timthetoolman

Well I am assembling a new lower for an AR project tonight, but I think I will be working on various loads for 38 and 357 this week.  I plan to use magnum primers for the 357, but regular for the 38.  I shoot a bunch of wadcutters and havent had any issues with unburnt powder if I crimp right.  44 is a different animal, seems like they prefer a heavy crimp.     Still not sure which powder I will use but I have a fair amount of Titegroup so I will see whats out there for loads using that.

Lol I saw your post over there too G.  We're getting geared up to give this a shot too.  

My girl moved her from Cali 6 months ago and had never shot.  I got her started with a 22 so she got the safety part down, then moved her to the 9mm, then 45.  She shoots quarter size groups with the 45 at 7 yards now, but her favorite handgun is my Thompson Center in 35 Remington with a 14 inch compensated barrel.  I would have never guessed that would happen considering the blast from it, but she says that whats she likes.  I guess it just depends on the girl and the company she keeps.  As a result I am considering selling a 380 I have as neither of us really enjoy shooting it.  Originally I thought she might like it because its small and not intimidating looking, maybe that's part of the stigma.     In my experience woman usually end up being better shots than men, they just seem much calmer and dont get the rush we do from it.  

Welcome!  I grew up in Upstate, in the Sacandaga Res area,  where do you hail from?

I feel the same way about RCBS, and as a result most of my gear comes from them.  I like Lees factory crimp dies, but other than that and some Dillon dies that were handed down I go to RCBS first.  I'm glad you brought this up cuz I need to start looking for 300BLK dies myself.  As well as molds.  What mold are you running again?

I cast lead and load it all (not steel of course).  But it's not worth much.  Most folks that are serious about reloading do get it for free or darn near free.  I think I have around 10,000 cases or so......I just fill a 5 gallon bucket per caliber and call it good for pistol calibers  :up:  I too have looked into selling brass, and for the work there is very little money in it.  I have held onto to mine thinking it might be good for trading at some point.

    Nope I have a 44 mag rifle and have been looking for a 357/38 for a while that isnt a lever action.

    Got it and responded, but here's my response minus your info in case it helps others:   I got mine from David, Magnum Materials....I'm sure you know him.  He also told me to use CFE223 data, and I happened to have run that already so I was pretty excited about getting the 842.  However mine is marked WC842, not SMP842.  Who knows if there is even a difference but I was under the impression that SMP was specifically St.Marks manufactured (I think).   I can tell you that I have run through 16 pounds of MY 842 and so far it's pretty consistent jug to jug, but I have been told over and over that a chrony must we used because there is no lot number control.  That being said the 842 (mine or yours) is way friggen hotter than CFE223.  The same time I picked my jugs up, I got some for a buddy.  His pet load in his bolt (which is the same exact Rem700 as mine) loves 26 grains and does not flatten primers, while mine does.  He didnt chrony his, but as you saw from mine they were pretty fast at 25.6 grains...specifically I got this thru my 26" barrel:   3536 3454 3481 3490 3472   For giggles I ran a couple thru my 16" AR and got:   3159 3205   Then i gave up out of frustration.   I decided to do some plinking with my go to 842 AR loads of 24.6 and ran several thru the chrony:   2976 3037 3009 3003 2996 3051 3051 3065 3003 3079 2962 3037 3023 3065   That same 55 grain FMJ with 24.6gr thru my bolt ran 3284.   Now keep in mind I realize my speeds aren't super consistent, but thru my AR this is a plinking load and I dont really care.  I run them thru my Dillon at about 350 an hour and it's my equivelent of a rimfire plinker.  With the exception of a couple flyers per group I can keep them inside an inch with crappy eyes and a 9x Nikon at 100 yards, so I am happy.  But that being said I want more from my bolt and I would prefer not to burn up my Varget or 4895 on prairie dogs.     I loaded up another 40 like I said and will run out to the range this week to try them out.   How far away do you put your chrony?

    Chrony - It is about 15 feet away, how far out do you place yours?   When you say +1 more grain than what I am do you mean 25.6 grains?  I've mentioned so many different loads I am just curious where you have landed if your willing to share.   I sat down with my shooting log last night and did some mental fps estimations and reloaded another 40 rounds.  10 each with the following 24.4, 24.6, 24.8, and 25.     I also fired another 20 rounds of my 55gr FMJ loads thru the chrony and got my normal speeds of right around 3000 fps, with 24.6 grains.  Typically I do expect some fluctuation in the speeds because I am loading pulls on my Dillon 550.  For these test rounds I am using my RCBS Chargemaster to keep things as consistent as time allows...still using Lapua Match brass and BR primers.  What kind of primers are you using.   Oh by the way, I just started a 300 blackout build, so plan for some conversation on that as soon as I locate a barrel source!     Thanks   Tim 

  I use 25 of Varget for about the same, and love the stuff.  Its just gotten hard to find, pricey, and I have a bunch of surplus to burn up.

Well I did my ladder load, blah, blah, blah.  Starting load with 842 behind the 52gr A Max was 25.4....  Too hot.  Ran over the chrony at 3470 - 3550. They shot ok but the speeds were all over the place and the primers were a little flattened.  Lesson learned about listening to a friend for their sweet load, and variations in surplus pull powders.  I didn't shoot any of the hotter loads, and pulled them yesterday.  While shooting I ran a few of my "AR" loads through the bolt gun and the speeds with a 55gr bullet were about what I want for my 52 gr.  So back to around 24.6 grains it is.  Even with the wildly ranging speeds I shot a 10 round group that was about 1/2" at 100 yards, so I am not too worried about the accuracy.  I'm going to load some up tonight and give them a whirl.  One benefit of loading them the same as my AR loads is the cross compatibility as well. 

Awesome!!!!  My son is 11 and he likes shooting but not enough to try that hard.  Way to go Dad!

Not sure if they are around here, but I did the Civil Air Patrol as a kid.  Was pretty cool, kinda like hardcore scouts.

Sig SP2340 and I still have it.

I have loaded a slew of 38 wad cutters, but I have a bunch of 38/357 projectiles burning a hole in my bench.  Mostly 158 gr (RN and JHP) and 125 gr.  (Hornady XTP I think).     I have some Tite Group, H110, and 2400 laying around.  Both std and mag primers.  And some free time.   What loads do you like, powder opinions?  Crimp?  Charge weights or sweet loads?   I want to load up a couple hundred 357, and the rest 38 Special.   I'm shooting these out of a 6" Python.   Thanks      

  Im with you...  I loaded 10 each at 25.6, 25.8, 26, 26.2, and 26.4  to run through the chrony and see what pressure signs exist.  Like you, I have used quite a bit of 842 and I wouldnt get close to those charges in my AR.  I'm using Lapua brass for the test but plan on using other brands for bulk loading.  After these have been fired I will only neck size them and see what accuracy I pick up.   Yesterday was windy as hell here, and then rained.  Today isnt looking so awesome for testing either.  I think I will putz around with some 38 and 357 loads in the meantime.

That is awesome, what a gift!!!

Nice job!  I have built several 10/22s as well and keep coming up with new versions I want to build.

52 grain Hornady A Max, I also have 50 and 40 grain, but 52 is what I would like to try first with the 1:12 twist.

I think I'm going to give 26 grains of 842 a try.  Will prolly load lower and higher with the charge just to see where it lands.  I'll use my Lapua brass for testing so some variables are removed.  I'll also use BR primers off the bat as they seem to do marginally better than SR.  I'll load several with the Dillon, and the same with the RCBS and see if there is any negligible difference.

Thanks for the input so far.  I do have a chrony and forgot to toss that in the list.  But in all honesty I have not been using it like I should.  I have typically used it to "check" my loads after in order to add info to a ballistics program.  That being said, I did use the chrony to work up my 223 load for the AR platform.  I guess I will start with my favorite AR load and work it from there.  But I always load about 10 of each variety and try to shoot three groups of three, leaving one as an "oops" if I pull wrong.  I guess I was on the right track and its time to get loading!    Any opinions on loading on single stage versus a Dillon for accuracy?  I would like to use my Dillon and save my elbow, and it seems pretty bang on for my pistols rounds.  I have run alot of 223 through it for the AR, but they are just for plinking so....

Personally I:   Pick a range of projectiles for the twist rate. Ladder load a variety of powder charges Pick most accurate at 100 yards Work on OAL to see where that bullet likes to sit in relation to the rifling Try different primers to see if there is a change Experiment with differnet crimp amounts (depending on caliber and firearm type) Try basic prepped brass vs my version of match prepped brass And finally....settle in on my "sweet load" and start making a bunch.     This may seem silly but here's why I ask.  Typically I have alot of time to toy around with the load.  Last year I picked up a new Rem 700 223 and got the barrel broke in last fall.  Then stuff went nutty with supplies etc. I have been able to pick up about 300 each of 40, 50, and 52 grain projectiles.  My father and I are going on a prairie dog hunt in South Dakota soon and I am crunched for time to work up a load(s) that I also have dope sheets on for the hunt.  Where we are going we will be taking 300-700 yard shots so it would nice to narrow the consistency down and get cozy with the combos before going.  How do yall find your sweet load?   What type of brass do you like most for 223, I have them all available so I am curious what others have found for weight, volume, etc for various brands. Any particular favorite loads for a 233 bolt reaching pretty far out there.     My twist is 1:12 and powder wise I have some Varget, 4895, WC 842, and WC 846.  I have used them all thru my AR, but I would prefer to use the milsurp stuff and save my nicer powders for other projects. A friend of mine has the exact same rifle and he uses 26 grain of 842 under a 50 grain Hornady w BR primers and Lapua brass for sub MOA consistently. I know in my AR 24.6 of 842  is about the most I like to run in it. Any opinions?    I only have 100 rounds of Lapua brass so thats out for me, and I will have to stick with once fired stuff.   Thanks   Tim  :usa:

I can relate.  I've been formally diagnosed with tendinitis as a result of my reloading/shooting hobby.  Sometimes it's bad enough I can't lift a can of Coke, sometimes it's nearly normal.  I have had cortisone injections, seen a chiropractor, etc, etc but it still remains.  I can tell you that the addition of a Dillon and an upgraded handle made life A LOT better.  But my old Rock Chucker irritates me in less than 50 rounds.

Because you have instinctively great taste.  I bought a surplus PreB CZ75 from a friend in 9mm as a beat around pistol.  I has become my favorite 9mm of the several I own. I cant find a bad thing to say about it with the exception of finding mags.  I am know looking into re-doing the gun to clean it up a bit, maybe some coating or something just to pretty it up a bit.  The trigger is great, great accuracy, good balance, just a great all around pistol.

Another two thumbs up here.  I dont think I have ever even cleaned mine  :stunned: