What did you do at your reloading bench today?

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  • PowPow

    Where's the beef?
    Nov 22, 2012
    4,712
    Howard County
    Thanks for this info. Been using W231 for 45acp.

    I have used W231 & Power Pistol for full power FMJ & JHP loads. You really can't go wrong with either.

    A couple powders I'd like to someday play with for lead SWC target loads are Titegroup and WST.
     

    Speedluvn

    Active Member
    Dec 23, 2019
    340
    Baltimore County
    I have used W231 & Power Pistol for full power FMJ & JHP loads. You really can't go wrong with either.

    A couple powders I'd like to someday play with for lead SWC target loads are Titegroup and WST.

    I’m starting to “recognize” powders and their uses. It a slow learning curve for me.
     

    Speedluvn

    Active Member
    Dec 23, 2019
    340
    Baltimore County
    Spending some time with a burn rate chart can help, especially when you're looking for a powder and your favorite one is out of stock. Here is one of the newest from Hodgdon (Nov 2019)

    https://hodgdon.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/burn-rate-color.pdf

    Looking at the linked chart, I wasn’t expecting to see “shotgun” powders, or at least what I would equate as shotgun powders, as the fastest burning powders. I expected to see W296 or what I consider magnum powders.
    It also appears that the rifle powders are slower burning?
    I’ve heard of the burn rate charts and never looked at them but I guess now I’m able to process the information better from these charts with my using a few more powders then when I initially started reloading.
     

    lazarus

    Ultimate Member
    Jun 23, 2015
    13,680
    Looking at the linked chart, I wasn’t expecting to see “shotgun” powders, or at least what I would equate as shotgun powders, as the fastest burning powders. I expected to see W296 or what I consider magnum powders.
    It also appears that the rifle powders are slower burning?
    I’ve heard of the burn rate charts and never looked at them but I guess now I’m able to process the information better from these charts with my using a few more powders then when I initially started reloading.

    In general it is shotgun and pistols are the fastest burning. Then pistol magnum. Then small bore rifle. Then large bore rifle. Then magnum rifle and 50BMG powders for speed.

    There are of course variations within those categories and plenty “cross over”.
     

    trickg

    Guns 'n Drums
    MDS Supporter
    Jul 22, 2008
    14,599
    Glen Burnie
    45 ACP

    100 Rounds - 8.1 gr Power Pistol, 185 gr Hornady XTP JHP
    150 Rounds - 5.1 gr W231, 200 gr X-Treme plated flat point (not my favorite bullet - I prefer a 200 gr RN, but that's what was available at the time)

    I'd gotten out of it for a while - I just wasn't shooting, and therefore wasn't reloading, so I even sold some of my gear, but the one thing that never changes is that nothing stays the same.
     

    steves1911

    Ultimate Member
    Dec 2, 2011
    3,026
    On a hill in Wv
    Loaded a couple ladders to test out....rl26 with 200gr eldx in 300win, 8208xbr with 168gr bthp in 7.62nato, varget with 180gr sst in 308win, h1000 with 180gr sst in 300 win. Weather looks decent tomorrow plan to run em through the chrono as well.
     

    Rockzilla

    Ultimate Member
    Feb 6, 2010
    4,516
    55.751244 / 37.618423

    Art3

    Eqinsu Ocha
    MDS Supporter
    Jan 30, 2015
    13,267
    Harford County
    Recently picked up a 1884 Springfield Trapdoor (production date of May ish 1889). First time getting into black powder cartridges, and this is really fun! 45-70 blackpowder is a fun round to shoot, as long as you swab the bore every few shots.

    I've learned that many of the low pressure smokeless loads (reduced H4895, Varget, etc) are safe with no pressure signs. BUT not accurate whatsoever and leave a significant amount of unburned powder in the chamber/barrel. Pass on these. Might try some Accurate 5744 if I can find it.

    What I've been doing is taking some 405gr .459 projectiles (BHN 15) off Midway, melting the smokeless lube off of it and then doing some pan-lubing with SPG lube. These projectiles are good, albeit some are out of spec weight wise. I also have a lee casting set up, but haven't really jumped into that just yet. Can't seem to find the right mold I want, either the 405gr or 510gr.

    Last weekend I did a ladder test using a drop tube and slightly compressed GOEX 3F load with .460 sized .030 inch wad.

    55gr produced a seemingly impossible group at 50 yards (1 inch with all 5 shots touching) and every other load up to 65 grains (2.5gr increments) was 4-5 inches. Made some more to test this weekend.

    I think I enjoy working up loads more than just going out and blasting. The process is enjoyable

    Black is best, but the vintage rifle match I shoot in only allows smokeless. I found Varget (about 39-40 grains) pushes my 405 HB bullets to pretty much the same POI as black, in about the same sized group. You can hear the bullet smack through the paper at 100yds after the report...so it certainly isn't screaming downrange. It does leave a little bit of unburnt powder.

    I would think 3F is going to be a little hot. I think (and certainly could be remembering wrong:o) that the dividing line between 3F and 2F is .40 cal. I certainly run 2F in everything .45 and bigger.

    When you do start casting your own, spend a little extra to get a big dipper like this one: https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1010226746. It is possible to get 500 grains out of the little basic ladles (I did...for too long:rolleyes:), but you have to fill them almost all the way and pour really really quickly. Having a ladle that holds more than you want to pour makes it so much nicer (and less swirlies).
     

    Melnic

    Ultimate Member
    MDS Supporter
    Dec 27, 2012
    15,282
    HoCo
    Got away from the couch and kitchen for a few hours and took some trash bags into the room to toss stuff away.
    I use a Lee 6 Turret press that was gifted to me for pistol rounds and cleaned and lubed it, then sized/flaired 400 rounds of 9mm and stashed into the bin.
     

    Kirkster

    Active Member
    Jan 9, 2009
    329
    Severn, PRoMD
    Loaded 100 62 grain .223 freedom pills. Then cleaned the reloading bench and disassembled some mistakes. Finished up with half an hour of draws and dry fires.
     

    Melnic

    Ultimate Member
    MDS Supporter
    Dec 27, 2012
    15,282
    HoCo
    Never hurts to look down
    Picked up 100 7.62x39 reloadable brass cases today. Adding this to the 40 I already had and current conditions I ordered Lee 3 die set. I already have a bullet I powder coat that should work well I hope. Question will be if it has enough gas to cycle with the gas checked powder coated rounds
    5ce06a5c2c04dbc3b9b15feee2aef57d.jpg



    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     

    PowPow

    Where's the beef?
    Nov 22, 2012
    4,712
    Howard County
    Never hurts to look down
    Picked up 100 7.62x39 reloadable brass cases today. Adding this to the 40 I already had and current conditions I ordered Lee 3 die set. I already have a bullet I powder coat that should work well I hope. Question will be if it has enough gas to cycle with the gas checked powder coated rounds

    Nice haul! Will you size yours to .311, .312, or something else?
     

    John from MD

    American Patriot
    MDS Supporter
    May 12, 2005
    22,736
    Socialist State of Maryland
    I never had much luck with my bring back Chinese Sks but it had seen some service. Part of the problem was the poor sights. They are great for close combat, lousy for shooting at 100 yard and further targets.
     

    RuralRifleGuy

    Active Member
    Aug 16, 2018
    918
    Queenstown
    Never hurts to look down
    Picked up 100 7.62x39 reloadable brass cases today. Adding this to the 40 I already had and current conditions I ordered Lee 3 die set. I already have a bullet I powder coat that should work well I hope. Question will be if it has enough gas to cycle with the gas checked powder coated rounds
    5ce06a5c2c04dbc3b9b15feee2aef57d.jpg



    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

    Lucky. I had to order my 7.62x39 brass yesterday and you find a gold mine. I can’t find Grendel brass anywhere so it’s time to make some.
     

    lazarus

    Ultimate Member
    Jun 23, 2015
    13,680
    Lucky. I had to order my 7.62x39 brass yesterday and you find a gold mine. I can’t find Grendel brass anywhere so it’s time to make some.

    I ordered 250 cases a few weeks ago and wish I had ordered 500. Oh well. Hopefully mine last
    Till they are available again.
     

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