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Posted: 10/20/2010 1:16:13 PM EDT
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I finally got some time behind a reloader today, I think I found a new direction for my disease.
This is definitely part Science, part Finesse. Cranked out 200 rounds & found a few where the primers where not seated properly, it's all about technique I guess. The press was a Dillion 650 with all the trimmings, not mine sadly  but someday maybe.
Only 4000+ more to go 
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Today was my first day too. I did 31 correctly and 3 with bullets seated way too deeply. Time to go buy a puller.
Took about an hour to trim, deburr, reload them using a Lee classic turret. I think I spent more time setting up the bullet seating die than anything else. |
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I've loaded lots of 10mm and .40 on my 650, but this weekend I did my first rifle ammo on the Lee press I bought for low-volume work. 50 rounds of .303 British using 0.5 grain increments of TAC powder. New Winchester brass so that part was easy. Even went through all the primer and flash hole uniforming steps, let's just say it's quite a bit different than handgun ammo, where sometimes it doesn't even get tumbled clean before reloading. Holy crap does it use up the powder though!!! The loads started at 40 grains or 175 rounds per pound, while my .40 load is just over 4 grains of N320 or about 1700 rounds!
Shot it up on Sunday with 100% sucess I think, velocities where the book said they would be, and SD of about half of 303 HXP and about 1/8 of S&B commercial ammo. I'll load some more and try them on the 100 yard range to see what is most accurate. I had a case head separation with the new S&B too, WTF 
Oh well much fun, if a bit slow to assemble. I do have 650 conversions for 5.56 and 7.62 but I wanted to start a bit slower for rifle. And it's not like I need 400 rounds per hour of .303 or .45-70, barring the sudden acquisition of a Bren Gun or Gatling and the lottery prize to go with them. |
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Quoted:
I've loaded lots of 10mm and .40 on my 650, but this weekend I did my first rifle ammo on the Lee press I bought for low-volume work. 50 rounds of .303 British using 0.5 grain increments of TAC powder. New Winchester brass so that part was easy. Even went through all the primer and flash hole uniforming steps, let's just say it's quite a bit different than handgun ammo, where sometimes it doesn't even get tumbled clean before reloading. Holy crap does it use up the powder though!!! The loads started at 40 grains or 175 rounds per pound, while my .40 load is just over 4 grains of N320 or about 1700 rounds! Shot it up on Sunday with 100% sucess I think, velocities where the book said they would be, and SD of about half of 303 HXP and about 1/8 of S&B commercial ammo. I'll load some more and try them on the 100 yard range to see what is most accurate. I had a case head separation with the new S&B too, WTF
Oh well much fun, if a bit slow to assemble. I do have 650 conversions for 5.56 and 7.62 but I wanted to start a bit slower for rifle. And it's not like I need 400 rounds per hour of .303 or .45-70, barring the sudden acquisition of a Bren Gun or Gatling and the lottery prize to go with them. I shouldered the Enfield 303 carbine on occasion, what a recoil! 50 rounds would be more than enough. |
Welcome to my addiction!
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Looks like everyone is having a great time.
That first trigger pull on ammunition you assembled is a real mix of anticipation, excitement, and probably a little fear. I still get a little of that when I load a new cartridge for the first time - they all have a little different personality from the component selection through loading and firing so there's something new to experience and learn each time. |
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Quoted: Quoted: I've loaded lots of 10mm and .40 on my 650, but this weekend I did my first rifle ammo on the Lee press I bought for low-volume work. 50 rounds of .303 British using 0.5 grain increments of TAC powder. New Winchester brass so that part was easy. Even went through all the primer and flash hole uniforming steps, let's just say it's quite a bit different than handgun ammo, where sometimes it doesn't even get tumbled clean before reloading. Holy crap does it use up the powder though!!! The loads started at 40 grains or 175 rounds per pound, while my .40 load is just over 4 grains of N320 or about 1700 rounds! Shot it up on Sunday with 100% sucess I think, velocities where the book said they would be, and SD of about half of 303 HXP and about 1/8 of S&B commercial ammo. I'll load some more and try them on the 100 yard range to see what is most accurate. I had a case head separation with the new S&B too, WTF Oh well much fun, if a bit slow to assemble. I do have 650 conversions for 5.56 and 7.62 but I wanted to start a bit slower for rifle. And it's not like I need 400 rounds per hour of .303 or .45-70, barring the sudden acquisition of a Bren Gun or Gatling and the lottery prize to go with them. I shouldered the Enfield 303 carbine on occasion, what a recoil! 50 rounds would be more than enough. Try running some heavy ball through a M44 or M38 Nagant carbine. |
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Quoted:
Looks like everyone is having a great time. That first trigger pull on ammunition you assembled is a real mix of anticipation, excitement, and probably a little fear. I still get a little of that when I load a new cartridge for the first time - they all have a little different personality from the component selection through loading and firing so there's something new to experience and learn each time. I always say a short prayer each time with new loads before pulling the trigger. It is short but direct. Please Lord. Please don`t let me blow my fool head off today. In Christs wonderful name I ask. Amen. Still having fun. Still reloading! 
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