reload equipment for the range

[acts238]

what reload equipment works best for the range ?
I think all I would need is a way to seat the bullets
I could have the cases pre-sized at at home
my existing scale is portable enough
wouldnt be loading enough to need a dropper -? or would I ?
just doing a few to follow up if needed after a ladder test -
which would allready be loaded up at home
I allways end up wishing I had a few more rounds
of a certian charge weight -
sure would be nice to make up a few more right there
what all do I need ?

 

[turbo54]

Re: reload equipment for the range

Particularly with a new rifle/new barrel, I bring the whole ensemble to the range with me:

RCBS JR2 press and clamps
RCBS chargemaster 1500 combo
dies
bullets
powder
primers
lube

This way, I can also load/reload a case over and over again, and take it to failure, so I know how long the brass/primer pocket will last at any given charge weight.

 

[aloreman]

Re: reload equipment for the range

I like wilson dies and an arbor press

 

[afrancke]

Re: reload equipment for the range

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: aloreman</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I like wilson dies and an arbor press</div></div>

This is exactly what I've done (but I've also hauled the Co-Ax to the range as well). You take a bunch of prepped cases with you, so all you ever do is add powder and seat.

I don't feel I have a great solution for very precise powder measurement yet, however; the Harrell's measure does not appear to deliver better than +/- 0.1 grains of accuracy, and sometimes worse, so if you're really trying to compare SD and especially ES, then you'll want something better. I've used a GemPro 250 scale, but it has the following two problems:

- eats batteries like you wouldn't believe
- is incredibly sensitive to wind

Anyhow, if you're just doing ladder tests, then a powder dispenser that is relatively repeatable is probably fine anyway - after all, the goal is to find nodes, so if you're around one, the variance in the dropped charge weights won't show up in the groups as badly in theory. The ES/SD type figures are another story.

If you are going to seat multiple bullet types, then a micrometer top and some very careful measurement of where the top needs to be to get your desired seating depth is in order ahead of time. Maybe some calipers to go with it.

I like turbo54's rationale of taking the whole setup and determining case life - that's an idea that had not occurred to me. You could also compare full length resizing vs. neck sizing and any other such technique variation easily in combination with this test.

turbo54, how do you power your chargemaster? Does your shooting spot have AC power available where you load, or do you take a battery and inverter/adapter or some such?

 

[afrancke]

Re: reload equipment for the range

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: afrancke</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> turbo54, how do you power your chargemaster? Does your shooting spot have AC power available where you load, or do you take a battery and inverter/adapter or some such?</div></div>

Well, some googling revealed some possibilities - I should have searched before now and rigged something up along these lines:

http://forum.accurateshooter.com/index.php?topic=3785769.15

 

[culater]

Re: reload equipment for the range

Have a Chrongraph is must when doing your load development as you are doing your latter test.I use RCBS 10-10 scale for weighting powder.As long you it is on a calm day.

 

[turbo54]

Re: reload equipment for the range

My gunclub has a rifle house with AC power, insulation, and a sweet woodburning stove, as well as 5 or 6 benches (indoors) that you can shoot at 50, 100 and 200 yards.

So, one of the shooting benches becomes the reloading bench. I clamp my press right to it, dump some powder in the chargemaster and let it rip.

It might seem like a lot of trouble, but it's really not. I just load up a rubbermaid tub and haul it to the range.

 

[insight3b]

Re: reload equipment for the range

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nwr0FyJOk-4

 

[flashhole]

Re: reload equipment for the range

This is what I did. The hand tools and other "stuff" goes in a plastic tool box. I have a second Lee press mounted on my regular bench and just have to switch out turrets when I hit on a good combination. The powder measure gets moved to the regular bench too.