What did you reload today?

[Tundra Tiger]

I haven't reloaded this yet. But...

My favorite rifle is a Marlin in .338 Marlin Express. Factory ammo is a 200 grain bullet that Hornady says goes just under 2600 fps; I get 2500 or a hair more with mine.

Today I became aware that Hammer Bullets has a 128 grain copper bullet in .338. They have load data for it for a .338 ME, and claim velocities of 2800-3100 fps - oh my!

Bullets and a crimp die are already ordered. I can't wait to play. I'm thinking winter caribou, if I get a load that groups well.

 

[atrious]

Didn’t load anything but I did stumble upon 65 pieces of 270 win brass and 20 pieces of 308 brass at the county dump. All Hornady headstamp. Looks like once fired in the factory boxes. I have no need for the 270

 

[Longwalker]

I was pleased today to find a solution to a fun, but not very serious reloading challenge.

I have a Winchester M92 .357 Mag. lever action that isn't good for much, actually, but is a fun rifle that I use to plink informal targets and shoot the occasional varmint. Full power factory loads are expensive to shoot much and "overkill" for my purposes. I have several thousand .38 special cases that I acquired very cheaply. But the rifle won't feed standard .38 length ammo. And the .38's shoot much lower than the regular sight setting.

So I came up with a solution. A load that consists of Canadian made Campro 158 gr. copper plated truncated cone bullet, 12.5 gr. of Alliant 2400 powder, and a standard small pistol primer in any once-fired .38 special case.

The critical thing that makes this all possible is the Lee factory crimp die and seating the bullet at .357 mag. over all length despite the bullets lack of a crimping groove in the proper place. The load delivers 1600 fps from my rifle's 20" barrel. And it shoots to the same sight setting as 158 gr. jacketed factory loads at 50M, in nice tight groups, and costs very little.

Tin cans and small varmints will fear me!

 

[DaddyFlip]

The critical thing that makes this all possible is the Lee factory crimp die and seating the bullet at .357 mag. over all length despite the bullets lack of a crimping groove in the proper place.

Are you not concerned with bullet setback in the tubular magazine? I was wanting to shoot 45 Schofield in a 45 Colt lever gun but there are TWO hurdles to overcome; OAL and rim diameter. Feeding chokes on the slightly larger rim of the Schofield.

 

[Longwalker]

The Lee die will squeeze a decent and functional crimp on a plated or plain lead bullet even when the bullet does not have a cannelure in the proper place. In fact you must be a little careful not to put too much crimp on the case mouth. You may cut through the plating and cause other problems. However, properly adjusted, the Lee die allows a variety of bullets to be crimped and remain fully functional at seating depths that those bullets were not originally designed for. Some even use the Lee die to crimp jacketed bullets in place at seating depths other than at the cannelure. I haven't tried that, but read that it works.

 

[HuntingGold]

Ive been looking for a mild 180 grain loads for an old 30-06 (in a Remington 721). Im getting great accuracy but have been getting case head separation like crazy. Im curious about my Redding die OR the chamber dimension of the rifle. Ill be doing more tinkering and measuring in the near future to figure this one out.

At the same time, Im playing with a .260 Remington. I picked up over 350 pieces of 120 grain core-lokt out of an estate. Im getting pretty good accuracy out of those things. Looking forward to changing powders to see if I can get some consistency out of my velocities.

 

[Boyd Brooks]

I was pleased today to find a solution to a fun, but not very serious reloading challenge.

I have a Winchester M92 .357 Mag. lever action that isn't good for much, actually, but is a fun rifle that I use to plink informal targets and shoot the occasional varmint. Full power factory loads are expensive to shoot much and "overkill" for my purposes. I have several thousand .38 special cases that I acquired very cheaply. But the rifle won't feed standard .38 length ammo. And the .38's shoot much lower than the regular sight setting.

So I came up with a solution. A load that consists of Canadian made Campro 158 gr. copper plated truncated cone bullet, 12.5 gr. of Alliant 2400 powder, and a standard small pistol primer in any once-fired .38 special case.

The critical thing that makes this all possible is the Lee factory crimp die and seating the bullet at .357 mag. over all length despite the bullets lack of a crimping groove in the proper place. The load delivers 1600 fps from my rifle's 20" barrel. And it shoots to the same sight setting as 158 gr. jacketed factory loads at 50M, in nice tight groups, and costs very little.

Tin cans and small varmints will fear me!

View attachment 735681

Curious as to why you don’t just make 38spl rounds to plink with? I shot competitive PPC with a 686 Smith & Wesson 357, 2.6grs of Accurate #2 for 148gr WC and 3.6grs for 158gr SWC. Cheap loads and poked holes in paper with no problems.

 

[Longwalker]

Ah, but I'm not shooting revolver. My Win M92 rifle won't reliably feed .38 special cartridges loaded at standard .38 length. And it won't feed wad cutters or most semi wad cutters. Jams frequently. And I'd prefer to have a load that shoots to the same point of aim as full power .357 magnum cartridges without changing the sights. Both goals were accomplished with this load.

 

[Boyd Brooks]

Ah, but I'm not shooting revolver. My Win M92 rifle won't reliably feed .38 special cartridges loaded at standard .38 length. And it won't feed wad cutters or most semi wad cutters. Jams frequently. And I'd prefer to have a load that shoots to the same point of aim as full power .357 magnum cartridges without changing the sights. Both goals were accomplished with this load.

I did see you were shooting a rifle. A friend has a Henry that shoots both, but was designed as a 357/38spl, maybe why his shoots 38’s okay.

 

[Longwalker]

The Rossi M92 that I had before easily shot both .38's and .357's too. I miss that versatility, but the Winchester has superior fit and finish, closer tolerances, and accuracy - but likes .357 only.

 

[Mr. 16 gauge]

250 rounds of 45-70......405 grain cast RNFP, CCI 200 primer, 38.0 grain reloader 7,,,,,mixed cases. Last weekend it was 475 rounds of .380 ACP .....93-95 grain case RN, S&B small pistol primer, 2.3 grains of 700-X. Next weekend will be 241 rounds of .30/30 Winchester,....173 grains LEE FPGC, CCI 200 primer, and 27.0 grain IMR3031 (various cases)
Happy new year to all..............

 

[M70375!]

338 Edge + P, 250 gr TSX and 98.5 gr H1000. Just finished glass bedding it, groups went from2-3 inches to ⅝ to 13/16.. Will be using it on brown bear on the Alaskan penninsula in may.

 

[Tintin]

Loaded, and used, some .303 plinking rounds.

 

[Azklmsr]

416 Rem mag. 400 TSX, CFE223

 

[458JCE]

Over the last 10 days I've loaded all empty brass in preparation for selling my unit - first step is deconstructing my gun room/reloading room, so won't have access to reloading equipment for an extended period. Have reloaded:
200 x 222REM
250 x 25-20
150 x 240WBY
150 x 270WSM
200 x 303 BRIT
200 x 30-06
150 x 300WBY
300 x 338WM
200 x 9.3x62
150 x 450-400 3" (WJ Jeffery DR)
120 x 12 Bore with 750gr Fosbery Conical Bullets (H&H Paradox)

 

[cwickgo9]

Gathering data and components to load something new - 41 Special and 32 S&W (not long).
Only thing I've actively been loading on the regular is 20 gauge.
Lots of components, just have been doing other hobbies (laser, leather, motorcycle, shooting) to get organized and start cranking them out.

 

[Wyatt Smith]

@cwickgo9 what speed are looking for out of the 41 Special? I’ve never messed with the short cases but just download the mags.
I am loading some 41 magnums as we speak.
A 225 Keith (H&G 258 clone) over 9.5 grains of Longshot. This load gives me 1100 FPS on average. It’s my favorite 41 load.
I also load 7.3 grains of W231 for 910 FPS.

 

[Brandon.Gleason]

Loaded up second stage loads of 300 Win mag to test 180gr Woodleigh PP's over RL22 (which I'm down under 4lbs of, sadly), and a comparative load with 180gr Swift A-Frames.

Also loaded some .375 H&H in 300gr Woodleigh PP's and 300gr Swift A-Frames, both over RL15.

Ordered 22 Hornet dies, brass, and bullets tonight, not because I have one to feed, but because I might go out looking for a clean CZ 527 tomorrow on the usual gunshop loop.

 

[Ray B]

Question for those loading 38 Spl in 357mag guns. I'm wondering what loads in 38 Spl brass would generate the same pressure as a 357. The reason is I have a 357 revolver and a LOT of 38 Spl brass. All the loads I see for 38 Spl brass is built for 38 Spl revolvers and is well short of what a 357 Mag revolver will handle. the 38 Spl loaded to 357 pressures would be short of 357 Mag loads but more than what I see for 38 Spl+P.

 

[fourfive8]

Just received a 50 cal hollow base Minie’ mold yesterday so cast about 50. I’ve cast and shot a pazillion 50 cal muzzleloader round balls and solid base conicals but never tried the 50 cal Minie’. I’m not even sure a 50 cal Minie’ ever existed, historically. Have a 48 twist, 50 cal muzzleloader to try. Will shoot in next day or two and report results.