What did you do in the reloading room recently?

[paul73]

Thanks for the info. I was looking at picking some up as it is actually available. I will hold out for something else. I need to find some unicorn droppings (large rifle primers) anyway.

TAC is generally appearing in load lists for heavier bullets. 168gr is a varget load.

#2275 .308" 175 gr. HPBT MatchKing
C.O.A.L. 2.800"
#2150 .308" 180 gr. SPT
C.O.A.L. 2.800"
#2160 .308" 180 gr. SBT
C.O.A.L. 2.800"
#2220 .308" 180 gr. HPBT MatchKing
C.O.A.L. 2.800"
#2170 .308" 180 gr. RN
C.O.A.L. 2.710"

Powder /Velocity 2200 2300 2400 2500 2600
IMR-3031 33.8 35.5 37.3 39.0
Benchmark 34.2 35.6 37.0 38.4
748 39.0 40.5 42.1 43.6
BL-C(2) 38.7 40.8 42.8 44.8
AA-2460 36.8 38.6 40.3 42.0
H335 37.3 39.5
TAC 37.8 39.4 41.0
AA-2495 34.3 36.9 39.4
IMR-4895 36.7 37.9 39.1 40.3 41.5
Varget 36.3 38.1 39.9 41.7
IMR-4064 35.7 37.5 39.3 41.0 42.8
AA-2520 36.0 38.0 39.9 41.9
IMR-4320 37.5 39.2 40.8 42.5
Viht N540 36.5 38.0 39.5 41.0
RE-15 35.8 37.6 39.5 41.3
H380 38.5 40.7 42.9 45.0 47.2
760 42.8 44.7 46.5 48.4
Viht N150 35.5 37.6 39.7 41.8
Viht N550 38.3 40.1 41.9 43.7 45.5
IMR-4350 40.5 42.3 44.1 45.9 47.7
IMR-4831 43.3 45.3 47.2
H4831 SC 44.1 46.2 48.3

 

[Tallahassee]

Has anyone used Ramshot Tac for 308 168grn? Thoughts results etc?

A friend of mine got really good results using it. One of his preferred powders. I believe he has a Savage action, and run of the mill redding dies.

He has produced some very nice groups at 300 yards with it.

 

[paul73]

A friend of mine got really good results using it. One of his preferred powders. I believe he has a Savage action, and run of the mill redding dies.

He has produced some very nice groups at 300 yards with it.

with 168 or 180gr bullets?

 

[Tallahassee]

with 168 or 180gr bullets?

168

 

[paul73]

168

i guess i`ll try it again then. i think i tried 40gr and 41gr loads.

 

[Tallahassee]

i guess i`ll try it again then. i think i tried 40gr and 41gr loads.

What works in one gun, may not in another. He doesn't load hot either, his speed is slow, and refuses to load any hotter. Pussy.

Everyone says H1000 is the cat's ass in win mag, I love reloder 22. You never know what works for you.

 

[RankAmateur]

Seeking thoughts/expertise from the NES crew. Relates to .30BR (specifically) but more general advice is what I'm looking for. I shot my first 5-round groups "in the 1s" this morning (group diameters 0.171", and 0.162") at 100 yds. To me, these are spectacular results. This was with 31 grains of Accurate LT-30, and varmint bullets seated 0.010 from the lands. Velocity averaged 2858 with ES of 18. The Pros who won titles with .30BR, on the other hand, advise a VERY different load. Essentially filling the case with as much powder (they recommend VV N130 or H4198) as can be fit up to the case mouth, and then seating the bullet at a 0.030 jam! They advise that they have never seen pressure signs with these powders loaded as described in the 30BR, and achieve bughole groups in the 1s routinely.

Advice sought: I have NEVER loaded anything at or past jam lengths due to concerns about pressure. I would normally load to 1 thousandth jump and then back them off in .003 increments to find nodes. The people providing this jam load advice, however, obviously know what they are talking about.

Would you jump right into trying their recommended load (seating length jammed, with perhaps a lighter charge for safety), or work up to it (full case and jammed) in some other approach?

Thanks!

He doesn't load hot either, his speed is slow, and refuses to load any hotter. Pussy.

Partial shout out to you @Tallahassee

 

[NHCraigT]

He doesn't load hot either, his speed is slow, and refuses to load any hotter. Pussy.

That's a classic

 

[paul73]

Thanks for the info. I was looking at picking some up as it is actually available. I will hold out for something else. I need to find some unicorn droppings (large rifle primers) anyway.

Rather interesting- this link suggested load for 168 nosler is a whole 44.5gr. Not sure if safe.

Ramshot TAC for .308

In the article is a link to Sierra's load data. They have some loads for TAC also.

www.longrangehunting.com

 

[Mudflap621]

Seeking thoughts/expertise from the NES crew. Relates to .30BR (specifically) but more general advice is what I'm looking for. I shot my first 5-round groups "in the 1s" this morning (group diameters 0.171", and 0.162") at 100 yds. To me, these are spectacular results. This was with 31 grains of Accurate LT-30, and varmint bullets seated 0.010 from the lands. Velocity averaged 2858 with ES of 18. The Pros who won titles with .30BR, on the other hand, advise a VERY different load. Essentially filling the case with as much powder (they recommend VV N130 or H4198) as can be fit up to the case mouth, and then seating the bullet at a 0.030 jam! They advise that they have never seen pressure signs with these powders loaded as described in the 30BR, and achieve bughole groups in the 1s routinely.

Advice sought: I have NEVER loaded anything at or past jam lengths due to concerns about pressure. I would normally load to 1 thousandth jump and then back them off in .003 increments to find nodes. The people providing this jam load advice, however, obviously know what they are talking about.

Would you jump right into trying their recommended load (seating length jammed, with perhaps a lighter charge for safety), or work up to it (full case and jammed) in some other approach?

Thanks!


Partial shout out to you @Tallahassee View attachment 559858

Id bookmark what you have found thus far to shoot and then start over working up in charge weight. If your going to JAM I would start there and work out of it, don't work into the lands. Also remember every barrel and chamber is different so what works for one doesn't always work for the other but you don't know until you try.

Another thing to think about with jamming is the likelihood of pulling the bullet out of case if you ever go to eject an unfired round.

I was working through some small hiccups in my BRA build and went to jamming and with everything else exactly the same I saw no change in speed or pressure signs. I was on the low end but I was kinda expecting to see more speed.

 

[paul73]

just received this tool head in black - looks pretty good at the first glance - better and cheaper than one from dillon.

Dillon Precision XL650 750 Style Toolhead Aluminum CNC Tool Head by Jofer USA - Etsy

This Hunting item by JoferUSA has 8 favorites from Etsy shoppers. Ships from Miami, FL. Listed on Nov 29, 2023

www.etsy.com

 

[JRT]

5.56 Small Rifle Primers - Midway USA

CCI Small Rifle 5.56mm NATO-Spec Military Primers #41 Box of 1000 (10

CCI Primers are continuously tested and improved. As a result today's CCI primers are more sensitive, easier to seat and more compatible with...

www.midwayusa.com

 

[Lefty38-55]

Loaded up some BP-replica loads using 2400 powdah for the obscure 10.4x47R cartridge for the 1870 Vetterli-Vitali bolt action. The original bullet was ‘heeled’, like a 22LR bullet, of which no one sells and even NOE is out-of-stock on their mold.

So I sized some 44 Mag 240-grn 0.429” sized cast down to 0.427” and they chambered; sweet! Even better … they grouped extremely well! They would hold the 10 to X-ring (SR 200 reduced target) all day long whilst benched and I shot a 3” group with them offhand @ 100-yards, as witnessed. That 2400 is magical for reduced or cast loads.

Woo hoo … for the Winter milsurp offhand matches start @ Reading on this coming Saturday!

 

[mac1911]

Has anyone used Ramshot Tac for 308 168grn? Thoughts results etc?

I picked up some to try
308 M1 Garand and M1a
Nosler 168 CC I really had to push them close to high end or pressure to get groups
Near acceptable like H4895 and varget
No crony data
I may load up some 180s for the 1903a3 to burn it up?

 

[Mike 53]

5.56 Small Rifle Primers - Midway USA

CCI Small Rifle 5.56mm NATO-Spec Military Primers #41 Box of 1000 (10

CCI Primers are continuously tested and improved. As a result today's CCI primers are more sensitive, easier to seat and more compatible with...

www.midwayusa.com

Yeesh...

 

[JRT]

Yeesh...

Yeah, and yet they sold out. I have paid silly amounts for certain components. If your dope is set up around a custom build you pay or start over. Crazy times.

 

[DW357]

Probably shouldn’t post this publicly but figured someone might benefit. Cabelas will ship bullets (not ammo) to your door. I realized I had like $22 in rewards so I bought some Hornady 240 gr XTPs on Sunday. Already have tracking information though it hasn’t been updated yet.

 

[76Too]

I had some old CCI SPP with a green and white packaging that I’m sure was from the 60s. All went bang.

Like these


Looks like January of 1958 to me!



Full box of 1000 and every primer accounted for, lol. Got ‘em off an old timer in Indy for a song. Damn things have probably increased in value 100x since they were made!

Just scored 1500 Winchester LPP for $80, too!

 

[DW357]

Like these
View attachment 560260View attachment 560261

Looks like January of 1958 to me!

View attachment 560266

Full box of 1000 and every primer accounted for, lol. Got ‘em off an old timer in Indy for a song. Damn things have probably increased in value 100x since they were made!

Just scored 1500 Winchester LPP for $80, too!

Yup that’s them! Where’d ya get the LPP?

 

[76Too]

I think my Berdan primer stash takes the prize for oldest though.

 

[76Too]

Yup that’s them! Where’d ya get the LPP?

FTF sale from a WTS post on INGO (Indiana NES with much nicer people and very intolerant moderators).

 

[DarrenL]

Loaded some IBEJ 124 CN BB (with lube groove) and some 124 CN FB (NLG). same powder, OAL, etc. Shot about the same, but the NLG seemed smokier for some reason. Or maybe it was the atrocious air handling system? Also chrono'ed some older loads on the new gun, and got weird results. 115gr FMJ shot slower out of a 5” sig than a 4.7” sig. As did a 115 coated, and a 147 FMJ. IDK.

Anyway, not sure if should get the IBEJ 124 NLG or the LG.

 

[gerrycaruso]

While I waited for the covid nonsense to go away, I didn't want to sit around doing nothing. I re did the stove pipe in the wood stove, filled a .50 caliber ammo can with .45 auto (a little more than 1500} and switched the press over to .357.

 

[mac1911]

Yeesh...

These where getting pricy before covid
They where $40/100 in2018
I dont see why they are so much more. cci must be making a shit ton for the 5.56 manufactures?

 

[Eric H]

Last night I reloaded .30-30 for the first time. I came across a set of dies, shell holder, brass, and primers from an estate sale years ago, but never got around to acquiring a rifle in .30-30. As it comes out, a close friend of mine just recently finished rescuing and refinishing a Winchester Model 94 that was flooded as a result of a house fire many years ago and he couldn't find ammo locally. Fortunately the bore appeared to be in pretty good shape along with no fire damage to the rest of the rifle.

I happened to have found some Hornady 150 gr. Round Nose Interlock .308 bullets while in Hooksett yesterday and decided to get loading when I got home.

Loaded up 40 rounds with once fired Federal cases, Winchester Large Primers, CFE 223 powder at 35.4 grains (middle of the road according to Hodgdon), topped off with the Hornady Interlock's. COAL of 2.550"

Met up with my friend at the club this afternoon, put a box through the rifle and sighted in the iron sights at 25 yards after chronographing a few rounds, had to walk in the elevation a lot but the windage was almost dead nuts. Decided to take it out to 100 yards with the last 3 rounds out of the box of 20 I made for us to shoot. Benched with the buck-horn iron sights I was able to print about a 4" group, just to the left of the aiming point. Needless to say, with this close to 100 year old rifle with the rough history it has been through, we were VERY impressed with its performance.

All rounds fed and ejected flawlessly, with 5 rounds through the chronograph there was an average of 2120 fps about 20 ft from the muzzle out of a 20" barrel, and a standard deviation of 20 fps. Very happy with how everything turned out, it's been over a year since I've reloaded a rifle cartridge.

Also goes to show that old, rough looking guns can still hold their own on the range.

 

[1redsoxfan]

moved it, along with the rest of my house.
new property has permanent shooting benches at 50 & 100 yds, target stands, & an earthen berm, all courtesy of the prior landowner. He also left his Moultri deer feeding station and a two-seater tree stand all set up.

 

[northny]

I am working on setting up a reloading area in new house. I decided this time I needed a place to organize my Dillon stuff when I am not using it. Just finished this tonight. When I close the door it is out of sight and away from dust. Yet it’s all in arms reach of loading bench. The press mounts to my new bench with oversized hand tightened screw knobs So it’s quick to mount and use. I’m done with my setting up. Next time I’m going to load some .45, the brass is in tumbler now.

 

[DW357]

Loaded up some 357 mag tonight just to use up the various Fed and CCI primer trays with random amounts of primers




So a majority of the brass I have is old and been reloaded A LOT. Going back to 2013. I had a handful of once fired brass I found at the range and there was a noticeable increase in resistance when seating the bullet ie neck tension was much better. No idea if any of this matters. I’m going to test the loads with the newer brass to see if there’s less unburnt powder etc.

I’ve got so much 357 brass. Don’t feel like buying new brass lol.

 

[Ranger007]

Loaded up some 357 mag tonight just to use up the various Fed and CCI primer trays with random amounts of primers


View attachment 560857

So a majority of the brass I have is old and been reloaded A LOT. Going back to 2013. I had a handful of once fired brass I found at the range and there was a noticeable increase in resistance when seating the bullet ie neck tension was much better. No idea if any of this matters. I’m going to test the loads with the newer brass to see if there’s less unburnt powder etc.

Nice!

 

[DW357]

Probably shouldn’t post this publicly but figured someone might benefit. Cabelas will ship bullets (not ammo) to your door. I realized I had like $22 in rewards so I bought some Hornady 240 gr XTPs on Sunday. Already have tracking information though it hasn’t been updated yet.

Ordered Sunday and arrived today. Not bad.