First hand loads..

Reloading equipment, methods, load data, powder and projectile information.

First hand loads..

Post by Browning » 12 Jul 2015, 10:41 pm

Mate and I got into reloading and finally got to try the first batch out today...

Here's the results from the first batch through the 22-250 at 100m (33 grains powder with 55gr SP projectiles)

First 4 were on the money and sent the fifth flying..

33-grains.jpg
33 grains
33-grains.jpg (75.68 KiB) Viewed 4593 times


This reloading caper ain't too bad...

Second pic is 34 grains of powder... Same again with me shanking the fifth again.. Doh

200-yard-target.jpg
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Re: First hand loads..

Post by brett1868 » 12 Jul 2015, 11:00 pm

Yep...and now you'll be chasing a smaller group again next time and the time after and the time after that....the beginning of an addition I think :)
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Re: First hand loads..

Post by Browning » 12 Jul 2015, 11:08 pm

I'm stoked for now.. Given these are all hunting rounds and only really need to be MOP (minute of pig), I'm very happy with the results.. Need to work more on that "flier" (me) than the load hahaha
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Re: First hand loads..

Post by Baldrick314 » 13 Jul 2015, 7:17 am

Good results mate :). What powder are you using?
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Re: First hand loads..

Post by Noisydad » 13 Jul 2015, 8:19 am

One of us, one of us, one of us......theres no saving you now! :-)
There's still a few of Wile. E Coyote's ideas that I haven't tried yet.
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Re: First hand loads..

Post by Harper » 13 Jul 2015, 12:02 pm

Browning wrote:First 4 were on the money and sent the fifth flying..


Scientific fact, when you shoot the first 4 in an awesome group the 5th one is always a flyer :lol:
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Re: First hand loads..

Post by bigfellascott » 13 Jul 2015, 12:15 pm

She's shooting fine mate, don't waste the barrel on trying to get smaller groups, it's really not needed for hunting purposes (been there done that one) now I just try for around 1" or slightly better with a load, if I achieve that I just use em to shoot fur, as I say you ain't shooting groups on fur so why bother with shooting groups to shoot fur? :thumbsup:

I still haven't even tested some loads on paper to see what they are doing, I just took em out and tried em out on rabbits at 200m or so and they all fell over so good enough for me. :lol:
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Re: First hand loads..

Post by Rocker » 13 Jul 2015, 1:20 pm

33 is your winner :D

Flyers happen mate. Don't stress.

Keeping our ammo as uniform as possible and as your technique improves they'll happen less often, and less severely.
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Re: First hand loads..

Post by Browning » 13 Jul 2015, 3:48 pm

Powder is 2208 Baldrick...
Also very lucky that the point of impact for this powder is almost smack on the factory rounds I was using...handy to know if I ever run out of hand loads out bush...
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Re: First hand loads..

Post by Baldrick314 » 13 Jul 2015, 7:34 pm

Browning wrote:Powder is 2208 Baldrick...
Also very lucky that the point of impact for this powder is almost smack on the factory rounds I was using...handy to know if I ever run out of hand loads out bush...


That's a happy coincidence :). Might have to try some 2208, I got alright accuracy from 2209, tried 06H and it was rubbish maybe splitting the difference will give me some better groups
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Re: First hand loads..

Post by brett1868 » 13 Jul 2015, 8:05 pm

This is a 5 shot group from last week where I've changed the seating depth a fraction and turned a .5 moa group to a .4 moa group. That 1 low shot was me rushing the shot and not controlling my breathing as I squeezed the trigger. I'm chasing 5 shots into the 1 hole and won't give up till I do it :)

Reducing group size can be an expensive exercise, getting to .5 moa can be reasonably cheap, the next .1 will be triple the cost, the next .1 10 times the cost and so on till you either go broke or insane :)

For general hunting I'm nowhere near as fussy, I stop load development at .5 moa as I only care about 1 shot groups on game.

375_Grp.jpg
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Re: First hand loads..

Post by Browning » 13 Jul 2015, 8:22 pm

Impressive group Brett!! It seems like years ago when I was chasing extra tenths outta my car over the quarter mile... Every 1/10 improvement gets exponentially more expensive haha

Maybe we were touched on the knob that day getting it right first time cos as it turned out, my 308 loves the exact same load (everything) as his 308!
Happy reloading times!!
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Re: First hand loads..

Post by Oldbloke » 13 Jul 2015, 9:00 pm

bigfellascott wrote:She's shooting fine mate, don't waste the barrel on trying to get smaller groups, it's really not needed for hunting purposes (been there done that one) now I just try for around 1" or slightly better with a load, if I achieve that I just use em to shoot fur, as I say you ain't shooting groups on fur so why bother with shooting groups to shoot fur? :thumbsup:

I still haven't even tested some loads on paper to see what they are doing, I just took em out and tried em out on rabbits at 200m or so and they all fell over so good enough for me. :lol:


Agree 100%.. For hunting once u get to about 1" its enough. How well can you shoot in in hunting conditions. Ie sitting in front of a log, kneeling or off hand shooting?
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Re: First hand loads..

Post by brett1868 » 13 Jul 2015, 9:06 pm

I did the car thing many years ago as well, (Before discovering the Suzuki Hayabusa) best for the 1/4 was 9.98 with a big shot of happy gas and I spent thousands to get into the 9's but didn't have the 100's of 1000's to get into the 8's, 7's, 6's etc etc. Shooting is very similar in that it costs more and more to shoot smaller and smaller till it costs absolutely everything to shoot nothing. I've been reloading >20 years but I'm a rank amateur at the precision reloading side of the game and it's been a steep learning curve so far though I've been getting a lot of help and advice from one of the members here who shall remain nameless. I have been reading many books on ballistics, shooting techniques, rifle setup and optics which has also helped in reducing groups.

Something to keep in mind...
Often some of the better improvements in reducing group size comes down to rifle weight, setup and fit and not necessarily the ammo. Length of pull, Scope height, Cheek height, Cheek weld, Eye relief, Finger position on trigger, Breathing control, How you hold the rifle and a consistent approach to shooting all contribute to precision.

Consistency in all facets of shooting is the key to accuracy.
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Re: First hand loads..

Post by Tonit » 16 Jul 2015, 3:35 pm

6's :wtf:

The whip on accelerating would just about take your head off.
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Re: First hand loads..

Post by brett1868 » 16 Jul 2015, 9:26 pm

Tonit wrote:6's :wtf:

The whip on accelerating would just about take your head off.


Never got into the 6's, had to settle for high 9's as I didn't have the money back then and I'm too old now. I once added up all the cash I pissed away over the years on various V8's, Turbo 4's and bikes...turned out to be enough to have bought a nice Ferrari had I just saved it. I had a series of Suzuki Hayabusa's with the last one being a sensibly modified K9 that delivered and honest 210HP at the back wheel. 0-300 in less then 15 seconds....acceleration is more addictive then any drug for me.
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Re: First hand loads..

Post by bluerob » 17 Jul 2015, 11:06 am

Tonit wrote:6's :wtf:

The whip on accelerating would just about take your head off.


Aren't drag cars achieving 5 secs on the 1/4 these days - as Brett mentions, using a $100,000 engine that has to be rebuilt after each run, using titanium springs, valves etc etc.

They wear huge neck braces also (from watching the NDRA on the idiot box).
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Re: First hand loads..

Post by Usurper » 17 Jul 2015, 11:20 am

"settle" for 9's :lol:

All money down the drain though ultimately with those toys :(
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Re: First hand loads..

Post by anthillinside » 17 Jul 2015, 10:51 pm

Usurper wrote:"settle" for 9's :lol:

All money down the drain though ultimately with those toys :(


Aren’t all our addictions money down the drain?
Fun = Money
More fun = More money QED.
But a one hole group is Priceless (To plagiarise an Add)
And doing it with your own personal hand loads is double priceless.
And “Browning” it looks like you’re on the way there.
Just shoot 8 shot groups ... like this;
1,2,3,4, ,6,7,8,9
No 5th shot no flyers :D
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Re: First hand loads..

Post by Browning » 17 Jul 2015, 11:44 pm

Yeah, I like the grouping strategy.. Loaded up 200 rounds tonight so fingers crossed my aim is true next I'm at the range...
Thanks for the input guys
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Re: First hand loads..

Post by brett1868 » 18 Jul 2015, 12:25 am

Browning wrote:Yeah, I like the grouping strategy.. Loaded up 200 rounds tonight so fingers crossed my aim is true next I'm at the range...
Thanks for the input guys


Seems we were both up to the same thing tonight so I'm assuming you're also in trouble with the missus :D I just finished loading 100 rounds of .375 Cheytac which I'll unload at the range on Monday. Probably easier though less fun if I leave the rifle at home, take 100 projectiles, primers, 2lbs of powder and throw it down the range. Same result apart from group size and I don't have to spend an hour cleaning a barrel... :D
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Re: First hand loads..

Post by sandgroperbill » 18 Jul 2015, 12:47 am

Is there any barrel left to clean after 100 rounds?

I would seriously love a .375 cheytac. It would be my fun "just because" rifle.
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Re: First hand loads..

Post by Strikey » 18 Jul 2015, 6:34 am

Want to shoot one hole groups and save money? Buy a PCP airgun, no brass to prep, no powder & projectiles to source which in my neck of the woods can be difficult at times, no barrels to clean then burn out and need to be replaced. Without having to do all that stuff leaves me with more drinking time :drinks:
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Re: First hand loads..

Post by anthillinside » 18 Jul 2015, 8:57 am

Cheeper to take up darts Strikey ;)
But I know exactly what you mean, I keep my air rifle for exactly that purpose.
I wish I could shoot groups @100 as good as air @10
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Re: First hand loads..

Post by Wes » 20 Jul 2015, 1:15 pm

anthillinside wrote:I wish I could shoot groups @100 as good as air @10
:drinks:


Amazing what happens when you take the shoot error / movement / wobble down by 90% :lol:
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