can see the visual differences and when I get them loaded I will run a shooting comparison:
I hope this is information that someone can use besides me.
Ok I bought some Nosler Varmageddon because they were about $10 cheaper for 250. They are both ballistic tip.
Tips the V-max has a poly tip the Varmageddon has a metallic/poly tip. they both claim explosive/violent expansion
base they are both flat based, the v-max has a slightly rounder edge.
Nosler .811" length V-max .817"
tip length Nos .126" V-max .134"
Here are the pics, you can see the visual differences and when I get them loaded I will run a shooting comparison:
I hope this is information that someone can use besides me.
