Time to start reloading!

[Gorgon]

The time has come for me to finally begin reloading! Over the last couple months I've obtained all the ingredients I need. I currently have 50 primed cases (new Winchester brass I have full length sized, if that matters) waiting to be finished but I've read many things about bullet seating depth that have left me wondering where to start. Would it be sensible to start in the middle of the COAL dimensions and work things out from there? I've read about figuring out where the bullet touches the lands and seating the bullet a bit further back for the best accuracy but I do understand this isn't a "one size fits all" type thing and will require some testing to determine how much "a bit" is. Am I overthinking this? Where did you all begin when it came to figuring out a datum to work from?

I'm reloading for a .243 using Viht N160. The bullets I have to try are Hornady SST 95gr, Hornady Interlock 100gr and Sierra Pro Hunter 100gr. With this being my first centrefire I've not used a very wide range of bullets in factory load form so any recommendations will be most welcome. The rifle is a Parker Hale 1200 and will be used mostly for roe/fallow and possibly the odd fox.

 

[ashray]

best advice i can give is buy a reloading manual, follow the guide line for seating depth, load and go shoot some targets. dont chase the lands .find a load that gives you a group you are happy with .

 

[Gorgon]

best advice i can give is buy a reloading manual, follow the guide line for seating depth, load and go shoot some targets. dont chase the lands .find a load that gives you a group you are happy with .

This sounds a lot less life consuming than I expected the R&D side to be. Is the most recent Lee loading book the one to go for?

 

[malmick]

I'm with @ashray on this, life's too short. Maybe cross reference against bullet and powder manufacturers specs to look for any variation but you will be good to go with the Lee manual.

 

[Gorgon]

I shall order the Lee manual right now!

Another question I have, after looking at the Viht reloading data on their website, is that they don't list the exact bullets I have. Is the data for a particular weight bullet applicable to all bullets of the same weight?

 

[Foxyboy43]

You could start here….

Overview of the Reloading Process - From Spent Case to Loaded Round

This is intended as an overview of the reloading process explaining the steps required to turn spent brass cases into new loaded rounds. It is aimed at those people who are unfamiliar with the reloading process but if any old hands want to chip in with alternative suggestions then please do - I...

www.thestalkingdirectory.co.uk

 

[Tarquin]

If its a magazine fed rifle make the COAL so that they fit in the mag. IE use the mag as your length guage.
Make a couple up and check they fit in the mag and the gun and you will be good to go.
Dont seat the bullet deeper than recommended COAL.
For your intended use keep it simple

 

[Jagged77]

When first starting out follow published data including seating depth would be my advice.

Plus if you’re loading for hunting on live game you want rock solid dependability. You want the bullet seated nice and securely (use a crimp even). Loading into the lands or even 2 thou off just isn’t necessary. If you get the bullet / powder combo right and your rifle set up is good there’s no reason you can’t achieve good if not excellent results on standard published data.

Oh, and I’ve seen bullets seated to the lands being pulled out of their case when unloaded more than a few times. Not ideal if your out hunting…

 

[urban]

Another question I have, after looking at the Viht reloading data on their website, is that they don't list the exact bullets I have. Is the data for a particular weight bullet applicable to all bullets of the same weight?

Yes and no.

"No" because Viht list different powder weights for bullets of the same weight but different construction - which tells you that the same load does not generate the same pressure for all bullets of the same weight.

"Yes" because as long as you work up from the starting load and check for pressure signs then you'll be fine.

 

[Jagged77]

You can download the Hornady app and buy reloading data for each calibre for $1… The Hornady manual and data is good, I’ve used it extensively

 

[Foxyboy43]

yep - Hornady app worth looking at.

 

[Gorgon]

You could start here….

Overview of the Reloading Process - From Spent Case to Loaded Round

This is intended as an overview of the reloading process explaining the steps required to turn spent brass cases into new loaded rounds. It is aimed at those people who are unfamiliar with the reloading process but if any old hands want to chip in with alternative suggestions then please do - I...

www.thestalkingdirectory.co.uk

I have read through this article, and this bit is the bit I wanted some guidance on I suppose:

"The die has been set up to push the bullet in just far enough so that when the round is loaded in the rifle, the bullet is 20 thou off the lands of the rifling. I'm not going to go into the reasons for this particular distance here as it probably deserves an article of it's own, suffice to say that 0.020" gives good accuracy for me in this rifle and results in a round that fits in the magazine and feeds well."

How was this depth decided on? There must have been a datum they started from and then worked (presumably) back from that to get to this distance. From what I can gather the .243 max COAL is 2.710" and the minimum is 2.540". What I'm trying to find out is where to begin within that range, or is it a case of just seeing where the bullet touches the lands and work back from there? Or am I being a goon and overthinking it hugely?

I did use that article to get to where I have so far though. It is very informative!

 

[Smellydog]

My current 222 load is just seated at the length a completely different bullet was seated at previous and the previous bullet to the current simply seated as the different bullet prior to that.
They all want to touch each other at the target.
Just don't ask how far off the lands they are, I have no idea!
The only time I'd be sticking bullets out as far as I can would be so I can squeeze more powder in the case!

 

[Gorgon]

If its a magazine fed rifle make the COAL so that they fit in the mag. IE use the mag as your length guage.
Make a couple up and check they fit in the mag and the gun and you will be good to go.
Dont seat the bullet deeper than recommended COAL.
For your intended use keep it simple

This is good advice! No point making something that won't fit. The magazine will probably hold a much longer round though. There's loads of room at the front. The factory rounds all fit, so would picking one of them and measuring it be a good starting point? It will fit in the magazine and be within the appropriate dimensions then.

 

[Smellydog]

The PH 1200 only has one action length iirc and the magazine has plenty of space for 308 length cases.

 

[Gorgon]

When first starting out follow published data including seating depth would be my advice.

Plus if you’re loading for hunting on live game you want rock solid dependability. You want the bullet seated nice and securely (use a crimp even). Loading into the lands or even 2 thou off just isn’t necessary. If you get the bullet / powder combo right and your rifle set up is good there’s no reason you can’t achieve good if not excellent results on standard published data.

Oh, and I’ve seen bullets seated to the lands being pulled out of their case when unloaded more than a few times. Not ideal if your out hunting…

Dully noted! When the manual turns up I'll see what it says.

I have a crimp die! So what I'm aiming for is more a consistent charge and whatever bullet my rifle happens to like the best? This is going to end up a bit more expensive than testing various .22lr rounds but worth it?

Double duly noted! That's very much something I'd like to avoid!

I'll check out the Hornady app too. I didn't know that existed!

 

[mike243]

if you have been shooting the 95gn sst in factory ammo with good results you could do worse than seating to that depth, dont rely on COAL, use a comparitor and measure to the ogive of the bullet

 

[Gorgon]

Yes and no.

"No" because Viht list different powder weights for bullets of the same weight but different construction - which tells you that the same load does not generate the same pressure for all bullets of the same weight.

"Yes" because as long as you work up from the starting load and check for pressure signs then you'll be fine.

So start small and work up to avoid blowing myself up? I thought they were just using whatever was common for whichever calibre the data was for. Good job you're here! I have read about pressure signs so all being good I'll know what to look out for. I'll check each case during testing and write everything down.

 

[Gorgon]

My current 222 load is just seated at the length a completely different bullet was seated at previous and the previous bullet to the current simply seated as the different bullet prior to that.
They all want to touch each other at the target.
Just don't ask how far off the lands they are, I have no idea!
The only time I'd be sticking bullets out as far as I can would be so I can squeeze more powder in the case!

This sounds like witchcraft! How did you determine the length of the first version? Was that using the manual I'm hearing a lot about today?

I think you're right about the Parker Hale action/magazine. There's loads of room in front when a round is in the mag.

 

[Gorgon]

if you have been shooting the 95gn sst in factory ammo with good results you could do worse than seating to that depth, dont rely on COAL, use a comparitor and measure to the ogive of the bullet

I have one of these but not the tool and modified case to find out where the bullet touches the lands which is seems is unnecessary anyway? Will the ogive distance be different for bullets with a different taper? Or is it a constant across all bullet designs? The SST factory loads were good so trying to copy them seem like a good place to start so I'll measure one tomorrow and set the die to suit. I could have some loaded and ready for testing this weekend!