What's on YOUR Bench?

[DrMike]

Old topic that crops up from time-to-time. Obviously, I'm bored this afternoon. It is snowing heavily (roofs are white and it is beginning to stick on the ground), I've completed editing all the television programs that have been taped, I completed drafting the text for a sermon this coming Sunday, and now I'm turning my attention to the rifles that have accumulated awaiting attention. I've been sizing brass, and now I need a break from the bench. I'm currently loading for a 300 WSM (168 grain XLCs supplied by the owner), a 300 SAUM (168 Berger VLDs supplied by the owner and now 165 grain SSTs that I suggested), a 7 X 57 Mauser (160 grain PTs after failure to get enough velocity for the 160 grain TSXs requested by the owner), a 270 Weatherby (150 grain Berger VLDs supplied by the owner), a 300 Weatherby (200 grain TSXs supplied by the owner) and an 8mm RM (200 grain TSXs supplied by the owner). The 300 SAUM was proving to be a challenge as it simply would not stablise the VLDs. I have several loads with SuperFormance powder and VLDs and with W760 and SSTs to shoot this weekend. The owner wants to see 0.5 inch groups. It is a stock rifle, so it does make it challenging. The 300 WSM is an interesting challenge because the owner wants to use the XLCs. If I can't get 0.5 inch groups, the rifle will get a new pipe. I have good velocities and 1.1 inch groups with low SDs at this point, so it is a matter of playing with seating depth. The 7 X 57 received a new stock and the owner wants a load customised. The 160 grain TSX gave one inch groupings, even with the old and worn barrel. However, velocities were less than I would have liked to see. We'll see what I can do with PTs. I picked up the Weatherbys and the 8mm this week, so they will be first tries. I don't anticipate any particular problems. This is in addition to my own cartridges which are begging for attention (.280 with 150 grain bullets, .30-06 with 165 grain bullets, 300 WSM with 200 grain bullets and .358 with 225 grain bullets). Spring bear will soon be gone if I don't get on the ball.

All right, what's awaiting your attention this weekend?

 

[JD338]

Working up loads for the 6.5 mm Rem Mag. Loading 120 gr BT and 125 gr PT.

Also need to load up some 280 AI with 140 gr AB's.

JD338

 

[DrMike]

Ah, Jim. A couple of enviable cartridges. I'm really looking forward to your reports with the 6.5, especially to see its performance on game this fall. We've witnessed how the 280 AI works! Fantastic. As an aside, are you an inveterate tweaker? Or are you able to set up a load and relax with what you have? The scientist in me never permits me to leave a load alone. I load for hunting, but it is almost certain that I'll take my hunting rifles to the range to test new loads despite having a large number of rounds loaded for the field.

 

[6mm Remington]

Just got two boxes of 90 gr. E-Tips from Nosler and want to load ALL of them up for his 6mm.

30-06 needs some more 165 gr. Accubonds loaded.

My 6mm is begging for some more 100 gr. Partitions.

My boy's 300 WSM has no scope yet but I need to load a few different loads so when he DOES get his scope we'll be all set to go shoot.

Lastly I have my wife's 25-06 that I started playing with 110 gr. Accubonds in and have not finished. The 120 gr. Partitions shoot great in it, but I think this would be a good weight and compromise from say the 100, 115, and 120 as it's such a streamlined bullet. Her rifle is a Remington Mountain Rifle that on has the 22" barrel! :twisted: Remington needed to make that in 24" for several of the chamberings in it in my opinion such as the 30-06, 280, 25-06, and they also should have chambered it in 6mm!
Man I have a lot to do. I better get off the stick!
David

 

[DrMike]

I better get off the stick!

I thought we had to get on the stick! You (and Tom de Angelo) are stimulating me to think about working up some decent loads for the 257 Bob so I can tag a couple of deer this fall! There is still the 260 for which I need to work up a load. Wow! Time's a wasting!

 

[Guest]

Dr. Mike,
Good to hear from you again. Can't believe the snow you are having. It's been 95-degrees here all week and will continue through the week-end. I just finished my 300 RUM load and happy with the results, still at it with the 30-06 with 165 BT and H4350, still tweaking it some to get the groups better, but it's close. Next I want to start shooting the Whelen. I'm wanting to start shooting the RUM at long range too. Pulled some old loads apart to salvage the components and gained some more new Brass in the process the other night.

Going to attempt start working on brass to load some up this week-end. Family time is pulling at me.

Don

 

[DrMike]

Don,

I'm hanging in there. I won't tell my wife the temperature in Tennessee, or I'll lose her for the summer! As it is, now that she is retired, she will be deserting me each winter. I explained that I couldn't go with her. In addition to responsibilities in my church, there are elk and moose and bear to be hunted during that time, to say nothing of rabbits, wolves, coyotes and lynx. It is good to hear that the RUM has worked out. I saw the groups you were getting, and they were impressive.

 

[BK]

Sitting in a hotel room looking for stuff to spend money on. Need dies for .204, .221 Fireball, .270, .300 Savage, .300 WSM. Thinking about a power case trimmer. Need to figure out what new manuals I need to pick up. Want to pick up a Jewell trigger for the .204, and a Timney for my 788 6mm. And a bunch of brass. Fighting off the urge to buy a couple more McMillan stocks.

Down time away from home is a bad thing.

 

[JD338]

Mike,

I like to tinker and tweak but there comes a point where you have to ask yourself if its really worth the time and effort. When I get a load that shoots sub .5 MOA, I call it done. In recent years, I have gone to a single load for each rifle. If for some reason I need to change bullets, I have my library of loads to choose from. It really simplifies things for me.

JD338

 

[DrMike]

Jim,

Good stuff. I usually keep one load for hunting, but there will be multiple attempts to "improve" what is there. I'm infected severely. 'Tis a grand disease, is it not?

 

[bbearhntr]

Hey Mike I will trade you 90 degrees and a ton of humidity for snow flakes any day! :lol: I've got 50 rounds of .223 wssm cases primed and begging to be loaded with 60g partitions. I might get to that along with the .243 win, .257 weatherby, .270 wsm when the weather cools off this weekend. I made a trip to Gander Mountain today to shop in some air conditioning and found a sweet deal on a leupold VXII 3-9 X 40 that I hope to top off my Browning BLR .308 when I get some time.... For being unemployed right now I sure don't have a lot of free time :shock: :lol:

 

[Guest]

Dr. Mike,
Ya gotta take care of Momma. When Momma's not happy, ain't no body happy.
The Ultra is ready. Got the disease like you said, always tweaking loads.

Don

 

[DrMike]

Hey Mike I will trade you 90 degrees and a ton of humidity for snow flakes any day!

All this snow must indicate global warming! :shock: Least, that's what the inventor of the Internet says. How do you like that .223 WSSM? I've loaded for a couple of the WSSMs (.223 and .243) with good success. I never did work up loads for the .25 WSSM, however. A good friend had one for a very brief while, however.

 

[FOTIS]

way too much on my plate.....


Overwhelmed.

 

[Greg Nolan]

After working 11hrs a day 7 days a week since before Thanksgiving I'm now in the ""everything" catch up mode. The overtime did provide a brace of Weatherbys and the 350 Rem. I've got the 350 dialed but the 416s, the 300, 270 and 340 Wbys are at the test load stage and I need to get to the range if it ever stops raining. I've got a selection of bullets and powders for each one to work on and it's going to take a while. The 243 Vanguard got here last week and a Boyd's lightweight thumbhole is ordered for it.
Then, after I develop the loads, I'll start thinning out the RUM herd a little. For some unknown reason I've fallen in love with wood and blued. Probably nostalgia but some of the stainless plastic rifles are going to have to find a new home.
Greg

 

[DrMike]

Greg,

It is hard to beat wood and blue for beauty. I know they are not as stable as other platforms, but they do have "street appeal." Nostalgia isn't all bad. I have no plastic rifles in my safe, and only two laminates. Which 350 RM did you get?

 

[Richracer1]

I have part of a new snowmobile exhaust system on my bench. Don't know if I'll do any load work this summer as I have pretty much all the bases covered and about 50 rnds loaded for each rifle.

 

[Elkman]

JD Says: Mike,
I like to tinker and tweak but there comes a point where you have to ask yourself if its really worth the time and effort. When I get a load that shoots sub .5 MOA, I call it done. In recent years, I have gone to a single load for each rifle. If for some reason I need to change bullets, I have my library of loads to choose from. It really simplifies things for me.

JD and I are alike on this one. I usually shoot for 1 " but once I am happy the final load, it goes in the book, and thats the load pretty much for ever. I really like the feeling of the accomplishment, and the ability to shoot in field positions rather than off of the bench. Its also cheaper which is getting to be a bigger issue every day. (I am even pulling my bullets if I have any left over after a load development session). Also like JD I use one bullet weight per rifle. My 300 win mag load has been the same since 1970.

Probably sounds boring to many of you but it really makes sense to me ! :grin: :grin:

 

[Elkman]

Oh!

Back to the topic in question, I have a pound of H-1000, some 175 nosler PT, scales, 160 gr. TSX, die box, case holder, mis clutter, a little box of tools, a case trimmer, funnel, deburring tool, couple of rags, oil, imperial sizing wax, couple of boxes of 7mm STW cases, couple of boxes of 308 win cases, and allen wrenches. Might be an empy can of Diet Coke, and a chocalot bar wrapper :grin:

 

[DrMike]

Bill,

Your tack makes perfect sense. I followed a similar course for many years. I'm in the fortunate position of having quite a large number of powders/bullets/primers available due to working with so many cartridges, allowing me to experiment much more than I would have in years past. In reality, I usually use one bullet weight for each rifle. I see it is still -1 this morning, so I'll likely work up some more loads for the rifles intended for shooting today.

H1000 and 175 grain bullets are a potent combination in the 7RM.