Reloading questions

[BTLowry]

OK

So I am looking at the hogdon site, what is the difference in large rifle primers?
Some have 8 1/2, some 9 1/2 and some no number just large rifle. Is there different sizes of primers dia wise? strength?

[cajuntec]

BTLowry,
I was like you a few years back man, and I really hated hearing "You need to buy a good manual", but it was the best advice I ever got. The internet can give you a lot of things, but manuals provide things in writing that I just never saw or accidentally glanced over on the internet. I started with a Lyman's manual, and then added a Hornady, as that was what most of my bullets were - Hornady. I've since expanded to Sierra, Nosler, and Lee manuals, and I value each of them for the information I gain. Because of questions like your last one (primers), I started tabbing my books so I knew where that info was when I needed it. For instance, in Hornady's manual, on page 36 of the version I have (8th), there is a primer cross reference.

To answer your latest two questions -

1) Yes, dies interchange between presses. However, some like the Hornady Lock-N-Load press and the Lee Challenger Breech Lock use bushings so you can quickly change from one to another. Some RCBS's also can be converted to use the quick change bushings, but I'm not as familiar with which ones. I know my old RS press from RCBS doesn't have that capability.

2) On large rifle primers:
Federal is 210
Remington is 9 1/2
Winchester is WLR
CCI is 200 or BR2 (The BR2 is for Bench Rest / Match Shooters, but can be used)
RWS/Sinoxoid is 5341

But you also have Large Rifle Magnum primers
Federal is 215
Remington is 9 1/2M
Winchester is WLRM
CCI is 250 and 251 MAG X
RWS/Sinoxoid is 5333

All the best,
Glenn

[Team Roper]

Word of caution!!!!! Procede with care hand loading can be very addictive...

Handloading is a great thing if you shoot a lot or are wanting to increase accuracy. By no stretch of the imagination is it inexpensive to get into. Before you go any further buy you a good reloading manual and read it completely before you go any further.

[dustoffer]

My RCBS powder thrower doesn't meter exactly each time.

I set it just lower than my intended charge then trickle in the last few grains.

yep--and a charge variation in a pistol caliber is more critical than one in a rifle caliber IMO. A .5 gr variation on a 10-gr pistol charge is 5% whereas a .5 gr variation on a 50-gr rifle charge is .5%

[M16]

a powder dispenser works fine for pistol.. but rifle rounds you will want to weight out each charge, much safer that way.

BS. A ball powder works fine in one for rifle reloading.

[M16]

You bump up to 40 grains for a 308 load and now your loads can vary up to 0.8 grains: unacceptable if you load for accuracy or if you hot load.

Only a moron runs "hot" loads. Your rifle will more than likely never know the difference in a .8 grain variation.

[BTLowry]

Whoohoooo

Picked up a Speer and Lee reloading books last night on the GS for less than what the Speer would have costs by itself

[M16]

Here's the deal with powder measure's. Most of them are fairly accurate. Some are better than others. Some powders work better than others. Operator error is usually the cause of them being inconsistent.

You have to be consistent in your technique. It's more than just cranking the handle. Get a scale and practice. Try tapping the side of the measure between throws. Keep weighing every charge until you become consistent with every throw. Then start loading. Check every tenth throw on the scale.

Benchrest shooters use powder measures so it can be done.

[Bowyer]

A lot of good advise here.
This is how I determined which powder to start with; I went to local stores that sold reloading equipment to see what was readily available and that is what I started with. In my case it was Varget. Now it isn't as easy to find so I have moved on to IMR 4064.

You can play around with others too (and will find better powders for specific calibers) but to get started I recommend something that is easy to find and fits the bill for all of your guns.

[rg2]

call different powder & bullet companies that you plan to use. They are usually very helpful with load data.

[sir shovelhands]

Only a moron runs "hot" loads. Your rifle will more than likely never know the difference in a .8 grain variation.

If you think 0.8 grain difference in a powder charge will cause no variance in group size then you sure as hell have never touched a reloading press.

As for us morons who hot load: keep your opinions to yourself.

[M16]

If you think 0.8 grain difference in a powder charge will cause no variance in group size then you sure as hell have never touched a reloading press.

As for us morons who hot load: keep your opinions to yourself.

Really? Read my post again. It says more than likely your rifle won't know the difference. When you get some experience under your belt you'll find this to be a true statement. I doubt if you can shoot well enough to tell the difference anyhow.

As for running hot loads. I'm all for you doing it. Hotter the better. Did you know you can increase your velocity with temperature sensitive powder by just leaving your ammo on the dash. The sun can help you with some really hot loads!

[BTLowry]

Alright

Y'all all play nice so my thread don't get whacked and I can learn something

[duckmanep]

Alright

Y'all all play nice so my thread don't get whacked and I can learn something

be careful what you learn from some of the above post.

[duckmanep]

are you planning on loading for increased accuracy, or just plinking rounds?

you will also need a trimming system for the rifle rounds if you plan to use brass more than a couple times. will need lube. hand primer unless you are going to prime on press. calipers.