Re: Reloading - what to look for
[Re: HayDay]
#7174286
02/08/21 07:04 PM
02/08/21 07:04 PM
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Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 2,238 Missouri
HayDay
OP
trapper
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OP
trapper
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 2,238
Missouri
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Hey, I'm in better shape than I thought (not). Starting digging through some of Dad's old residual loading stuff and among other things, found a perfectly good Lyman Reloading Manual, circa 1970. Also found the Texan powder scale, set of Lee powder measures, partial remains of a box of Hodgdon large rifle primers and some 50 year old IMR powder that I suspect ought to be burnt. Also found the shot and powder charge bushings sheet for a Texan shot shell reloader. Ought to scan that and put it into the public domain. Those Texans would be useless without that and they just printed it out on a piece of copy paper. A guy could probably sell laminated reprints of those on ebay.
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Re: Reloading - what to look for
[Re: HayDay]
#7174456
02/08/21 09:17 PM
02/08/21 09:17 PM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,004 Eastern Shore, MD
JoMiBru
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,004
Eastern Shore, MD
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Started out with a rcbs rock chukar kit, and added supplies from there. I’ve been messing with reloading for about 12 years, really enjoy it. Satisfying, and really tightens your groups. Saving money??...well , you’ll spend a bunch lol. A charge master is a good investment, I use one and every now and then check the loads on a beam. Good luck, plenty of info available. Just ask
John
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Re: Reloading - what to look for
[Re: HayDay]
#7209028
03/08/21 11:33 AM
03/08/21 11:33 AM
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Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 2,238 Missouri
HayDay
OP
trapper
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OP
trapper
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 2,238
Missouri
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Update:
Thanks to a little help from my friends, plus what I already had.........I have managed to accumulate just about everything I need for the short run, except a couple pounds of fresh powder and one caliber of a specific bullet I'm looking for. Long run, waiting for "normal" times when powder, primers and bullets are on the retail shelf and will then stock up for life. All of it below acquired at normal retail price or less.
The ensemble:
Lyman 50th Manual Lee Challenger Press (good used) 3 Sets of full length Dies.....two new for normal retail prices, plus one used off ebay....was supposed to be RCBS, but turned out to be lightly used Bonanza in an RCBS box. Texan Powder Scale Lee Powder Measure (plus set of Lee Powder scoops) Redding powder trickler 3 sets Lee Case length trimmers Lee Hand Primer tool Dry Tumbler (works great) Case and neck lube.....with neck brushes (Dad's old Bonanza brush set now makes sense) Loading blocks, boxes and labels Hornady headspace gauge kit Dial Calipers (to replace my old vernier calipers, which I can no longer read with current eyeballs)
Looks like bullets are starting to show up, same with powder and LR primers (both still 3X retail on GB).....but sagging lower. Hopefully, the dry creek bed of consumable components on retail shelves has started to see a trickle.....which hopefully will turn into a modest flow, followed by a flood. I'm within driving distance to both Graf locations, plus Midway for local pickup......so hope to avoid the excessive shipping costs.
On the press and dies, as to my original question as to what would be a flagship brand, another one not mentioned was Forster and their precursor Bonanza. Long term, if I get another press, will be looking for one of those. Just watched an old used Bonanza sell on ebay for around $275. Forsters are still out of sight, but I've got time on my side for one of those.
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Re: Reloading - what to look for
[Re: HayDay]
#7373271
10/06/21 09:55 PM
10/06/21 09:55 PM
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Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 2,238 Missouri
HayDay
OP
trapper
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OP
trapper
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 2,238
Missouri
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Update: First reloads for my dad's old 270. Groups like this shot at 100 yards would make some on here throw up, but I'm thinking a deer standing there would be in big trouble. Going forward, hope to improve accuracy to half that.....but for a start, not that bad. Starting from nearly zip back in Feb, have now found enough powder, bullets and primers to keep 5 rifles shooting for years to come. To those contemplating reloading, it is doable as far as finding it all.....and like ammo, components are coming back in stock. Didn't intend to start with mostly LEE equipment, but as time goes on, am finding it one of the best choices for an entry level guy wanting to load ammo that goes BANG. It works.....all of it, and works remarkably well.
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Re: Reloading - what to look for
[Re: HayDay]
#7373317
10/06/21 10:31 PM
10/06/21 10:31 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 29,912 williamsburg ks
danny clifton
"Grumpy Old Man"
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"Grumpy Old Man"
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 29,912
williamsburg ks
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Shoot a group with some factory ammo. If its significantly better work om your load. If it is not, and you have a wood stocked rifle you may have bedding problems. Accuglass from Brownells is good stuff.
Those who would give up essential liberty, to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety. Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)
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Re: Reloading - what to look for
[Re: HayDay]
#7373513
10/07/21 09:05 AM
10/07/21 09:05 AM
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,193 Goldsboro, NC
John C
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,193
Goldsboro, NC
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After a few years of reloading on a single stage press I wanted a way to streamline the process. I didn't want the complications of set up. With progressive presses changing calibers means going through a huge set up to get running. I opted for a turret press. Its single stage but my RCBS turret press allows me to keep everything set up, change out the turret and shell holder and I'm sizing brass. I still have my old single stage set up but I use it for bullet pulling. The turret holds six dies. If you have two die sets thats six calibers per turret.
More Cowbell
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Re: Reloading - what to look for
[Re: HayDay]
#7373592
10/07/21 10:29 AM
10/07/21 10:29 AM
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Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 2,238 Missouri
HayDay
OP
trapper
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OP
trapper
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 2,238
Missouri
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Have recently come to realize there is a difference between "reloading" and "hand loading". I"d be a reloader. I got back into it after a nearly 40 year break to assure a never ending supply of ammo. Or at least the ability to run out my clock, and have done that. We were down to about 5 rounds total for that gun, and haven't seen any factory for it in well over a year. It will show up eventually, but for me, writing was on the wall. Guns are not going away, but if you don't have ammo for them, they are just expensive clubs to wave around. BTW, talked to a gun shop the other day and they said they have customers who may end up skipping deer season this year for lack of ammo. They don't have it and can't get it. That can turn into permanent some day and when it does, it will be too late to do anything about it. The ability to reload solves that.
But as for reloading, I"m a low volume guy, wanting to produce at least factory grade or better. But this is mostly for hunting, so not going to be chasing my tail to get it down to one hole groups. Gun what printed that target has shot a lot of deer and coyotes over past 50 years, and doubt any of the deer have been over 150 yards. Most under 100. I once shot a goose flying with it.
Having said that about need for accuracy, I'm finding this to be a fun little hobby, and one of my goals is to get all these guns down to 1 MOA or less. And believe all are capable of it if the shooter is.
As for these loads, this was my first attempt at loading for the 270. Those were shot with 55 grains of H4831 under 130 gr Hornady Interlocks. That was middle of the road load in Lyman, but later found to be below(?) starting load in Hodgdon and Lee load data. Velocity was running around 2,775 fps.
With powder in short supply, I was buying what I could get and one of those was an obscure IMR 4955. For that one, I tried loading some 10 shot test ladders, increasing in 0.2 grain increments. Got a good group from all 10 of those.....8 of 10 inside an inch, picked a load, loaded 5 more just like and and proceeded to shoot a 4 inch group that looked like a 410 buckshot load. (This word is unacceptable on Trapperman)??? Both frustrating and fun.
Started out with a mix of RCBS, Hornady and LEE dies, but my preference is running to the LEE dies. Once set, with the breech lock system, changing dies out is pretty easy. For my use, a single stage press is not an issue or a problem.
BTW, that guns is a 50 year old Remington with wood stock. So it may well benefit from some tweaks. But like many, it gets pulled out, a couple shots fired to check scope, couple more at deer, then gets cleaned and put away for another year. Once factory ammo comes back, will certainly run a side by side test with it. Did that with another gun in the group and found out all kinds of fun stuff. One box of Federal match ammo shot under an inch. A box of Federal hunting ammo with Sierra Game Kings shot 3 inch groups, same gun, same day, same shooter. Lot of moving parts to account for.
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Re: Reloading - what to look for
[Re: HayDay]
#7373929
10/07/21 07:26 PM
10/07/21 07:26 PM
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,193 Goldsboro, NC
John C
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,193
Goldsboro, NC
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For the casual handloader/reloader I’m still recommending an ribs turret press. Holds six dies and one nut changes the turret. Easy and saves time. Get consistent results with minimal setup time.
More Cowbell
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Re: Reloading - what to look for
[Re: HayDay]
#7400699
11/09/21 03:42 PM
11/09/21 03:42 PM
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Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 2,238 Missouri
HayDay
OP
trapper
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OP
trapper
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 2,238
Missouri
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Better? 55.0 gr IMR 4350 under 130 gr Hornady Interlock. And yes, that is at 100 yards.
Last edited by HayDay; 11/09/21 03:43 PM.
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Re: Reloading - what to look for
[Re: HayDay]
#7400758
11/09/21 05:33 PM
11/09/21 05:33 PM
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 16,150 Tennessee
Scuba1
"color blind Kraut"
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"color blind Kraut"
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 16,150
Tennessee
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good enough to put food on the table
Let's go Brandon
"Shall not comply" with morons who don't understand "shall not infringe."
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