What did you do in the reloading room today?

[sierracharlie338]

I went out scouring the valley today and found 7 lbs of StaBALL 6.5, same lot number I hope I like it. Also a 1k box of small magnum primers. I read somewhere people are using this primer for the 6.5. I have only ever used regular winchester primers with no issues. I have Lapua brass with a small flash hole (.059"). should I expect some pressure change with this? Never tried magnum before. Oh and to stay on topic. Today in the reload room, I preped 150 brass for the 223 and now gonna try to work up a new 6.5 load.

Pressure shouldn’t change much unless you are running a super hot load. You will prob see a difference in velocity though. Some people say shooting them at distance will show you how they perform.

 

[deertrout]

Learned how to resize tonight! Only ran into one problem on the 3 piece of brass, didn't have the spindle tightened enough and it came through when I brought the ram down. Wasn't too hard to get out. Will figure out case trimming tomorrow.

 

[deertrout]

Finished my brass prep the last couple nights. Learned a lot. I'm really loving reloading, especially the slow pace, it's a super great way to slow down and decimpress..

 

[49ereric]

Finished my brass prep the last couple nights. Learned a lot. I'm really loving reloading, especially the slow pace, it's a super great way to slow down and View attachment 681277decompress.

It all fun and games until you can’t find an accurate load for a picky rifle…
worked with a guy long ago that tired every powder primer and bullet to get an 06 to shoot better than an 1 1/2” and never did and spent lot during the process.

 

[wyosam]

It all fun and games until you can’t find an accurate load for a picky rifle…
worked with a guy long ago that tired every powder primer and bullet to get an 06 to shoot better than an 1 1/2” and never did and spent lot during the process.

Sometimes the problem isn’t in the reloading room.


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[MallardSX2]

It all fun and games until you can’t find an accurate load for a picky rifle…
worked with a guy long ago that tired every powder primer and bullet to get an 06 to shoot better than an 1 1/2” and never did and spent lot during the process.

I was there with a guy and his 300wsm last year. It would shoot ridiculously tight groups with federal fusions. I couldn’t reload anything that would group worth a crap. Frustrating

 

[thinhorn_AK]

I loaded up some basic 30-06 stuff.

Lapua brass, 62g h4831sc, 180g accubond. They shoot ridiculously well out of my tikka and even with the 18” barrel, I get like 2640fps.

Great load, love my 30-06.

 

[astocks2622]

I cast some 400gr .460" bullets for my 458 socom that I'm still trying to get loads developed for. Hopefully these ones went keyhole... also cast a bunch of 200gr hardcast for my 10mm.

 

[wyosam]

Loaded some more test loads for my 338-284. Just playing with a few cheaper bullets and powders to build data on it. Will start with hunting bullets once it has 100 or so through it. Should be ready for spring bear.


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[Pony Soldier]

Getting ready to load up some 175 gr interlock spire points (7RM) for setting up my new scope so I don't have to use my remaining round nose bullets except for fine tuning. I wish that every time the kids take over a successful business that they weren't prone to throw out most of what worked and replaced it with new junk.

 

[northernalpine]

6.5 PRC tinkering…shot pressure tests for StaBALL HD and N565 with 143gr ELD-Xs to see if they offer any improvements on H1000. Not real impressed with velocities on either; not much room for anymore HD but could probably squeak in some additional N565. Rifle is a Tikka Roughtech that (for now) is in factory condition with what I am assuming is a slow barrel.

Hornady Factory ammo


H1000 loads (57.8gr / current load)


Book Max from Hogdon website for StaBALL HD was 60.1gr, went to 60gr with no pressure signs.


Book Max from VV website for N565 was 53.4gr, went up to 55gr with no pressure signs.


Any of you more experienced gents have a pet load for N565?

 

[sierracharlie338]

6.5 PRC tinkering…shot pressure tests for StaBALL HD and N565 with 143gr ELD-Xs to see if they offer any improvements on H1000. Not real impressed with velocities on either; not much room for anymore HD but could probably squeak in some additional N565. Rifle is a Tikka Roughtech that (for now) is in factory condition with what I am assuming is a slow barrel.

Hornady Factory ammo


H1000 loads (57.8gr / current load)


Book Max from Hogdon website for StaBALL HD was 60.1gr, went to 60gr with no pressure signs.


Book Max from VV website for N565 was 53.4gr, went up to 55gr with no pressure signs.


Any of you more experienced gents have a pet load for N565?

I’m not a PRC guy but that seems slow for that cartridge. What speeds are you getting with h1000

 

[northernalpine]

I’m not a PRC guy but that seems slow for that cartridge. What speeds are you getting with h1000

2825fps w/ a single digit SD which is a massive improvement over the spread I was getting with Hornady factory loads. The barrel has about 135 rounds through it so I might pick up a little more zip in the next 40ish rounds. I’m not looking for a 3100fps burner load, but something tickling the 2900-2920 mark would have been ideal.

 

[sierracharlie338]

2825fps w/ a single digit SD which is a massive improvement over the spread I was getting with Hornady factory loads. The barrel has about 135 rounds through it so I might pick up a little more zip in the next 40ish rounds. I’m not looking for a 3100fps burner load, but something tickling the 2900-2920 mark would have been ideal.

Nothing wrong with that. 2825 will definitely get it done.

 

[blkqi]

Finished loading some load ladders for the 77gr SMK and TMKs for my new Tikka.

Was planning to use TAC, but the stuff kept jamming my trickler so I reached for the Varget instead. All loads a bit crunchy.

 

[northernalpine]

Nothing wrong with that. 2825 will definitely get it done.

For sure…but pushing that transonic distance further would have been nice. There’s a 1700 yard range not far from my house now and slinging lead at further distances is now only a 22 minute drive.

 

[wyosam]

Finished loading some load ladders for the 77gr SMK and TMKs for my new Tikka.

Was planning to use TAC, but the stuff kept jamming my trickler so I reached for the Varget instead. All loads a bit crunchy.

For me, auto dispensing means stick powders. Benefit to finer powders like TAC is just throwing them from a powder drop accurately enough. Why I love it in stuff I shoot in higher volume. Charging 100 cases takes no time at all.


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[blkqi]

For me, auto dispensing means stick powders. Benefit to finer powders like TAC is just throwing them from a powder drop accurately enough. Why I love it in stuff I shoot in higher volume. Charging 100 cases takes no time at all.


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That's the plan now. I load a lot of plinking rounds too, so the TAC will not go to waste.

 

[Qholum37]

View attachment 682147

6.5 PRC tinkering…shot pressure tests for StaBALL HD and N565 with 143gr ELD-Xs to see if they offer any improvements on H1000. Not real impressed with velocities on either; not much room for anymore HD but could probably squeak in some additional N565. Rifle is a Tikka Roughtech that (for now) is in factory condition with what I am assuming is a slow barrel.

Hornady Factory ammo
View attachment 682142

H1000 loads (57.8gr / current load)
View attachment 682143

Book Max from Hogdon website for StaBALL HD was 60.1gr, went to 60gr with no pressure signs.
View attachment 682144

Book Max from VV website for N565 was 53.4gr, went up to 55gr with no pressure signs.
View attachment 682145

Any of you more experienced gents have a pet load for N565?

I have since sold my Tikka Veil 6.5 PRC barrel but I checked my notes for the load I had settled on. 57.5 grains of N565, 143 ELD-X, .010” off lands (3.005” COAL to tip/2.380” to Ogive) Lapua brass and gm210m primers gave me 2900 FPS on the dot and very very tight groups. I went further but this grouped the best and had decent velocity.

 

[Gorp2007]

Processed about 250 pieces of range pickup 223 brass, knocked all the crimps out then sized and primed 100 for later use.

Got case #25 stuck in the resizing die, so that was a fun little side quest.