So first off, a big thank you to everyone here at the hide. Through lots of lurking and a few questions I have learned almost everything I've needed for reloading from this site. So thank you so much.
So I've slowly been acquiring reloading equipment throughout the last few months. I didnt buy from a list of anything inparticular but through reading numerous threads and posts, I decided on what I thought would work best for me. So first off I'll make a list of what i'm using.
Press= Forster CO-AX
Dies= Lee Decapping die, Redding Body die, Lee Collet neck sizing die (final sanded and polished), Redding bullet seating die.
Cleaning=Thulmers tumbler and SS media
Priming= RCBS hand primer
Powder charger= RCBS Chargemaster 1500
Trimming= Forster original case trimmer with 3in1 cutter (until i finish my "Pencil sharpener" Similar to giraud)
So the reason I'm posting is because I'm really happy. I've only even been behind a scoped rifle for less than a year. My rifle system has performed fantastically for me, and I knew to compete in tac comps I wanted to work up my own loads. So off I went doing my research. I bought some books as recommended here read and reviewed many different theories on reloading and starting aquiring gear.
So this is how its gone for me so far. I have around 260 Federal cases fired from my rifle since I've finished it and been shooting. I also have 20 of my "Crap" cases of remington I used for break-in. So as I started getting all of my reloading equipment in I've been itching to just shoot some reloads(Plus i didnt want to buy boxes of ammo as I was spending cash on bullets and powder). So the final peice to my puzzle was a case trimmer. I was building one to operate in a like fashion to the giraud trimmer. However due to my hurried machining I totally botched my first attempt (Two pressfits that I over did and rezeroing my boring bar twice killed that one.) So I just bought a forster to get me through. So in my haste I just wanted something to shoot. Out of my 20 "crap" cases I picked out 13 that hadn't been molested by me trying out some of my reloading equipment. They had all been primer pocket uniformed and flash hole deburred. Cleaning with SS media. Neck bump and collet sized than 3in1 trimmed. I did weight them just for kicks and they were not even within 8gr of each other. I figured what the heck I just want to shoot something I'd built. So I checked members loads here, and checked reloading manuals. I didnt want to build a full charge load, I felt minimum load would be overkill so I settled on 42 Grains of Varget, only slightly above the 10% below max recommendation. Then I headed off to the range.
First 5 shot group
Second
Soo mid .700 and .600 thou on those if I'm doing my math right.
So I know on the second set I pulled 2 of the shots. Also on the second set two shots are almost on top of each other(best two shots i've ever made). Now like I said I've only been shooting behind a scoped rifle for a year now, and those are my first reloads. I was definitly NOT expecting to see those shots group like that. I know they were on the light side as my zero was right on with the box ammo I was using and those grouped low.
Now I plan to work it some more with the intent of getting the velocity up a little bit, and if possible tight up groups. But I don't think <span style="font-style: italic"> I </span> Can shoot any better. So I was using what I was under the understanding was terrible brass (remington) and just randomly picked a load.
Has anyone else had this happen ?
So I've slowly been acquiring reloading equipment throughout the last few months. I didnt buy from a list of anything inparticular but through reading numerous threads and posts, I decided on what I thought would work best for me. So first off I'll make a list of what i'm using.
Press= Forster CO-AX
Dies= Lee Decapping die, Redding Body die, Lee Collet neck sizing die (final sanded and polished), Redding bullet seating die.
Cleaning=Thulmers tumbler and SS media
Priming= RCBS hand primer
Powder charger= RCBS Chargemaster 1500
Trimming= Forster original case trimmer with 3in1 cutter (until i finish my "Pencil sharpener" Similar to giraud)
So the reason I'm posting is because I'm really happy. I've only even been behind a scoped rifle for less than a year. My rifle system has performed fantastically for me, and I knew to compete in tac comps I wanted to work up my own loads. So off I went doing my research. I bought some books as recommended here read and reviewed many different theories on reloading and starting aquiring gear.
So this is how its gone for me so far. I have around 260 Federal cases fired from my rifle since I've finished it and been shooting. I also have 20 of my "Crap" cases of remington I used for break-in. So as I started getting all of my reloading equipment in I've been itching to just shoot some reloads(Plus i didnt want to buy boxes of ammo as I was spending cash on bullets and powder). So the final peice to my puzzle was a case trimmer. I was building one to operate in a like fashion to the giraud trimmer. However due to my hurried machining I totally botched my first attempt (Two pressfits that I over did and rezeroing my boring bar twice killed that one.) So I just bought a forster to get me through. So in my haste I just wanted something to shoot. Out of my 20 "crap" cases I picked out 13 that hadn't been molested by me trying out some of my reloading equipment. They had all been primer pocket uniformed and flash hole deburred. Cleaning with SS media. Neck bump and collet sized than 3in1 trimmed. I did weight them just for kicks and they were not even within 8gr of each other. I figured what the heck I just want to shoot something I'd built. So I checked members loads here, and checked reloading manuals. I didnt want to build a full charge load, I felt minimum load would be overkill so I settled on 42 Grains of Varget, only slightly above the 10% below max recommendation. Then I headed off to the range.
First 5 shot group
Second
Soo mid .700 and .600 thou on those if I'm doing my math right.
So I know on the second set I pulled 2 of the shots. Also on the second set two shots are almost on top of each other(best two shots i've ever made). Now like I said I've only been shooting behind a scoped rifle for a year now, and those are my first reloads. I was definitly NOT expecting to see those shots group like that. I know they were on the light side as my zero was right on with the box ammo I was using and those grouped low.
Now I plan to work it some more with the intent of getting the velocity up a little bit, and if possible tight up groups. But I don't think <span style="font-style: italic"> I </span> Can shoot any better. So I was using what I was under the understanding was terrible brass (remington) and just randomly picked a load.
Has anyone else had this happen ?
