first reloading kit..

[PlinkIt]

First reloading kit is set for delivery on Wednesday... Got the hornady classic kit.. Now for a few questions..

1- if I am going to leave dies set up in the hornady quick change system do I need micrometer adjusting dies to make match grade rounds for only one rifle in a specific caliber?.. Basically having a set of dies set up far each rifle would be my method here..
2- what is the deal with the dies made to tighten the bullet crimp? Or something like that?.. I thought the seating die was supposed to also be pulling the brass to hold the round?.. So what's the purpose.. Or benefit..

3- how do I pick dies that set length by ogive instead of OAL?

 

[witchhunter]

I have dedicated dies for each rifle, however, I only use a single stage press. The sizing dies are adjusted for each rifle's chamber and the seaters are adjusted for that rifle's best accuracy. You will probably not want to crimp any rounds used for targets only. Experiment with crimp adjustment, but most precision guys do not crimp. It is all in the adjustment of the die if you crimp. If adjusted not to crimp, the seater just seats the bullet to the desired depth into the case. This depth is adjusted after experimentation to produce accuracy or function. Good luck.

 

[cleric]

Some rounds require crimp. Others use neck tension. What are you reloading


Micrometer stems can help but having normal stems is fine to start with.

Do you have a oal measurement for your rifle? Do you have a ogive measurement adapter? If you do measure your chamber than just use the ogive as you are dialing down your stem.

 

[PlinkIt]

I have dedicated dies for each rifle, however, I only use a single stage press. The sizing dies are adjusted for each rifle's chamber and the seaters are adjusted for that rifle's best accuracy. You will probably not want to crimp any rounds used for targets only. Experiment with crimp adjustment, but most precision guys do not crimp. It is all in the adjustment of the die if you crimp. If adjusted not to crimp, the seater just seats the bullet to the desired depth into the case. This depth is adjusted after experimentation to produce accuracy or function. Good luck.

the kit I got is only a single stage as well, and why do you say its not normal to crimp target rounds?

Some rounds require crimp. Others use neck tension. What are you reloading


Micrometer stems can help but having normal stems is fine to start with.

Do you have a oal measurement for your rifle? Do you have a ogive measurement adapter? If you do measure your chamber than just use the ogive as you are dialing down your stem.

the first thing to reload will be 223 for bolt action / then 5.56 for ar / 7mm bolt action / 308 bolt action.. you get the idea I guess but first up is the 223 trying to make the equivalence of a match round for medium to long range practice and critter control.. a lot more practice than critter control though..

as far as oal measurement on the rifle I will be getting the measurement for each one with the hornady kit that attaches to my calipers.. haven't done this yet but feel comfortable in the understanding of the process..

so there is no difference in the die itself in seating oal vs ogive? if the bullet were to have an inconsistency in the shape which would change the oal or the ogive if both were seated with the same die set up?..

 

[Victor N TN]

Crimping target rounds is not really conducive to accuracy. Try it. But you won't like it.

Go by OAL if you are shooting from a removable box type magazine. Standard bolt gun like a Remington or Savage, etc. you can leave a tad long if you wish. But from a magazine the bullet points will rub the magazine if too long.

Good luck.

 

[witchhunter]

BR guys do not crimp. But you can try it and see, each rifle is different. I have made very accurate ammo with standard RCBs FL dies for may years. They have been the standard for 40 or 50 years. I start as long as the magazine will allow for hunting rounds and adjust from there. For my pdog guns I load single shot, so they are as long as they need to be for best accuracy. Load a lot of different loads and shoot a lot, you will soon see what your rifle likes and doesn't like.

 

[PlinkIt]

Crimping target rounds is not really conducive to accuracy. Try it. But you won't like it.

Go by OAL if you are shooting from a removable box type magazine. Standard bolt gun like a Remington or Savage, etc. you can leave a tad long if you wish. But from a magazine the bullet points will rub the magazine if too long.

Good luck.

BR guys do not crimp. But you can try it and see, each rifle is different. I have made very accurate ammo with standard RCBs FL dies for may years. They have been the standard for 40 or 50 years. I start as long as the magazine will allow for hunting rounds and adjust from there. For my pdog guns I load single shot, so they are as long as they need to be for best accuracy. Load a lot of different loads and shoot a lot, you will soon see what your rifle likes and doesn't like.

thanks for the help guys, I went ahead and ordered the lee ultimate sets, seems like I have as many options as possible so I can try to just go with the flow for starters and if I get curious later I will try the crimp die or neck sizing and see where it gets me..

thanks for the help again