Thread: reloading

Originally Posted by ChrisL

I've tossed around the idea of getting into hand loading. I have two questions:

Is it true that it's harder to find free lead for casting (e.g. wheel weights no longer given away by tire shops, etc) since it's apparently regulated like everything else?

Someone who has hand loaded for years once told me that in his opinion you don't really save money loading your own because you just end up shooting more..... He said it tongue in cheek, but I wondered if it was a bit like straight razors - Theoretically a well honed single razor, cheap strop and a few pucks of soap can save a guy money on shaving needs; but I for one know I couldn't stop at that (HAD, RAD, etc).

ChrisL

answer to question #1) lead is harder to come by because a) E.P.A. shut down all U.S. lead factories a couple of years ago (o-blama back door anti-gun tactic), absolute zero lead made here and international shipping on lead ain't cheap. B) most wheel weights are steel, aluminum, or zinc nowadays due to above mentioned supply issue and.. the E.P.A. and C) ever since lead fishing weights were banned for sale,but not use by the....E.P.A. , a LOT of sea fishermen are giving us a fierce competition at the tire shops so that they can cast real sinkers that actually work. long story short, th E.P.A. is saving the s*&t out of everything but the american dollar.

as to question #2) well, that is a personal factor. do you even have time to shoot more if your cost per round comes down? do you need match grade ammo or will tullamo do? how fancy of a setup are you getting? how much per round will you save?(.223 and 9mm are so cheap the savings are not great, but over .50c a round expect 50% savings, over $1.50 expect about 70%)and most importantly, do you have to tinker? if you stick with one load per cal. once you have it developed, you will save alot more than having 10 loads for 3 cals.
hope this helps

I just need to brag a little.. went to the range yesterday with my 7.7 Type 99 Jap. Oh, my son came with us too. Anyway, reloaded 7.7 fired at a 8inch gong target three hundred yards away. Got it on the first shot! And the second! My son was watching through his scope and confirmed the hits. I think that's pretty good for a 70 + yr. old rifle and home made ammo.
Bragging done.

The Arisaka was an under appreciated battle rifle. My father brought one home from the war. We shot it occasionally growing up and I was always intrigued by the Japanese fascination with things like bolt dust covers and antiaircraft wing sights.

The other thing that struck me was the unrealistic length...It was likely taller with the bayonet attached than many of its users! Made me appreciate my M-4 carbine a lot more!

It was however a functional and relatively accurate rifle (as your recent experience attests to) and in the end isn't that what makes a battle rifle good...

Im glad you have an Arisaka and appreciate it enough to reload and shoot it. Keep the history alive for the next generation as those who brought them home will be gone before much longer just like my father. Thanks WWII vets. When I though I had it bad I thought back on my dad's life during WWII and my attitude always improved.

Anyone have a good recipe for 300 Win Mag 190gr SMK GMM clone? I'm in the process of completing a 300 WM precision rifle that I built out of a Weatherby MK V Accumark bedded in a Bell & Carleson adjustable Medalist Tactical stock.

I have perfected the 308 Win GMM with Varget and SMK bullets. Now I need a new project then it's on to the 338 Lapua next. Ha.

338 Lapua, now there is an extreme range moose assassin. Friend of mine bought one when they first came out here and fitted a muzzle brake he had made to it. Was almost pleasant to shoot off a bench.

Bob

Sorry i have lost the one i had.
But was almost ballistically the same as the lapua.
The only differance was wind drift.
10' @ 1000 yrds. [emoji6]

Please do yourself a big favor, don't ever use reloading recipes from these forums! We assume everyone here has the best intentions but, all it takes is one sicko to put in some wrong numbers and you know what can happen.
Other than that have a nice day and enjoy the hobby.

Originally Posted by Frederickdav

Please do yourself a big favor, don't ever use reloading recipes from these forums! We assume everyone here has the best intentions but, all it takes is one sicko to put in some wrong numbers and you know what can happen.
Other than that have a nice day and enjoy the hobby.

Yes, and it does not even take a sicko deliberately putting in wrong number but one unintended mistake. Yes, work a load up slowly using a known good stating point, reloading manual and all the usual precautions. Never loaded a huge variety of rounds but the most sensitive to even very minor increases in charge weight was a 22 Hornet while the 375 H&H seemed the most tolerant.

Bob

I have been reloading for years and know the dangers involved. I reference every load in two different reloading manuals to make sure it is not beyond SAAMI specs then work up to the rec load by 0.5 gr increments watching for signs of over pressure in addition to chrono testing as I go.

I'm simply looking for a starting point as far as powders are concerned to replicate the MV of the 190 SMK GMM load for practice so POI doesn't shift with the factory load. Trust me I dont trust and do verify.

Originally Posted by Frederickdav

Please do yourself a big favor, don't ever use reloading recipes from these forums! We assume everyone here has the best intentions but, all it takes is one sicko to put in some wrong numbers and you know what can happen.
Other than that have a nice day and enjoy the hobby.

I find your statement terribly wrong. Shooters are a family & wouldn't approach a reloading forum in this way.

I was in on the ground floor of load development for the .458 SOCOM & you will find many of my loads all over the world because of this. These loads were shared, because there was absolutely ZERO loading information out there. Barnes got involved & developed a bullet just for the velocities of this round, I bought 5k rounds when the first run was available. We share loading information just like shaving information with the same implied warnings: use at your own risk. If you don't want to take those risks, buy commercial ammo or shave with a factory edge. If you want "better", learn to do it yourself.