Back to the bench!

[Squatch]

Well this evening I finally got back to my loading bench and did some work. It's been several months. I hope to keep a roll going and build up some stock of built cartridges.

Tonight I built some very mild 44 mags.
50) 240 gr Berry's RNFP over 8 gr of Unique.
50) 240 gr Berry's HP over 8 gr of Unique.

I've had good luck with this low recoil load so now I'm trying different bullets with it. Tomorrow I want to build 50 more with MBC coated 240 gr RNFP.

I'm also going to build some hot stuff as well.

I'll post some pics once I get some more done.

[ditto1958]

Yup. We need to see some pics of those babies. We have poor imaginations here.

[Cofisher]

No excuses needed for bullet porn

[Henry88]

I think reloading is so cool.......maybe someday..............

[clovishound]

I think reloading is so cool.......maybe someday..............

It is nice to be able to make your own ammo to meet your own needs, be it tailoring to a specific activity, need, or finances.

I am looking into getting a 1911. I would not consider one if I had to pay $20 + a box for ammo. Sure, I have some time invested in a box of ammo, but I rather enjoy going out to the shop and rolling some ammo.

It is not that difficult, or expensive to get into. A very nice and durable setup can be had for a couple hundred dollars, if you aren't hung up on your stuff being a certain color.

I warn you, some folks get pretty rabid about reloading equipment brands.

[JEBar]

It is not that difficult, or expensive to get into. A very nice and durable setup can be had for a couple hundred dollars, if you aren't hung up on your stuff being a certain color.

I warn you, some folks get pretty rabid about reloading equipment brands.

to me if the equipment produces good ammo, all's good .... now Chevy VS Ford, that's worth taking a stand

[Squatch]

Berry's RNFP






Berry's target hollow point.




This is a target I shot a while back with the same load.

[Squatch]

As for brand I bought RCBS because I have used it before. They offer a good pretty complete starter kit. RCBS does seem to have good customer service. And the dies and small parts are readily available where I live.

No real preference otherwise.

[Squatch]

50 more. Same load different bullet.

[Squatch]

And 50 more. Same bullet as above without the coating.






All 4 bullets used with same load.




All the above are 240 gr bullets, 8 grains of unique powder, WLP primers, Various cases trimmed and sized. I tried to stay with same brand case on the same bullets except where I was a couple short of 50 and had to make up the difference.

Last time I ran this load over my Chrono they came in between 1,000 + 1,050 fps. Nice and pleasant to shoot. 2" groups at 50 yds from my Big Boy.

Next up is to make 50 with the same MBC lead bullets and change powder to Trail Boss. I've never used that before. Obviously these are all light recoil Cowboy Action style cartridges.

[Squatch]

Today I had to spend a good while prepping cases. I was out of ready to load cases for the 44 mag.

I also switched powders to Trail Boss. I have to say this stuff measures like a dream from my RCBS powder measure. It's a very high fill powder. Very different from the Unique I've been using. I used load data straight from Hodgdens web site. Max load is 7.3 grains for mid 900fps. I loaded 7 grains. It fills the case well. No chance of double loading this stuff. But you're not going to load hot rounds with it either. It's made for lead bullets and cowboy action velocities.

So I loaded some MBC 240 gr lead.

[Squatch]

Still rolling. This evening I built another 100 44 mags. Same Trail Boss load as last post. But with the Berry's copper plated bullets.


While I have my powder measure loaded with Trail Boss I'm going to switch up and load some 45/70 with it. I'll get back to the 44's before I'm done. I want to load some hot stuff with JHP and H110. If you check my posted Chrono data an old favorite load is 23 grs H110. That load on my chart is very similar to factory Federal American Eagle which I really like in the Big Boy!

http://henryrifleforums.com/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=318

[JEBar]

do you plan to get out to where you can send a bunch down range any time soon .. .. I'm really looking forward to your reports

[Squatch]

Hopefully.

The load I started with using Unique I've already sorted pretty well. This time around it's more about seeing if the different bullets make any difference.

I hope for the rest of this week I can keep at it. This should provide me with enough ammo to just shoot and not worry about loading for a while.

I'll try to chrono the new stuff and post up a target or 2.

I'd eventually like to find 3 accurate loads for each rifle. Soft <1000 fps, Med 1,200-1,300, and hot 1,600fps.

Similar for the 45/70. I want to develop something that doesn't break my shoulder but lets me play a little at 200 yds occasionally.

[JEBar]

Similar for the 45/70. I want to develop something that doesn't break my shoulder but lets me play a little at 200 yds occasionally.

now that is something that really interest me .... looking forward to reading what you come up with

[Steve51]

I have used Trailboss in .44 Spl and .44 Magnum. I load them with a very small space between bottom of bullet and the powder (no compressing of powder). For me, they are okay in a .44 handgun but I want more punch in my rifle bullets.
I have also used Trailboss in .38 spl for my Ruger LCRx. Recoil is much better for my wife with that small handgun. Not sure, but I did not feel that my loads with Trailboss were as accurate as loads where I used Unique and 2400 - but that is just my observations. My eyes are not good enough to be an authority on that subject.

[Squatch]

Thanks Steve, Specs look a little slower than my Unique loads. We'll see how it works out. I need to pick up some 2400. That seems like the go to powder for middle of the road 44 stuff.

[DAVIDF]

Squatch,

Have you chronographed the plated vs cast with the same powder charge? If so, was there much difference in velocity?

I have been using 200gr & 240gr X-Treme plated bullets mostly with Red Dot. With 200gr the most accurate loads seem to be 6.8gr and 7.2gr of Red Dot. With the 240gr, 6.5gr seems to be the most accurate. Heading out to the range, hopefully this weekend, to test those three loads. I'll see if I can get consistent accuracy with the 240gr at 50 or 100yds on the bench. And, determine which 200gr load is more accurate in the Big Boy. I have had excellent accuracy with 6.8gr but haven't tested the 7.2gr enough to tell whether it is better. I have tried Green Dot with the plated bullets, but didn't seem to be as accurate and had some fliers.

I am guessing the velocity of the 240gr with 6.5gr of Red Dot is probably near 1000 fps or slower out of the Big Boy. The 200gr with 6.8gr Red Dot is probably around 1050fps. I will be purchasing a chrono shortly and test those. All these loads are so quiet that a number of people have come over to me asking what am I shooting? I think most don't realize how lightly you can load a .44.

[Squatch]

Per same weight bullet the plated vs coated don't seem to make much difference over the chrono. The only lead I've used in the past didn't work out for me. Leaded badly. So the ones above are a harder bullet from a different company. I haven't shot them yet.

[DAVIDF]

Thanks for the info. I might be getting higher velocities than I have thought, at least with my revolvers. I definitely need to test them over a chrono.

One thing to add concerning Red Dot, I have not had good results with my Lee powder measure. Someone posted on some forum that they found it didn't meter well. So I weigh every charge on my scale. I don't mind that at all as I feel more confident in what I am loading, especially with it being such a fast burning powder. But that could be a big inconvenience to some.

I have loaded some Laser Cast 240gr SWC for the Big Boy using 23.0gr of H110 and 10gr of Unique. I did not get good accuracy at all. Fine out of the revolvers. I seem to be getting good accuracy with the same bullet with 6.5gr of Red Dot. Seems my Henry likes Red Dot. I have about 70 some loaded that I may try and compare to the plated. They are sized at .431 which is what I was told by a rep at Henry is the groove diameter of Big Boy barrels. Common thinking is supposed to be that for cast bullets should be .001 over groove diameter for best accuracy. Hard to find .432 cast bullets without paying a lot or casting/sizing yourself. Penn Bullets make some cast at .432 priced very reasonably. Their 200gr RNFPBB is $90 per 1000, and their 240gr SWCBB is $105 per 1000. I may order some of their 200gr.