Reloading: a love hate story

[jryoung]

I love and hate reloading. Lastnight in the garage was peaceful, I had a sip of whiskey, good tunes and the hum of my RCBS Chargemaster spitting out powder. I worked up a series of loads for my 7x57 (from min to max) and my 300 SAUM with a slight tweak to the SAUM as at the midway point with H4350 they were really getting compressed (as per Nosler) so I grabbed another powder (RL17) and created a second.

I get to the range this morning and start with my first 7x57 loads. Overall good, they were just 100fps less than what the Nosler manual said...no biggie.

Then I switch to the 300 SAUM and the first load I tried (my audible with a second powder) had pressure at a below min load level...these were just loaded up to sight in/fowl and were 2 grains below min (RL17). Ugh, oh well I had two loads so I switched to the first (H4350). The minimum load shot well, but 150fps slow, but accuracy was fantastic. The next two loads were okay, and at the mid load, most accurate per Nosler had pressure signs...so scrap that.

So the 300 SAUM was out for the rest of the morning so I switched back tot he 7x57 and went all the way through 8 loads (.5 gr increments) to 1gr above recommended max and never hit pressure. So I had one load very undercharged per max, and one very over charged per mins.

The good news is that I found a very accurate 300 SAUM load even if slower than expected and the 7x57 load was good to start and showed improvement with more powder, I'd just like another 100 fps if I can get it.

I guess it's only slightly back to the drawing board, but still another round in the man cave, with whiskey, music and the hum of a motor.

 

[N2TRKYS]

I get great accuracy and velocity in my 7 SAUM with Magpro. I've heard that it's temp sensitive, but I don't shoot during the summer. I've also got promising accuracy with IMR7828SSC in my SAUM. I need to do more testing with the IMR7828SSC.

 

[mtmuley]

Forget the velocity and shoot accuracy. mtmuley

 

[N2TRKYS]

Forget the velocity and shoot accuracy. mtmuley

I agree, but it's hard for me to be happy with a speed that negates having that caliber.

 

[jryoung]

Forget the velocity and shoot accuracy. mtmuley

Agreed, if I was loading Accubonds or partitions it'd be a non-issue, but with copper I need/want to make sure I stay comfortably above minimum expansion velocities within shooting range. The OAL of monos adds a degree of complexity too.

 

[noharleyyet]

I agree, but it's hard for me to be happy with a speed that negates having that caliber.

Same here...I want it all.

 

[JohnCushman]

Same here...I want it all.

That's what she said....

 

[.280 Remington]

What is your SAUM?

I have a Model 7. It pegs out a few grains below Nosler's data. But a 168 @ 3000 is plenty for me.

I've thought a few times that their data is a little warm for the SAUM.

 

[.280 Remington]

And with IMR4831, there's plenty of crunch when you seat the bullet!!!

 

[N2TRKYS]

What is your SAUM?

I have a Model 7. It pegs out a few grains below Nosler's data. But a 168 @ 3000 is plenty for me.

I've thought a few times that their data is a little warm for the SAUM.

Mine is a Model Seven. I'm getting 2900 fps with 160 grain Partitions and Accubonds.

 

[Ben Lamb]

Try some 4320 in your 7mm mauser and let me know how it performs.

 

[mtmuley]

Agreed, if I was loading Accubonds or partitions it'd be a non-issue, but with copper I need/want to make sure I stay comfortably above minimum expansion velocities within shooting range. The OAL of monos adds a degree of complexity too.

Dang monos. mtmuley

 

[sbhooper]

Reloading can be frustrating, but once you find a load, you are golden-unlike lot differences in factory ammo.

That is one of the problems with monos. They do need plenty of velocity to perform at longer ranges. Until I have no choice, I will stay with lead.

 

[Gunner46]

It's a long, long frustrating story about me, reloading and my Rem 600 308. Finally just gave up (years later) and started blasting whitetails with Win white box 180's. I had some better groups with my hand loads, but velocity was just sub-par from that carbine.

Different story with my S&W 1500, 7RM. 1st powder I tried, 2nd string, got me 1/2" groups, with 150BT's @ 3100fps. Good Ta Go !

7mm/08 took me 3 trips to the the range, 3 powders, 3 charges each, but got in at 3/4" and fast enough.

Now, I'm invested in my 338 Fed. SPS has at least one of my full paychecks, so far. Brass, Dies, Paying way to much just to get hard to get powder......and I haven't fired a single shot yet! We'll see...

RELOADING: Love it, Hate it, but there is nothing as satisfying as a Bang-Flop, from something you created from your own research, knowledge and sweat.

 

[jryoung]

What is your SAUM?

A 300. I've got lots of Varget and Nosler has a load so maybe I'll give that a whirl.

Try some 4320 in your 7mm mauser

I'll look, but I don't think I've ever seen that around here. I've got room with the 414 I was using so I might try a couple more grains figuring they are loading conservatively for the relic 7x57s floating around.

 

[Ben Lamb]

If you can't find 4320, try some RL15. I've had good results with velocity on 154's & under using IMR 4350, but the rifle was inherently inaccurate.

What bullet weight are you using?

 

[.280 Remington]

A 300. I've got lots of Varget and Nosler has a load so maybe I'll give that a whirl.



I'll look, but I don't think I've ever seen that around here. I've got room with the 414 I was using so I might try a couple more grains figuring they are loading conservatively for the relic 7x57s floating around.

Yeah I read that it was a 300 in your first post. I meant what model is it? I Remington chambered them in 7's & 700's, and Ruger in 77's...that I know of.

 

[nuevo_eph]

I reloaded my first bullets over the weekend and lucked out. I'm loading 120 TTSX in my 7mm08 and the 2 loads I tried were 43 and 43.5g Varget. The 43.5 got me an .8" 3-shot group but I screwed up the chronograph measurement that I need for the CDS dial. I'm back to the range soon with another batch of 43.5 and a batch of 44g in case the accuracy is as good or close and I get a little more speed to keep the copper bullet going fast. My only concern is that Barnes' online sheet say 43.8 or 43.9 is max load for Varget so I will watch for pressure signs.

I screwed up the chrony by having it only about 5 to 6 feet in front of the the muzzle. As I went up to the 43.5 g load my measured velocity actually went down! I gather that may be because I'm measuring muzzle blast. We'll see in round 2, but at 10' from the muzzle.

 

[406Family]

I reloaded my first bullets over the weekend and lucked out. I'm loading 120 TTSX in my 7mm08 and the 2 loads I tried were 43 and 43.5g Varget. The 43.5 got me an .8" 3-shot group but I screwed up the chronograph measurement that I need for the CDS dial. I'm back to the range soon with another batch of 43.5 and a batch of 44g in case the accuracy is as good or close and I get a little more speed to keep the copper bullet going fast. My only concern is that Barnes' online sheet say 43.8 or 43.9 is max load for Varget so I will watch for pressure signs.

I screwed up the chrony by having it only about 5 to 6 feet in front of the the muzzle. As I went up to the 43.5 g load my measured velocity actually went down! I gather that may be because I'm measuring muzzle blast. We'll see in round 2, but at 10' from the muzzle.

I'm new to reloading so I'm trying to learn as much as possible. How far should the chronograph be from the end of the barrel? Is it 10 feet?

 

[Southwind]

Forget the velocity and shoot accuracy. mtmuley

^^^THIS^^^ rarely have I found the highest velocity load to be my most accurate. I always go with the accuracy.