Reload Newbie

JimP

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Mar 28, 2016
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There is some brass flow in the neck area if you just neck size the brass but usually the brass will split way before it gets to the point that you might need to trim it. That is where it is nice to do some measuring on the brass and see just where it is according to the factory specs. I have also found that different lots of brass from the same manufacture will react differently over loadings.

For most hunting rounds I like to full length resize my brass, then once it is loaded I'll head to the range and chamber each and every round to make sure that it will chamber easily. Any that don't get shot that day. You don't want to have that shot of your life and not be able to chamber a round. I have seen that happen way too often.
 

fackelberry

Active Member
Aug 27, 2013
276
4
Wyoming
I do the same as CC and Jim, except after i full length size them and clean them all up i measure them and if ok i will try them in my gun before i load them. That way if they don't fit you don't have to pull them all apart again. I also check this after i load them too. But i mostly neck size mine just like CC. I don't know how many loading i get with the brass, but when the primer pockets are loose i pitch them. My dad did a test one time on one of his .223's to see how many times he could load it before the case failed. He got 23 loadings before the case neck split. That would all depend on your chamber and actual pressures of your individual load also. And if you neck sized or full length sized.
 

Bonecollector

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Does anyone know if the ammo box made that dictate that the bullet tip be down know if they are protected by a narrowing channel that keeps the tips from touching the bottom of the box? I obviously don't want the tips damaged. I'm looking at boxes for 7mm mag from mtm case-gard.
Or does anyone have another recommendation?
Thanks!
 

JimP

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No if you put the bullets tips down they will hit the bottom of the box. I have started to place my bullets tips up for this and a couple of other reasons. One is that the plastic box is breakable and I have broken a few when the bullets bounced enough that the tip broke through the bottom.

Years ago I picked up some cardboard ammo boxes with the cardboard dividers and over the years gave just about all of them away as I reloaded for friends and family. They always brought the brass back but never the boxes.

So anymore for my general shooting I pack my loaded ammo in the MTM 50 count boxes and then transfer them to the plastic 20 round boxes when I go hunting.
 

Bonecollector

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Thanks Jim.
These boxes are a tough-coat plastic as they won't shatter. There has got to be some other options out there that I am overlooking.
 

JimP

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There are really very few options out there for boxes to store your ammo. Because of people not returning boxes to me I actually started to give people their reloaded ammo in plastic ziplock bags if they don't have a box for it.

If you look at the major catalog companies like Midway, Natchez, and a few others that have a lot of reloading supplies you will find that there are not many options out there.
 

Colorado Cowboy

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Jun 8, 2011
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Many years ago I bought quite a few vinyl plastic boxes (most were yellow) that hold 20 rounds. I have 30-06 & 243 sizes that work for most....except magnums. I use factory cardboard boxes for them.
 
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fackelberry

Active Member
Aug 27, 2013
276
4
Wyoming
Ya dad said the .223 neck was fine when he loaded it the last time. Then when he shot it , the neck split as it was too thin after all the loadings. I suppose if a guy measured all the neck walls and used a runout guage we would be chucking more away before the neck splits, but i've never had a neck split on me. My primer pockets get loose before that happens or i just want new brass.


I use the MTM ammo boxes myself. One of them has the plastic all the way down to support the bullet nose, but i always do as the others and put the tips up. Another thing i do when hunting is i will take one of the MTM boxes with my loads, usually 40 rounds or so depending on how far from home i am. Then what i've been doing the last year or two is saving the plastic shell holders inside some factory boxes. Think most are from Federal. They are usually packed in 10 round plastic holders. So when i go for a hike i load my gun with 3-4 depending on the caliber, then load up one of the 10 shellholders with my loads and actually run a wrap or 2 of masking tape around them horizontally to keep them tight and not fall out. I put this in one of my pockets in my pack. It takes up less room than a whole box and usually is less noisy and half the weight. And 14 rou1nds is plenty of ammo for me. Never used but 1or 2 shots and still have plenty for reloading if i do. Thats just what works for me in my backpack when space is a premium!
 

Bonecollector

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I was able to locate a mtm box that holds 50. I am working up a batch of 40 brass right now. this is my first experience doing it alone with my new equipment. I can see where it can make a man fanatical about all the specs! lol
I'm having fun and can't wait to anchor my first game animal with a round that I produced. I continue to learn more finite detail type of things each time. It can only get better. Picked up a few things in this thread that lead me into some new though process.
Thanks to all! I'll post up some additional results in the next few weeks when I get out to shoot. :)
 

Slugz

Veteran member
Oct 12, 2014
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Casper, Wyoming
I was able to locate a mtm box that holds 50. I am working up a batch of 40 brass right now. this is my first experience doing it alone with my new equipment. I can see where it can make a man fanatical about all the specs! lol
I'm having fun and can't wait to anchor my first game animal with a round that I produced. I continue to learn more finite detail type of things each time. It can only get better. Picked up a few things in this thread that lead me into some new though process.
Thanks to all! I'll post up some additional results in the next few weeks when I get out to shoot. :)
https://www.nwactionworks.com/news.....scroll down to the load development article.....4 parts.....good read that hits on the basics.
 

Bonecollector

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UPDATE:

I stretched the legs on this load.
Zero is 200 yard.

300 yds: 1 moa :)
400 yds: 2 moa :)

I know it opened up a little, but it is still sub moa and I don't get to shoot as much as I'd like. However, I think it went very well.

First time over 400 and stretched it to 600yds: 5 moa I was still pleased as it was my first time over 400. I was simply hoping to stay on the 8x11 target sheet and succeeded easily. This load seems like a good one! I'm going to go back out next week and work on 500-600 again. Make those 300 yard kill shots easier. I know I can tighten it up; I'm sure its me and not the gun/load.
Thanks for all the feedback and pointers in this thread friends. I really appreciate it! Can't wait to tag my first animal with a round I made. :D
 
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Bonecollector

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No new developments, but I am ready to anchor something with my own personalized load. Can't wait.
Thanks again guys!
 

Colorado Cowboy

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Jun 8, 2011
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Man I've let the time slip by (again!) and I have to start loading.38's for our winter bulls eye pistol league. I need to get about a thousand rounds loaded in the next week or so. Also got a couple of big cowboy shoots coming up in a couple of months in Az. Got plenty of components, just need to limber up the arm.....LOL!