Start of reloading journey/money pit

A friend of mine and I decided that we were going to take the plunge and have a rack at it.
We bought the Lee challenger kit and started on the little 222 rem calibre to save powder as we learned.
Started with PPU virgin brass and had a choice between the 55g and 50g vmax bullets, mate uses the 55s and I see no need for the extra 5gs.
Beam scale took a bit of getting used to and will be looking for another option for that.
Started at 21.5grains of Lovex 073.4 and went to 22.5 which definitely showed the difference a grain of powder had on accuracy.
Unfortunately I pulled a shot on the last target but did manage to redo it and get a better grouping.

 

[David.evans]

What distance you shooting at cooper .?

 

[.25-06]

Get a solid rest to shoot from. That way it just the load your testing. Great you can see a difference in variables already

 

[cooperjb1308]

I’m shooting at 100yards, I was thinking of sorting something more solid as a rest as the bonnet of a defender isn’t the most stable of platforms.
I wanted to start on something that didn’t hoover up all my powder as the 25-06 eats a fair amount more and so does the 308 and 22-250.
It took a fair few cases to get the recapped and FL sizing die set up, it was crushing cases but I had the pin too low down causing it to be to big to fit any further into the case mouth.

 

[Heym SR20]

Definitely get a stable shooting position. Personally I like to shoot over part full backpack. Others like rests of bipods.

Also your target makes a big difference when shooting groups. You want a target where the reticle is naturally centred with your eye.

And take your time when testing. Shoot a group. And have a pause. Then shoot another. I often walk up to mark the target between groups.

And wait for good fine conditions with no wind. You also need to be in a good frame of mind.

 

[cooperjb1308]

Was out again, this time trying to get my head around reloading for my 25-06.
I have Winchester StaBall 6.5 as it has loads for the 25-06 and my friends 243 which I’ll be reloading for but the Hodgdon reload data doesn’t have a load for the 100Gr TSX so I went off a 115Gr load as they are similar in length.
I started at around 45.5Gr of powder and it was bang on top of each other, tried a couple more at 0.5gr intervals but they started to separate so loaded a few of those.
Tried some cheap 115Gr nosler BT which I have been assured are the thicker jacket version which will be suitable for deer, yet again, first load seemed to be the winner placing one on top of the other.
These loads have not been chronographed and will probably be quite sedate compared to what the 25-06 can really do but they seem accurate and they’ll be going fast enough for decent expansion at the ranges I’m regularly shooting at.
I will get more adventurous in time with the loading trying to boost the speeds but at the moment I’m just happy I haven’t sent the bolt back through my eye!
The 222 I started with has had some good success with the 50Gr Vmax I loaded and I will be looking at getting something slightly harder to have a go at the muntjac in the woods.
Any recommendations for a harder bullet that will stabilise in a 14/1 would be greatly appreciated.

 

[malmick]

Following on from the sound advice aboveI find shoot'n'see 1" stickers on A4 card useful for load development. I also shoot 5 shot groups to try to spot the fliers from the group. The following photo for 110 yards gives you an idea, 41.2 to 41.6 grains seems to give me a sweet spot for this 6.5mm calibre.

 

[shootonsight]

Following

 

[Will the chippy]

View attachment 327782Was out again, this time trying to get my head around reloading for my 25-06.
I have Winchester StaBall 6.5 as it has loads for the 25-06 and my friends 243 which I’ll be reloading for but the Hodgdon reload data doesn’t have a load for the 100Gr TSX so I went off a 115Gr load as they are similar in length.
I started at around 45.5Gr of powder and it was bang on top of each other, tried a couple more at 0.5gr intervals but they started to separate so loaded a few of those.
Tried some cheap 115Gr nosler BT which I have been assured are the thicker jacket version which will be suitable for deer, yet again, first load seemed to be the winner placing one on top of the other.
These loads have not been chronographed and will probably be quite sedate compared to what the 25-06 can really do but they seem accurate and they’ll be going fast enough for decent expansion at the ranges I’m regularly shooting at.
I will get more adventurous in time with the loading trying to boost the speeds but at the moment I’m just happy I haven’t sent the bolt back through my eye!
The 222 I started with has had some good success with the 50Gr Vmax I loaded and I will be looking at getting something slightly harder to have a go at the muntjac in the woods.
Any recommendations for a harder bullet that will stabilise in a 14/1 would be greatly appreciated.

I've been using the 55grn hornady soft points to good effect in my 1 in 14 22250. Works a treat.

 

[cooperjb1308]

I considered getting a 6.5 calibre but seems to be a bit too close to the 257 calibre, maybe I’d consider it if all cooper comes in but so far the 25 flattens things.
I don’t really think that I could quite be so precise with the Lee balance beam, maybe I haven’t quite got the hang of them yet

 

[cooperjb1308]

I considered getting a 6.5 calibre but seems to be a bit too close to the 257 calibre, maybe I’d consider it if all cooper comes in but so far the 25 flattens things.
I don’t really think that I could quite be so precise with the Lee balance beam, maybe I haven’t quite got the

 

[cooperjb1308]

It turns out that this reloading thing is a bit of a time and money pit, my wife has sent me many a letter wondering when I’ll return home and that she misses me.
I have finally found a load that my 25-06 likes which took far too much time/money/effort but love it. Started on all my other calibres (which were a damn sight easier than the ol’ 25) and now I have loads worked up for all of them that I’m happy with.
Now just to buy another rifle in another calibre to scratch the reloading itch!

 

[25 Sharps]

View attachment 327782Was out again, this time trying to get my head around reloading for my 25-06.
I have Winchester StaBall 6.5 as it has loads for the 25-06 and my friends 243 which I’ll be reloading for but the Hodgdon reload data doesn’t have a load for the 100Gr TSX so I went off a 115Gr load as they are similar in length.
I started at around 45.5Gr of powder and it was bang on top of each other, tried a couple more at 0.5gr intervals but they started to separate so loaded a few of those.
Tried some cheap 115Gr nosler BT which I have been assured are the thicker jacket version which will be suitable for deer, yet again, first load seemed to be the winner placing one on top of the other.
These loads have not been chronographed and will probably be quite sedate compared to what the 25-06 can really do but they seem accurate and they’ll be going fast enough for decent expansion at the ranges I’m regularly shooting at.
I will get more adventurous in time with the loading trying to boost the speeds but at the moment I’m just happy I haven’t sent the bolt back through my eye!
The 222 I started with has had some good success with the 50Gr Vmax I loaded and I will be looking at getting something slightly harder to have a go at the muntjac in the woods.
Any recommendations for a harder bullet that will stabilise in a 14/1 would be greatly appreciated.

Just be aware you can’t load for your friends .243 unless you have .243 on your ticket also, or Hess there and he seats the bullet

 

[Bavarianbrit]

I considered getting a 6.5 calibre but seems to be a bit too close to the 257 calibre, maybe I’d consider it if all cooper comes in but so far the 25 flattens things.
I don’t really think that I could quite be so precise with the Lee balance beam, maybe I haven’t quite got the hang of them yet

You might want to watch this comparison.

 

[bluesako]

i always when trying new loads, shoot at 50yds, its easier to see target, you dont have to walk as far, and if the load isnt grouping at 50yds, it wont be grouping at 100yds, then if you find a load thats putting in good groups at 50yds, then try it at 100yds, you will find you dont use as many rounds as well, gl i hope your homeloading goes well merry christmas bs.