Been a plinker for a couple years now, watched a local competition and got hooked. Bought a 700 5R and the Lee Aniversary kit. I wanted to start reloading from the start and have my shooting skills advance along side of my loading skills.
With that said I've read the Hand Loading 1-4 stickies and can honestly say I can skip steps such as pocket uniforming and in-depth concentricity and bullet measurements until my skill justifies such precision (with exception of case length and bullet depth in relation to rifling of course)
Using virgin win brass 308, SMK 175, and 4064 I did some trial loads just to see how everything works and had some questions/observations:
1. The powder dispenser ("perfect powder measure") sucks. The VMD for 4064 is .0755 and I was gonna do 36 gr (according to some book at the store), so .0755x35 = 2.718, so I dialed the volume to 2.6, 'dispensed' it (which just sprayed the powder everywhere, had to use the funnel to catch), and when I put it on the scale it just dropped like a brick. I did zero the scale, so I would tend to trust it over the dispenser. After removing a substantial amount and trickling some powder I got to the correct amount and loaded the case and seated the bullet. The sound it makes when I shake the round make me think its not nearly enough power. I'm definitely not shooting it ! Is my math bad? and is it important to try have the least amount of air in the case?
2. They only had a hornady book, and SMK 175 was almost identical too one of the hornady's, which recommended a 2.800 length. Sound about right for starts? Is there a website or perhaps iphone app that has information like this ?
I only plan on loading 308 for the distant future so dont want to splurge on a 35$ book so which can tell me how to load 38 acp or 9x19 or some spanish mauzer round.
3. Bought the RCBS Comp 30cal seater and I'm totally confused on how to calibrate it (maybe it was suppose to come with instructions, mine didn't). After You Tube'ing and basically trial and error I got a 2.795 length bullet, and marked the setting at the top and locked the adjustment ring. The only procedure I found was to screw in the die until it touches, then back it off 1/8 turn. Touches what? The extended bullet seat goes up inside.
4. Is crimping a personal preference in the precision world or is there a majority? I'm guessing no crimping unless you some sort of pressure / seating guru. I vote no crimping for me because I'm probably more likely to bust my chamber doing so.
5. Probably just ignore this question: Are there milestones that correlate to loading practices that improve precision? EG: Start worrying about bullet jump when you are shooting x inch groups at eleventy thousand yards.
Any feedback appreciated!
I prefer flames in the form of Haiku (5-7-5 syllables, remember highscool?):
"You are hopeless smith
Should stick with twenty two gun
Save your money guy"
With that said I've read the Hand Loading 1-4 stickies and can honestly say I can skip steps such as pocket uniforming and in-depth concentricity and bullet measurements until my skill justifies such precision (with exception of case length and bullet depth in relation to rifling of course)
Using virgin win brass 308, SMK 175, and 4064 I did some trial loads just to see how everything works and had some questions/observations:
1. The powder dispenser ("perfect powder measure") sucks. The VMD for 4064 is .0755 and I was gonna do 36 gr (according to some book at the store), so .0755x35 = 2.718, so I dialed the volume to 2.6, 'dispensed' it (which just sprayed the powder everywhere, had to use the funnel to catch), and when I put it on the scale it just dropped like a brick. I did zero the scale, so I would tend to trust it over the dispenser. After removing a substantial amount and trickling some powder I got to the correct amount and loaded the case and seated the bullet. The sound it makes when I shake the round make me think its not nearly enough power. I'm definitely not shooting it ! Is my math bad? and is it important to try have the least amount of air in the case?
2. They only had a hornady book, and SMK 175 was almost identical too one of the hornady's, which recommended a 2.800 length. Sound about right for starts? Is there a website or perhaps iphone app that has information like this ?
I only plan on loading 308 for the distant future so dont want to splurge on a 35$ book so which can tell me how to load 38 acp or 9x19 or some spanish mauzer round.
3. Bought the RCBS Comp 30cal seater and I'm totally confused on how to calibrate it (maybe it was suppose to come with instructions, mine didn't). After You Tube'ing and basically trial and error I got a 2.795 length bullet, and marked the setting at the top and locked the adjustment ring. The only procedure I found was to screw in the die until it touches, then back it off 1/8 turn. Touches what? The extended bullet seat goes up inside.
4. Is crimping a personal preference in the precision world or is there a majority? I'm guessing no crimping unless you some sort of pressure / seating guru. I vote no crimping for me because I'm probably more likely to bust my chamber doing so.
5. Probably just ignore this question: Are there milestones that correlate to loading practices that improve precision? EG: Start worrying about bullet jump when you are shooting x inch groups at eleventy thousand yards.
Any feedback appreciated!
I prefer flames in the form of Haiku (5-7-5 syllables, remember highscool?):
"You are hopeless smith
Should stick with twenty two gun
Save your money guy"
