What did you do in the reloading room today?

[NRA4LIFE]

Not reloading related, but finished cleaning my muzzleloader for the year.

 

[waspocrew]

I started resizing 223 brass from last summer. I figure if I do a hundred a night I'll have them all done in 2-3 weeks, then I can move on to the next step in bulk brass prep, which for me is primer pocket cleaning and gauging.

Bulk prep is definitely a chore. I like to break it down into small batches spread out over time.

 

[Darren_8167]

 

[Good Stuff]

Worked up some loads for my new .223 ULUL.

 

[Darren_8167]

 

[Caseknife]

Not to be too critical, but don't think I would be mixing alcohol and reloading, just saying.

 

[Darren_8167]

Not to be too critical, but don't think I would be mixing alcohol and reloading, just saying.

Not to be too critical, but if I was YOU I wouldn’t mix alcohol and reloading either. But thankfully I am me, and I enjoy a pour while enjoying my hobby. Just saying.

 

[Castle Rock]

Not to be too critical, but don't think I would be mixing alcohol and reloading, just saying.

Good to see that you know your limitations.

Not to be too critical, but if I was YOU I wouldn’t mix alcohol and reloading either. But thankfully I am me, and I enjoy a pour while enjoying my hobby. Just saying.

Nice setup.

 

[Darren_8167]

Good to see that you know your limitations.

Nice setup.

Thank you sir.

 

[jjohnsonElknewbie]

Quick question for the gallery. How many guys buy several different bullets, for different purposes, for the same rifle, and actually do load dev on them? For example, you have a rifle chambered for a specific heavy for caliber bullet for big game. However, that rifle is also capable of shooting very light bullets, very fast, for coyotes. There are several calibers out there that fit this bill including, but not limited to, 7mm, 6.5mm, .257, .243, and .223.

I see guys with benches full of various components, and I have a backlog of several different bullets for different rifles on my bench. However, after you get a hammer load developed, do guys on average, ever spend the time and components to develop a varmint load for the same rifle? Or, if you don't care about pelt damage for example, do you just varmint hunt with your big game load? If so, does this explain folks with multiple differentt jugs of powder and stacks of bullets on their benches?

I'm starting to get a backlog of bullets especially, and althought I had grand designs of developing loads for each of them, I've been lucky enough to have one recipe that shoots too good to mess with others.

In an ideal world, we could all afford to have a dedicated varmint rifle(s) and big game rifle(s).

 

[amassi]

Quick question for the gallery. How many guys buy several different bullets, for different purposes, for the same rifle, and actually do load dev on them? For example, you have a rifle chambered for a specific heavy for caliber bullet for big game. However, that rifle is also capable of shooting very light bullets, very fast, for coyotes. There are several calibers out there that fit this bill including, but not limited to, 7mm, 6.5mm, .257, .243, and .223.

I see guys with benches full of various components, and I have a backlog of several different bullets for different rifles on my bench. However, after you get a hammer load developed, do guys on average, ever spend the time and components to develop a varmint load for the same rifle? Or, if you don't care about pelt damage for example, do you just varmint hunt with your big game load? If so, does this explain folks with multiple differentt jugs of powder and stacks of bullets on their benches?

I'm starting to get a backlog of bullets especially, and althought I had grand designs of developing loads for each of them, I've been lucky enough to have one recipe that shoots too good to mess with others.

In an ideal world, we could all afford to have a dedicated varmint rifle(s) and big game rifle(s).

Used to do this, ended up with too many dies, bullets and cartridges. Started whittling down to cartridges and bullets that filled more niches. For example my current favorites that kill varmints equally as well as big game
22 creedmoor and 80g eld-m/x. One load and it’s a do all gun.
6cm and 95 tmk- kills everything really well
6 prc and 109- kills everything a little further, better wind #.
6.5 cm and 130 tmk/ 130 eld m. Kills everything

So instead of having 80 different bullets and weights I buy cases of eld’s/tmks. Getting thousands of bullets at a go in the same lot# also cuts down on mfg tolerance changes. I have a few 6mm and 6.5mm lead free bullets for CA and a much tidier workbench and easier load process. Spend much more time shooting for proficiency rather than experimenting with diff bullets and cartridges


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[wyosam]

Quick question for the gallery. How many guys buy several different bullets, for different purposes, for the same rifle, and actually do load dev on them? For example, you have a rifle chambered for a specific heavy for caliber bullet for big game. However, that rifle is also capable of shooting very light bullets, very fast, for coyotes. There are several calibers out there that fit this bill including, but not limited to, 7mm, 6.5mm, .257, .243, and .223.

I see guys with benches full of various components, and I have a backlog of several different bullets for different rifles on my bench. However, after you get a hammer load developed, do guys on average, ever spend the time and components to develop a varmint load for the same rifle? Or, if you don't care about pelt damage for example, do you just varmint hunt with your big game load? If so, does this explain folks with multiple differentt jugs of powder and stacks of bullets on their benches?

I'm starting to get a backlog of bullets especially, and althought I had grand designs of developing loads for each of them, I've been lucky enough to have one recipe that shoots too good to mess with others.

In an ideal world, we could all afford to have a dedicated varmint rifle(s) and big game rifle(s).

I have multiple loads for pretty much everything I shoot. I hunt with mostly hammer bullets, but they’re too expensive to shoot a bunch of volume with. I also enjoy load development. Some rifles have a hunting load, a range load with Eldm/berger etc, and a cast lead load. Rifles I hunt with are always zeroed for the hunting load, with offsets built into AB data for others.


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[Q_Sertorius]

Quick question for the gallery. How many guys buy several different bullets, for different purposes, for the same rifle, and actually do load dev on them? For example, you have a rifle chambered for a specific heavy for caliber bullet for big game. However, that rifle is also capable of shooting very light bullets, very fast, for coyotes. There are several calibers out there that fit this bill including, but not limited to, 7mm, 6.5mm, .257, .243, and .223.

I see guys with benches full of various components, and I have a backlog of several different bullets for different rifles on my bench. However, after you get a hammer load developed, do guys on average, ever spend the time and components to develop a varmint load for the same rifle? Or, if you don't care about pelt damage for example, do you just varmint hunt with your big game load? If so, does this explain folks with multiple differentt jugs of powder and stacks of bullets on their benches?

I'm starting to get a backlog of bullets especially, and althought I had grand designs of developing loads for each of them, I've been lucky enough to have one recipe that shoots too good to mess with others.

In an ideal world, we could all afford to have a dedicated varmint rifle(s) and big game rifle(s).

I used to develop loads for 70-grain varmint bullets and 120-grain deer bullets for my .25-06. But after spending a lot of unnecessary powder and shooting out the barrel on groundhogs, I decided to get a dedicated varmint rifle and a dedicated deer rifle. Now I have a .22-250 for varmints, a .223 trainer, and a few deer rifles. I’ll probably sell the .22-250 since the .223 will do everything I need on that front.

Before I found RokSlide, I used to buy 3-5 different boxes of factory loads to sight in the rifle and see what bullet weights the rifle generally liked. Then I would buy 200 factory rounds in the best loading. Then plan to shoot them all for practice or hunting and use the brass for reloading four times each. I’d buy 600 “cheap bullets” (e.g. Sierra Spitzer softpoints) and 200 “expensive bullets” (e.g. Nosler Partitions) in that caliber and grain. Then develop loads for each and use the cheap ones for proficiency and the expensive ones for hunting.

Apart from rare or obsolete cartridges, I have only bought “expensive brass” once in my life and I haven’t reloaded with it yet in that rifle.

Sometimes, however, the factory ammo has done so well that I never bother to reload. I shot Remington .270 for years because it was always consistently under 2 MOA in my backup rifle. Nowadays, a factory loading that shoots 10-shot groups under 1.5” is just fine for my purposes. I’ve found several batches of Hornady .270, 6.5 CM, and 6.5mm Grendel that can do at least that well. Some of my Federal .25-06 does far better than that in my new barrel.

Since RokSlide, I still do the testing with factory bullets, but as far as reloading, I have just started buying ELDMs in the best weight for my rifle. And I will occasionally pick up some partitions if they are a good weight and the right price.

My dad developed 120-, 140-, 160-, and 175-grain loads for his old Browning 7mm RM. It shot them all really well and he loves that rifle.

Edit - I also have some monolithic bullets in appropriate calibers and lengths in case they ever ban lead bullets for hunting.

 

[Darren_8167]

I really enjoy shooting and load development. I have multiple loads worked up for each of my rifles. But I try to narrow it down as much as possible to try to use the same components as much as possible. When I first started reloading I had a real bad habit of buying every powder that may work, and trying every different primer…….. It gets expensive fast.

 

[minas stiris]

I stuck a 300 wm case in my FL die. Waiting for the removal kit from RCBS to get here.

Went to the range on Saturday and got mediocre but acceptable accuracy out of my SST and Nosler Ballistic Tips for the 300wm. Around 1.5 MOA. That's good enough to hunt with. Velocity was just below 3k fps. Wasn't using a sled...just a bag rest. Can't justify burning through components chasing another half MOA.

Confirmed my existing 9mm loads using CFE pistol and Vhitavouri powder. Good accuracy and velocity around 1150 fps. I get pissed off everytime I reload the VV powder. There's a sales tag on the can for $16.95.

Finally, figured out why I was having issues cycling my 12 ga 1.25 field loads. Ordered new wads to give me a little more room on the column. Once the wads arrive and the stuck case gets removed, will probably load up 20 SSTs and 20 NBTs for 300 wm. Then will prep for dove season. Gonna try to work up a new load for 1.25 and 1.50 oz #7.5s using Longshot powder since they discontinued the 800-X i was using. Will probably use up the rest of the 800-X too.

 

[digger]

I shot a nice Muley buck today with ammo I made in my reloading room