starting reloading..?

[wildfowler.250]

Looking into getting into reloading in the future with a view to improving accuracy and also tailoring bullets to my needs.



Currently a friend has hand loaded me some 130 grain (nosler I think) ballistic tips in .270 . Now these shoot relatively well, (certainly sub inch at 100 yards) and hit hard/kill well. My biggest issue is lack of blood trail on exit,(should I ever need to look for one).


Are there any ballistic tipped bullets out there designed specifically for hunting game? I’ve heard one or two good things about hornady SST’s or are they just more of the same? I’ve never managed to get soft points to work as well but maybe this would come with home loading?




Side note:


Best reloading manual?




Lee loadall kit vs rcbs starte kit?






Thanks!

 

[JagRob]

If you want pass throughs for blood trails try a Speer hot core or Hornady interlock. They are reasonably priced and will penetrate. If those dont work try premium bullets. As far as reloading equipment probably easiest to stay with the brand you are familiar with.

 

[Heym SR20]

I have a lee press and it works well. The RCBS is a bit nicer, but I bought all my reloading kit off a friend of a friend for £60 a few years ago.

Re bullets - all are different and you need to read the literature with a pinch of salt. Many of the ballistic tips in calibres above 6.5mm are intended for use on big game. Some bullets will expand rapidly and seem to hit really hard - expending all their energy within the animal. Others wont expand so rapidly but will go straight through leaving a good exit hole.

Over the years I have tended to get good results with a simple soft nose bullet. A good mix of expansion and penetration.

I have recently been trying the Fox monolithic bullets - they are solid copper type, but with a deep hole to get good expansion. Results so far have been very good accuracy. Lots of damage to vital organs and a good size exit hole, but little in the way of additional meat damage if you go through the shoulder.

Lack of blood trail is also a function of where you place your shot. Through the shoulders you may not get full expansion from a light and fast bullet. Put it behind the shoulder and you certainly should. Personally I like a bullet that will straight through the vitals from any angle. I don't get a lot of time in the field and I want to be able to a shot even if the animal is not perfectly broadside.

I use the Hornady Manual - and you can get an electronic version for c£10. I have looked at others and they all seem to say pretty much the same thing.

 

[Home Loader]

The Lee reloading manual is a very good read for the novice.

if you are just starting out how about trying a Lee loader?

 

[rem284]

I have recently started to use 130 superformance sst's in 270w. I dont know about them producing blood trails as about 95% of the deer have been bag-flops and the others have only went about 10m, with the exception of a red hind that went about 30m. I intend to stick to these in 270w and change to these in time in my 6.5

My advice as far as learning about reloading is to read about it as much as possible but also to get a trusted person to show you the ropes

 

[Colonel]

I use Hornady SST in my 243 and 270 with excellent results, but I use Hornady Interbond in my 30-06 which should retain 90 plus % weight and they do exist well. I steer clear of solids because of the length compared to jacketed so seat in the powder deeper and are banned in some countries.
The Lyman reloading manual is a very good one for beginners and has good data

 

[wildfowler.250]

Thanks for all the advice! Plenty to work on and more than enough to get me started. Certainly the SSTs sound good as well!

 

[Muir]

If you want pass throughs for blood trails try a Speer hot core or Hornady interlock. They are reasonably priced and will penetrate. If those dont work try premium bullets. As far as reloading equipment probably easiest to stay with the brand you are familiar with.

This. I'll add Sierra Game Kings and Pro Hunters. Excellent. I have had such unpredictable results with SST's that I have relegated them to target practice.~Muir

 

[awmc]

+ 1 for Sierra Game Kings

 

[25 Sharps]

In terms of starting reloading see the thread below, lee kit is more than adequate.

Ammo Shortage Prices Creeping Up

I've always been told to avoid the SST bullets on lighter animals (I stalk roe and munty) as they smash them up a bit. I use 120 gr NBT at 2800 fps, I don't get too much damage at those speeds. Can't say I'd get much of a blood trail but I only stalk open farmland so if I get a runner I can see where they go and they don't tend to run far, if at all.

 

[Doric]

I find that SSTs are very good in 7mm but I am not keen on the 6mm ones so perhaps it would be best to suck it and see with 270s.

 

[ChesterP]

I am a big fan of the SSTs...they're a genuine "do-it-all" bullet design and I use them in 6.5mm. Great for everything from vermin control to taking large deer and accurate/consistent at long distance too. If new to reloading, have a look at the "OCW" method of reloading coined by Dan Newberry. It'll save you a lot of time and trouble.