What did you do at your reloading bench today?

[DsGrouse]

Well this is a new one for me. I have to argue on the internet as to how badly I suck... I shall endeavor not to suck enough to sufficiently prove that I suck.

Here we go.

Best group of the day.
6 shot group smith and wesson 45colt at 120 yds. 285grn matts truncated cone gas checked. 8.3 grains cfep


The rest of the shots across four targets. Prior to yesterday's shooting, there were no hits on bare cardboard. It was windy; I had to wait for the two side flaps to stop swinging between shots. I've a better borescope coming today, the barrels were clean, i shot only coated, gaschecked, and jacketed loads. So, I don't think the issue was leading.




My only guess is that I'm doing a number of things incorrectly: gripping the rifles, using the bag incorrectly, or not being consistent enough. Heck, it's probably all of the above.

Today, I've got 4 gallons of 45 colt brass to tumble and dry.

[NHshtr]

Nice 6 shot group. I've had some of those "all over the place" days as well, and I'm sure we're not the only ones.

[Mags]

... It was windy; ...

That's it!

[BigAl52]

Dont place to much efficacious on the suck part place more on the fact of how much fun you had and you got out to shoot.

[DsGrouse]

... It was windy; ...

That's it!

I wish I had that excuse... I can't imagine the wind moving these rounds that far. 200, 250, 285 and 300 grainers deflecting that far in 120 yds

[The Happy Kaboomer]

Nothing.....Went deer hunting

[JVogler]

Sorting cleaned ,tumbled brass. Deprimed and flared about 200 9mm brass.

[Vaquero]

Nothing.....Went deer hunting

I've been deer watching.

RP

[NHshtr]

Made up some test loads for .243 Win. today.
I have a lot of different brass with different capacities.
I usually get optimum results in my Long Ranger with H4831SC with Winchester cases and 90 grain and 85 grain bullets. When trying the same load in other brand cases, didn't work out, I varied the amount of powder to achieve the same level of fill, also as an alternative changed the C.O.A.L. The results weren't great.
So I'm changing powder. Today I made up some Hornadys, PPU and Nosler cases using H4350 and Varget. Will try them out soon.

[DsGrouse]

Loaded up a bunch of 45 colt 250grain blue bullets. I swapped out my expander for a redding (from rcbs) and crimp die to redding from Lee factory crimp.

I'm wondering if the lee factory crimp was giving me some problems.

The day before I also loaded 130 or so of my matts 285grn tcgc. (used lee factory crimp on those)

We'll see how everything goes

[NHshtr]

I use the 45 Colt Lee Factory Crimp die as well. What do you think might be the problem with yours? Maybe not crimping evenly all around?

I've put a lot of use on mine over the years and wondered if it wears out over time. I watch the crimp evenness of the roll and when I start a load, I look to see if the "jaws" move concentrically (all jaws move together with none giving way while others keep going). Mine seems to still be hanging in there OK.

[DsGrouse]

I use the 45 Colt Lee Factory Crimp die as well. What do you think might be the problem with yours? Maybe not crimping evenly all around?

I've put a lot of use on mine over the years and wondered if it wears out over time. I watch the crimp evenness of the roll and when I start a load, I look to see if the "jaws" move concentrically (all jaws move together with none giving way while others keep going). Mine seems to still be hanging in there OK.

With the lee factory crimp, I would start with 1/4 turn crimp. I'd look at the rim and make sure it was sealed/touching evenly all the way around. Usually 1/4 turn, maybe 1/3rd turn at most.

BUT, the case would have a bulge at the crimp area, as if I was criming it too much. It would not drop into my rcbs case gauge, (cylinder and lyman gauge it was fine)

As soon as I swapped to the redding, that bulge disappeared.

Nickel case redding crimp, Brass case lee. The brass case is seated all the way into the rcbs case gauge.



A look at the nickel case crimp


A look at the brass case, You can see the shiny spot where the brass case seems to have bulged. IIRC this was a gnats hair over 1/4 turn of the lee factory crimp. I needed that much to get it to fully close over the end of the brass. This bullet was pulled, and none of the blue powder coat was broken.



Nickel case in the case gauge.


Brass case after running the round through the Redding seating die set to crimp only.

[NHshtr]

Seems like it's not only crimping but pushing down and creating that bulge. Haven't seen that before. Thanks for sharing.

[BigAl52]

Well since I'M a 1000 miles from my reloading bench I wasnt able to do much but I did find a deal on 1000 rounds of 9mm so I sent that to my reloading room since the thieves in Colorado decided to pass a 6.5% excise tax on ammo Im going to stalk up while I can.

[DsGrouse]

ordered:
500 .452 250grn fp
450 320grn rnfp
600 220grn spire point 300 blk rounds.

[DsGrouse]

I loaded some 308 subs,



My orders of factory seconds were delivered.



I also got a new target stand and a rimfire know-your-limits target. I figure that between the two set up at 70 yards, I would have a cheaper platform to spruce up my rifle fundamentals.

[Hatchdog]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^

That’s a challenging but fun target. Enjoy


Last week my stepson and I shot up the last of my 357 loads so yesterday I made some more. I loaded 100 (99 really) using the Hornady 158 XTP and Win 296. Why 99 do you ask….. when I was seating the bullet in the very last case I didn’t feel any resistance and that triggered an alarm. Sure enough it was a split case. I pulled the bullet but didn’t bother to load up one more as I didn’t want to run thru all the dies for one cartridge. I’m using my single stage not my turret for this. I plan to load up a couple hundred more so I’ll finish up that last one then.

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[BigAl52]

https://shootingtargets7.com/products/n ... ilhouettes

I have this one with me down here in Texas USA. Its brand new yet but Im looking forward to spanking it with the 22 Henry and my Uberti 12 shot 22 single action

[DsGrouse]

https://shootingtargets7.com/products/n ... ilhouettes

I have this one with me down here in Texas USA. Its brand new yet but Im looking forward to spanking it with the 22 Henry and my Uberti 12 shot 22 single action

That's pretty cool I like it.
I have some paper targets with the animal silhouettes.

[Vaquero]

Nothing, still, but while at Academy yesterday looking at popup ground blinds, I found some Winchester AA 8 shot 410's.
So 100 rounds came home with me, and also a new Sig Sauer range finder.

RP