First homeloads

[mickthebrick]

Well I got out today and tried my first home loads and I learned 2 valuable lessons. Make more ammo than you think you need and use a PLAIN sheet of paper because if you've only got a 6xpower scope like me and havent got a spotting scope you cant see where your rounds are going

I made up 12 rnds. 4 at 2.750OAL with 44grns H380. 4 with 44.5grns and 4 with 45.0grns. When I measured these rounds I found that 4 were about 2.730 I can only put this down to measuring from base to tip as I dont have anything to measure to the ogive yet. There were 3 fliers still within 2" which I've put down to the shorter length.

My first 2 rounds I couldn't see where they went so I assumed the worse and went for the next target. As it turns out those 4 shots didn't group too bad and all were at about 8 o clock...

These 2 were 44.5grn with 2 others that were fliers due to length(I hope)

These 3 were 45grn and opened up slightly

I've made another 15rnds today 5 @44grn, 5@44.5 and 5@55grn and by carefull pressing all are between 2.744 and 2.756 so should give me a better idea when I go out with a PLAIN sheet of paper on Sunday

Quite addictive this reloading lark isn't it

 

[Rangefinder]

It can get expensive too Mick

 

[finnbear270]

your'e on the slippery slope to being described as "anal" Steve.

 

[JAYB]

Well done Mick,

Just one word of caution your loads are way over the the given maximum on Hodgon's site, they give 40 grains as being the max. I know they have reduced their loads overtime due to litigation etc but even before that they did not, I don't think, go beyond 43 grains.

Next time you are up at your Dad's give us a shout and I may be able to give you a bit of help with your reloading if you like.

John

 

[The Farmer]

Hi mate, sent u a couple of pm's this last week but stuck in outbox again. I might make it to range tomoz depending on how things go, so give us a bell later. And on being over max, you never said the weight of your heads you was using, if they are 130's then you are not over max, as it lists charge weight from 45-47gr of h380 on there site and in my hogdon book.

 

[mickthebrick]

I thought maybe I should mention I'm using a 7mm08 with 140gr bullets. Just checked the Hodgdon site John and it's okay I can use between 43and 45.7grns H380. You scared me for a minute.

Is it just me or does everyone feel a little bit nervous before they pull the trigger on their first homeloads

 

[bally]

reloading

hello mick im the guy who met you on thurs on the range i myself am going to start reloading in the near future i think reloading will help to tighten my groups and i also think it will be a good side to the sport.
no doubt will see again give my regards to farmer if he shows on sunday bally

 

[JAYB]

Hi Mick,

sorry about that I had just been reloading some 243 and had got that load stuck in my head Best put it down to a senior moment.

John

 

[mickthebrick]

No probs Had another go today 45grns "seems" to be the better charge. I say seems because with a 6x scope it's not hard to be 1/2" out before you've even pulled the trigger

I've definately got a lot more confidence in this rifle now and cant wait to take it out when I come up to Sutherland near Christmas/New year

I just need a bit more practise to try and tighten my groups. I can shoot .5" with my .223 no problem and that's with a 6x scope aswell.

I might have it screwcut and get some 7mm baffles for my Wildcat mod this weekend, save my ears if nothing else...

 

[jingzy]

Mick,

I notice that you have varying powder loads with varying seating depth. If things are opening up or closing in during grouping, you will not know what has made the difference and you will waste time and money.

Try seating all the bullets to the same depth with the varying powder loads. This will give and indication to the best powder load. From there, vary the seating depths from just off the lands going out to over 100thou off the lands. In there somewhere you will find a sweet spot hopefully.

Then the bug has got you... 8)

 

[mickthebrick]

Hi mate. All the rounds I fired today had an OAL of 2.750. At the moment I'm measuring to the tips of the bullets which isn't ideal as they do vary a bit but I seated and measured each round carefully and they were all pretty close to 2.750. Much longer and they wont fit in the mag and all the factory stuff is about 2.730 and they all shoot really bad.

At 2.750 they are about 25thou off the lands, not very scientific I know

I suspect all I'll learn from reloading is that I need to practice my shooting more. But I'm having fun doing it

Just read my bullet lengths on my post and they do vary from 2.744 and 2.756! With the slight difference in bullets I think i'll find it hard to get any more accurate...will this hundredth make a big difference? Knowing my luck it will

 

[jingzy]

Get yourself a sinclair hexagonal comparator. They dont cost much and they will do 6 calibres.
You have potentially 12 thou of a difference in your bullets. I would start 10 thou off the lands then seat deeper in 10 or 20 thou increments. You can easily get 1 2 or 3 accuracy nodes. Once you find a seating depth that shoots quite good, fine tune by going 5 thou either side. Doing this can take a little time, but once you get it shooting into 0.5 inch all the time, you will be well happy.

J

 

[Roedinator]

mick all excellent advice allready posted the only thing i can
add is to try 40 grains of reloader 15 with your 140 grain heads
im sure one of your friends will have a small amount you could
use just to try .
I am using this in my 7 08 with good results
ATB pete .

 

[mickthebrick]

Thanks for all the advice chaps. I'll definately get one of those hexagonal comparators. I didn't even know they existed. It'll certainly be the most expensive 'nut' i've ever bought.
In peoples experience how much does the type of powder you're using have an effect on your groups? Does it make a big difference even if they have similar burn rates?
http://www.hodgdon.com/burn-rate.html
There's just too many to chose from

 

[finnbear270]

Well Mick, you did choose to lift the lid of pandora's box, with just a peek you are enslaved! , Yup, brass of different brands, primers, powders, all with their own little secrets, just waiting to be tried

 

[mickthebrick]

NOoooo!! Will it ever end

 

[JAYB]

No known cure, you are now destined to spend a fortune on "cheap" shooting - enjoy

John