Long time stalker, first time poster. - I'm a thru and thru civillian. Shooting is my golf, I'm not planning for a red dawn world, but I want to pattern my choices after the pros. That's why I'm here. - Benchrest makes me snore, I like hiking around the woods with my spotter (wife) and doping wind. Also a very green hunter (2 outings with mixed results)
I've spent the last year gearing up for reloading and I'm about another two weeks from my first loads. I've been through all the stickies here and maybe twice as much material from other sources (Chuck Hawks pages burned into my dreams, arrg.) I've run the gauntlet on ballistic calculators, read several hundred pages out of three different reloading manuals and watched maybe 4 hours of detailed video tutorials about reloading.
I'm full of theory and excited to implement some practice. But, I would love a last check of my goals and ideas before I start out.
SETUP: I'm started with an RCBS supreme master kit, lyman 1200DPS3, Forster ultra FL die set, Sinclair hand primer, Sinclair bump and comparator sets, Sarret calipers, chamber length gauges, RCBS case prep center w/pocket uniformer adaptor, flash hole deburer, and then some miscellaneous bits recommended here and other places. (I was a mechanic for half a decade and developed a seirous tool fetish, I know I could have done the same with less but it's half the fun for me, don't hate.)
RIFLE: This is my first built rifle, not handed down and not a field gun. I know it's a controversial build being an odd ball barrel and down the factory precision scale while being clad in expensive after market. The idea was to afford an opportunity to play with many different loads, including later some sub-sonic locomotives, as well as making a compact rifle as I do a lot of hiking around to find great shooting spots. It's also going to be my first entry into F/TR shooting and yes, I realize I've handicapped myself with the barrel, it was a trade off. After I shoot it out or have a need for a more competitive gun i plan to make it into a 6.5 Creedmoor and retool the exclusive .308 win loading equipment for a match SASS.
•Remington 700 AAC-SD .308
-20", 1 in 10" barrel
-Timny #512 trigger group
-AICS 2.0
-Atlas V8
-Bushnell E Tactical 2.5-16x42 (will later be on my .22 trainer, in progress)
LOAD GOAL: Obviously I'll eventually be looking down the 168-175 SMK road for a stable match load, but because I knew that would be the longer term process I wanted to start with something less conventional (As I shoot through a few hundred GGM cartridges for the brass as well). A hunting load. Specifically a CPX3 load based on the Nosler 180gr. Ballistic tip. I plan on using Varget powder for just about everything I make for this rifle based on what I'm read here and other places. I've got my CCI benchrest primers, now all i need is to do it.
Also, I'm going to be feeding from the mag 100% of the time so I'm not interested into getting into any funny business with bullet seating. Again a trade off, but I'm more concerned with reliable function and repeat speed than anything.
So basically what I'm asking you guys is to give me a blessing to proceed. What am I forgetting? what should I expect? How many rounds should I expect to getting this load into the sweet spot? When I'm near max, tuning for barrel harmonics requires another X loads?
Or, am I totally off base going down this path?
Any information or tricks you guys could let me in on would be fantastic. My appreciation in advance. Cheers
I've spent the last year gearing up for reloading and I'm about another two weeks from my first loads. I've been through all the stickies here and maybe twice as much material from other sources (Chuck Hawks pages burned into my dreams, arrg.) I've run the gauntlet on ballistic calculators, read several hundred pages out of three different reloading manuals and watched maybe 4 hours of detailed video tutorials about reloading.
I'm full of theory and excited to implement some practice. But, I would love a last check of my goals and ideas before I start out.
SETUP: I'm started with an RCBS supreme master kit, lyman 1200DPS3, Forster ultra FL die set, Sinclair hand primer, Sinclair bump and comparator sets, Sarret calipers, chamber length gauges, RCBS case prep center w/pocket uniformer adaptor, flash hole deburer, and then some miscellaneous bits recommended here and other places. (I was a mechanic for half a decade and developed a seirous tool fetish, I know I could have done the same with less but it's half the fun for me, don't hate.)
RIFLE: This is my first built rifle, not handed down and not a field gun. I know it's a controversial build being an odd ball barrel and down the factory precision scale while being clad in expensive after market. The idea was to afford an opportunity to play with many different loads, including later some sub-sonic locomotives, as well as making a compact rifle as I do a lot of hiking around to find great shooting spots. It's also going to be my first entry into F/TR shooting and yes, I realize I've handicapped myself with the barrel, it was a trade off. After I shoot it out or have a need for a more competitive gun i plan to make it into a 6.5 Creedmoor and retool the exclusive .308 win loading equipment for a match SASS.
•Remington 700 AAC-SD .308
-20", 1 in 10" barrel
-Timny #512 trigger group
-AICS 2.0
-Atlas V8
-Bushnell E Tactical 2.5-16x42 (will later be on my .22 trainer, in progress)
LOAD GOAL: Obviously I'll eventually be looking down the 168-175 SMK road for a stable match load, but because I knew that would be the longer term process I wanted to start with something less conventional (As I shoot through a few hundred GGM cartridges for the brass as well). A hunting load. Specifically a CPX3 load based on the Nosler 180gr. Ballistic tip. I plan on using Varget powder for just about everything I make for this rifle based on what I'm read here and other places. I've got my CCI benchrest primers, now all i need is to do it.
Also, I'm going to be feeding from the mag 100% of the time so I'm not interested into getting into any funny business with bullet seating. Again a trade off, but I'm more concerned with reliable function and repeat speed than anything.
So basically what I'm asking you guys is to give me a blessing to proceed. What am I forgetting? what should I expect? How many rounds should I expect to getting this load into the sweet spot? When I'm near max, tuning for barrel harmonics requires another X loads?
Or, am I totally off base going down this path?
Any information or tricks you guys could let me in on would be fantastic. My appreciation in advance. Cheers
