To Re-Load or Not???

thats it it fits perfect in my Wilson gauge I was just wondering if something was wrong, I do hunt with them but I also do not load to the maximum, just for the best accuracy..
 
Had an interesting discussion with our insurance claim adjuster today. He owns 9 AR's and a 50 cal. We started talking reloading and he asked. "How many times can brass be reused???"

Honestly I didn't have an answer for him. I'm sure it's a LOT or fairly indefinite but really wasn't sure. Anyone know?
 
Zip I have some that is on its 5th and 6th reload. I look it over very closely and if I have any questions I break out my big magnifying glass. In the last year I have put about 20 rounds to the side and quit reloading them because they showed some fault or another. I find that if I crimp heavily that the brass doesnt last as long, the brass will crack around the mouth and I dont load excessively hot either but I am reloading 31 rounds this evening just to do it and a couple are starting to get to the minimum length in my Wilson case gauge which means to me they are about done but I cant tell you how many times exactly. Because I have bought used brass before. And when it becomes available again I will again. ramble ramble ramble Happy New Years!!!!
 
Happy soon to be New Year to you as well Grover and everyone else!

I'm glad I purchased 1000 rounds once fired pre-primed brass then. That will give me ample opportunity to just stuff bullets and learn the prep the brass of the 100 or so factory I fired. :)
 
Can any of you experts suggest maybe 5 different types of bullets to buy for me to get my feet wet on reloading for my M&P 15 TS (14-1/2" Barrel with 1 in 7" Twist and Fixed Vortex Flash-Hider for Overall Length of 16.1").

I've purchased a few pounds of Hogdon H335 and a few thousand CCI 400 primers in preparation.

My thoughts are to buy maybe 5 (at the most), 100ct boxes of different bullets to see what shoots best before settling on a particular type. I suspect a slightly heavier bullet of 60-70gr will shoot best out of my rifle due to the twist rate. There are just so many different makes and styles that my head is spinning.

This will be for target shooting and plinking. But I do want decent accuracy.

Who knows, maybe my powder and primer choice may be totally off base too but I figure I have to start somewhere.

Thanks.

Bill
 
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Not an expert here but your powder and primer choice should do just fine. I selected the H335 and CCI #41's. still waiting on the powder. I'll let the more seasoned reloaders help you with bullet choice based on your rifle. Good luck!
 
I havent had the best of luck with heavier bullets so I am staying in the 55gr weight but I have 5 that I use interchangeably with good results.
1 Hornady 55gr FMJBT
2 Hornady 55gr V or Z max
3 Hornady 53gr V max
4 Nosler Varmageddon 55gr Tipped
5 Nosler Varmageddon, Midsouth Varmint Nightmare Extreme, Midway Dogtown 55gr FBHP bullets (no matter what name they are the same)

These are the 5 bullets I have in my reloading stuff right now, I use the same powder charge and primers and they all shoot the same point of impact out of my S&W M&P15 Sports with 16" 1:8 5R barrels. I have some Hornady 68gr HPBT Match and 75gr Amax bullets but have not been able to work up satisfactory loads with them yet. This is my opinion and something else may work better for you but this is where I have settled at.
 
But I'll add Bill listen to the others. All of my knowledge is from the experienced folks on this thread and some extensive reading. From what I gather its a lot of experimentation and as you say you have to start somewhere. That's what I'm doing. These guys here are great. Ask lots of questions!
 
To add, I usually set up my chrono about 15 to 20 feet away from the muzzle of my rifle, muzzle blast can make it mess up. My most accurate loads run around 2950fps at that distance. I have pushed them a bit hotter and others run their quite a bit hotter but at my altitude and everything that range works for me. Someday I will get a longer barrel for one of the rifles and the same loads out of a 20" barrel will be running around 3150fps but I honestly do not have a clue about a shorter barrel with a faster twist. I do know that to shoot Hornady 55gr SPSX's out of my rifle I have to slow them down to 2650fps or the revolutions are to fast and the bullets disintegrate into little puffs of smoke before they get to the chrono.
 
I bought a bunch of 55 gr hornady sp's. If I'm not mistaken they are Interlocks. Should I assume I should start on the low end of the powder charge Grover? Or what I mean is stay toward the lower recommended powder charge?
 
Nice Day at the Range Yesterday

Tried a Few of my different loads but was SOOOOOO Windy I really couldnt tell Diddly about My Accuracy or my new 6-18 Scope....

This is at 200yds.. Not Bad.... also Blasted some 1lt Bottles at 300yds....

new twist to my Loading and Shooting with this Reach-Out-and-Touch-Someone Scope...:D

Happy 2013 everyone....

photobucket-37119-1356993096469.jpg
 
Zip you should always start to the lower end of the powder charge, the SP's are different than the SPSX's, the SX's are super explosive so they come apart easier. I use the CFE223 powder and have ended up toward the top of the loading range. But a wise person (not neccesarily me) would start at like 2800fps and build some bullets, 10 or 15 in increments of a couple of grains to the top of the recommended loads. then go out and shoot them for accuracy. After you find the ones that are the most accurate then adjust your loads in a smaller increment up or down until you find the right charge for the bullet and your rifle and all the environmental variables. I got in too much of a hurry and loaded up a bunch at what I thought was a good load. Then did the ladder thing an finally figured out what the best load was. Then I went back and pulled 600 rounds and reloaded them. I got better at the process by this but I wouldnt recommend it to anyone.
 
I took a new year's plunge and ordered some once-fired 40 S&W and 45 ACP brass this morning. I still have to wait for Amazon to get the 40 S&W dies in stock, but I can reload 45 ACP as soon as I pick up some bullets at the LGS.

I even built a fishnet-based brass catcher for when I shoot my pistols.

IMG_0566%5B1%5D.JPG
IMG_0563%255B1%255D.JPG


I held it up about three inches away from a cabinet door (to simulate it being placed next to a lane partition) and threw empty cases into it as hard as I could. All the cases hit the cabinet door then dropped into the net. :D

Hopefully 2013 will be a good shooting year for all of us!
 
BHarada is just a talented individual, I have a net like that. We use it to catch chickens. LOL
Nice Job Bill!!
 
Just wash off the poop and you are ready to go Grover! Haha
 
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