What did you reload today?

In other news, it took me a full six hours at the load bench to assemble 100 rounds of Safari ammunition for my Winston Elrod built 458 WM, the rifle was built on a 1950 year model Winchester 70 375 H&H length action with Blackburn drop bottom metal.

This process started months ago, I took the last of the red and white boxed W-W Super 458 WM brass I had out of those boxes months ago, left them out in the open in my shop, while the cases are still clean, they are sorta dingy, walking around Elephants with bright shiny objects reflecting in the sun doesn't seem like a good idea to me, have also dulled down ALL brass belt buckles with sandpaper.

Took all 100 sticks of that old W-W brass and full length sized it, trimmed all to a uniform 2.500 inches, popped in some brand new CCI-250 magnum primers, loaded all cases with a weighed and trickled in 82grs AA-2460 powder, that charge gives both the 458 cal 400gr CEB #13 solid and 404gr Hammer bullet an average of 2566 fps.

COL's run 3.370 inch for the solid and 3.575" for the 404gr Hammers, all loads got a good hard pinch from the Lee factory crimp die at conclusion, they are beautifully accurate hard hitting loads, the solid hits dead on at 25 yards through the quarter rib Express sight, which incidentally is still dead on at 50 yards the best I can hold and shoot with barrel sights, the Hammers land three inches high at 100 yards through an old tried and true gloss 1.5-5 Leupold, Buffalo at spitting distance or plains game to a full 350 yards is easily on the table if you know your drops.

It was a hell of a fun afternoon.

Rainy afternoon is a good time to hit the bench for some practice ammunition. 30-06 today. I prepped 100 pcs of new hornady brass and loaded up 50 rounds. Hornady 150 gr FMJ-BT over Big Game for 3025 fps.

Working on loading 300 WSM for Tanzania in August. 180 gr Barnes TTSX, H4350. Peterson brass. Browning x bolt pro mountain shoots 5 shots 3/4” @ 100 yds.

50Gunner, aka "Ser Jerry" of the Square Table, has been my collaborator for over 5 years as we confirmed each other's findings in working up loads for the .458 WIN MAG.
Here is the pinnacle of .458 WIN MAG do-all, his handloads:







The Shock Hammer is now called the Stone Hammer, maybe because a whiskey brand's panties got in a wad or something copyright-like.
Hammer Bullets is the bullet brand for higher BC and reliable killing of cape buffalo up close and plains game afar.
CEB is the bullet brand for top performance in a solid bullet.
Ye of little faith in the 400-grain CEB at 2500 fps for elephant
should choose the 450-grain CEB at 2350 fps from a .458 WIN MAG.
Can I get an "Amen" ?

Hi 50Gunner,

Great report about your mint M70 7mm Mauser! I have and use the cartridge since 1972. In two rifles.ç
Your loads reflect mine. It is entirely safe to load this great cartridge in a good Mauser M98 to the same pressure-velocity levels of any modern cartridge. Even in your old cases. I did the same in the same period Super-X and so cases. In a gun like yours or any other Mauser, or similar, 7x57 with the original barrel, the cartridges can be load at much longer OAL because the magazine lenght and the distance to the lands chamber standards.
My usual big game (Red deer and wild boar) load is: Winchester cases-any primer-R22-175 gr Nosler Partition at 2650 f/s. It is an entirely safe working load. I am tired to use it with great results!! The same load I use with 173 gr RWS H-Mantel, 175 gr Hornady Spire Point, 175 Speer Grand Slam and the 177 gr RWS TIG, reaching the same velocity.
I don´t show the exact load because is way over the published ones. But I use the same John Barsness´s criteria about loading the 7x57. This a long time before having readhim or even know who was John Barsness, (I like him very much as a gun and hunting writer) itself, with whom I have exchanged several messages about 7x57, 30-06 and 9,3x62 loads. My three hunting cartridges by the way.

40 S&W. The most powerful handgun in the world!

Finished adjusting loads for the CEB Safari Raptors (275 grain) and Solids (300 grain) in .375. Got them to shoot to the same poi without too much effort. Loaded over H4350 and quite happy with the accuracy.

6.5 Creed
100m
Oal : 70.75 mm
Case S&B : 48.55 mm
SST 123gr
N550 : 40.1gr

Riflecrank, many Thanks for posting those pics good Sir, i appreciate it greatly, rifle will be final zeroed for Safari when the rains and winds clear.

Clodo, You're exactly right on multiple levels, I might add no one ever gave a second thought of firing an even older and weaker Model 54 Winchester in the great 270 Winchester, IIRC it's max SAAMI chamber pressure is 65 thousand lbs PSI.

The 308 Winchester and 264 fire breathing Winchester Magnum are both well above 60K PSI, all good, yes, safely load to max with accuracy and leave nothing on the table.

BTW, Atticus' loading bench makes me sad with it's cleanliness, mine looks like a damn shop bench down at Mr. Goodwrench, was always jealous of those clean bench guys LOL!

Last year I noticed Hendershots had Bertram 577 Nitro brass for sale, was able to grab the last two 20 count bags, continuing with my pre hunting season load outs and general load shop cleanup, this morning I took those 40 cases and lubed em up for a good full length sizing.

Ran them all into the file trim die set at 3.00 inches, most were dead on, just a few required minimal trimming up and squaring case mouths, I keep a spare loaded round with a 750gr Barnes banded flat nosed solid handy, I use it to push bullet head down in the cases, really rounds the case mouths out nice for more uniform ID and OD deburring, I do not flare case mouths with the included die, I want those bullets started nice and slow with all the neck tension the FL size die provides, you can really feel a good tight fit slowly lowering the ram arm on your press, a good hard roll crimp on uniformly trimmed cases in a separate operation seals the deal, it will also insure the rounds will survive recoil even if you have two TSX's in your rifle hunting buffalo or plains game.

Have a new lot number 8LB jug of H-4350, dumped in 131 grains for test load, sat a 750gr TSX down to the last grove, gave it a good hard roll crimp with the RCBS die, grabbed the Garmin chronograph and let one fly, 2069 fps from the 26" barreled V/C boxlock, absolutely perfect, last load averaged 2076 fps, plenty close enough for regulation to the sights.

Loaded all remaining 39 pieces with that charge of powder, the 577 ammo looks a little better now as I load two to one solids with heavy doubles 500 Nitro and up, I love flat nosed solids, "they will quickly take all the great game Africa has to offer at any angle presented", Those are the exact words from my PH when I mentioned a 500 Nitro flat nosed solid only Safari, a walk and stalk pure hunt if you will.

The devastation I have witnessed off the end of this 577 Nitro's barrels on buffalo and dry land hippo is simply amazing, all have got the 750gr TSX's first and were simply crushed, unneeded solids paid the insurance at all three PH's request.

I for one remain very thankful for the Bertram Brass Company.

Sir Jerry sent ammoporn with redeeming social value: Bertram Brass does good for .577 NE 3".

Note the resemblance to .45-90 2.4" loaded with 350-gr/.458-cal TSX-FB bullets,
scaled up to 750-gr/.585-cal TSX-FB in 3" brass.
Heh-heh-heh.

LOL, funny stuff Riflecrank, sent that pic to Riflecrank stating, I really hate solids, can't you tell? the rounds left in the old yellow plastic basket are on their way to the crimp die, then will be stacked with the others.

It was a great and fun loading session, at 63, sure hope I'm hoss enough to enjoy the great 577 Nitro for several more years, as in the "does the 577 and 600 offer more" thread, IMHO yes indeed they absolutely do, if you can carry and shoot them with accuracy you will not be disappointed.

They do require due diligence and attention to detail, which is the place in our heads we should all be anyway in the presence of game in the field the world over, I wont lie about that.

Anyone have a good recipe for dummy rounds?
I plan to make some up for my 375 H&H which I plan to drill holes in the side of and fill with the same weight in powder with bb’s
So the question is what bullet head do you use?
What do you use in the primer pocket?
Thanks

Sideshow said:

Anyone have a good recipe for dummy rounds?
I plan to make some up for my 375 H&H which I plan to drill holes in the side of and fill with the same weight in powder with bb’s
So the question is what bullet head do you use?
What do you use in the primer pocket?
Thanks

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1. Use the same bullet and OAL as those of your hunting ammunition. Specifically, the 68% meplat such as the CEB Safari Solids shown below. Use a heavy crimp because the bullets may get pushed into the case a little at time. This configuration will provide a feeding check every time you practice dry firing and racking through a full magazine!

2. I use a $20 hot glue gun to fill the primer pockets. After many dry firings when the glue looks dented, I reapply the glue.

3. I've tried BB's but overall they are not necessary. Just drill 4 holes above the head of the case for easy identification.

Thanks @Mark A Ouellette I think I saw your set up in another post which I couldn’t find again I don’t have my CEB’s yet but do have some Partitions that I can similar to yours. I’ll give that a whirl. Thanks for the tip on the hot glue gun just what I couldn’t remember

How many should I do? Five in the mag and two spare to practice reloads from the belt?

I am resizing Norma 375 H&H brass to 400 H&H. I am going to fire form with trail boss and 300 gr TSX.

Miletic said:

6.5 Creed
100m
Oal : 70.75 mm
Case S&B : 48.55 mmView attachment 772615View attachment 772616
SST 123gr
N550 : 40.1gr

Click to expand...

lol your target looks like it’s been to the aid post!

Sideshow said:

lol your target looks like it’s been to the aid post!

Click to expand...

LOL I thought he was predicting for a mummy hunt.

Well……that sucked. I shot the 375 H&H brass I am reforming. The first two were fine. The third one made a weird hissing noise and the TSX got stuck about 2” from the end of the barrel. Clearly I incorrectly calculated the amount of Trail Boss I should use.

Dammit