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Custom loads question

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RanchRoper
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Custom loads question

Post by RanchRoper » Thu Mar 14, 2019 3:06 pm

Lots have talked about "you will enjoy customizing your own loads" as I venture in to reloading.
I intend to stick to the manual like glue for the foreseeable future but how much actual difference to the shooter does a grain or two more or less make? As a novice reloader will I even know the difference? Obviously I get the part where too much or too little powder is bad. But how much leeway are you folks doing to see a difference at the range?
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CT_Shooter
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Re: Custom loads question

Post by CT_Shooter » Thu Mar 14, 2019 4:43 pm

RR, most of what I've read about custom loads is that they are most relevant to rifle cartridges where a rifle's head space measurements can be adjusted along with the other variables. In pistol calibers, it's more of a preference for varying amounts of powder, types of powder, varying weights of bullets, and types of bullets. Since you will be using only lead 250 grain Round Nose bullets and Universal Powder, you will likely only be comparing differences in powder weights.

In Hornady's Ninth, which I like because they develop their loads from actual test firings in real firearms, they break it down into ranges for pistols and rifles, using a Ruger Bisley Blackhawk with a 7 1/2" barrel and a 1:16 twist and a Rossie 92 SRC rifle with a 20" barrel and a 1:16 twist.

Revolver using Universal Powder, WLP, and Hornady 255 gr. FP Cowboy bullet:

Start: 5.6 gr., 650 fps
6.1 gr., 700 fps
6.6 gr., 750 fps
7.0 gr., 800 fps
7.4 gr., 850 fps
Max 7.9 gr., 900 fps

Rifle using Universal Powder, WLP, and Hornady 255 gr. FP Cowboy bullet:

Start: 6.1 gr., 800 fps
6.5 gr., 850 fps
6.8 gr., 900 fps
7.2 gr., 950 fps
7.6 gr., 1000 fps
Max 8.8 gr., 1050 fps

I would start in the middle at 7.0 grains and decide if you're hitting your targets as expected, then make adjustments depending on the results.

Others may give you other suggestions, but you should do well to use reliable data and judge the results for yourself.

Good luck, Cowboy. I know you're going to like it, regardless.

RanchRoper wrote:Lots have talked about "you will enjoy customizing your own loads" as I venture in to reloading.
I intend to stick to the manual like glue for the foreseeable future but how much actual difference to the shooter does a grain or two more or less make? As a novice reloader will I even know the difference? Obviously I get the part where too much or too little powder is bad. But how much leeway are you folks doing to see a difference at the range?
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Re: Custom loads question

Post by Rifletom » Thu Mar 14, 2019 5:15 pm

Agree with CT here. Using only Universal for now, you'll not see a big difference if you only do a .5gr increment. But, you'd likely notice it if you go from say 6.5gr Universal, then jump up to 7.6gr Universal. Gradual changes in powder charges are safe. Just go by the manual. When you do your ordering this weekend, maybe add a digital scale to help verify what the Lee scale reads. They're not expensive, say $35 for a Hornady or others. You've chosen a good powder to work with. Certainly going in the right direction. Now, time for me to head out to the shop and load my own .45C loads. Think I'll try 8.3gr Unique with those Missouri 250gr LRNFP's.
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Re: Custom loads question

Post by fortyshooter » Thu Mar 14, 2019 7:37 pm

Well my "custom" .44 Mag loads are just a click below or right at starting level at 9-9.5 Unique with a 240 gr. SWC bullet.
Makes for nice shooting whether in a revolver or my Henry steel carbine.
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Re: Custom loads question

Post by RanchRoper » Thu Mar 14, 2019 7:49 pm

Yes I will follow the manual closely. I want to replicate Winchester 250 gr LFN Super X cowboy load. I will know when I shoot it if it feels right. I know my rifle very well. Thanks.
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Re: Custom loads question

Post by Ojaileveraction » Thu Mar 14, 2019 7:55 pm

RanchRoper wrote:Lots have talked about "you will enjoy customizing your own loads" as I venture in to reloading.
I intend to stick to the manual like glue for the foreseeable future but how much actual difference to the shooter does a grain or two more or less make? As a novice reloader will I even know the difference? Obviously I get the part where too much or too little powder is bad. But how much leeway are you folks doing to see a difference at the range?
Novice reloader but not a novice shooter by any means.
You may or may not feel a difference in recoil, but you will see a difference at the target.
I think you will notice a difference on you first outing.
Tim
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Re: Custom loads question

Post by JEBar » Thu Mar 14, 2019 8:34 pm

RanchRoper wrote:Yes I will follow the manual closely. I want to replicate Winchester 250 gr LFN Super X cowboy load. I will know when I shoot it if it feels right. I know my rifle very well. Thanks.

do you have access to a chronograph .. :?: .. the best way I know if to duplicate a factory round is to run it through a chrony .... once you know its muzzle velocity, using the same weight/type of bullet, you simply vary the powder charge until it matches the factory speed
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RanchRoper
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Re: Custom loads question

Post by RanchRoper » Thu Mar 14, 2019 9:01 pm

Nope I don't have access to one. So will do it the cowboy way.

Which is basically load and shoot...load and shoot...repeat until you get it.
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Re: Custom loads question

Post by BigAl52 » Thu Mar 14, 2019 10:17 pm

One thing that needs to be mentioned here RR. If you are going to build loads you need to shoot them the same way every time you test. Whether its in a rest or in RR shoulder. Like others have said I start with a load and build some at .5 grain increments until I get one that the gun likes. Staying within the guidelines of the book
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RanchRoper
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Re: Custom loads question

Post by RanchRoper » Thu Mar 14, 2019 10:35 pm

You bet. I will shoot all from 1 knee so I can feel the rifle. I can feel the difference in some factory loads between different ammo. Sounds weird but I can. Couldn't name them or anything dumb like that but I can tell Winchester from a reload. So I look forward to some reloads and how they shoot.
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1860 Colt SA Richards Conversion Revolver .45C
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1820-1840 Frontier Percussion .50
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