Author Topic: First reload (Read 611 times)

jack19512 · « **on:** October 01, 2005, 07:53:40 PM »

I reloaded my first ammo tonight. I reloaded 24 rounds of 223. I will be shooting them tomorrow. I don't know why but I feel like I should be wearing all that stuff like the bomb squad people wear when I shoot my reloaded ammo.

It took me a long time to reload these 24 rounds. I have the Lee Anniversary kit and the powder dispenser didn't want to dispense the powder evenly every charge. I used the IMR 4895 powder. I ended up having to weigh every charge and compensate if needed.

Sometimes the charge would be perfect, sometimes it would be a little less, sometimes it would be a little more. The only thing I am concerned about is the bullet fit in the case.

I neck sized using the collet neck sizer die, I assume you will not have that tight bullet fit unless you crimp, right? I want to load for accuracy so I hope I did everything right.

One more thing I noticed was most of my rounds were not the exact same length. I used a micrometer to measure them. I used the priming tool included in the kit and maybe I didn't get all the primers seated to the same exact depth, I don't know. It's very little difference, but it is different.

ricciardelli · « **Reply #1 on:** October 01, 2005, 08:28:37 PM »

If your primer seating depth is effecting your OAL, then you have not properly seated your primers. They should be .003" to .005" below the case head.

What you are probably doing is measuring to the tip of the bullet. That length is totally bogus. You want to measure to the ogive of the bullet.

victorcharlie · « **Reply #2 on:** October 02, 2005, 03:42:22 AM »

Jack, while it isn't really necessary to weigh every charge, I usually set the dispenser to throw a little light and then use a powder trickler to get it where it needs to be...........

Really, this is where a little better equipment makes a difference........not knocking the Lee at all as it's great equipment for a beginner or expert but a separate priming tool etc. is more consistent and requires less time..........your lee is capable of the same consistency, but you might have to spend a little more time with each round to ensure that it's right...........

I think you'll be very pleased at the range.......reloading is the kind of thing that gives me a lot of satisfaction.......hope you enjoy the fruits of your labor as much as I do..........

Haywire Haywood · « **Reply #3 on:** October 02, 2005, 03:50:15 AM »

Quote from: jack19512

I neck sized using the collet neck sizer die, I assume you will not have that tight bullet fit unless you crimp, right?

You shouldn't be able to move the bullet with your fingers regardless of whether you crimp or not. If you can, the neck sizer isn't sizing enough. You may have to polish the mandrel down a bit to get a tighter neck.

Ian

stimpylu32 · « **Reply #4 on:** October 02, 2005, 06:07:36 AM »

JACK19512

Did you run about a half pound of powder through the powder dispenser per instructions ?

This is to lube the inside of the powder measure .

I had the same problem with my first lee :eek:

Lee is not top of the line BUT has served me well for over 25 years

IMR 4895 is my powder of choice for 223s also , what weight bullet are you using

brasskeeper · « **Reply #5 on:** October 02, 2005, 10:43:02 AM »

I would think the reason the powder is not "evenly despensing" is do to using a "stick" type powder.

jack19512 · « **Reply #6 on:** October 02, 2005, 10:52:20 PM »

stimpylu32

I ran a full hopper through the dispenser before using it. I have some 40 GR. and some 50 GR. bullets to try. I am using the 50 GR. bullets first. I shot the reloads today and was very pleased with my first reloads.

Tycer · « **Reply #7 on:** October 04, 2005, 02:06:14 AM »

You're in for it now.......

You will soon see why loading your own in not less detrimental to the wallet.

Different powders, different bullets, new quipment, try this, try that....
Load more, shoot more, load more, shoot more....the mantra....

man, this stuff is fun.

Keep at it, you'll get it

soon enough, you'll be casting.........

jack19512 · « **Reply #8 on:** October 04, 2005, 03:20:30 AM »

Tycer

So far my reloads are doing real well. But I have just started and do expect them to get much better. I will post a pic of my groups. As another poster stated I suspect the powder I am using may be the reason I am not getting consistent charges. Anyone know of a powder that works real well for 223 that would feed better through the powder measure? I do want to cast my own bullets in the future.

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #9 on:** October 04, 2005, 03:32:30 AM »

Quote from: jack19512

Tycer

So far my reloads are doing real well. But I have just started and do expect them to get much better. I will post a pic of my groups. As another poster stated I suspect the powder I am using may be the reason I am not getting consistent charges. Anyone know of a powder that works real well for 223 that would feed better through the powder measure? I do want to cast my own bullets in the future.

Your addicted now.

Questor · « **Reply #10 on:** October 04, 2005, 06:44:21 AM »

jack19512:

If your charge weight is only varying by one or, at most, two tenths of a grain (plus or minus), then all is well. The powder you are using is stick powder and no measure will give you consistent charge weights. However, you will get consistent charge volume, which is what is most important with this type of powder. If this is the kind of variation you are seeing, then you need not adjust the weight of the charge. If the variation is greater than that, then replace your powder measure.

If your dies are for the right cartridge, you should not have to crimp. The bullet should be firmly seated.

Each cartridge should be approximately the same length. Any variation you experience should be within a few thousandths of an inch, and is attributable to slight variations in bullet length. For example, when using soft nose bullets, some of the noses are squished a little more than others. If you are seeing more variation than about 5 thousandths, then I suspect something is loose in your equipment.

Always seat your primers a bit below flush. That is, about two or three thousandths deeper that what it takes to make it flush with the case.

Realistically, you should expect to be able to load about 40 to 50 rounds per hour with your equipment. However, expect to spend all the time you need to get it right when you're starting out.

jack19512 · « **Reply #11 on:** October 04, 2005, 09:59:41 AM »

Here are the last two targets shot with my reloads. There are two targets that I cut and taped together so I could post them as one pic. This is 3 shot groups from 100 yards. This rifle has always thrown one round out of three like this since it was new, even with the factory ammo.

PA-Joe · « **Reply #12 on:** October 04, 2005, 10:10:53 AM »

Is the flyier the first round? If so you are cleaning your barrel too much.

jack19512 · « **Reply #13 on:** October 04, 2005, 04:46:32 PM »

Not sure if it is the first round or not. But I am going to find out tomorrow. I free floated the forearm back to the forearm screw by making a shim and now I can slide a dollar bill all the way to the forearm screw, before it was a tight fit between the barrel and forearm.

warf73 · « **Reply #14 on:** October 04, 2005, 10:04:35 PM »

Quote

. I used a micrometer to measure them

Using a Mic is why you are seeing the big difference in OAL.
Please note and remember a Mic has to be in the center of the brass i.e. any variation in primer seat depth will be noticed along with the nose of the bullet being different from one bullet to another.

So if your primers are seated within + - .002" and the bullet varying + - .002" you can have and extreme spread of + - .004".

To get ride of one of your variables get a Stoney Point Bullet Comparator Basic Set http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=231904

Now you just have the bullet variable to worry about, I've notice with some bullet company there is little difference from bullet to bullet verses others with larger variables.

As for powder I use H335 a ball powder which meters 99% exactly were you set it.
I use a Dillon 550B for my Pdog reloading and once I set the powder charge I measure every charge on my scale for the first 5 (just making sure everything is dialed in and make what little changes if any are needed) then measure the 5th, 10th, 20th then 50th charge then every 50th there after.
(unless I add powder) and like I stated above 99% of the time its exactly were I set it at.
If it’s not for some reason it will be -0.1gr. Every time if it’s not right on.

Hope this helps.

Warf

shoots4fun · « **Reply #15 on:** October 07, 2005, 09:48:26 AM »

I just reloaded a hundred rounds in 30-06 last night using my new Lee Anniversary reloading setup. I loaded the first 10 or so using the beam scale only and decided it was going to take to long so I setup the powder dispenser. I was using IMR 4831, which I had been told would not meter as well as ball powder in the Lee dispenser. Once I set the dispenser up, I could see a trickler would be kin of handy as I too found the measured weights to vary just a tick one way or the other, and this is after I would lightly tap on the dispenser for each load, trying to make sure it settled somewhat consistent. It probably took me about an hour for the first 25 rounds and then I felt I was getting the hang of it and finished the 100 rounds in another hour.

I'm pretty happy with the setup, but I can see ebaying it before long and upgrading :grin: