>reloading thread?
My first try at 308... Kind of hurts when the projectiles cost more than my 75gr precision 223 loads... I don't have any dedicated 308 powder so hopefully cfe223 will work until I pick up varget, re15, or imr4064...
My last regular loading for .308
168gr SMK
Turk surplus brass
Win Std Lrg Rifle
40.2gr IMR 30-31
COAL 2.800"
Last load I made today
9x18 Mak
93gr Cast round nose
Starline brass
CCI small pistol
3.2gr Titegroup
COAL .950"
Bought these fucking 93gr thinking the were some kind of Russian surplus FMJ. Pretty neato for cast.
>>29351637
My normal .308 load
>155gr Berger VLD 2.970
>44.5 varget
>Lapua cases, forester FLS
>CCI BR primer
Here's a new .223 I cooked up, left is normal 52gr SMK right is 77gr Nosler custom.
>>29351637
Bump.
Can only two people on /k/ afford to reload??
>>29352115
No, I'm just a blubbering retard at finding out what I need to get to reload.
>>29352125
What are you reloading for?
I load for a broad range of shit so I can probably help.
>.357mag
>.44mag
>.308
>.223
>7mm RM
>30/06
>>29352115
Well its nearly 1 am on a tuesday.
>>29352151
I got a .308 rifle from my grandfather recently and have just gotten an AR-15, so I was planning on reloading .308 and/or the 5.56.
Since ive started reloading, finding brass has become an obsession.
I think i might enjoy reloading more than shooting.
>>29351637
I've never spent so much money trying to save money.
You really can save a lot by reloading 300BLK and 10/16/20 gauge.
>>29352191
Do you already have a reloading manual, press, scale, calipers, powder trickler, trimmer/debur tool, case cleaner and powder meter?
The only things you need for the individual calibers you want to load will be a shell holder, a die set, and appropriate components (bullets,brass et al). The hardest part is getting setup, everything after that is actually fun.
>>29352206
Reloading is fun for me too, I recently purchased a hornady lock N load auto progressive press so that's been really fun to screw around with.
>>29352290
I do not mostly because I didn't trust myself to buy good equipment.
What would be some good brands for equipment that aren't fuckshit expensive?
>>29352348
If you don't trust yourself id highly recommend getting a RCBS or other similar starter kit, they come with nearly everything you need minus components and dies to get started. I personally like RCBS & hornady but all the major brands are pretty good to start with. The value priced kit would be the lee at around $145. Make sure you get a kit with a hand priming tool.
Also a good manual is going to be worth it's weight in gold, the Sierra manual is what I would consider to be the standard but you can find some free ones online.
I started with an RCBS and the only reason I upgraded was to be more productive, you can do almost anything on a single stage so consider it a lifetime purchase.
>>29352419
That sounds good. All I would need after I buy the reloading set is the die set and primers/powder/bullet/brass?
Reloading is the shit. Nothing like reloading your own rounds. Each cartridge loaded is like your baby, and tailored for YOUR gun. Nothing will give you more satisfaction. And if you know what you are doing, nothing will give you more accuracy. Real gun enthusiasts reload.
.308
178gr Amax
Hornady Match Brass
42.2 grains IMR 4064
CCI LR
2.810" COAL
2640 - 2670 fps depending on temp, from 24" barrel
Mid-to-hot load, accurate to 1000 yards
5.56
Hornady 68 BTHP Match
23.8gr H335
CCI SR
Mixed brass
COAL 2.245"
2830 - 2900 fps depending on temp, from 20" AR barrel
Mid-to-hot load, accurate and bucks wind well
9mm
Hornady 124gr XTP
6.2gr Longshot
CCI SP magnum
Mixed brass
1.100" COAL
1240 fps from 4.9" Beretta M9 barrel
Hot-as-fuck load, good for self defense
>>29351740
Here
I started off loading for .300 Win Mag so I was definitely saving money at first.
Anyone have a good load for sub sonic 5.56? I was thinking 77gr bullets. Similar for .40 and 9mm. Heavy slow moving bullets is my new kick.
>>29352469
Magnum primers necessary for the 9mm powder or just a preference?
>>29352535
It's a slow burning shotgun powder that people use for high velocity handgun rounds. Seeing that I am pushing the limit, I want all the powder to burn for maximum efficiency, hence the magnum primer.
But in my experience with rifle and handgun loading, I see little to no difference between magnum and regular primers. Bit of a myth that magnum primers give you higher pressures, if you ask me.
>>29351637
Varget master race
>>29352255
You wouldn't happen to have any 16 gauge currently would you anon
>>29352549
I figured that was the deal. As far as I know whatever the load calls for I use, if it says magnum I use magnum.
>>29352457
Don't forget the right sized shell holders and a caliper so you can measure everything.
Then you'll be set for .22 hornet too .505 Gibbs.
>>29352644
do kits come with case cleaners?
>>29352958
Not usually, no
As soon as I've found a nice powder for my .303 reloading and gotten close to working out my optimal charge weight I get the urge to try something even slower to see how low I can get my pressures with everything still burning and performing well.
>>29351637
CFE223 works great for it
Varget is probably more accurate, but CFE works great because it's low pressure AND high velocity
>>29352549
I was under the assumption that magnum primers were just harder cups.
>>29353257
That's good, if it ever stops blowing 30mph winds I can get out and test these... Fuggin wind...
>>29351637
OP
What proj are you shooting and what bbl length is the gun? Also is it bolt or semi?
>>29354505
if pic related is what youre shooting (175s) then try either h4350/varget/rl15.
If you're wanting to push them fast look at either cfe223/rl17/powerpro 2000mr. Only look at the rl17 if youre shooting a 24-26" bbl otherwise youll be wasting powder and won't get the velocity anyways. I think you'll have good results with the cfe223. after finding a node mess with the seating depth a bit to see if you can fine tune the accuracy even more.
Only loads I make for 308 are mild ones for my FR7 mauser.
110gr amax
ADI brass
CCI lrg rifle primers
44gr 2206h (Australian equivalent to IMR4895)
2.69"
125gr speer tnt
ADI Brass
CCI lrg rifle primers
43gr 2206h
2.690"
Just loaded up some 7.62x39 with .312 hornady interlock 150gr softpoints for load development in my AIA M10 A1 just now. How do you guys develop your handloads? I just did batches of 5 rounds working up 0.5gr increments to the max recommended load.
>>29352517
Hodgdon has a load on their website for 55gr fmj. Been meaning to try it but can't be asked
>>29352419
I find the Sierra manual to be rather limited. Bullet manufacturers only really include data for their bullets. Which can be find, and Sierra makes the best .311 bullets in the business for my money.
But I find powder maker's manuals to generally be more broad. I heartily recommend the Hodgdons and Accurate manuals. You can't really go wrong with the lyman manual either.
Here is a pdf of the old lyman handbook, in case anyone needs a manual or another manual.
http://www.j-how.net/test/Lyman%2048th%20Reloading%20Handbook%20[blackatk].pdf
>>29354524
It's a 26" varmint barrel savage 12fv in 308 and ideally I'd want to shoot 800+ yards where my 223 loads start to drop out. The weird thing is it seems to have a really short throat where my split neck mockup pushed the 175SMK in to 2.783 and will set back the perfecta stuff I bought for break in about a couple thousandths... Thanks for the recommendations.
>>29351637
CFE223 is great for .308 in lighter bullets and shorter barrels, and automatic actions. For long barrel, bolt action rifles shooting heavy bullets, it's a smidge fast to be ideal, but it works.
I was thinking of grabbing a lee load all to load up batches of 50 rounds of .38 special for each range trip. Anyone use these?
http://www.amazon.com/Lee-Precision-38-SPL-Loader/dp/B00162RS7O
I feel like it's a decent way to get my feet wet.
>>29351898
>buys Lapua brass
>can't spell the manufacturer of his dies properly
>not using FGMM primers
You're going to blow your face off some day
>>29352151
Also willing to help.
I reload for:
>17-223
>223/5.56
>7mm TCU
>6.5 Grendel
>7mm-08
>.300blk
>.308
>.300wm
>9x19
>.45acp
>.45 Super
>.405 Winchester
>.38-55
>.38-56
>.44-40/.44WCF
>>29352348
Literally anything that isn't Lee or Frankford Arsenal.
Lee makes like 3 products total (out of over 3000) that are "good enough" but they don't make any actual good products.
>>29352517
You are aware there are NO subsonic 5.56 loads that will cycle a semi, right?
That being said, 2-3gr of Red Dot (a shotgun powder) will throw pretty much any weight bullet to around 1000fps while being incredibly quiet through non-NFA-length barrels.
>>29354385
>I was under the assumption that magnum primers were just harder cups.
Depends on the manufacturer, but generally magnum pistol primers have slightly higher brisance.
>>29356029
Not really.
They typically have slightly more primer mix but not really enough to effect much.
The big change is flame and duration. They throw a much bigger and longer lasting flame to evenly ignite large charges.
Trying to get into reloading my own ammo soon. Anybody know what the grain limit is for subsonic versus supersonic loads in .223, .308, and 9mm?
>>29356061
>no the don't
>let me literally define "higher brisance" then say they have it
'kay
>>29356070
There isn't one.
If I wanted to shoot 70gr bullets from my .308 the "grain limit" would be wildly different than if I wanted to shoot 240gr bullets, and barrel length plays a huge role.
>>29356083
Flame temperature and duration has absolutley nothing to do with brisance.
>Brisance /brJˈzɑːns/ is the shattering capability of a high explosive
>>29356114
>there are not multiple definiitions of words depending on what they are applied to
Nice to see you've literally never read a single reloading manual ever
So I had some spare IMR 4064 around and decided to finally try a .223 load, the only load I found was on IMR's website at 23.5grains(?) however it is a compressed load. Anyone ever try this load with a 55gr.?
>>29356151
Using a term wrong does not make the usage right. This is a very common problem in the gun industry.
A bigger, longer lasting flame is usually negatively correlated to brisance.
>>29355965
Lee Loader is alright to have for TEOTWAWKI, but unless you have more time than sense, get one of these
>http://leeprecision.com/breech-lock-hand-press.html
and these
>http://leeprecision.com/3-die-set-38sp-carbide.html
Like $60 invested, and it's stuff you can use for working up loads at the range for various calibers, and the dies work on any press if you so chose to get more involved later.
On a side note to anyone else, the Frankford Arsenal stainless media tumbler is fuckin awesome.
>>29356251
Hodgdon website has three loads with max from 23-25.7 all compressed... It seems like you would be crapping unburnt powder all over...
>>29356283
What do you use as cleaning agent? I started using car wash soap and lemishine but I have to remember to get them out after a couple hours or it starts leaching and turning the brass pink...
>>29356282
>literally every loading manual uses it that way
>literally every primer and powder manufacturer uses it that way
>primers are officially marketed by and have officially published charts listing their brisance
No anon, I think you're just sperging because you were proven wrong.
>>29356308
Those were done in 2 hours with a bit of palmolive dish soap and a TINY bit of lemishine, like somewhere between a pinch and 1/4 tsp. I think a lot of guys just use too much of it, it's a pretty concentrated acid.
The .308s were mostly fairly crusty range pickups, for point of reference.
OK, maybe a dumb question...
Is it possible to make super cheap plinking ammo by loading your own?
I'd love to cook up some super special match loads, but my primary interest in getting into reloading is just getting the lowest possible cost per round
>>29356384
I think my issue is that I start them at night, forget to get them out before bed, then I don't have enough time to rinse and dry them before work so they are running for almost 18ish hours...
>>29356403
Yes
>>29356403
Yeah as long as you spend a shit ton of money up front buying components in bulk or casting your own projectiles.
>>29356403
Depends on the cartridge. 9mm is pretty hard to beat if you buy factory ammo in bulk, unless you cast your own bullets and have a cheap source of lead, in which case you can do really good.
You can save a bunch on .357 and .45 cal even with jacketed bullets and savings are easiest to see on rifle ammo.
>>29356432
Yeah, I could see that happening. I only run it when I know I'll be around to take 'em out and rinse.
>>29353146
Why is low pressure desirable?
I don't know shit
>>29356480
>9mm is pretty hard to beat if you buy factory ammo in bulk
Cheapest commercially available 9mm is over 15 cents a round after shipping (Tula)
My handloads are under 10 cents a round and I don't even shoot cast. Shooting cast I could get them down to about 8 cents a round.
>literally 2/3's the cost of the cheapest of the cheapshit factory
That's pretty massive savings
>>29356503
Longer brass life, bigger accuracy nodes, and less wear n' tear on the gun.
>>29356523
What projectiles do you use? Best I've seen is like 8 cents, 2 cents powder, 2 cents primer...
>>29356437
>>29356457
>>29356480
Thanks, guys. I think I heard that before, that casting projectiles was the real key to making super cheap ammo.
So next question, how hard is it to get into casting projectiles?
>>29356523
Is there a ballistic downside to making lower pressure loads? Is there a loss of velocity?
>>29356541
Berry's plated 115gr RNHB, which are currently about 7 cents each. I bought a couple tens of thousands a couple years ago for around 6 cents each shipped.
>2 cents powder
Jesus fucking christ. How much are you paying for powder?
>Hodgdon Titegroup is ~$130 for 8lbs shipped
>that's 56,000 grains
>that's $0.0023 per grain
>max load for a 115gr bullet with Titegroup is 4.8gr
>that's $0.011, or a cunthair over 1 cent per round
Also 4.8gr of Titegroup is a STOUT fucking load. I normally load 4.3gr.
>>29356559
>how hard is it to get into casting projectiles
Easy, but expensive.
>is there a ballistic downside to making lower pressure loads?
Depends on the powder, but usually a loss of velocity. Keep in mind that many powder/bullet combos will be their most accurate between 7 and 12% under max load though, so unless you *absolutely* have to have those extra 30fps it's usually better to run at lower pressures/velocities anyway.
>>29356639
Oh I should also mention that Titegroup is neither the cheapest of appropriate 9mm powders, nor the lowest charge weight. That'd be Hodgdon Clays, at $119+shipping/hazmat for 8lbs (so call it ~$125 per 8lb shipped) and a max charge weight of 3.4gr. Which would drop the cost per charge down to 7/10ths of a cent.
>>29356639
I use sr7625 which was pretty expensive when they were discontinuing production and power pistol which takes a pretty big charge. I like tightgroup for lighter .40 loads.
>>29356559
Even if you buy commercially cast bullets they're available for as low as 5.5 cents per. Which with around a cent in powder and 2 cents in primers takes it to 8.5 cents per loaded round, or $4.25 per box of 50. Literally less than half the cost of the cheapest commercially available ammo.
>>29356698
>sr7625
welp that explains it.
>Power Pistol
ew
Literally the only powder I've ever tried that was dirtier than Power Pistol was Blue Dot in some heavy .44mag loads.
>throwing a 10ft fireball out the end of a 7 7/8" Super Blackhawk
Obrez ain't got shit on that load
Fellow no guns here (But full of blades and pellet rifles). I had an idea of reproducing the 7mm FAL round used during the NATO ammunitiom trials. Are there any 7mm reloading dies (For example: Dies for 7mm Rem, .280 Ackley Improved, etc) to neck up the .223/5.56 cartridge and making a test run for compatibility, magazine capacity, performance, etc on an AR?
>>29356809
Yes.
7mm TCU (Thompson/Center Ugalde) is literally 5.56 necked up to 7mm. Most die manufacturers make dies for it. I have a set of RCBS dies.
Pic related.
>after fireforming
>loaded round that needs to be fireformed (100gr Sierra Varminter)
>headstamp showing Federal 5.56 brass parent case
Being for a single shot pistol the bullets are loaded way the hell out.
>>29356283
Thanks m8. Those two links are all I'll need? What other stuff could make it easier and more enjoyable?
I've been using:
45gr win 748
147gr fmj
2.75 COL
CCI large rifle primer
It is a good bulk load for plinking with my PTR, AR-10 and FAL.
>>29356899
You can get away with some lee powder dippers and going off of the chart particularly for .38 special, but you'll probably want a want a powder measure soon enough. Lee also makes a decent one that measures accurately (mine leaks a bit of powder when using small grain powder, but nothing significant), and costs very little (like $35 or so) and a scale so you actually know how much powder you're dishing out. Decent electronic scales go for around $40 (the Hornady 1500 one seems to be alright). Again, this is all stuff you'll want or need if you decide to get into it full swing, so your monopoly money isn't wasted.
best stick powder measure for around 150? Must be able to measure accurately to .1
>>29357496
Hornaday jobs go for 80-90 don't they? That'll work reasonably well.
>>29357496
I've done alright with the one that came with my LnL AP.
That being said, for stick powders absolutely nothing compares to a Culver-style measure. They're accurate to 0.05gr with any of the stick powders. Unfortunately they're spendy as hell ($230-350) and can't be used on a progressive with powder-through dies.
what would be the maximum necking up size to go?
Would I be stretching the case too much necking up a 22-250 to 25 caliber? Brass is almost impossible to find and there is some good quality 22-250 out there
>>29357693
If you anneal and go step by step you could turn a .22-250 into a .45-250.
Good starter turret presses? Going to start reloading and resetting things to depth every time I change tools seems like an annoying afternoon.
Looking to produce a bunch of plinking grade 308
>>29357762
Lyman T-Mag.
Best turret press made, also happens to be affordable.
>>29357766
Now for the hard part:
Do they make a collapsible stand for it? Apartment dweller here so no space for a large reloading bench. I know hornady makes one for their presses
>>29357776
I don't know. Most presses have a somewhat universal bolt pattern.
Worst comes to worst get a square of 5/8" or 3/4" plywood, bolt it to that, then bolt that to the Hornady stand. Or just bolt/C-clamp it to a countertop or something.
>>29356639
>$130 for 8lbs shipped
>that's about $16.25/pound
Fuck. I need to buy powder where you buy powder. Last time I bought some it was $27/pound.
>>29358435
Powder valley. Availability is sporadic, but they have best-in-business prices. Shipping can be a bit steep.
I typically buy between 32 and 48lbs of powder at a go, which really helps with the per-grain cost as well as minimizing hazmat.
>>29356015
Hmm. Well that sounds interesting, I'll have to check out that red dot. Won't cycle even with adjustable gas blocks? I could go hotter I guess...
who dillon here?
I got a very accurate 7.62 rifle and an almost endless supply of 7.62 brass, what do i need to start reloading?
>>29358498
I'm Dillon, can I help you?
No but really I had a used one in my sights but my friend bought it first because I didn't have the cash on hand.
>>29358543
Looking for a better 800+m round than my current ones.
>>29358573
Find a powder that provides good velocity and buy some 175-210gr bullets with a high BC.
I have good luck with 175gr TMK's, they've got about the same BC as the 210gr SMK while dropping less due to significantly higher velocity.
>>29358573
Get yourself a few redding competition dies with the bushings, great ammo starts with repeatibility
>>29358655
Bushings are really only useful if he's got an abnormally tight chamber and is willing to neck turn.
Otherwise all they do is ruin brass.
>>29358489
Not without going to a specialty gun with pistol gas, light springs, and a wide-open gas port. And then you wouldn't be able to safely shoot normal 5.56 through it.
I have seen some loads with IMR 4227 that, in theory, will cycle a pistol-gassed AR with normal springs and buffer with 77gr bullets, but again the port would be wide open and you'd be overgassed to the point of damaging the gun if you tried shooting supers out of it without choking off the gas.
The Red Dot load has a couple of advantages over other subsonic loads.
>fastest shotgun powder commonly available
Makes it super quiet because it obtains full burn in like 2" of barrel
>bulky powder
Don't have to worry about detonation due to insufficient case fill
>doesn't even try to cycle the bolt
No stovepipes/double feeds from short stroking, plus extra quiet due to no action noise
So I want to reload rifle calibers (.243 win, maybe 7.62x54r when the surplus will dry out), Not shooting a lot of these as it's expensive as fuck, maybe 500 max a year.
As a yuropoor I have access to Lee, Lyman, Hornady, RCBS
What should I go for ?
Also if I plan to reload 9mm (I can buy only 1000 rounds per year here) Should I need a totally different press ? I heard of Dillon but maybe it's overkill
Also I understand I can mix up brands for press and tools, so what brand for tools ? Lee ? Hornady ? RCBS ?
Thank you for the help, pic related, what I want my reloading bench to look like.
>>29355965
Lee Loaders are great if you don't have any more money to spend. I personally use one to reload .223 Rem.
However it is a tedious and very loud process, so don't get it if you live in an apartment.
>>29358883
Hornady is the price:performance king. RCBS is good but incredibly overpriced, and aren't really any better than the Hornady Custom Grade stuff. Lee is *shit*, and should be avoided for everything other than normal pistol dies (even avoid it for your revolver magnums), and depending on price you can usually get the Hornady American Gunner dies for the same or close to the same as Lee.
You do not need a different press for 9mm (or any other pistol caliber or most rifle calibers, you might need a second press for your very long ultramags and .50BMG and its derivatives) as long as you don't buy the Dillon Square Deal B.
For your situation a single stage press would be a good idea if you're holding off on reloading 9mm. Otherwise, as mentioned earlier ITT, the Lyman T-Mag is a very good turret press that's capable of a couple hundred rounds an hour. It's also less than half the cost of either of the two progressives worth buying (Dillon 550 and Hornady LnL AP).
So.
>what brands for tools?
Hornady dies, Lyman press, whichever digital scale you trust (I use a $50 MTM), Hornady LnL powder dropper, whichever calipers you trust (digital is easier and getting to where they're cheaper than manual).
>>29359524
Caveat on Lee stuff.
They have an "unbreakable" universal decapper with a no-questions-asked lifetime warranty. It's cheap, and if you use range scavenged brass you WILL break it. Buy 2, so when you break the decapping spindle on one you're not SOL until they send a new one (which they do, but it takes a few weeks). Everyone else uses replaceable decapping pins, which is more convenient but they break more often and will eventually become more expensive.
If you load cast bullets for anything, Lee makes a universal expander. These are..well, pretty damn hard to fuck up, as it's just a steel cone on the end of a die body. No reason to spend more for the Lyman one.
And finally, if you cast your own bullets the C-frame Lee press is acceptable for sizing operations.
>>29359524
>>29359582
Many thanks to you anons, bumping with professional manufacturing of bullits
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njvFIloLH7A
>>29359582
lee decapping die uses replaceable pins too.. they are like $3 on amazon so I ordered a bunch but have never broken one... Their standard dies do need to be polished with some 1200 grit sandpaper to make they butter though...
>>29359660
is this old soviet machinery? who is using these bullets?
>>29361229
I'm going ot guess sand niggers are using those bullets... partially explains why sand niggers couldn't hit the broadside of a barn.. from the inside..
