What did you do at your reloading bench today?

[DsGrouse]

There seemed to be a lot of room left in the win 244. I looked it's max pressure up on a number of tables. I didn't feel like i was getting anywhere near the listed pressure table.

I took a look at some modeling software, in put my data:
Case length, case volume, specific barrel length, and diameter, etc. The exact bullet, and it's psi numbers came back 20% less than the listed numbers.

I ran the calculations for an increase of powder by .2 grains (the smallest amount my little rcbs seems to be able to differeniate)

It lists a velocity quite a bit higher than I was achieving through the henry, ( nearly 120 fps) on a 5.2 grain win 244 load.


The Henry does seem to be a bit tight of a bore, and jacketed bullets do go slower than advertised in the loading manuals. My primary focus was the PSI, between 5.2 and 5.6 grains of win 244 I increased (according to the model 3,390 psi) From 24,058 to 27,448. Well below it's Pmax-25 percent total.


So, what were the results? On the 5.2 were 890 fps.

5.4 grains brought the following. average of 911.0 and a STD DEV or 1.3 and a spread of 4



Cases, a mix of new and used brass




Now, on to the 5.6 grains of win 244. Spread of 121 (probably should throw number 1) STD DEV 44.3
When I take out the first shot, it's an average of 1008.8 fps, spread of 37. and std dev of 14.9

[DsGrouse]

A bit of an update, I stepped it up to 5.8 grains of win 244, and hit the 1025ish fps I wanted.

The cases



Chrono..



GRT data

[DsGrouse]

I've been hanging out on the GRT discussion board (discord) and have recieved help putting my load together for the henry. I've got the 5.6 and 5.8 grains loads matching my chrono velocity. Bullet jump and initial pressure are calibrated. So, here is the edited data, showing a better representation of pressures for this load up, in my rifle. (obviously do your own research)

[JVogler]

Got a new bullet from Bayou bullets 357 diameter 138 grain wadcutter. 2.7 grains of Winchester 244 in a 38special shell was the best load of the recipe. Austerity has hit the reloading bench. Looking for loads that use small amounts of powder. Winchester 244... a little goes a long way.

[DsGrouse]

Yep

[rickhem]

So not really at the loading bench today, that was last night. But I wanted to load up more of the 158XTP-FP bullets to get a good level of confidence in their performance on paper. This has shot well for me in the past using Lil Gun at the load published in Handloader many years ago. It's over current published listings, so I'll not post the charge. When I got everything set up, and I'm using my Square Deal as a single stage, the Lil Gun in the powder hopper was dropping at slightly under what it was last time. I weighed what it was dropping and it was 0.3 grains under what I had it set for last time. No reason why, except perhaps that the hopper wasn't very full, so less head, and a correspondingly decreased charge weight. Anyway, I just decided to go with that and see how it shot.

Today I got out my .357 BBS and these were the first three shots I fired. Distance was 50 yards, and that orange sticker is 1¼" in diameter. Works out to just a hair under ¾". That was good enough that I decided to stop there and leave a winner. I'll get this out a few more times between now and deer season, fire a shot or three, and gain confidence that it's still hitting point of aim for me. Knowing that the rifle shoots like this really adds confidence in those woods shots where you have to pick your lane through trees and branches. That slightly reduced charge turned out to be a happy accident for sure! I loaded 20 rounds, so I've got 17 more to play with between now and deer season.

[DsGrouse]

Nice! I have some of those 158 xtp fp's. That is a great grouping. I loaded 25 of the 180 grn xtp's using the same load i posted above. I'm curious as to how they will do

[rickhem]

I have yet to try the 180XTPs, but that'll happen eventually.
My chrono gave me an average of just over 1900fps on these, which I'm pretty happy with. I was going to send a couple down to the 100 yard target, but would have had to move the chronograph screens, so I just quit with those three for that day. I had a few other rifles to get to and different loads for those to test.

If I'm looking at a trend for loading/shooting the XTP bullets, it seems that my rifle likes heavier and longer bullets, so the 180s should satisfy both of those criteria. I'm interested to hear how they work for you.

[DsGrouse]

I have yet to try the 180XTPs, but that'll happen eventually.
My chrono gave me an average of just over 1900fps on these, which I'm pretty happy with. I was going to send a couple down to the 100 yard target, but would have had to move the chronograph screens, so I just quit with those three for that day. I had a few other rifles to get to and different loads for those to test.

If I'm looking at a trend for loading/shooting the XTP bullets, it seems that my rifle likes heavier and longer bullets, so the 180s should satisfy both of those criteria. I'm interested to hear how they work for you.

I'll try to get some time to do a few groups today. I need to rebuild my range, but for now, I might be able to cobble together a placard for some paper targets and put it at 70 yards.

[The Happy Kaboomer]

Started doing a batch run of 38 spl's on one of my Dillons.

[DsGrouse]

Lee's book has H110 through a range of bullet weights, from 225 up to 360. Hodgedon's manual does also. Yeah, like 4227, it allows you to reach some magnum levels of performance out of the cartridge...

For reference,
Blue bullet 320grns 21 grains of h110.
Matts 305 SWCGC, 21.8grns of h110
Cast performance 300grnlfnGC, 21.8 grns of h110
Sierra 300JSP 21.8 grns
Hornaday 300 XTP, 21.83grns
Mats 285grn TCGC, 22.0grns
Hornaday 250xtp, 25.7 h110
Hornaday 240 xtp Mag, 27.2 H110
Sierra 240grn JHP 27.2 H110.


When it stops being hotter than hell out there, I'll run them through my model 83 and see they perform on the chrony.

Chrono data out of my henry with Griffin bushwacker 46
For reference,
Blue bullet 320grns 21 grains of h110. 1420 fps
Matts 305 SWCGC, 21.8grns of h110 1487 fps
Cast performance 300grnlfnGC, 21.8 grns of h110 1463 fps
Sierra 300JSP 21.8 grns 1469 fps
Hornaday 300 XTP, 21.83grns 1452 fps
Mats 285grn TCGC, 22.0grns 1509 fps best group
Hornaday 250xtp, 25.7 h110 1719 fps
Hornaday 240 xtp Mag, 27.2 H110 1794 fps
Sierra 240grn JHP 27.2 H110. 1770 fps

So, what are my thoughts on 45 colt with H110? I'll pass. Other than the Matts 285 TC GC bullets, not one of them was grouped. I can achieve the same size group, or better, from the matts bullets from 1000 fps to 1200 fps. There isn't any benefit in driving these bullets that fast.

I've some of the rounds left. I'll run them through my freedom arms 83 next and see what they come up with velocity wise when using that.

[5shot]

Nothing at the loading bench today but a chum of mine informed me that Powder Valley had free shipping and hazmat. He's putting in an order so I told him to check on Alliant Power Pistol...Bingo...4 pounder on the way for $169. That plus what I already have should take me to the checkered flag!

[BigAl52]

Nothing at the loading bench today but a chum of mine informed me that Powder Valley had free shipping and hazmat. He's putting in an order so I told him to check on Alliant Power Pistol...Bingo...4 pounder on the way for $169. That plus what I already have should take me to the checkered flag!

5shot
How you getting along with that new loader now. My shooting friend gave me some Berrys 115 for 9 mm the other day. I stuck them in some cases with some hs 6 to send them down range. They shot pretty darn good outa the pistol

[DsGrouse]

I sized some of matts .456 260 grain hollow based conicals down to .452. I want to see how they do in 45 colt.

I also got my order of 1000 of his 285 grn truncated conea with gas checks. They are my stand out performers accuracy wise.

[5shot]

5shot
How you getting along with that new loader now. My shooting friend gave me some Berrys 115 for 9 mm the other day. I stuck them in some cases with some hs 6 to send them down range. They shot pretty darn good outa the pistol
[/quote]

Al. After a rocky start the Square Deal and I have reconciled and we're getting along quite well. Dillon sent me a new indexing assembly which turned out to be not needed because the issue was simply a very loose indexing assembly screw. But...just like chicken commercial...parts is parts!

I've had good luck with HS6 in 9 mm too.

[JVogler]

Deprimed 50 shells of 7.62 x 39 . Just set up a new set of Lee rifle dies on Friday night. Finished 2 complete rounds. Have to wait until next week to try out in my brothers AK. This is another caliber that I can make but don't have anything to shoot them with.

[DsGrouse]

Loaded up some 285grn tcgc's from matts, some 260 hbrn from matts, hornaday xtp 300s and some nosler 250 sphgs.

285's 10 shot 2 inch group @ 50yds
Nosler 250s 10 shot 1 inch group* @ 50yds

300= 6", 260 =5", a 250grn lead cowboy load 8" groups.

The nosler 250grn is the first bullet out of the 35 i have on hand to stick to an inch at 50yds.

I went aheas and submitted an rma request for the henry big boy x in 45 colt. The accuracy is my primary motivation. It has developed a habit of light primer strikes on all ammo. Its hit and miss, but it is vey annoying

[Vaquero]

Nothin at the bench, but I added another 1000 LPP's to the stash to later play at the bench.

RP

[Hatchdog]

Yesterday I loaded up four test loads in 327 Fed Mag using the Hornady 100 XTP. The only data I could find for any powders I had on hand was for Win 296 and that was only for the 100 gr not the 85 gr that I wanted to use. The only manual I have that even had data for the caliber was my Hornady X edition. I looked for some published data online and both the Hornady manual and the online data really liked Accurate Arms #9. Also I wanted to give 2400 a try but couldn’t find any data.

So I did make up the 100 grain loads and went to the LGS and picked up a pound of AA-9. $42 bucks plus tax.

Doing more looking I did find some published data using 2400 and the 85 grain Hornady so I’ll load up some more using both the AA-9 and the 2400. I get to pick up my S&W M/63 this coming Saturday and I wanted to do some more work with the Single Seven at the same time as I do some shooting/testing with the Smith.

[The Happy Kaboomer]

Nothing...........Went deer hunting.