What did you reload today?

[Tintin]

.204 Ruger with Z-Max ready for the Zombie Fox Apocalypse.

 

[Brickman301]

Just finished loading 20 rounds of 300 Weatherby. 74 grains of H4350 with 180 grain Hornady SST’s

No pictures this time as I don’t feel like walking downstairs to take a photo. Lol

 

[mdwest]

I picked up a second single stage press recently.. got an RCBS RC2 (the "light" press that they make) in nearly new condition (I dont think its ever been used honestly.. it was delivered in the box with the mounting hardware still in the plastic packaging, etc).. for $35 at an auction..

LOVING having a second press...

Im using the old RCBS Rock Chucker thats been pulled a million times at this point for resizing and decapping.. and the RC2 for bullet seating..

SUPER NICE not having to swap out dies on a single press..

I dont know that its really that much of a time saver.. but its definitely a headache releiver..

 

[Russ16]

Just finished loading 20 rounds of 300 Weatherby. 74 grains of H4350 with 180 grain Hornady SST’s

No pictures this time as I don’t feel like walking downstairs to take a photo. Lol

There is something about 74 grains of H4350. I use that powder in 3 cartridges with two bullet weights in one of them and it’s the weight that shoots best in all of the.

 

[Cooposo]

I have finally decided to use Swift A-Frame in 286 grain for my leopard. I loaded up 20 rounds using Big Game 60 grains producing 2442 FPS 6,000 under max PSI. Sighted it in today at 100 yards with my new Swaro VX5i 3.5-18-50. Very happy with results!

What has your experience been like with Big Game in general? I’ve used Hunter with some good success in my 270 and 30-06. I see a few manuals that have Big Game as a good option for my 30-06 and 375 H&H.

 

[Tintin]

.204 Ruger with Z-Max ready for the Zombie Fox Apocalypse.

Field testing tonight - everything appears to be in order.

 

[Daryl S]

.204 is a LOT of gun for nighttime shooting pleasure, isn't it?
Good job on those fox, though. Doesn't seem to be a lot of damage.
I've see a LOT of damage on fox shot with .17AH's. I see you were
using ZMax. They do not appear to be as "demonstrative" in damage
like Vmax?

 

[Tintin]

.204 is a LOT of gun for nighttime shooting pleasure, isn't it?

I love it, very hard to beat, unless there is a wild wind blowing.

Good job on those fox, though. Doesn't seem to be a lot of damage.
I've see a LOT of damage on fox shot with .17AH's. I see you were
using ZMax. They do not appear to be as "demonstrative" in damage
like Vmax?

I've shot half a dozen this week, all emphatic hits, no exit on half of them. A couple of those pictured above were pretty smashed up on the exit side, just positioned for a less gruesome photo.

I've not noticed any difference between the now discontinued Z-Max and the A-Max. Appear to be identical but for tip colour.

 

[Daryl S]

The A-max is a Nosler product, isn't it. I was comparing to V-Max, Hornady high expansion varmint bullets I use(d) in 3, .17's.
I stand corrected, just noticed the Hornady box. What's the difference between Z max and V max?
Perhaps just the
Z-ombie targets?

 

[Tintin]

The A-max is a Nosler product, isn't it. I was comparing to V-Max, Hornady high expansion varmint bullets I use(d) in 3, .17's.

I meant to say V-Max appear the same as Z-Max. I've used both in the .204.

A-Max are also by Hornady, I don't recall having personally used them in the .204.

Looks like the only A-Max they list now is the 750 grainer for .50 BMG. I guess that would be ok on the foxes

Though I reckon I'd be off the Christmas card list with any neighbours in a 5 mile radius.

https://www.hornady.com/bullets/a-max#!/

 

[Daryl S]

The A-max I thought, was the long distance match bullet with an aluminum tip, primarily in .50 cal.

 

[Tintin]

yep - our posts crossed in mid air

 

[Grumpy gumpy]

A-max was the original hornady ballistic tip, Z-max was a marketing gimmick (Zombie max) think back to the early 2000’s and all those zombie movies, they are basically the same thing but with a different colour tip.
I will try and find my photo of the young fox hit by a 308cal 168 gn Z-max, sort of cut it in half….well….the front and back were about 2foot apart….
Gumpy

 

[JimP]

Thanks to Colorado's new requirement for CC I put together 1,000 357 mag target rounds.

I thought about only doing a hundred or so but they are nice to have around for kids and ladies learning how to shoot a pistol.

I should show up at the course with my 44 mag shooting full power loads just for fun.

 

[Daryl S]

I used my 4" M29 for the first 3 years of shooting IPSC back in the mid 1970's. 21gr. 2400 and a 275gr. SWC.(That's what my 4-cavity Ohaus mould cast. Still have it & use it)
In 75, I used it for our qualification (had already qualified with the .38spl) surplus round of fire on the RCMP course. 300/300 piece of cake. Love that gun. LOL- No CC as a civilian.

 

[JimP]

I used my 4" M29 for the first 3 years of shooting IPSC back in the mid 1970's. 21gr. 2400 and a 275gr. SWC.(That's what my 4-cavity Ohaus mould cast. Still have it & use it)
In 75, I used it for our qualification (had already qualified with the .38spl) surplus round of fire on the RCMP course. 300/300 piece of cake. Love that gun. LOL- No CC as a civilian.

I actually wondered how they would react if I showed up with my Thompson Center Contender in 7-30 Waters with a 2-7 scope mounted on it. It isn't very good for rapid fire but at 7 yards from the target I could put all the shots into a dime size spread. They don't have any restrictions on what to use, just a pistol.

My 44 mag Ruger Super Redhawk has only been used for hunting so all I have are hunting loads for it. I sold my S&W 629 a few years ago when I decided that someone should get some use out of it.

 

[Daryl S]

Been a .44 fan, long before I spoke to Elmer K. in 1973. Elmer talked me into getting a M29 instead of the M58, due to the adjustable sights. Glad I did. Never had to use it, but came VERY close twice. I had 180gr. hollow cavity 180gr. Sierras every other round. In between were the 275gr. SWC's in WW alloy with 21gr. 2400. The Sierra's were supposed to be running 1,450fps to 1,500fps from the 4" bl. IIRC, they were loaded with 27.0gr. 2400. Supposed to be 1,700fps from a 7 1/2" bl.
The 180's were not supposed to exit on a 180 pound target.
The 275's were for engine blocks however, the 180's were likely better for that too. Once shot through the trunk of a 67 (or 8) Buick and killed the carburetor with one shot..

 

[JimP]

I'd have to pull the load book out but when I got my first Super Blackhawk I bought a pound of 2400, 200 Sierra 180 gr hollow cavity bullets, some primers and proceeded to load the fastest load that I have ever loaded for a 44 mag.

If I remember right it was over 1700 fps out of that 7 1/2 inch barrel. All I know is that I was happy when I shot the last of those loads.

 

[Daryl S]

The other load that would do that was W630P. Don't remember the load. I put 3,500 rounds of heavy .44 mag. rounds through my new M29 4" in 3 1/2 months, maybe closer to 4 months. At the time, I was
dating a young university gal. who could keep 5 in a row in the black at 25 yards, shooting 2-handed of course. All I loaded then, was 21gr. 2400 and that 275 SWC. That's about all her wrists could take, but I've never seen such a deliberate shooter before while being injured. Never flinched a shot. Married her and now this June, is our 50th anniversary. While we were engaged, she bought a .36 Seneca - 'bout 1976 when she bought it, just before our marriage.
Wore out that gun, ditched it and bought the one I shoot now as a 6". Shot it for a bit, then shortened and re-registered it in 4" persuasion. Gotta like that "punch you in the chest" instead of climbing into the sky. I found the longer barrels climbed like that. I could always shoot the 4" more rapidly and accurately, even on the range at the sheep on the bank at 300 meters.(rested, of course)
The only loads I've made up that actually hurt, were some 21gr. W296 with 300gr. Truncated coned hard cast. With a round butt-grip, those stung. Same day I shot a 5 1/2" .500 Mag. with factory 350's and it was a peach to shoot in comparison to that .44 load. The guy with the .500 offered me a few shots as "it kicks less than that .44". He was right. that was fun. I could only fit 2 fingers on the round butt grips. The little one curled under the grip. Nasty with those 300 gr. loads.

 

[45-70guy]

More practice loads for 35 whelen , same POI as the north forks but much cheaper.
225g Sierra game kings at 2650 fps.
Confirming 2 scopes In QD rings out to 200 on a set of homage sticks using garden posts, hockey tape and a bicycle tube