I reloaded for the first time today. Besides a couple drawbacks….It was quite amusing! It took a lot longer than I thought it would, but I have to admit I kept double and triple checking all my work. I also was learning how to use and adjust all of my equipment.
I was loading for my .30-06 and loaded a total of 100 rounds (180gr Interbonds, and 165gr BTSP Interlocks). I started with the minimum load in my manual and worked up to my maximum load by .5grains increments (5 rounds of each).
My Speer manual listed their max load for IMR-4350 at 58grains/165 and 57grains/180, and my Lyman manual listed theirs at 57grains/165 and 56grains/180. (I went with the max load from the Speer manual). Why were the max loads different? Seemed like the loads were referring to the same style of bullet.
I used unfired bulk Winchester brass. After attempting to trim them all to 2.484" I did find a couple of them measuring between 2.485-2.4865".... I even had one case that measured 2.4805. I was using a Lee case trimmer and had it set up on a drill press. (Using the lock stud/shell holder in the chuck of the drill). Are the variations in case length I encountered normal/acceptable? 1000-2000th of an inch might not seem like much, but I would suspect that I might run into problems with different case length when having to crimp a bullet with a cannelure? Also, would accuracy suffer from these minor discrepancies? Should I load the shorter case (2.4805), is it safe?
I also ran into a couple problems with my scale (RCBS 5-0-5). There were a few loads that weren’t coming out right, I couldn’t and still haven’t found what I was doing wrong. I would check my zero every few rounds and it had to be readjusted a couple times during the weighing process. (It is on level ground, wasn’t moved, dust free, weights all on zero, pan seated properly). I don’t get it? There are also 4-5 rounds that came up short, I would visually inspect the powder level inside the case and could see the rounds that were coming up short. This was quite discomforting. I decided to weigh every charge twice, it was extremely time consuming and somewhat frustrating.
Finally, I’m still unsure which/when I have to crimp a bullet. I have a LEE deluxe die set and it states in the instructions that it is not necessary to crimp loads other than for hunting purposes. Other sources mention it is only required to crimp when loading for semi’s and tube fed mags. And some have told me it is only necessary to crimp bolt guns that have extreme recoil. I’m confused? Do I have to crimp bullets with a cannelure? Do I have to crimp altogether? When is it required to crimp and when is it not?
I was loading for my .30-06 and loaded a total of 100 rounds (180gr Interbonds, and 165gr BTSP Interlocks). I started with the minimum load in my manual and worked up to my maximum load by .5grains increments (5 rounds of each).
My Speer manual listed their max load for IMR-4350 at 58grains/165 and 57grains/180, and my Lyman manual listed theirs at 57grains/165 and 56grains/180. (I went with the max load from the Speer manual). Why were the max loads different? Seemed like the loads were referring to the same style of bullet.
I used unfired bulk Winchester brass. After attempting to trim them all to 2.484" I did find a couple of them measuring between 2.485-2.4865".... I even had one case that measured 2.4805. I was using a Lee case trimmer and had it set up on a drill press. (Using the lock stud/shell holder in the chuck of the drill). Are the variations in case length I encountered normal/acceptable? 1000-2000th of an inch might not seem like much, but I would suspect that I might run into problems with different case length when having to crimp a bullet with a cannelure? Also, would accuracy suffer from these minor discrepancies? Should I load the shorter case (2.4805), is it safe?
I also ran into a couple problems with my scale (RCBS 5-0-5). There were a few loads that weren’t coming out right, I couldn’t and still haven’t found what I was doing wrong. I would check my zero every few rounds and it had to be readjusted a couple times during the weighing process. (It is on level ground, wasn’t moved, dust free, weights all on zero, pan seated properly). I don’t get it? There are also 4-5 rounds that came up short, I would visually inspect the powder level inside the case and could see the rounds that were coming up short. This was quite discomforting. I decided to weigh every charge twice, it was extremely time consuming and somewhat frustrating.
Finally, I’m still unsure which/when I have to crimp a bullet. I have a LEE deluxe die set and it states in the instructions that it is not necessary to crimp loads other than for hunting purposes. Other sources mention it is only required to crimp when loading for semi’s and tube fed mags. And some have told me it is only necessary to crimp bolt guns that have extreme recoil. I’m confused? Do I have to crimp bullets with a cannelure? Do I have to crimp altogether? When is it required to crimp and when is it not?
