To Re-Load or Not???
- Thread starter stavman11
- Start date
Just finished a 4.5 hour marathon session and finished 600 rounds of .223. The one hiccup during the session was when I discovered that my seating die had backed off about 1/4 turn at some point during the first 350 rounds. So I ended up running them all through the die again.
So I now have 1100 reloads ready to go...300 of these are using my range pick-up brass. I want to see if I get any difference in group consistency when shooting all Lake City brass versus mixed headstamps. If I don't see any difference I'm going to save myself some time and stop sorting brass.
So I now have 1100 reloads ready to go...300 of these are using my range pick-up brass. I want to see if I get any difference in group consistency when shooting all Lake City brass versus mixed headstamps. If I don't see any difference I'm going to save myself some time and stop sorting brass.
OP
stavman11
Member
I dont sort mine, Only 2 types, American Eagle and PMC... and all seem to be very consistent to each other
I have started sorting my once shot Brass now. Start a new group of reloads. my 1st group is on its 5-6th rd of loading...
Nice day of Loading Bill....
its 77deg and 92% Humidity now... had a HUGE Rainstorm last night so sitting here debating on going shooting
Worried some Washes will have standing water and cut my drive short...
This weather is really Killing my addiction
I need the 100deg weather back...LOL
I have started sorting my once shot Brass now. Start a new group of reloads. my 1st group is on its 5-6th rd of loading...
Nice day of Loading Bill....
its 77deg and 92% Humidity now... had a HUGE Rainstorm last night so sitting here debating on going shooting
Worried some Washes will have standing water and cut my drive short...This weather is really Killing my addiction
I need the 100deg weather back...LOLMy range pick ups have at least five different headstamps. Even if there isn't any difference in consistency I'll probably start being a little more selective in what I take home.
On Monday I picked up four or five cases of what I think are Barnaul headstamp which had undersized primer flash holes. I ended up tossing them in the trash since I couldn't decap them.
On Monday I picked up four or five cases of what I think are Barnaul headstamp which had undersized primer flash holes. I ended up tossing them in the trash since I couldn't decap them.
I have had that problem with some of the brass that my nephew (in the Army) brings home to me. I didnt recognize the headstamp and for the longest time couldnt figure out why I couldnt deprime until I pushed my decapper stem out the top of my die....glad I didnt break it.
My AR (anal retentiveness) got the better of me so I went about sorting my mixed brass. Turns out that I have 11 different headstamps with over 1/3 (130 rounds) being PMC. The other volume cases were Federal (FC) and Remington (RP). All the rest had under 10 cases each.
OP
stavman11
Member
well i braved the Humidity/heat today
Turned out to be a great day... not that Bad
210rds .223 down range... all factory Ammo... So that gives me almost 500rds of 1x Brass..... also lobbed almost 500rds of .22 in the 15-22
Also got my Browning Buckmark dialed in... MAN is it sweet... trigger is so Light (flopped spring and made it even better) that I pre-fired 2x today before in was ready
Wife will love it....
Time ta start loading some more .223 and Build up my inventory
Turned out to be a great day... not that Bad
210rds .223 down range... all factory Ammo... So that gives me almost 500rds of 1x Brass..... also lobbed almost 500rds of .22 in the 15-22
Also got my Browning Buckmark dialed in... MAN is it sweet... trigger is so Light (flopped spring and made it even better) that I pre-fired 2x today before in was ready
Wife will love it....Time ta start loading some more .223 and Build up my inventory
I went out this evening and sighted in the Williams 5D receiver sight on my Marlin 336 30-30. absolutely great, just like shooting with irons on an AR. Then I shot some of the 30-30 LeveRevolution 160gr FTX's that I bought and loaded today. Had been sighting in with some Privi 150gr. The FTX's felt just like the Privi but at 50 yards put 2 holes touching...According to the books I should be running about 2400fps, that sure increases the distance of possible shots for a 30-30 to 225yards or better.
1000 Winchester Bullets 22 Caliber (224 Diameter) 55 Grain Full Metal Jacket Boat Tail from midway
Its been raining almost every day so I decided to weigh the bullets above and count em. I did get 1000 but the weights surprised me starting at 54.6--- 83, 54.8----247, 54.9--- 298, 55.1----238, 55.2----115 and 55.4----19, is this normal ?
Its been raining almost every day so I decided to weigh the bullets above and count em. I did get 1000 but the weights surprised me starting at 54.6--- 83, 54.8----247, 54.9--- 298, 55.1----238, 55.2----115 and 55.4----19, is this normal ?
If they're not match grade bullets a ±.4 gr variance doesn't seem too bad.
I will sort my brass but refuse to start weighing components...at least not until I have me a $$$$ precision target rifle to shoot them out of. hahaha
My current urge is to buy a bolt action in .308. Probably a Savage 11 FCNS. Then the reality of it hits me and I realize that a .308 will require a new set of dies, gauges, powder, primers, ammo boxes...Ahhhhhh!
The silver lining to this madness is that I won't be blowing through hundreds of rounds at a time with a bolt action so my component needs should be a lot less than for my 223 addiction. At least I hope this will be the case.
My current urge is to buy a bolt action in .308. Probably a Savage 11 FCNS. Then the reality of it hits me and I realize that a .308 will require a new set of dies, gauges, powder, primers, ammo boxes...Ahhhhhh!
The silver lining to this madness is that I won't be blowing through hundreds of rounds at a time with a bolt action so my component needs should be a lot less than for my 223 addiction. At least I hope this will be the case.
stantheman86
US Veteran
- Joined
- Jan 4, 2010
- Messages
- 2,479
- Reaction score
- 531
I have been told that "real" gun enthusiasts reload.......
I'm not there yet, and I don't know if I ever will be........maybe, God willing, if guns and ammo are still legal when I retire it may be something I will get into.
Right now, finding time just to shoot is challenging, let alone finding the hours to make my own ammo.
I did what a lot of people do these days, I got myself a few .22 LR pistols just to "scratch the itch" to shoot without spending a ton of money on ammo, or at least the .22's can be used to "stretch out" a range day. I have a .22 range in my backyard and can shoot for hours on what it would cost even to reload a few hundred rounds of .38 Special.
I'm not there yet, and I don't know if I ever will be........maybe, God willing, if guns and ammo are still legal when I retire it may be something I will get into.
Right now, finding time just to shoot is challenging, let alone finding the hours to make my own ammo.
I did what a lot of people do these days, I got myself a few .22 LR pistols just to "scratch the itch" to shoot without spending a ton of money on ammo, or at least the .22's can be used to "stretch out" a range day. I have a .22 range in my backyard and can shoot for hours on what it would cost even to reload a few hundred rounds of .38 Special.
OP
stavman11
Member
I dont know about that Stan...... I started to do it to save some Money and enable me to shoot more...
Almost everyone said it is a very enjoyable addition to the shooting Hobby... i couldnt agree more...
Fun to sit back and crank out some Match Grade .223 ammo for$.17/ea
Now its a relaxing, enjoyable & fun aspect to shooting that bides my time till i can hit the desert and shoot...
Dont wait till ya retire....
....
storeyteller
Member
Dialing in those 69gr SMK's at 300yds. 26.0 Varget is max published load but they shoot pretty good. Had to stop after 3 shots. I couldn't see the bull after the first 2 and the 3rd shot was "out" about an inch. BTW these were shot out of my sport, not a high dollar 'precision target' rifle, but it will probably shoot better than I'm capable of.
Dialing in those 69gr SMK's at 300yds. 26.0 Varget is max published load but they shoot pretty good. Had to stop after 3 shots. I couldn't see the bull after the first 2 and the 3rd shot was "out" about an inch. BTW these were shot out of my sport, not a high dollar 'precision target' rifle, but it will probably shoot better than I'm capable of.
Damn! That's some fine shooting.
I was trying to get some reloading done, started Friday, I have 45 long colt, .308, 30-30 and .223 to reload. Received my Lyman Case headspace gauge for my .308 Friday. the 45lc's went pretty easy, loaded 225 gr Hornady FTX bullets. I then started on the .308's, I have the quick change bushings on all of my dies so its a matter of 1/4 twist and change the die. I had loaded some .308's a couple of weeks ago but didnt have the gauge with to set my die correctly. I got my die set correctly and am Using Hornday One Shot Case Lube. I lubed them and let them set about 30 minutes like I always do. I have never had such a fight resizing cases, When I was done with a couple I measured them and they are exactly what the books say they should be but dang it was tough. Today my arms hurt from resizing the cases. If it werent for the fact that I have 2 .308's I would just neck size. The rounds have turned out to be exactly what they are supposed to be but man it was tough. On my large caliber rounds I digitally check every powder charge and toss back every charge that is .2 off, if I am loading a 23 grain charge and my scale tells me the charge is 22.8 I pour it back in the powder container. I dont accept any charge that is over 23 and only accept the charges that read 22.9 or 23 on my scale. When I chronograph my bullets, the most variation I have seen is +/- 12fps. This means I am getting way to anal retentive about my bullets doesnt it. Other than building an engine I have never been so critical of anything and I am starting to find myself thinking, Grover you are one crazy Dude!!! LOL
storeyteller
Member
I feel you Grover... my shooting buddy keeps telling me I'm gonna start weighing primers before too long. Just for today, I refuse.
philevans
Member
yesterday, for my sport, did 160 .223 in 69gr hpbt, split into sierra match king and nosler custom competition using 25gr varget[24.8-25.2], for LTS storage, in frankfort arsenal #205(hard to find) slip top ammo cases from midway.
then did 50 .223 for bench rest in 5 configurations for tuesday at the range.
best group so far is .668moa.
then did 50 .223 for bench rest in 5 configurations for tuesday at the range.
best group so far is .668moa.
Last edited:
Phil..what distance are you shooting? We are talking about moving closer to civilization, and my grandkids. And they have lots of ranges and even competitive shooting and I am thinking about getting involved in that.
philevans
Member
if i could be you, i'd stay away from civilization- lol! but grandkids are a lot of energetic fun.
i'm shooting at 100yards, using austinrifleclub.org range C, its concrete bench rest for, unlimited, varmint, hunter, etc, also for 200yard 3- position, and old militaria.
mostly, i shoot for fun; all reloaded, using sport, garand, enhanced rem700-.308(.236moa).
with the sport using a hart varmint front rifle rest, 4-12x40 simmons, burris qd rings on burris pepr scope mount - i'm stuck in a rut using, 52, 55, 60, 62, 64, 65, 69, 77grs, and cfe, 4895, bl-c(2), varget, as .668moa is the best i can do.
arizona98tj
US Veteran
Stuck case remover
I noticed there was some discussion about stuck cases.
If you reload, especially bottleneck cases, you really need to pick up a stuck case remover. They are cheap, work with pistol and rifle cases. Click on the link to see how easy it is to use.
I noticed there was some discussion about stuck cases.
If you reload, especially bottleneck cases, you really need to pick up a stuck case remover. They are cheap, work with pistol and rifle cases. Click on the link to see how easy it is to use.
JaPes
Member
Good lord. If/When I ever decide to reload bottle necked rifle cartridges, I'm going to have to get lessons from one of you guys. It's a good/bad thing that I don't have the opportunity to shoot my AR's as often as I would like.
I have yet used a flash hole reamer, there are so many tools that I have to consider adding to my growing ever larger collection of reloading stuff. I use a Lee universal deprimer and then put them in the vibratory tumbler, after that I lube them, resize, trim and chamfer them which means I have run a decapper through the hole twice by then. then I tumble them again for an hour or so to remove the case lube. If there are any walnut shells in the primer hole I run through the universal decapper again or use a dental pic to remove the offending piece of walnut shell. When I go to put the primers in I can see daylight through the holes very well. So I have wondered about the flash hole reamer but havent bought one yet. or the stuck case remover but I am sure I am going to regret not having both eventually.
Stu---So how many rounds have been through that press? LOL
Stu---So how many rounds have been through that press? LOL
Last edited:
OP
stavman11
Member
Great day Shooting today
Lobbed about 200rds of my .223 Loads Down Range...... Mostly Actions type Games at Plates, Paper Targets, Pop Cans, etc......
My Sport just amazes me every time i shoot it....
that is around 3000 of my loads i have shot and only 2 issues..... think im getting the hang of thise
Lobbed about 200rds of my .223 Loads Down Range...... Mostly Actions type Games at Plates, Paper Targets, Pop Cans, etc......
My Sport just amazes me every time i shoot it....
that is around 3000 of my loads i have shot and only 2 issues..... think im getting the hang of thise
Well, I stuck cases for the first time yesterday. I understand about pulling the rings off of the .223. I got the first one out and cleaned the die, resized about 15 more and then stuck another. I havent got it out yet, going to try the drill and tap today. I guess I didnt have enough lube on my cases, was using one of those little black trays that come in the 50 round boxes to hold my brass while I shot it with the one shot lube. Another lesson learned.
