Wich bullet weight is best for 1:10 twist?

[Richracer1]

I have been looking at RCBS website at all the reloading equipment available. It looks very complicated. It seems there is alot to choose from. I wouldn't even know where to begin. FL dies or Neck dies? Single stage or turret press? Digital scales or Triple beam? There is alot I would need to know before even purchasing the equipment. I am a little obsessive compulsive, so I would want to purchase high quality equipment. How much would it cost me to get started?

You will varied opinions on the reloading equipment. I use a Lee Turret press. I can install two sets of rifle dies on one turret and don't have to worry about them again. I also have the Lyman DPS powder dispenser/scale set up, well worth the money. One important thing is to get yourself a good pair of METAL calipers. I use a Forster "Orignal" case trimmer and also bought their pilot and collet kit. Take a look at MidwayUSA for this stuff. It's where I've got all of my reloading equipment.

 

[Guest]

What's the difference between the single press and Turret press? I will only be reloading for one rifle, if that makes any difference.

 

[JD338]

I have been looking at RCBS website at all the reloading equipment available. It looks very complicated. It seems there is alot to choose from. I wouldn't even know where to begin. FL dies or Neck dies? Single stage or turret press? Digital scales or Triple beam? There is alot I would need to know before even purchasing the equipment. I am a little obsessive compulsive, so I would want to purchase high quality equipment. How much would it cost me to get started?

The best thing to do is go out and buy a couple of reloading manuals. You will need them for cross referencing load data. Nosler and Hornady or Seirra would be a good starting point.
Read the reloading 101 sections and this will get you started. There are several excellent manufactures of reloading equipment. RCBS is excellent and has a starter kit. They have all the basic tools needed to get going.
A starter kit and components will cost around $250 but you will quickly offset this initial cost with your savings over faactory ammo cost. I started reloading when I was 15 yrs old, 34 years ago. All of my current rifles have never seen factory ammunition, and only Nosler bullets. :grin:
I buy a lot of factory seconds from Shooters Pro Shop so I do all my load development, practice and hunting with Nosler bullets that cost much less than what you would pat for retail.
Pick the bullet you want, like the 140 gr AB, and the fellas here will get you started with powder suggestions.
If you have been a good boy, maybe santa will bring you a RCBS Reloading Starter Kit. :lol: :lol: :lol:

JD338

 

[Guest]

As I stated earlier, I am a bit obsessive so I would more than likely end up buying "high end" equipment. That way I never have to replace or upgrade it down the road. I was told by a friend that Forster press is the best money can buy. That sucker is over $200 by itslef :shock: I dont have to have "the best", but I dont want something that feels like a toy and may break after a few years of use.

 

[JD338]

As I stated earlier, I am a bit obsessive so I would more than likely end up buying "high end" equipment. That way I never have to replace or upgrade it down the road. I was told by a friend that Forster press is the best money can buy. That sucker is over $200 by itslef :shock: I dont have to have "the best", but I dont want something that feels like a toy and may break after a few years of use.

FWIW, my RCBS press is 34 years young. :wink:


I too like to get the top of the line, and many times I do. But when my old press consistantly produces excellent ammunition and I have never had a single problem with it, I have a hard time justifing the cost of anew Co-Ax press.

JD338

 

[Guest]

I should also mention that if I do get into reloading for my rifle and like it, I might also reload for my .40 and .38 pistols. Not sure if that would make a difference in choosing a press.

 

[JD338]

All you would need is dies, shell holder and components.

JD338

 

[JDMAG]

+ 10 on the Nosler factory seconds! I will probably never pay full price for bullets again! Do you realize how much this saves even in reloading? :shock: I have bought 2 packs of 180 PT's 1 pack of 180 BT's and 1 pack of 160 grain 7MM AB's and spent less than the price of 2 boxes of PT'a at GM!
YOu will enjoy reloading by the way. And that RCBS starter kit will last you for ever or you decide to sell it. for normal shooting/reloading situations, it's all you will ever need and will serve you as well as that Forster press ever will. I have 2 rcbs presses a partner and a turret. After you learn what you are doing, and what you have, you can find a reloading press in yard sales and flea markets for next to nothing! and before you started, you didn't even know what it was. And generally the people selling them don't either.

 

[Guest]

Why are some bullets sold as seconds? What is wrong with them?

 

[Richracer1]

Why are some bullets sold as seconds? What is wrong with them?

They have microscopic scratchs or are stained. They didn't pass QC for sale as firsts. Functionally there's nothing wrong with them. I've been hunting with them for several years now. They have saved me quite a bit over buying firsts. Now, to be honest some people don't believe in them and are unwilling to trust them. That's their decision and there's nothing wrong with it. I use the 2nds now and will continue to use them as long as Nosler continues to sell them.

 

[bullet]

Why are some bullets sold as seconds? What is wrong with them?

They have microscopic scratchs or are stained. They didn't pass QC for sale as firsts. Functionally there's nothing wrong with them. I've been hunting with them for several years now. They have saved me quite a bit over buying firsts. Now, to be honest some people don't believe in them and are unwilling to trust them. That's their decision and there's nothing wrong with it. I use the 2nds now and will continue to use them as long as Nosler continues to sell them.

I like seconds when it comes to sitting down and eating because if the meal is good in the first place, then seconds to me are all the better, just more of the same good stuff.

Nosler, would not sell something that was structurally wrong because it would reflect upon their need to continue to offer an accurate bullet as well as a terminally sound bullet. All it would take for them to be in serious trouble was the reputation of putting out junk for a buck.

Nosler is cool, and I like their bullets and their bullets do fill some of my needs that others do not. My favorite bullet hands down is the AccuBond because it gives me the best of both worlds, it opens good and penetrates deep without coming completely apart.

 

[Antelope_Sniper]

+1 on the Seconds. They are the bulk of what I shoot. +2 on AccuBond seconds.

270WSM, If I was going to shoot only one bullet through your gun, it would be the 140gr Nosler AccuBond (assuming your gun likes them) I feel the BT's are a little bit more accurate, but the AB's stand up better to heavy bone in Elk and Moose.

Nosler has seconds in stock here:

http://www.shootersproshop.com/?p=11&b=8&s=148&t=270

 

[hubcap]

OK; back to the 1:10 twist question. I actually had the same question that 270wsm had so I decided to load up all three bulet weights and hit the range to try and determine which weight my .270 with a 1-10 barrel would prefer. Loaded up 3 rounds each with 130,s 140,s and 150,s. All components were idtentical usings nosler partitions. All loads were seated .025 off the lands. It took nearly an hour to fire three [three shot ]groups at 100 yrds. Just did not want to heat the barrel up and screw up the groups. Here is the results: no detectable difference, All three groups were very close to 1 inch by tape measure. The thing I found out that I did not expect was that all three groups hit the targets at exactly the same place. When you say there has to be a best bullet weight for a 1-10 twist in .270 WSM you may be correct but I was unable to find any difference in a standard .270 gun. Is there a barrel engineer in the house.? Hell I been shooting the .270 since 1968 and did not know 130,s 140,s and 150,s can have the same zero. Shoot alot learn alot I guess. Just for info only these test loads were with IMR-4831. 55 gr. for the 150,s. 56 for the 140,s and 57 for the 130,s. Tell ya one thing from a non-engineer point of view only, All three bullet weights are great in this caliber. Just another opinion of course.