First Reloads...

[1_pointer]

I shot my first reloads today. I was kinda disappointed in that they were hitting about 7 inches below the factory ammo that I had. These were now where near max loads, so is the lower point of impact due to them being that much slower?? They were accurate though, I could keep three in about 1.25". I will now start loading them a little hotter, but if accuracy suffers I will just go with the lower powder charge.

Question: How do you determine how deep to seat the bullet?? Since I was using the same bullets that I had been shooting in the factory loads I used an unfired case to set the bullet seating die, but is this how it is done? I guess I need to get some calipers. The reloads were the same length as the factory rounds when measured with a tape. Thanks for any and all advice. I hope to have further results in the next week or so.

 

[JudeinPa]

1_pointer, First of all I would reccomend buying a caliper to measure your reloads. You can use a factory round to set your dies but I prefer to jump my bullets to about .010 from the rifling.

First put a factory loaded shell into your shell holder, then with the die just started in the press, put the handle all the way down until it bottoms out. Back-off the bullet seater screw. Then screw the die all the way down until it touches or stops from coming in contact with the loaded shell. This setting would give you a crimp if you let it there.

Back the die off about 1 turn, and lock it with the set screw. Now turn the bullet seater down until it stops on the loaded shell. This will get you in the ball park as far as loading them to the factory dimensions without the factory crimp. You really don't need to crimp the reloads but you can if you feel you would like to. It is totally up to you.

I hope this helps,

Jude

<FONT COLOR="#800080" SIZE="1">[ December 01, 2001 20:00: Message edited by: JudeinPa ]</font>

 

[danr55]

There you have it. What Jude said.