TC reloading

[Forest Walker]

When you reload for your TC do you use any special tools/ Techniques? I have seen special tools advertised and wonder if the are realy nesessary.

[Graybeard]

No they are NOT necessary. I've never used anything but standard reloading tools from folks like Hornady, Lyman, RCBS and Redding and for the most part used neck sizing also a NO-NO from the source of those "special tools" and with most barrels have gotten sub MOA groups. The single smallest was I think 0.27" for three shots at 100 yards from a 14" factory 7-30 Waters barrel. With that barrel I shot sub MOA all the way to 300 yards to include a 1.5" three shot group at 250 yards. That same day shooting at 250 yards using only a Leupold 2X scope I got several sub MOA groups.

[skb2706]

Tools .............no

Technique.......absolutely

The basic design of break action guns lends itself to exact headspacing with bottle neck cases. This allows the loader to size the absolute minimum and still have usable ammo. I believe this improves accuracy. Bolt rifles are much more difficult to get exact headspace. Some of the tools you mention allow the loader to measure this in a TC and make precise corrections. I have no trouble loading without them.

[Davemuzz]

skb,

I didn't see anybody mention any tools.


Dave

[mjshell]

I had a factory 223 contender that was extremely accurate when neck sizing only. was at the range with a buddy one day and only about half of my reloads were locking up and firing. I believe it was the third loading for that particular brass.  had to pull bullets on close to 100 reloads and resize them. The amount that brass will grow is dependent upon various factors and may never be an issue to you.

are special tools including headspace guages necessary for reloading breakopen actions necessary? no. You can load to minimum head space by trial and error, i.e. adjusting your resizing dies until you come to a point between lockup / firing and not, and then leaving your dies set so that your just barely bumping the shoulder back.

i have all sorts of specialized tools for my reloading, neck turners, concentricity guages, headspace guages, etc. are they necessary? No. I'm just anal.

[Graybeard]

skb,

I didn't see anybody mention any tools.


Dave

Then what Dave do you think of the original question asked? He asked:

When you reload for your TC do you use any special tools/ Techniques? I have seen special tools advertised and wonder if the are realy nesessary.

[skb2706]

When you reload for your TC do you use any special tools/ Techniques? I have seen special tools advertised and wonder if the are realy nesessary.

His original question referenced "any special tools/techniques"................

[Davemuzz]

Some of the tools you mention allow the loader to measure this in a TC and make precise corrections. I have no trouble loading without them.

What tools did he, or anyone else, mention?

[Keith L]

When you reload for your TC do you use any special tools/ Techniques? I have seen special tools advertised and wonder if the are realy nesessary.

This is the original post, Dave.  It kinda looks to me like the original poster was asking in general about special tools and techniques only because he asks "When you reload for your TC do you use any special tools/ Techniques? "  I think that is why almost all the others who replied to this post referred to tools and techniques.

[Davemuzz]

Well, it would seem that it is a matter of interpretation of the question then.

I can reload my TC cartriges with a full size die, a ram prime, a lee powder scoop and a seating die.

But in addition to the above, I use an RCBS electronic powder scale, Hornady seating die with micro-adjuster, Lee Collet die, Redding body die, Hornady case cleaner, Hornady powder drop with micro-adjuster. Would these be considered special tools?

[skb2706]

Well, it would seem that it is a matter of interpretation of the question then.

I can reload my TC cartriges with a full size die, a ram prime, a lee powder scoop and a seating die.

But in addition to the above, I use an RCBS electronic powder scale, Hornady seating die with micro-adjuster, Lee Collet die, Redding body die, Hornady case cleaner, Hornady powder drop with micro-adjuster. Would these be considered special tools?

You are correct Dave.....he did not mention specific tools. I had a "lack of context" moment.

I am very familiar with the "special tools" available for loading TCs and jumped over the "which ones".

[Graybeard]

Geez guys he asked:

I have seen special tools advertised and wonder if the are realy nesessary.

Are there REALLy any of you who DON'T know what he meant by that? You do recall that guy who USED to be here and got himself banned and now is trying to push his "special tools" to be the do all end all of TC reloading.

Yes those special tools. Yes they were mentioned.  Ya know this ain't rocket science.

[Davemuzz]

No they are NOT necessary. I've never used anything but standard reloading tools from folks like Hornady, Lyman, RCBS and Redding and for the most part used neck sizing also a NO-NO

Bill, I am not talking about "that guy" and this is not rocket science. (Although closely related as both have balistic issues to deal with  )

But, I do disagree with your comment on neck sizing being a NO NO. I use the Lee Collet dies and neck size my .223 for my Contender and my .243 for my Encore. When the shoulder needs a "bump" to get back to the correct head space, I use the Redding Body die to bump it back into the correct fit.

I find no need to crimp the bullet and I find the groups to be more accurate. But then, that's just me.

I do think that some barrels may need more than a full size brass, seat the bullet and go. Redding (and Lee) make some excellet products to go along with their dies such as their competition shellholders that I beileve really help tighen up groups.

And these have nothing to do with that other fellow.

Dave.

[Graybeard]

Read my post again. I said I do neck size for the most part. The OTHER guy is the one who claims it's a NO-NO, not me. I do it.

[Davemuzz]

  Opps.... , I knew I should find those reading glasses before I do things like.....oh, I dunno.....read?

Well Bill, I'm on the same page with you there. Neck sizing shrinks the groups up nicely. And I do find that Redding makes some fine dies and gizmos to help reloading go a bit eaiser.

Dave.