First time reloading

[Pete_Cambs]

Wanting to gauge views, first time reloader?

Bought 100 pieces new Lapua brass which have all been full length sized, chamfered and primed - sitting in the safe waiting for powder and bullet seating.

I’ve got a Hornady OAL and modified case on order but what i’m wondering is do I make up the first 20 rounds just to SAMMI spec to prove I can make up a standard round before I start messing with seating depth?

Bullets are 168gn ELD Match
Powder is N140

 

[tackb]

make some boggo standard SAMMI spec ones first , shoot them and you may find that they shoot just fine without ever needing to faff about with seating depth etc

 

[Stalker62]

Bought 100 pieces new Lapua brass ... - sitting in the safe waiting for powder and bullet seating.

I know Lapua brass is expensive, but really?..

 

[Pete_Cambs]

I know Lapua brass is expensive, but really?..

View attachment 434949

they've been primed...

 

[Stalker62]

they've been primed...

Still no need for them to go in the safe.

It was a gag.

Good luck with it all.

 

[Pete_Cambs]

Still no need for them to go in the safe.

It was a gag.

Good luck with it all.

I was told that once a case is primed it’s considered part of your ammo holding allowance hence I figured it would have to go in the safe.

I did get the joke after the fact though

 

[Stalker62]

I was told that once a case is primed it’s considered part of your ammo holding allowance...

You have been misinformed - a round of ammunition is not complete until it is complete.

They are called 'component' parts because that is what they are, until such time as they are all hurled together to make a single round.



Enjoy the journey of home-loading. It can become a hobby in its own right.

 

[7Miller]

Wanting to gauge views, first time reloader?

Bought 100 pieces new Lapua brass which have all been full length sized, chamfered and primed - sitting in the safe waiting for powder and bullet seating.

I’ve got a Hornady OAL and modified case on order but what i’m wondering is do I make up the first 20 rounds just to SAMMI spec to prove I can make up a standard round before I start messing with seating depth?

Bullets are 168gn ELD Match
Powder is N140

As you e got a modified case, then I'd find where the chosen bullet touches the lands. Then back off 15 or 20thou and load up from there. Once you've found a desired powder charge you can leave it as it is if you're happy with the groups or play about with seating depth thereafter.
Enjoy the journey down the rabbit hole I love it

 

[Jagged77]

Seating depth tinkering is fine tuning, all be it it can have a pronounced affect on accuracy with some load / rifle combinations. I would absolutely follow standard published data to start. Make sure you’ve got a process worked out before going into fine tuning.

Couple of preferences of mine - I don’t FL size new brass, never have. I will put an expander ball through to uniform the neck however. In your case have you got a fired case to measure shoulder bump? Less is more here to minimise over working the brass.

Priming in bulk - again I don’t. I store my primers in factory packaging and prime when actually reloading. In my opinion I think this is best practice.

 

[Sniper308]

Sounds like you’re on the right track so far. The next part is all individual preferences. Personally what I would do I is find out the length of the round that jams into the barrel. You then have a reference point to say that you definitely don’t want it any longer than this. - take a few thou off this measurement and start reloading from there- remember you can then shorten the oal but not lengthen it.

 

[Muir]

Load to recommended OALand save yourself a boat load of grief. If not listed, load the parallel sides of the bullet to the neck/shoulder junction.-Muir