| Posted: Tue Sep 13th, 2005 08:36 AM |
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1st Post |
Mickey Rat
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I started rereading for my 44 mag in 1976. I only loaded for 30-30 in rifle. I stopped reloading until 2003.
In 2003 I started reloading again. I mainly reload for rifles I collect, usually oddball stuff.
I recently bought a Savage 12VSF in 223. Until very recently, I never bothered to precision reload. I used a Lee power scoop and settled for average hunting loads of 1-2 inches.
After buying a selection of 18 powders (5 suitable for 223) a selection of 8 different bullets, and a Lyman Powder Scale/Dispenser I am a reloading fool. My first load of WW748 26 grains with a 50 grain Dogtown HP gives me 3/8 inch 5 shot groups. H322/24 grains with the Dogtown does the same. Is it worth the hassle to keep trying? I can't seem to get excited about pushing my loads to the maximum velocity, and I probably am too lazy to practice enough to shoot better than 3/8 inch 5 shot groups. I'm not a benchrester.
I'm going to set up my Lee Turret with a 4 die plate and use a resizing die, powder measure/thru belling die, seating die and factory crimp die. If it still gives me a decent group, I'm gonna treat it like loading 38 SPL and go at it. I've got a 1000 cases I've been picking up for years.
Last edited on Tue Sep 13th, 2005 08:39 AM by Mickey Rat
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Mickey Rat
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| Posted: Tue Sep 13th, 2005 03:34 PM |
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2nd Post |
bea175
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the groups you are getting, will kill all the yotes you put your scope on.
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| Posted: Tue Sep 13th, 2005 05:41 PM |
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Gunrunner
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Mickey, with groups like those it sounds like you're already doing precision reloading. I'd say try your turret press and see if you get the same results.
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| Posted: Tue Sep 20th, 2005 07:35 PM |
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Pete E
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Micky,
I wish I could get 3/8th groups; heck I am happy when I can turn out 3/4" groups consistantly...
As to your plans, I think if you start using that mixed brass then you may see your accuracy suffer. I suppose you could try to sift into batches,but with .223 brass as cheap as it is, I think I would ditch the old stuff and start with a couple of hundred or so new cases. Range scavanged brass is ok for fun shooting and plinking with a pistol, but really the best foundation in the quest for consistant accuracy in a rifle..
Regards,
Pete
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| Posted: Wed Sep 21st, 2005 06:45 AM |
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5th Post |
Mickey Rat
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Freerange Brass....that's for me.
Just because I'm cheap, doesn't mean I'm not careful. I have full length resized my cases, cleaned (and reamed where necessary) primer pockets and tumbled. I then sorted by headstamp. Most are WW (probably white box), and S&B. I use the smaller batches for trying new loads. Once I find a good load, I'll try it with the WW cases on the turrent press.
I will not even try for hot loads. This Savage is my first really accurate gun, and I don't want to mess it up with hot loads or shoot the barrel out. If I want a hotter load, I'll by a 22-250 and load it easy. If I had a 220 Swift, I'd load it light.
One thing I have found out from years or reloading is that fastest is seldom most accurate. Sometimes faster is OK if the degraded accuracy is acceptable. My quest for the ultimate, smoking hot spitzer 30-30 loads for my Savage 340 bolt gun was a disaster. It just couldn't be done. The most accurate load I could come up with was an old "plinking" load of WW760 with a cast lead gaschecked roundnose @ 1950 fps. It puts 3 in 3/8" easily, and repeatably. Who'd a thunk it?
The 30-30 taught me quite a few lessons. The main one is that a gun designed to fire 150 and 170 grain flat points just won't work well with spitzers. I believe it is a problem with the twist. The Savage 340 also has limited space in the magazine, so you can't seat the bullets out very far, and that limits the available powder space. Such is life.
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| Posted: Sat Sep 24th, 2005 10:09 AM |
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billt
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Mickey,
If your really going to get into loading for the .223, you might want to look at this powder.
http://www.natchezss.com/category.cfm?contentID=productList&category=6&brand=AA&mfgGroup=3&subgroup=1&CFID=856434&CFTOKEN=67550895
It flows through a measure beautifully, and burns nice and clean. It's good for the .308 as well. I always keep about 16 pounds around. It doesn't seem to dirty up the gas system on both of my wifes AR's as much as even the Mil-Spec stuff. They are out of stock at the moment, but they'll get more in quickly. A sales rep. at Natchez told me they sell a ton of this stuff. billt.
Last edited on Sat Sep 24th, 2005 10:11 AM by
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| Posted: Sun Sep 25th, 2005 03:59 AM |
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7th Post |
Mickey Rat
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They won't sell to anyone in Alabama. Some tax thing. I have submitted paperwork on my business for approval.
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