338WM/264WM in 95* F heat!

[Woodycreek]

I seem to remember telling him about those ez ups on the phone the other day too. Oh, and using Retumbo in the 264.

 

[SJB358]

Rgr on the tents and Retumbo. Soon as I get done with all this email stuff, I am headed to the reloading room and mounting up the Leupold PRW's and getting some Retumbo stuffed into the 264! Scotty

 

[tddeangelo]

I have a mission tomorrow to get to the range (couldn't pull it off today) and then to Cabela's to get dies for the 300. Hornady are the same price as RCBS. Figured I'd give the Big H a try for dies. Never had any from them.

By then I'll have 20 empty 300 WSM cases, some 4350 sitting around, and a selection of 30-cal's in the 150, 165, and 180gr weight ranges.

 

[SJB358]

Tom that sounds like a plan. Too bad you dont have a place to buy Reddings. They are very nice dies and probably a notch better than my RCBS's. I have started buying them in the last year and man they are worth the extra duckets. Good luck at the range. I'm pretty excited to hear about your first loads down the tube. Scotty

 

[tddeangelo]

Tom that sounds like a plan. Too bad you dont have a place to buy Reddings. They are very nice dies and probably a notch better than my RCBS's. I have started buying them in the last year and man they are worth the extra duckets. Good luck at the range. I'm pretty excited to hear about your first loads down the tube. Scotty

I think they have SOME Reddings at Cabela's, but not a bunch. Maybe I'll get lucky and find a set. They Bargain Cave has dies in about every WSM/WSSM round BUT 300!

They never carry 257 Bob dies. I can borrow a set, which I may do to get started. I'll have to order those.

 

[DrMike]

Hornady dies are well built. They have some definite advantages. Candidly, the RCBS dies are quite good. As much as possible, I've switched over to Forster. However, I don't feel myself handicapped if I am using Redding, RCBS, Lyman, or even Lee dies. All make some pretty fair ammunition. I'm increasingly convinced that the press is of greater significance than are the dies in turning out consistent ammunition.

 

[SJB358]

Tom that sounds like a plan. Too bad you dont have a place to buy Reddings. They are very nice dies and probably a notch better than my RCBS's. I have started buying them in the last year and man they are worth the extra duckets. Good luck at the range. I'm pretty excited to hear about your first loads down the tube. Scotty

I think they have SOME Reddings at Cabela's, but not a bunch. Maybe I'll get lucky and find a set. They Bargain Cave has dies in about every WSM/WSSM round BUT 300!

They never carry 257 Bob dies. I can borrow a set, which I may do to get started. I'll have to order those.

Yeah the Roberts isn't so common around my area either. Nothin a little mail order won't fix though!

 

[SJB358]

Hornady dies are well built. They have some definite advantages. Candidly, the RCBS dies are quite good. As much as possible, I've switched over to Forster. However, I don't feel myself handicapped if I am using Redding, RCBS, Lyman, or even Lee dies. All make some pretty fair ammunition. I'm increasingly convinced that the press is of greater significance than are the dies in turning out consistent ammunition.

Mike so what your saying is pick up a CoAx along with the dies! Scotty

 

[tddeangelo]

Hornady dies are well built. They have some definite advantages. Candidly, the RCBS dies are quite good. As much as possible, I've switched over to Forster. However, I don't feel myself handicapped if I am using Redding, RCBS, Lyman, or even Lee dies. All make some pretty fair ammunition. I'm increasingly convinced that the press is of greater significance than are the dies in turning out consistent ammunition.

Mike so what your saying is pick up a CoAx along with the dies! Scotty

That's on my list, too, Scotty, but not for tomorrow, lol.

And I have two sets of Lee dies. Haven't used the 7.5 Swiss yet, but the .30-40 dies do a decent enough job. I just hate using them. Feels like using a spork instead of silverware.

 

[DrMike]

Undoubtedly, in terms of finish quality, the Forster dies are superb. However, the finish on the Redding and RCBS are essentially equivalent. The Redding Competition dies are excellent, but the RCBS Competition dies are quite good as well. Hornady, in my estimate, falls near to the RCBS and Redding in terms of quality. Lyman is somewhat better than Lee in terms of quality. Nevertheless, each of these will make good quality ammunition with proper setup and attention to consistency.

 

[tddeangelo]

Undoubtedly, in terms of finish quality, the Forster dies are superb. However, the finish on the Redding and RCBS are essentially equivalent. The Redding Competition dies are excellent, but the RCBS Competition dies are quite good as well. Hornady, in my estimate, falls near to the RCBS and Redding in terms of quality. Lyman is somewhat better than Lee in terms of quality. Nevertheless, each of these will make good quality ammunition with proper setup and attention to consistency.

I've been thinking of ordering Forster for my 257. I'm in a "right now" kinda mode for reloading for both, but I can borrow dies for the Bob. I want to get my WSM humming, though....

Scotty, what was this thread about? LOL

 

[SJB358]

Hornady dies are well built. They have some definite advantages. Candidly, the RCBS dies are quite good. As much as possible, I've switched over to Forster. However, I don't feel myself handicapped if I am using Redding, RCBS, Lyman, or even Lee dies. All make some pretty fair ammunition. I'm increasingly convinced that the press is of greater significance than are the dies in turning out consistent ammunition.

Mike so what your saying is pick up a CoAx along with the dies! Scotty

That's on my list, too, Scotty, but not for tomorrow, lol.

And I have two sets of Lee dies. Haven't used the 7.5 Swiss yet, but the .30-40 dies do a decent enough job. I just hate using them. Feels like using a spork instead of silverware.

The only Lees I have are for my 45-70. They seem to work fine for that. I am a really big fan of the Lee factory crimp die. Probably one of the best additions to any heavy handgun or lever rifle reloader. Scotty

 

[BK]

Yeah, it has spun off into the weeds, hasn't it?

Lately I have been buying Forster Ultra dies... .257 Weatherby and a seater for my 6mm. If I can find them, I'll probably get Forsters in .204, .221 FB, .270 Win, and .300 WSM. Probably going to get Reddings for my .300 Savage.

I've ranted about this before, but I wish manufacturers would make storage boxes the same size.

 

[FOTIS]

Forster and Redding are my faves. That said I have not made any substandard ammunition using the others.

 

[SJB358]

Here are some results from Sunday with the 264WM. It really seemed to start clicking as I got to 72gr's of Retumbo. This is data I got from QL, and ran with with the water capacity of the Nosler 264WM brass. It was the same 130gr AB I have been shooting all along.

71gr (3235-3232-3245)

72gr (3308-3312-3299) I blew the last shot out...

73gr (3364-3342-3368)

Overall, still wanna tweak some more and see what I can do, but it is promising. Speed is excellent across the board. Cases look great and accuracy is there. Still debating on "credit card floating" it to see what that does. Scotty

 

[FOTIS]

Blew the shot out??????

Where's your 4rth verifier?

 

[SJB358]

Blew the shot out??????

Where's your 4rth verifier?

I only had a handful of AB's left, so I only loaded 3 of them per set. I know, I know. I will learn eventually! Need to find some AB's. Scotty

 

[FOTIS]

You're killing me Scottie!!! :grin:

 

[SJB358]

You're killing me Scottie!!! :grin:

I know, I am a really slow learner Fotis. This 264WM is turning me upside down. Never worked so hard to find a proper load, but overall, this rifle has been a great experience. Eventually I will get myself squared away. Scotty

 

[FOTIS]

Well most of the loads you have posted are indeed usable hunting loads in 98% of every situation you might be faced with.
That said you and I along with many other "anal retentive" individuals will not settle for that. :roll:
I am truly confident you will find a load or perfect one you have already!
Heck you can rebed with real bedding not the factory hot glue..
Rebed with pressure point.
Rebed with freefloating.
Try a different powder, primer, or even bullet. I would be really happy if I can launch a 120 TTSX at 3400 fps. :mrgreen: