What did you do in the reloading room today?

[Pharmseller]

Started some test loads for a new to me 6.5 GAP 4S


View attachment 1010436

What’s with the metronome?

 

[Caseknife]

What’s with the metronome?

That is what I thought at first, but think it is a stand of some sort.

 

[Kimber7man]

What’s with the metronome?

lol good one

Inline Fabrication stand, just got it. For powder measure

 

[Fireflyfishing]

Ordered 1000 134 ELDMs.

 

[puckhead]

Loaded velocity test loads of H1000, retumbo and N570 for a new 7prc barrel with 180eldm. Will also be trying 180 hybrids and 175eh when those arrive. Deprimed 50rds 25-284(also new barrel) and those will loaded with velocity tests tonight with 133eh

 

[tstowater]

Finally decided I needed to get started loading for prairie dog shooting. Set up the new Burstfire induction annealer and adjusted for 220 Swift. Did about 600 rounds this morning in less than an hour and a half. Was looking for some 204 brass this evening and found another 400 pieces of 220 Swift brass and annealed that. While looking for some more 204 brass, I found another 300 pieces of Swift brass. I thought I needed some more when I bought about 400 pieces of Swift brass last winter which is still sitting where I left it. I found that I still had around 300 rounds already loaded so I could shoot for quite a while if I loaded it all.

Still looking for the 204 brass. Kinda like Christmas every time I start looking for something else. Don't think that I am hoarding, but just don't want to run out. Really need to get started with the 20 Practical and 20 Vartarg as they will be the primary prairie dog guns. Need to clean the benches up so I can get started loading.

 

[crowlja]

Always a good feeling when your finally seating bullets!

Loaded up a fresh batch of hunting ammo for the Tikka in .308
308 Win
150 gr Nosler Accubond w/ 48grns of Varget.
This load gives me .5 to .6" MOA AT 2935fps.

 

[crowlja]

I prepped some 223 brass for some short barrel (10in) 60 and 69gr TMK exploration.

Does anybody have experience/thoughts using 8208xbr or TAC with these bullets?

Ive done a bit with 8208xbr in both 223 and 6.5 Grendel. Small groups but not the fastest. On the Grendel, load work was quick and easy. I think I settled on a load my 2nd trip to the range.

Works for what I need it for. Coyotes mostly...and any other critters that may walk through the door uninvited...

 

[Vern400]

3 of. These recipes ran promising five shot groups from a freshly built 308. It was a little windy when I shot so I want to see what the guns really doing with one more batch.
This is the second identical batch, 5 each.
150 match Kings on 46 Gr RL 15 @2820
168 match Kings on 44.7 grains Varget @2710
168 eldm on 44.7 grains Target new load
165 SST 44.7 Varget @2720
Match Kings about 0.010 off.
Hornady (secant ogive) about 0.030 off.
Powder was getting a little crunchy!

The Hornady book Max it's two grains less than the load on the bottle of Varget. 44.7 seems doable.

 

[Ckat]

3 of. These recipes ran promising five shot groups from a freshly built 308. It was a little windy when I shot so I want to see what the guns really doing with one more batch.
This is the second identical batch, 5 each.
150 match Kings on 46 Gr RL 15 @2820
168 match Kings on 44.7 grains Varget @2710
168 eldm on 44.7 grains Target new load
165 SST 44.7 Varget @2720
Match Kings about 0.010 off.
Hornady (secant ogive) about 0.030 off.
Powder was getting a little crunchy!

The Hornady book Max it's two grains less than the load on the bottle of Varget. 44.7 seems doable. View attachment 1012539

I bet at least one of them will shoot well. I’ve also had great luck with IMR 4064 in those bullet ranges.

 

[Marty]

Loaded 10 rounds to pressure test; .5 grain increments from 28-32 grains.

6mm ARC
GM205M primers
CFE 223
109 ELD-M

Will be fired out of this Howa Mini (barrel chopped to 16”).

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[eaglemountainman]

About to get off my lazy ass and load some 260 Rem or
7-08 for the range tomorrow.
Maybe both...

.260 will be either
129 Inlerlocks over 42.5 H4350
120 TTSXs over 42.0 H4350

7-08 either
120 TTSXs over 47.7 CFE223
139 Interlocks over 43.5 Varget
139 LRX over 48.2 Big Game

SIde Note -
I have an Athlon Rangecraft chrono inbound, but wont arrive in time to use tomorrow. Looking forward to next week, when I can shoot it side by side with my MagnetoSpeed V3.

 

[Geewhiz]

Prepping to start one heck of a batch. Have been stocking up on components for a bit and getting ready to start assembly. Have about 600 rounds of 270 win, 400 of 300 wsm, and 300 of 338 rum to load. Need to order bullets for the rum and I will be set.

 

[crowlja]

Loaded 10 rounds to pressure test; .5 grain increments from 28-32 grains.

6mm ARC
GM205M primers
CFE 223
109 ELD-M

Will be fired out of this Howa Mini (barrel chopped to 16”).

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Ive been looking at doing a Howa build for 6arc. How do you like it so far?

 

[Marty]

Ive been looking at doing a Howa build for 6arc. How do you like it so far?

It’s alright. Decent price. Average accuracy. Three position safety. Heavy bolt lift. Weird metric thread pitch for threading new barrel blanks for it. And this copy has that issue with racking the bolt fast and the trigger going to a heavy single stage.

If I could do it over again, I’d start with another M700 clone SA or a Tikka action.

 

[SheepCrk]

Getting ready to spin a new 300 wsm barrel on a Tikka and check headspace

 

[Vern400]

I bet at least one of them will shoot well. I’ve also had great luck with IMR 4064 in those bullet ranges.

168 smk 5 in 0.5 inch (2720 FPS)
150 SMK 5 IN 0.7 INCH (2871 FPS)
168 ELDM 2.4 INCHES (2710 FPS)
165 SST 2.5 inches (2720 FPS)

3 of. These recipes ran promising five shot groups from a freshly built 308. It was a little windy when I shot so I want to see what the guns really doing with one more batch.
This is the second identical batch, 5 each.
150 match Kings on 46 Gr RL 15 @2820
168 match Kings on 44.7 grains Varget @2710
168 eldm on 44.7 grains Target new load
165 SST 44.7 Varget @2720
Match Kings about 0.010 off.
Hornady (secant ogive) about 0.030 off.
Powder was getting a little crunchy!

The Hornady book Max it's two grains less than the load on the bottle of Varget. 44.7 seems doable. View attachment 1012539

RESULT TODAY
168 smk 5 in 0.5 inch (2720 FPS)
150 SMK 5 IN 0.7 INCH (2871 FPS)
168 ELDM 2.4 INCHES (2710 FPS)
165 SST 2.5 inches (2720 FPS)

THE GUN SHOOTS game Kings, accubonds, match Kings, ballistic tips in the 0.5s to 0.7s 5 shots. I'm just using the smks to check ME. I know they shoot.

I really wanted to try the ELDMS. I HAVE A NAGGING SUSPICION that I don't know how to load Hornady bullets with a secant ogive.

Next, I will try some jammed, and progressively increase jump. I still got 60 ELDMS. But if I can't figure it out with a whole box of 100 I might write them off.

I'm open to suggestions, but not dropping velocity.
I've got loads already that are fast and precise.
Just sometimes Sierra runs out. For a long time.

 

[Marty]

Loaded 10 rounds to pressure test; .5 grain increments from 28-32 grains.

6mm ARC
GM205M primers
CFE 223
109 ELD-M

Will be fired out of this Howa Mini (barrel chopped to 16”).

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Following up from my earlier post…

Summary: Cut (then threaded and crowned) a 22” sporter barrel to 16”. This 6” reduction was a weight savings of 5.85 oz and I can shoot the bullet about as fast with a handload.

• 22” barrel shooting Hornady Match ammo, 108 grain ELD-Ms produced an average velocity of 2730 fps (sample size 20 shots).
• 16” barrel shooting Hornady Match ammo, 108 grain ELD-Ms produced an average velocity of 2405 fps (sample size 10 shots).
• Made 10x handloads using CFE 223 and shooting the 109 ELD-M here’s what resulted:

29.5 grains = 2440fps​

​

30 grains = 2515fps​

​

30.5 grains = 2514fps​

​

31 grains = 2593fps​

​

31.5 grains = 2651fps​

​

32 grains = 2679fps​

I frankly expected to see pressure at/around the 31 grain mark; didn’t load any above 32 grains. Seeing the results and no pressure signs, I do want to pressure test from 32 grains to 34 grains using 0.5 grain increments. If any pressure is noted, I simply won’t shoot any higher charge in that test.

I do think that it is possible to get around the 2700 fps mark with the 109 grain ELD-M and CFE 223 out of this 16” barrel. More load testing to come.

Cheers!

 

[Ckat]

Next, I will try some jammed, and progressively increase jump. I still got 60 ELDMS. But if I can't figure it out with a whole box of 100 I might write them off

I'm open to suggestions, but not dropping velocity.
I've got loads already that are fast and precise.
Just sometimes Sierra runs out. For a long time.

If I’ve got the barrel twist to run them, I just put ELD-Ms 0.020” off and call it good. Never had much trouble getting them to shoot with that jump.

 

[crowlja]

The other night I loaded up some .308 hunting ammo, and tonight my .308 target loads with 165gr Sierra Game Kings & 45.5 grs of Varget.

Honestly this load tends to group better out of the Tikka, but I have more confidence and prefer the Accubonds for hunting.

Ive been using Nosler Brass in this particular load and i think this is its last loading. Some of the primer pockets just felt too soft. Kinda sad to see this batch of brass go...I think its on its 8th or 9th firing.

Letting my back rest for a moment and then im going to see if I want to get off this couch to continue some 6.5PRC load development.