Author Topic: my reloading / hunting plan (Read 1018 times)

2eagles · « **on:** June 29, 2003, 01:17:00 PM »

I just bought a .270 and want to be able to go to the range to shoot, but you have to know I am a CHEAPSKATE. And I am too busy to shoot a lot and when I go I like to shoot my muzzleloaders too. And my passion is shooting my bows. That said, here's what I'm thinking.... Why not use my dad's old Lee Loader and a new set of powder dippers to make my target loads? It would not cost much money :grin: . Then, when I get the chance to go out West to hunt deer or elk buy the best darn cartridges with Partition bullets I can find. Fine tune the scope and hunt. I do believe practice is the key to being a good shot and even shooting my bow makes me a better rifle shot. The skills are very much alike when using a trigger release on a bow - sight, hold breath and squeeeeeze the trigger (a little prayer helps too :wink: ) Thanks, Jim

jhm · « **Reply #1 on:** June 29, 2003, 02:51:22 PM »

2eagles : That thory sounds like it will work but who is to say your rifle will like the new store bought ammo you buy for the BIG hunt, you should first find out what is the most accurate ammo in your gun FIRST, you wouldnt shoot your bow then the night b-4 the BIG hunt go to wal-mart and buy some hunting arrows would you? If you have access to reloading equip buy some quality bullets and load them up they wont cost that much more than the cheap ones, it will make you feel better to know you are doing your best.

JIM

Duffy · « **Reply #2 on:** June 29, 2003, 03:20:45 PM »

I found a less expensive bullet that was similar to what I wanted to hunt with and used it to work up my loads and to also practice with. Then I just backed down the load a bit and tried one partition to check the pressure and worked it up to what I had originally had. (disclaimer: your pressure may vary!) The partitions shot better when all was said and done.

2eagles · « **Reply #3 on:** June 29, 2003, 03:51:36 PM »

jhm, Thanks for the input and I agree completely. That's pretty much what I meant about the "best darn cartridge" and "fine tune" the scope. You are right about the arrow thing too. But, to show you kind of what I mean, in the last week I've broken three of my Beman arrows by hitting them with another arrow. That gets to be pretty pricey at $40 per 1/2 dozen. Please don't misunderstand, I don't mind spending the money to enjoy my sport, but I want to get my monies worth from my investment.
Duffy, you are right about the bullets too. I am so new to reloading, I don't know how to measure the pressures. That's why I thought the dippers would work for me. It is the cost of reloading equipment I want to avoid. Thanks guys! Jim

The Shrink · « **Reply #4 on:** June 30, 2003, 01:22:23 AM »

Jim

Let me add one more purchase. The weakness of the Lee Loader system are the powder measures. You are unlikely to get more than 2 grains accuracy with these, and there is no adjustments possible. The way to find your accurate load is to work up loads with, say, a .5 grain powder difference and shoot them until you find the one your rifle likes. You can't do this with the dippers.

If you add a powder scale to your purchases, you have complete flexibility in measuring powder. It'll only run you around the price of a half dozen arrows, and more than pay back the investment. With this in your set-up the only thing you are loosing compared to a complete press set-up is time. The Lee Loader system is slower, but makes ammo just as accurate as any press.

KYODE · « **Reply #5 on:** June 30, 2003, 02:10:14 AM »

you may want to look at lee's reloading kit kit. it's pretty cheap at around $60-$80 for the setup. i use the dippers to fill the scale, then use a trickler to balance the scales. the dippers alone vary quite a bit.

jhm · « **Reply #6 on:** June 30, 2003, 03:07:13 AM »

2Eagles : I too am kinda tight (cheap) the wife says and I had the same problem with the arrows, solved it by using 6 dots lined up in a row about 2 in. apart on the same level still have the same sized target however the arrows dont touch unless I miss the dot by 2 in. try that and you might have less knock to replace also.

JIM

longwinters · « **Reply #7 on:** June 30, 2003, 03:37:24 PM »

Yeh, those carbon arrows dont robinhood very good either :lol: at least with the alum. arrows you can pull the second arrow out of the 1st and it usually is ok.

I bought cheaper Speer bullets and shoot them for practice and to get used to my new rifle. Then towards end of summer I will go strictly to the Nosler P's. and make any powder adjustments that I need to.

myronman3 · « **Reply #8 on:** June 30, 2003, 06:18:38 PM »

scrape those powder scoops! they are a sure fire way to get into trouble. like your fingers? measure and weigh each charge. if you want to cut corners; reloading aint something you should try.

2eagles · « **Reply #9 on:** July 01, 2003, 03:49:14 PM »

Thanks, guys! OK, I'll forget the dippers and buy a scale.

jhm, I have bag targets and I usually shoot different dots on those, but I also have a small herd of 3D deer living in my garage. It's when I shoot at them I break my arrows. :wink: Jim

tominboise · « **Reply #10 on:** July 02, 2003, 04:12:30 AM »

I disagree on not using powder dippers - some of the most accurate loads I have in my rifles were developed using dippers - including my most accurate 270 Win load. Don't knock them until you try them. They are probably safer to use then a powder thrower, as there is no adjustment required.

rifleman · « **Reply #11 on:** July 05, 2003, 02:17:21 PM »

I also use dippers alot. I start with them to get close, then round out the charge on the scale with a trickler. Unless you are loading quite a few of the same load with a powder that meters well it gets to be a hassle to get the powder measure set up and accurate for only a few cartridges.

JMHO

Dave

Possum · « **Reply #12 on:** July 08, 2003, 10:53:38 AM »

That's why I'm going to the powder thrower/trickler/scale. I am tired of weighing out the charges for each round and then trickling in the extra.

Thomas Krupinski · « **Reply #13 on:** July 08, 2003, 11:37:30 AM »

The dippers are just a slower low tech version of the mechanical powder measure. It will do exactly the same thing, throw a charge by volume.

Maintaining a consistant technique in dipping and cutting off the top are the keys to dipping or throwing consistant charges with both the adjustable measure and the dippers.

An accurate scale is important to verify the volume of the charge the dipper throws with a particular lot of a specific powder. However once verified, you don't need to do it again unless you just like to. The dippers can be modified to throw exactly the charge you want by either filling in some of the bottom with a glue or whatever, just like an adjustable powder measure can be changed by movement of the adjusting rod.

Cheap works and is good, just slower!

myronman3 · « **Reply #14 on:** July 08, 2003, 05:55:42 PM »

well some of you have some good ideas on the powder dippers. i guess my concern was that someone would read this and figure they could use the dipper without ever weighing the charge (guess-ta-mating the charge). as for myself; when loading rifle and high pressure pistol rounds, i measure each charge. when doing lighter loads, i measure until i get it right; and then measure every few times thereafter.
i just dont want anyone to get themselves hurt, stay safe guys!

The Shrink · « **Reply #15 on:** July 13, 2003, 08:57:59 AM »

Esteemed Board

My objection to dippers was the lack of ability to easily change powder charges for someone who is just starting to reload.

I agree, dipping the charge is the same thing as throwing the charge with a measure, but when I'm close to max charges I don't trust the measure, either. I weigh every charge when shooting close to max pressure, even with ball powders. Yeah, that's a little extreme, I agree, and I seldome do more than weigh and dump. It's just nice to be sure.

Arrroman · « **Reply #16 on:** July 16, 2003, 01:58:33 PM »

The dippers are only accurate for certain charges of certain powders, and then they may still be seriously off the chart provided by Lee. You actually are not supposed to dip into a vessel of powder to fill the dipper with powder, you are supposed to pour the powder over the dipper and then scape the top of the "dipper" level with a playing card or business card so that the "dipper" is level. I find it easy to just use a scale. I salt the powder direct from the can into the pan of the scale and dip the excess powder out of the scale with either a dipper or an empty shell case. Any excess powder that I don't need to balance the scale gets dropped directly back into the powder can it came from. Every charged case immediately gets a bullet seatted right then and there and becomes a loaded round. Do it right, take your time, use a scale and you will never be sorry.