Author Topic: Fine Tuning My Reloading  (Read 4438 times)

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Rocketvapor

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Fine Tuning My Reloading
« on: October 18, 2022, 03:23:50 PM »
Noticed some COAL variations for the last couple of batches I've reloaded.
I'll seat a few and adjust for something middle of the road, then continue.
Cartridge length would vary about +/- 0.005" or so with the Berger 85.5 (.224").
Made a gauge from a 22 Nosler case by sizing without a mandrel chamfered a little and checked I.D. with a 0.217" Revised case to fit  0.220" pin to fit closer to bearing surface. 
My bore is .219/.224. 
Opened some boxes of bullets and checked BTO (Base to Ogive) of a few hundred.
Sorted Short, Medium and Long.  About a 0.010" range. 
When I get around to loading I'll adjust the seating die a couple thou long, check, and seat to the same CBTO length.
I have a Touch dummy round for the 85.5 and can set the CBTO for the jump I want and keep cartridge internal space more consistent (I think). 
Overall cartridge length, where the point is, doesn't matter as much as Jump and bullet seating depth. 
More effort but might make a difference at the next match. 


I have a 'Tool' in my Midway cart waiting on another free shipping.
« Last Edit: October 23, 2022, 03:25:19 PM by Rocketvapor »
Well I guess my new **** stirrin paddle don't work . I got a like . WTF 😈

Flo just received her EXPERT Mid range card from the NRA.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/famed-ex-uss-john-f-003916449.html

cvasqu03

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Re: Fine Tuning My Reloading
« Reply #1 on: October 18, 2022, 04:37:32 PM »
Wow!  Your reloading:
     Cartridge length would vary about +/- 0.005" or so with the Berger 85.5 (.224").
     Made a gauge from a 22 Nosler case by sizing without a mandrel chamfered a little and checked I.D. with a 0.217" pin.
     bore is .219/.224.
     checked BTO (Base to Ogive) of a few hundred.
     Sorted Short, Medium and Long.  About a 0.010" range.

My reloading:
     Me likey go boom. 

You're the man RV.  No question about it. 

Speaking of "the next match."  What kind of matches are you going to?  Or are you still preparing for the wonderful day when we get to have another SKS Boards event?  (Like I am, and I suspect many others). 





I am the one they call Cesar.

Rocketvapor

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Re: Fine Tuning My Reloading
« Reply #2 on: October 18, 2022, 05:03:52 PM »
A new range opened close to home, about 36 miles. 
300 to 800 steel and 600yd E Targets.  Monthly 600yd matches. 
Last 2 were not NRA sanctioned so scores not reported or credit for rating. 
Next one should be.  I hope to make Master one day (before Flo :) ).
The effort to make precise rounds isn't for normal shooting, just practice and matches. 
Besides, time is free. 

Did surprise me with the variation of the Berger bullets though. 
Seating for the same jump to lands will change case volume occupied by the bullet with a different BTO.
0.010" from the short to long Berger BTO would be about 0.1 grain of case space variance. 
Might not matter much if using all the same length.
« Last Edit: October 18, 2022, 05:38:34 PM by Rocketvapor »
Well I guess my new **** stirrin paddle don't work . I got a like . WTF 😈

Flo just received her EXPERT Mid range card from the NRA.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/famed-ex-uss-john-f-003916449.html

Rocketvapor

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Re: Fine Tuning My Reloading
« Reply #3 on: October 18, 2022, 11:50:07 PM »
Still haven't made the trip into town to get the propane for the annealer. 
Tumbled a bunch of brass ready to hit the fire.  Gonna use loose primer pocket cases to tune it. 
The Nosgar and Dogtown cases will be a little different because of weight. 
Then on to processing the brass.  Also have sorted new cases to work on I need to take to the range to make once-fired. 

I was going to just keep shooting the 22Nosler/Dogtown brass until I ran out then switch to the 22Nosgar.
Midway put up some more cases but excluded them from the free shipping.  Emailed, asked why?  They gave me free shipping. 
Got 200 cases @ .43cents plus tax.  That's enough for a few matches, if I get 3 to 4 firings before I start losing primers pockets.
We each lost one pocket the last match (soft deprime).

Down to 1300 1250 or so new Hagar/Nosgar cases and a few hundred fired. 
Have plenty of primers.  Next thing to watch for is powder.  Loading for two people, practice and a match is about 100 rounds each. 
31.4 x 100, and 32.4 x 100 is close to a pound of powder.  I have enough SB 6.5 to make it through the winter and spring. 
Another 8 pound jug will chew up at least two months of my 2023 COLA.
Could always go back to IMR 4350 if need be. 

Since we aren't buying a gun a month like we used to, don't take the wife out to a movie and dinner :), shootin is our bonding time. 




« Last Edit: October 19, 2022, 12:19:55 AM by Rocketvapor »
Well I guess my new **** stirrin paddle don't work . I got a like . WTF 😈

Flo just received her EXPERT Mid range card from the NRA.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/famed-ex-uss-john-f-003916449.html

Rocketvapor

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Re: Fine Tuning My Reloading
« Reply #4 on: October 23, 2022, 12:17:51 PM »
Still haven't used the annealer. 
Gonna work with the 22 NOSGAR cases for Flo's gun first.
Have about 80 rounds of twice fired (maybe 3 times) all ready to go, maybe tonight.
I have a lot of new brass (formed from 6mm HAGAR to 22 NOSGAR) that I will have the wife shoot to make once fired, then anneal. 
Have some fired that I have already primed, so no torch put to these.

Did another headspace/touch the lands dummy for Flo's gun and after about 450 rounds (?) the throat has grown about 0.009".
Well I guess my new **** stirrin paddle don't work . I got a like . WTF 😈

Flo just received her EXPERT Mid range card from the NRA.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/famed-ex-uss-john-f-003916449.html

Rocketvapor

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Re: Fine Tuning My Reloading
« Reply #5 on: October 27, 2022, 07:48:34 AM »
Heading off to the Bogalusa range this morning. 
A little chilly but supposed to be sunny. 
If we shoot good I'll post some target pics. 
If not, expect to see another raccoon pic :)

Gonna vary setting depth a little with our preferred load. 
Then next time vary the load a little.
Then next time - - -  :)

Might even sneak in a couple shots at the 600 and 800 plates if we have ammo left over. 
Well I guess my new **** stirrin paddle don't work . I got a like . WTF 😈

Flo just received her EXPERT Mid range card from the NRA.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/famed-ex-uss-john-f-003916449.html

Rocketvapor

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Re: Fine Tuning My Reloading
« Reply #6 on: October 28, 2022, 11:22:08 AM »
OK, you guys lucked out.
No Raccoon pictures.
How about some cherry picked groups?
We started out to get a really good 100yd zero before moving out to 300. 
Had what we thought was good dope for the 600 match but was from a rough 100 yd zero. 
Maybe another trip or two @ 300 and 600 before the next match. 
Anyway, here's my 100 yd sight in, 10 shots (no dimes covering fliers :) ).


« Last Edit: October 29, 2022, 11:50:38 PM by Rocketvapor »
Well I guess my new **** stirrin paddle don't work . I got a like . WTF 😈

Flo just received her EXPERT Mid range card from the NRA.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/famed-ex-uss-john-f-003916449.html

Rocketvapor

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Re: Fine Tuning My Reloading
« Reply #7 on: October 28, 2022, 09:34:54 PM »
Processing brass.

Calibrated with loose pocket brass. 
Annealed to almost orange but not quite, before yellow flame off the brass, and got color change with the 750F indicator goop inside the neck.
Did about 260 cases plus about 25 calibration cases and used about 1.1 oz of propane.
22N once fired, annealed.
« Last Edit: October 29, 2022, 11:48:12 PM by Rocketvapor »
Well I guess my new **** stirrin paddle don't work . I got a like . WTF 😈

Flo just received her EXPERT Mid range card from the NRA.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/famed-ex-uss-john-f-003916449.html

Rocketvapor

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Re: Fine Tuning My Reloading
« Reply #8 on: October 30, 2022, 10:35:34 PM »
Have annealed, and previously primed new and once fired cases ready to charge.
Sorted in weight groups.  Enough for a few range trips.
Boxes are color coded.  Clear blue-annealed 22Nosgar, clear gray-annealed 22N, green hasn't been annealed yet.
Were already primed, need to shoot then anneal.
Wonder if the annealing will help groups any?

I can start charging if I can get the humidity down tomorrow.


Looks like Thursday will be a nice day to go shoot. 

« Last Edit: October 30, 2022, 10:47:06 PM by Rocketvapor »
Well I guess my new **** stirrin paddle don't work . I got a like . WTF 😈

Flo just received her EXPERT Mid range card from the NRA.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/famed-ex-uss-john-f-003916449.html

cvasqu03

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Re: Fine Tuning My Reloading
« Reply #9 on: October 31, 2022, 10:01:29 AM »
...I can start charging if I can get the humidity down tomorrow...

Are you reloading outside RV?  Doesn't that mess with your measurements?  When I'm precision reloading, I set my hopper to deliver close to my load, then use an RCBS trickler on a Lee scale to finish it off.  The scale is so sensitive though that I can't even have my ceiling fan on while doing this or the pan starts swaying and throws the scale off. I can't imagine wind would be any kinder.  What kind of equipment are you using?
I am the one they call Cesar.

Rocketvapor

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Re: Fine Tuning My Reloading
« Reply #10 on: October 31, 2022, 11:19:43 AM »
No, inside. 
I try to keep the humidity in the low 50's. About what it was when the powder was packaged. 
I have to wait between AC/Heat cycles of the HVAC.  It's 61% in the kitchen presently.
I think I posted the scale I use in that other thread.
You know that how I do it just has to be a little bit on the anal side :)
I have a 1010 balance but find it a little difficult to sort bullets, brass, and primers.
Maybe tomorrow. 

Here's a post showing my scale. 
I weigh in Grams as that is the 'native' unit of the scale. 
https://www.sksboards.com/smf/index.php?topic=140074.msg1785585#msg1785585

Converting between grams and grains is easy.

All but the one on the right are close enough to use in the same batch of 'precision ammo'.
Values are in grains. Try this with your beam scale :)
« Last Edit: October 31, 2022, 11:47:47 AM by Rocketvapor »
Well I guess my new **** stirrin paddle don't work . I got a like . WTF 😈

Flo just received her EXPERT Mid range card from the NRA.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/famed-ex-uss-john-f-003916449.html

Rocketvapor

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Re: Fine Tuning My Reloading
« Reply #11 on: October 31, 2022, 12:26:04 PM »
The A&D EJ-54D2 has a high range, 50 grams, and a low range of 20 grams. 
Here's a quick calibration check of the 20 gram range. 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iX5618ad5ic
Reads faster if you just ignore the last digit :)
With 0.0002 grams per count, +/- 0.1 grain is +/- 32 counts.
A piece of masking tape over the last digit and it's just a milligram scale but with better roll over (5 counts per milligram).
A milligram is 0.0154 grains. Probably good enough :)

The accepted measure of scale sensitivity seems to be "I can see a single kernal of Varget"
I can (just barely) see one kernal of StaBall 6.5. Just like Varget, some are heavier than others  :banghead:


Told you this was a little bit on the anal side :)

« Last Edit: October 31, 2022, 02:20:26 PM by Rocketvapor »
Well I guess my new **** stirrin paddle don't work . I got a like . WTF 😈

Flo just received her EXPERT Mid range card from the NRA.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/famed-ex-uss-john-f-003916449.html

cvasqu03

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Re: Fine Tuning My Reloading
« Reply #12 on: October 31, 2022, 05:48:33 PM »

Told you this was a little bit on the anal side :)

Wouldn't have it any other way RV. 

 :)

I am the one they call Cesar.

Rocketvapor

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Re: Fine Tuning My Reloading
« Reply #13 on: October 31, 2022, 06:26:43 PM »
I know 4 digits (in grams) is a little ridiculous but the last load test was in 0.1 grain (converted to grams) increments. 
+/- 0.1 grain just wouldn't cut it. 
No way I can charge to +/- 0.0002 grams, and no way I can miss by 30 counts. 
The big tell will be the next range trip to see if the group sizes are real, or just a fluke. 

Using a cheap scale to sort bullets.
These have already been measured for consistent BTO, now sorting out light and heavy 85.5 grain Bergers. 
85.46 to 85.54 (+/- scale repeatability) is OK.
« Last Edit: October 31, 2022, 07:44:02 PM by Rocketvapor »
Well I guess my new **** stirrin paddle don't work . I got a like . WTF 😈

Flo just received her EXPERT Mid range card from the NRA.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/famed-ex-uss-john-f-003916449.html

Rocketvapor

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Re: Fine Tuning My Reloading
« Reply #14 on: November 03, 2022, 06:25:18 AM »
Managed to get enough rounds loaded to go do some shooting.
Had a dry day or two but wasn't ready with the brass.
Then a wet day.  Tuesday wasn't bad and the kitchen could be held to 57 to 58% so I loaded up Flo's ammo.
Yesterday humidity was up and I loaded some for me at about 63% humidity. Didn't keep powder out for long so maybe it won't impact velocities too much. 
Also taking some left overs from previous trips.


At least I have brass prepped for another trip or two. 

I have annealed, sized and weight sorted Brass,
Bullets sorted by weight and BTO,
CCI450 primers weight sorted to remove the outliers,
Just need a fair weather day to load up some more. 
Well I guess my new **** stirrin paddle don't work . I got a like . WTF 😈

Flo just received her EXPERT Mid range card from the NRA.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/famed-ex-uss-john-f-003916449.html