- Thread starter DocLes
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M
milo 2.0
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Re: NEW TO RELOADING QUESTION
I say no, any brand will do it.
I say no, any brand will do it.
Re: NEW TO RELOADING QUESTION
Doc, match ammo isn't about the dies, it's about the brass preparation and precision sorting of components along with lots of attention to detail while cooking it up....or it's loading nosler custom brass with a charge thrown out of a machine and stuffing a bullet into it with a Lee die. I've done both with excellent results both ways..
Doc, match ammo isn't about the dies, it's about the brass preparation and precision sorting of components along with lots of attention to detail while cooking it up....or it's loading nosler custom brass with a charge thrown out of a machine and stuffing a bullet into it with a Lee die. I've done both with excellent results both ways..
Re: NEW TO RELOADING QUESTION
and until your skill level as a shooter gets to th epoint that the AMMO is the weak link, its a moot point anyhow. Just load up some stuff and shoot it. when you start outshooting the ammo, THEN come back and we will talk about tricks to improve the ammo. Until then, focus on loading up lots of ammo and doing lots of practice. If you are shooting benchrest, or something like that, you may have to do something different. I will let one of those guys chime in.
and until your skill level as a shooter gets to th epoint that the AMMO is the weak link, its a moot point anyhow. Just load up some stuff and shoot it. when you start outshooting the ammo, THEN come back and we will talk about tricks to improve the ammo. Until then, focus on loading up lots of ammo and doing lots of practice. If you are shooting benchrest, or something like that, you may have to do something different. I will let one of those guys chime in.
Re: NEW TO RELOADING QUESTION
To tell you the truth, I shot expert with the Corps as a corpsman.
And have more rounds down range than the average shooter. Don't let the number of posts a man has, be the determining factor as to what his expereance truly is. The reason I posted this question was,I'm 65 and have a lot of time on my hands so I decided to try reloading to take up some of that spare time. Besides I'm getting tired of buying my match ammo. Since I have a LARGE amount of spent brass, I thought I would try reloading.
Doc Les
To tell you the truth, I shot expert with the Corps as a corpsman.
And have more rounds down range than the average shooter. Don't let the number of posts a man has, be the determining factor as to what his expereance truly is. The reason I posted this question was,I'm 65 and have a lot of time on my hands so I decided to try reloading to take up some of that spare time. Besides I'm getting tired of buying my match ammo. Since I have a LARGE amount of spent brass, I thought I would try reloading.
Doc Les
M
milo 2.0
Guest
Re: NEW TO RELOADING QUESTION
You take up loading, you won't have any spare time!
You take up loading, you won't have any spare time!
Re: NEW TO RELOADING QUESTION
Are both of the rifles bolt action?
If you are loading for a Garand, remember that the powder burn rate needs to be similar to IMR-4895. If you go slower by too much you run the risk of bending an op rod unless you use an adjustable gas plug.
If you are just starting to reload, I wouldn't start off with a set of bushing dies. I like the floating seating stem of Hornady dies and have had good luck with them in many different calibers. I have Forester, Redding, and RCBS standard dies and they also work well. I have some Lee dies and they also work fine, but they tend to wander a little with their easy to adjust features. If you are reloading for auto loaders, the Lee factory crimp die is nice.
Be sure to consult a couple different load manuals. Most of the powder manufacturers (Hodgdon/IMR/Winchester, Alliant, Accurate, Ramshot, Vihtavuori) have online data bases. Lee's Modern Reloading is a compilation of the powder manufacturers' data. Pick a bullet manufacturer's reloading manual that you plan to use and you are in good shape to start. Be sure to read the parts of the manuals that explain the hows and why you complete each step in reloading for knowledge and safety sake.
Are both of the rifles bolt action?
If you are loading for a Garand, remember that the powder burn rate needs to be similar to IMR-4895. If you go slower by too much you run the risk of bending an op rod unless you use an adjustable gas plug.
If you are just starting to reload, I wouldn't start off with a set of bushing dies. I like the floating seating stem of Hornady dies and have had good luck with them in many different calibers. I have Forester, Redding, and RCBS standard dies and they also work well. I have some Lee dies and they also work fine, but they tend to wander a little with their easy to adjust features. If you are reloading for auto loaders, the Lee factory crimp die is nice.
Be sure to consult a couple different load manuals. Most of the powder manufacturers (Hodgdon/IMR/Winchester, Alliant, Accurate, Ramshot, Vihtavuori) have online data bases. Lee's Modern Reloading is a compilation of the powder manufacturers' data. Pick a bullet manufacturer's reloading manual that you plan to use and you are in good shape to start. Be sure to read the parts of the manuals that explain the hows and why you complete each step in reloading for knowledge and safety sake.
Re: NEW TO RELOADING QUESTION
Doc Les,
I based nothing on the number of posts you have. But I think my advice is sound, spend time shooting, rather than tinkering with loads. As long as you get the basics down and shoot safe ammo, you are going to have ammo that should shoot as good or better than what you can buy and certainly well enough to clean targets (assuming you are shooting on HP targets, as I am guessing you are shooting 30-06 in some sort of obsolete service rifle. if thats the case, load development means next to nothing for you. Load up some safe stuff and go shoot.
If you are strictly shooting on the HP targets, you will find that ammo is NOT going to be your weak link. Regardless of what my post count is, I think I know just a tad about loading ammo for HP use.
Now, that being said, if you are shooting something other than 1-2 MOA HP targets, say, benchrest or something, then get with the guys here that get into the details of LD and work with them. I cant help you there as the key to doing well in my discipline is more related to the nut behind the bolt than the bolt or the stuff we feed it.
Sorry if you thought I thought you were a total noob. Not what I meant, etc. Heck, we got guys that have been shooting HP for years and still spend more time at the loading bench than the range thinking the weak link is the ammo when in reality, its them. Frustrating watching guys waste time, and money, farting around with loads when they need to work on other areas.
Anyways, have fun, be safe and hold hard.
Doc Les,
I based nothing on the number of posts you have. But I think my advice is sound, spend time shooting, rather than tinkering with loads. As long as you get the basics down and shoot safe ammo, you are going to have ammo that should shoot as good or better than what you can buy and certainly well enough to clean targets (assuming you are shooting on HP targets, as I am guessing you are shooting 30-06 in some sort of obsolete service rifle. if thats the case, load development means next to nothing for you. Load up some safe stuff and go shoot.
If you are strictly shooting on the HP targets, you will find that ammo is NOT going to be your weak link. Regardless of what my post count is, I think I know just a tad about loading ammo for HP use.
Now, that being said, if you are shooting something other than 1-2 MOA HP targets, say, benchrest or something, then get with the guys here that get into the details of LD and work with them. I cant help you there as the key to doing well in my discipline is more related to the nut behind the bolt than the bolt or the stuff we feed it.
Sorry if you thought I thought you were a total noob. Not what I meant, etc. Heck, we got guys that have been shooting HP for years and still spend more time at the loading bench than the range thinking the weak link is the ammo when in reality, its them. Frustrating watching guys waste time, and money, farting around with loads when they need to work on other areas.
Anyways, have fun, be safe and hold hard.
Re: NEW TO RELOADING QUESTION
The advice above is all sound, there's no special tools to making better ammunition than the next guy. I believe what they're getting at, is just as when you were new to shooting, you are now new to reloading; and just as when you were new to shooting, the best thing to do was shoot a lot on the cheap to get the hang of it before progressing into more advanced techinques and methods. And frankly, the more advanced you get into this hobby, the less that "rules" and doing anything the same as another person applies. But you won't know in which direction to bend said rules without many reloaded rounds under your belt.
My advice to beginners is to decide if you want to stick with this for a long time or not, that will help you decide on a budget. Also, start with affordable dies so you can scratch them, stick cases in them, and make all the mistakes possible on them. Then upgrade later. You can make better ammo using the cheap Lee dies than any of the commercially available match ammo anyway. You won't outgrow basic reloads very quickly.
The advice above is all sound, there's no special tools to making better ammunition than the next guy. I believe what they're getting at, is just as when you were new to shooting, you are now new to reloading; and just as when you were new to shooting, the best thing to do was shoot a lot on the cheap to get the hang of it before progressing into more advanced techinques and methods. And frankly, the more advanced you get into this hobby, the less that "rules" and doing anything the same as another person applies. But you won't know in which direction to bend said rules without many reloaded rounds under your belt.
My advice to beginners is to decide if you want to stick with this for a long time or not, that will help you decide on a budget. Also, start with affordable dies so you can scratch them, stick cases in them, and make all the mistakes possible on them. Then upgrade later. You can make better ammo using the cheap Lee dies than any of the commercially available match ammo anyway. You won't outgrow basic reloads very quickly.
Re: NEW TO RELOADING QUESTION
Doc,
First off thank you for your military service.
If you have time on your hands and want to learn a new hobby, or a hobby with in a hobby. I say go for it. I recommend reading Handloading for Competition by Glen D. Zediker. It is long winded and at times rambles but has a lot of really good information. I just this weekend shot my set of reloads and I am rather pleased with the results. I am using Lee Dies. The higher priced match dies are very nice, but I believe if you pay attention to the details you can load very accurate ammunition with regular/cheaper dies.
Doc,
First off thank you for your military service.
If you have time on your hands and want to learn a new hobby, or a hobby with in a hobby. I say go for it. I recommend reading Handloading for Competition by Glen D. Zediker. It is long winded and at times rambles but has a lot of really good information. I just this weekend shot my set of reloads and I am rather pleased with the results. I am using Lee Dies. The higher priced match dies are very nice, but I believe if you pay attention to the details you can load very accurate ammunition with regular/cheaper dies.
Re: NEW TO RELOADING QUESTION
Doc, where are you in Arkansas? Just getting into reloading myself and curious as to what local vendors you have found for supplie.
Jake
Doc, where are you in Arkansas? Just getting into reloading myself and curious as to what local vendors you have found for supplie.
Jake
