What did you do in the reloading room recently?

gerrycaruso said:
Loaded some 6.5x55 with a 170 grain coated gas check and IMR4227, AA5744 and IMR4198. The bullet seems a bit heavy for the caliber so I hope it will stabilize.
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Shooting out of a sweed mauser? 1:7.5 or 1:8 ish twist. Should be fine
Your more limited by velocity with a fast twist.
 
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16 BHN? Or just a couple points hirer then wheel weights…. I doubt you’ll need to go higher than 18

I don’t remember offhand but I crank out 223’s at something like 2400 ft./s maybe a little less. Tad soft but they size to the barrel really nicely on the way out… I could get Away with them softer but I copperplate them. So there’s no leading regardless.

I really want to get back to doing this stuff I’m just busy.
 
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All the 6.5 loads shot lousy. Groups at 50 yards looked more like buckshot patterns. Many bullets hit the paper sideways. I guess I have some work to do. This rifle shoots as well as would be expected of a Swede so it's me, not the rifle.
 
gerrycaruso said:
All the 6.5 loads shot lousy. Groups at 50 yards looked more like buckshot patterns. Many bullets hit the paper sideways. I guess I have some work to do. This rifle shoots as well as would be expected of a Swede so it's me, not the rifle.
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Check the bore diameter. My buddy had a Carcano (known issue with bore sizes) he stepped up a few thou and it shot a nice group.
Not sure if the Swedes are like that
 
gerrycaruso said:
They are coated gas checked and the box says .267. I haven't measured one but even with the cases flared, they don't load easily.
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If you were to aneal every time you can get away with more flare. The coated ones have a little harder of a time going in..

I try To copper plate so there’s about .001 between where the gas-check would be, .0005 Step each side so I basically have an undersize gas check that I’ve plated on there. I find that to be just about perfect. Wether you are putting coatings on the bullet or you’re using those other gas checks it’s far more difficult to control than the electroplating process..

I’ve graduated to custom molds but a lot of mine are set up for gas checks and I’ve just found my way around it.

I actually ran a batch A few hours ago before I disassembled my plating tank. I’m going to relocate my set up.

I just hate fiddling with gas checks in general.
 
I know it sounds complicated but it’s not. If you only wanted to do a couple hundred projectiles at a time it wouldnt cost you much to copper plate. If you’re interested PM me I’ll send you a link to a thread in another forum explain it all..
 
Just search me on cast boolits.Com…. All the formulas are there after you read that contact me and I’ll tell you how to do it with a battery charger and everything from AutoZone. Are used to Post way to much there… You can do it with scrap copper in battery acid with my special tincture..

It won’t be as controls my set up but it’ll get your goddamn close
 
I tried a bit more powder and the 6.5 still shot lousy. I tried jacketed and it shot great. Maybe it just doesn't like this bullet. I'll try some of Norm Purcella's before I give up on cast in this rifle.
 
gerrycaruso said:
I tried a bit more powder and the 6.5 still shot lousy. I tried jacketed and it shot great. Maybe it just doesn't like this bullet. I'll try some of Norm Purcella's before I give up on cast in this rifle.
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The challenge with 6.5 swede is most cast bullets are to small.
Cast bullets with out getting to involved with alloys and special twists rates have a RPM threshold some where in the 120-140,000 rpm range with a fast twist like the 6.5 swede thats about 1200-1500 fps

Then theres bullet size - the 6.5 swede M96 is a pretty generous chamber and bore vs the say the “new” 6.5 swede chambers and bores if the M58s or what ever the swedes call their target rifle based on 6.5x55
Your going to need a cast bullet thats .266-.268” or even bigger

Old time caster told me old surplus you need a cast bullet large enough but still have room in the neck area so it can chamber. Some times you just need to do a chamber casting , measure the neck and freebore and size as needed.

I put cast loads on the back burner with my swede. The jump to the lands is “endless”
The cast bullet bounces around the lead like a plinko chip!
Jacketed bullets will handle that better imho. My swede with 140 fmj shoots as well as I and my eyes and those sights can handle.

My next step in the swede for cast is going to a gallery load of about 850-1000 fps with trailboss. If I cant get fun plinking -3 moa with that im done with cast in the swede.

Im not feeling the love for the swede as it is and might sell it anyway.
FMJ loads are easily sub 3moa , most likely better but I struggle with the sights
 
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meh said:
Picked up a used Navy Arms (Uberti) 1875 in .357M Magnum on Friday. The .357M 180 grain RNFP's I'm trying to burn through, and still have like 1000 of, are a no go. I loaded them about two years ago, so I don't remember, but I think they're 1.600" COAL, or close enough. They're a hair too long for the cylinder. I could shoot 38's out of it, and did on Friday, but the light 125 grain 38 specials I brought with me felt like 22's out of it. Sure looks magnum-worthy to me. Still, no need to go all in, so I loaded up 150 moderate 357M's using 158 grain JHPs over N350. Those are 1.575" OAL. Should work.
View attachment 576436
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Shot some of those loads today. Put on my "top focal" shooting glasses to see those sights (narrow notch with narrow front sight blade). Pretty sweet. I do think I can shoot the full magnum loads out of it. The moderate magnums were pretty easy-going, probably about like 158 grain 38 special out of a model 10.
 
p.. said:
I saved up my various plastic bottles to fill with water, and now have 50 of these to use these to empty them. This is my 0.8" @ 100 yards load with 50 grain Hornady Z-max.
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Confirmed as excellent water bottle emptiers. :) Range cleanup was a bit of a chore, but it was worth it.

Spent some time putting 124g Hornady 9mm FMJs on a 100 yard gong with an old West German P228 today too. A fine day at the range.
 
p.. said:
Sighed a little bit.
View attachment 579973

But now happy! I saved up my various plastic bottles to fill with water, and now have 50 of these to use these to empty them. This is my 0.8" @ 100 yards load with 50 grain Hornady Z-max.
View attachment 579974
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🤣 I do the same thing. I shot a couple water filled N320 and H110 containers yesterday with the old Marlin 357
 
More cast bullets for the 6.5x55 are on the way. In the mean time I loaded a 420 grain cast bullet in .45/70 with IMR4198, IMR3031 and AA5744. 5744 has worked well in most big black powder cases I've tried but 4198 is supposed to be great in the .45/70. I'll shoot them out of the Sharps tomorrow and find out.
 
gerrycaruso said:
More cast bullets for the 6.5x55 are on the way. In the mean time I loaded a 420 grain cast bullet in .45/70 with IMR4198, IMR3031 and AA5744. 5744 has worked well in most big black powder cases I've tried but 4198 is supposed to be great in the .45/70. I'll shoot them out of the Sharps tomorrow and find out.
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What powder measure do you use with IMR-4198? My 1st go with this powder for 7.62x39 using Lee Perfect powder measure. Unsure how well stick powder will run?
 
Still messing with the .43 Spanish rolling block. Today I shot groups with paper patched Mauser and Spanish bullets and a coated plain base .45/70 bullet resized to .444. No clear cut winner yet. Norm Purcella's 6.5 cast bullets should be here tomorrow. I should know on Tuesday whether or not I'm giving up on cast bullets in the Swedish Mauser.
 

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