timthetoolman

I shoot Varget alot and love it, but agree I wish it was cheaper. I also use a lot of David's WC846 (BLC2). In my opinion its great but its no Varget. In my 22-250, 223, and a few others I have got my best groups with Varget. For me it seems to work best in a calibers that are near full when charged, like 223 w around 25gr. The WC846 does work really really well in 223, as does the WC842 I hope to get more of this weekend. But they take up a little less volume and seem to run hotter both in recoil, and temperature. I used the chrony to work up my "bulk" loads with the surplus stuff and I can't complain one bit, but I am certainly am glad I had a chrony. While the surplus powders are "close to" or "similar" other powders with listed load data, they aren't the same and do very lot to lot a little. If you try them, definitely start with a minimum. All that out of the way...I have used WC846 in 308 w 168 SMK's and had one inch groups no problem. I've actually had good results with 42.5 to 44.5 grains in a bolt gun with a OAL of 2.797". 43.5 gr had the best most consistent velocities at 2766 fps with a variance of no more than 6 fps either way. 42.5 gr shot at about 2700 but the velocities ranged quite a bit by about 30-40 fps, 44.5gr ran at 2800 only varying about 8 fps either way and gave great groups too. Hope this helps some. Tim

I guess I am still old school. I pick nearly everything that looks shiny and I reload most all calibers I end up picking up. I used to labor over sorting brands etc but now i just scoop up mixed range brass, run it through my 5 gallon caliber sorter contraption, polish the brass, inspect brass as I am feeding it into my Dillon. Anything remotely suspect looking gets plunked in a case gauge, cracks stick out, as do other serious deformities. Do I know how many times its been shot? Nope. But come on, any experienced reloader can look at a piece of brass and determine if it can be loaded or not pretty quick. Especially after loading 1000's of the same caliber. When I am loading for accuracy or hunting I use new brass, or brass that I bought new and have tracked the history of. But when it comes to loading plinking and practice stuff I shoot everything that will hold one more shot. For 223/556 its easy. I grab the crimped brass, knowing its likely only had one shot through it, and is good for at least one more likely with out trimming. I clean em up, check case length, deprime, decrimp with a Dillon SS, and enter the brass into service. I tend to like the Privi brass and it sticks out at the range because of the red around the primer, its 5.56 and tends to be a bit thicker. I am going on my 6th reload of Privi brass I got from some green tip I bought a while back, trimmed once and still showing no signs of issues. At this point I have a pretty good reserve loaded, but I still pick up brass and sort it for future loading. The way I look at it... I can't make the stuff...I can't buy it if it's no longer available...or perhaps can't afford it....and it doesn't go bad. It can always sit there in a few 5 gallons buckets or be recycled if reloading doesn't make sense or isn't enjoyable anymore. As is the case for me and 9mm... just doesn't make sense. I have also purchased brass from David and it was well worth the price, especially for ones I don't usually see laying around....like 22-250. So what range sells it for 3 bucks a pound?

Depends on the labor you want to put in. I started with an old RCBS RC, balance scale, and mic. Along with a Frankford Aresnal Tumbler seperator kit I think I had about 300 bucks in the slow rudimentary setup. I enjoyed it and now have a few grand in all my reloading stuff....but I can also crank out several hundred rounds an hour so...... However I still use the old single stage for my hunting or accuracy rounds. By the time you buy primers, powder, and bullets it will feel like you've spent alot. A few batches in and a full ammo can later and you will be grinning from ear to ear though

I haven't joined a forum in a long time, but I frequent them for info on reloading and other firearm info. I have stumbled in here a few too many times not to just join and share my knowledge too. Especially considering where I live. Hi my name is Tim...and I am a avid (addicted) shooter. Circle of addicts chants "Hi Tim". I've been enjoying the sport since I can remember, and shoot approx 500-1000 rounds a week. I frequent the indoor and outdoor ranges in my area, often testing reloads in search of one holed glory. I reload for a variety of calibers including 45acp, 44mag, 357, 38, 40, 9, 35 rem, 30-06, 22-250, and 223/556. I also shoot a metric ton of 22lr through various plinkers. I recently picked up a Dillon 550 to compliment my single stage stuff, and can finally reload almost as fast as I burn through ammo. What else....hmmmmm... I collect Colt revolvers (Snake Series) and recently wrapped up my most wanted list with the purchase of an Anaconda. I have a variety of 10/22 variants I have put together, and with those and my Savage TRR-SR I enjoy shooting clays at 200-300 with my shooting buddy for trigger practice. We have gotten a little bored with 22 and it limitations, so now we are playing with 223 as a plinking round and so far are getting 1/2 MOA out of our handloads at 100 and 200 using surplus powder and a Rem 700 varmint. Fun stuff considering its cheap, accurate, and doesn't recoil like my 06. I'd like to add a Kel Tec Sub2K to my collection for fun if anyone knows of one at a fair price....yes I know, I know, cant find them etc. I'd also like a nice 1911 style 9mm as a practice for my Gold Cup. I've had pretty good luck on Armslist with local enthusiasts so I keep a close eye on it, but so far no luck. So hello all, glad to be here, and I look forward to making some great local connections! Tim PS: Where can I shoot past 300 yards around Middle TN??????