Dillon has a deal through tomorrow of $5 shipping on anything but projectiles to lower 48. So I ordered a few things, including a strong mount, for the “new to me“ 550 I picked up a few weeks ago
-
If you enjoy the forum please consider supporting it by signing up for a NES Membership The benefits pay for the membership many times over.
What did you do in the reloading room recently?
- Thread starter DW357
- Start date
Tallahassee
NES Member
Without searching for hours, anyone have a sweet recipe for Garand reloads? Favorite/preferred projectile and powder?
Thank you
Thank you
I run IMR-4064 under a Nosler 168 gr custom comp. I'd have to check my notes but I believe its 45 grains. Shoots WAY better than any 150 gr loads
First time since last winter work has settled down enough that I've had a chance to play with the press. Assembled 25 357.
AUSA range pickup brass, resized and trimmed to 1.285" (seem like once fired, most were 1.286"-1.292" after resizing but before trimming)
CCI 550
Alliant 2400, 14.3g
Speer #4211, 158g JHP (in a yellow plastic box with an $8 price tag... seemed time to either use them or put them in a museum) seated to 1.585"
Hoping to detonate a few jugs of water and ring a 100 yard gong this weekend.
I noticed in playing with various primers last winter that when I would get near full power 357 loads in my old S&W 586 which uses a hammer mounted firing pin and a somewhat loose bushing around the pin at the breech face, I'd get primer cratering around the firing pin when using #500 primers, but my notes say that stopped when using 550 or 400 primers so I think even with powders that don't call for a magnum primer, I'll use magnum or rifle primers in full power 357. I tried 5 rounds with #41 primers, but got light primer strikes so it looks like those cups are too hard.
AUSA range pickup brass, resized and trimmed to 1.285" (seem like once fired, most were 1.286"-1.292" after resizing but before trimming)
CCI 550
Alliant 2400, 14.3g
Speer #4211, 158g JHP (in a yellow plastic box with an $8 price tag... seemed time to either use them or put them in a museum) seated to 1.585"
Hoping to detonate a few jugs of water and ring a 100 yard gong this weekend.
I noticed in playing with various primers last winter that when I would get near full power 357 loads in my old S&W 586 which uses a hammer mounted firing pin and a somewhat loose bushing around the pin at the breech face, I'd get primer cratering around the firing pin when using #500 primers, but my notes say that stopped when using 550 or 400 primers so I think even with powders that don't call for a magnum primer, I'll use magnum or rifle primers in full power 357. I tried 5 rounds with #41 primers, but got light primer strikes so it looks like those cups are too hard.
Loaded and gaged 300 9mm 115gr FMJ.
Tallahassee
NES Member
I actually have all of that in the shop. Any crimp?
I never did. I wasn’t shooting 600+ yards either. Just 120 yards at most
Tallahassee
NES Member
I wasn't planning on it, but figured I would ask.
EddieZoom
NES Member
I was staring at my Mec 600jr press. It has the "EZ" prime add-on which I have mostly ignored because it was fussy and unreliable. I had spent time trying to get it work...but just gave up.
So, I'm staring at it....epiphany hits me out of nowhere....I suddenly know *exactly* why this thing isn't working well. Five minutes later after a minor tweak and it's working like a champ.`
Divine (reloading) intervention ?
So, I'm staring at it....epiphany hits me out of nowhere....I suddenly know *exactly* why this thing isn't working well. Five minutes later after a minor tweak and it's working like a champ.`
Divine (reloading) intervention ?
gerrycaruso
NES Member
I was bored so I loaded a few rounds of 45/60 for the 1876. 20 and 26.5 grains of 5744 and a 300 grain lead bullet. The 20 was more accurate. I'll try 22 and 24 tomorrow. 4198 is supposed to be very good. I think I have some.
Caveman
NES Member
Finally got my shelf up so have been unpacking my components. Almost have all the components unpacked and arranged. next I need to start laying out my presses and other tools. Will probably mount them to a 2x8 for a while until I nail down exactly the layout I want.
Nice stash! Love me some 2400
You can get 8 lb jugs if you go into the valley, but I'm guessing you already knew that.
Caveman
NES Member
Thanks I have to make an inventory sheet now that things are finally visible again. Figure out where i’m short. anxious to get my presses setup so I can start when the snow starts falling. I wonder if I can vent my casting station into my chimney.
gerrycaruso
NES Member
Ordered a 460 S&W powder funnel from Dillon. It should be just right for the 45/60 Winchester.
Kamadojefe
NES Member
- Joined
- Oct 23, 2016
- Messages
- 384
- Likes
- 1,157
Get some T track so you can move things around when you need to.
Jenska22
NES Member
Sweet, I've seen the track in a couple videos. How hard is it to install? I'm just starting so no holes in the benchtop yet.
Last edited:
Kamadojefe
NES Member
- Joined
- Oct 23, 2016
- Messages
- 384
- Likes
- 1,157
@Jenska22 I used a router and a straight edge to put them in. A circular saw would also get the job done. The track and accessories are available on Amazon with a lot of different brands. I made stands out of steel but I’m pretty sure wood base plates would be sufficient if done rite. It wasn’t really hard but did make a lot of saw dust
Last edited:
38ExtraSpecial
NES Member
Anyone using the Handload 2 app?
It’s a pretty nice way to keep track of loads and costs. I like that you can print out Ok Avery labels to keep everything labeled nicely.
It’s a pretty nice way to keep track of loads and costs. I like that you can print out Ok Avery labels to keep everything labeled nicely.
Caveman
NES Member
They look great. Nicely done. I may have to give this a try once I get more settled in.
Caveman
NES Member
Found a nice little treasure trove of molds. Still unpacking my reloading gear. Found some NIB MP and NOE molds I forgot I bought years back. Can’t wait to start trying them out. Will be a while though. Still have to setup my casting station at the new house.
i wish there was an app to simplify the test shooting of a ladder of loads. best i came up with so far was to sync photos of benchrest targets with chrono sessions - doing a screenshot of chono app and then shot of targets on a stand, so i know what matches what.
but still need to keep it organized and limit varieties not to mess stuff up too much, if i get 3-4 rifles out at once.
pastera
NES Member
My chrono app allows you to input load data for a string of shots - pretty certain it can add pictures also.
It's not the best interface but it works
Years ago in the clearance section of a local shop, I picked up a coffee can full of someone's cast 162g .358 LSWC bullets. I'm assuming estate sale item. Most had the lube either not present or falling out of the lube grooves. I don't have a lube press. I found using transmission assembly lube smeared into the grooves by finger just before loading worked well enough to get them on their way. I guess I could have also used wheel bearing grease but I have a tub of this stuff and with any luck I will never build another automatic transmission as long as I live so I'm trying to use it up. Assemblēē Gōō - Lubegard Just put another 50 of those together in 38 special, with Federal 100 primers and 3.5 grains of Titegroup. Airweight J frame food, about 700 fps. I could use them in 357 magnum but I'm not sure how well that'd play at higher pressures and speeds. I guess I could put a few together to try it.
Also went to load up some 9mm, and I'm realizing that after I use up the bullets I have on hand, it might not make sense to load this any more, at least not until ammo prices go sideways again. Looks like it's about 14 cents a round for cheap FMJ projectiles, and 8 cents a round for primers. I have several different powders to use, but I'm loading 6.4 grains of Power Pistol right now and that seems to be going for $45 a pound now so that's I think about 4 cents a round. So not including brass that's about 26 cents a round? 9mm Blazer is about 30 cents a round right now.
Also went to load up some 9mm, and I'm realizing that after I use up the bullets I have on hand, it might not make sense to load this any more, at least not until ammo prices go sideways again. Looks like it's about 14 cents a round for cheap FMJ projectiles, and 8 cents a round for primers. I have several different powders to use, but I'm loading 6.4 grains of Power Pistol right now and that seems to be going for $45 a pound now so that's I think about 4 cents a round. So not including brass that's about 26 cents a round? 9mm Blazer is about 30 cents a round right now.
Last edited:
Tallahassee
NES Member
Great, I'm finally entering the "flint" zone. Ordered some pulled projectiles from AR today.
I too have done this math, and it’s not personally worth the extra $50 in savings for “my time” making a thousand rounds. Good deals for cheap 9mm all over the internet and locally to me in central MA. .45AARP is still $.40-.50 a round, so I’ll keep churning those out.
