The Reloading Blog page

We Love To Shoot…

So that means we love to reload too. Factory ammunition is all well and good and a great way to get started… and when I say get started I mean collecting brass. 🙂 If you have a fondness for shooting targets and want to fine tune, then reloading is the way to go.

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Latest reloading notes May 2014 , We Love to Shoot…

And as such, reloading is part of it. I am making a change in some of my methodology and have decided to remain static as to some of my selections. Example for the .308, rather than jumping around from bullet to bullet and powder to powder, I am going to stay with one bullet for a while and adjust powder. I am going to attempt to stay with one powder  as best as I can but with powder shortages as they are these days that may be a challenge.

The bullet will be a standard 150 grain FMJ-BT in .308 from Hornady. ( I got a bulk package which helps) and the powders i have access to at this time are  IMR 8208 and Hodgdon CFE 223. For my .223 same powders work and there  appears to be a supply of 50 and 53 gr Hornady V-Max available.  Now this will make loading variations easier, thats the problem when starting into reloading, one goes all out and starts trying all sorts of loads. While this is fun and good experience  using the tools, scales and COL adjustments. It does little at the range when you try to see how  much  one is over the other and gets quite confusing. So a step back and a realignment.

The next while may be a bit boring but I will be learning a lot more.

More to come and now its time for  a more comprehensive range report.

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This year I have started, I picked up a RCBS Turret Deluxe reloading kit. Of course I had to get a bunch of extra bits and pieces which dont come with it. Like extra shell holders, cartridge cases to hold the finished rounds. A trickler, one of those unloading hammers and of course.. Data manuals and powder and bullets.

Data Manuals, Online Vs Hard copy…

A couple of words on data manuals. They are a MUST you can not reload without the proper data information. The RCBS kit came with one for Speer bullets and I purchased one from Hornady. Now as I am new to reloading and all the politics around the whole Data bit. I’m going to throw my 2 grains onto the scale…. That being, I do not agree with a bullet company that charges for a data book in this day and age.  At welovetoshoot.com we have a way of considering what bullets to try out and be impressed by.

My look at it is this, if you want me to purchase your bullets then give me an on line option to get  loading data. I do not like the idea of purchasing a data manual for your bullets when I’m going to be buying them and firing them off then buying more. Granted there are a lot of people that swear by different brands of bullets and will pay for the books and the manufacturers will send you the data if you email them. I did that with Hornady before I bought their book, but it took them days to reply. I was fed up. Now at this point I am  only loading 3 sizes .223 ,  .243 and .308, another reason to be annoyed at having to buy a manual for all when i only want  3. But in the future I may get another rifle. ( Ah but the rant goes on) I picked up a new powder the other day, which is said to be good for all 3 calibers, IMR 8208 XBR. I have loaded some up and am waiting for warmer weather to go out and try it out. Well one Manual doesn’t even mention it and the other only once or twice for my needs. When I went to the IMR site, which by the way has their info online, they show more up to date info. As such it is easier for a company to post updates to info online then to keep putting out book revisions. That’s not to say a book revision is not a great idea, there are time when a book is a better or more convenient. But I want the latest and greatest data available to me immediately and the company’s that do that for me are going to get my business first. Lets call it the cost of doing business, lets see I am willing to pay an extra penny per bullet to fund the online data when I purchase my bullets. At the end of the day I will end up paying more but I will have instant access to data and know the sites are up to date.

 So a word to the bullet manufacturers , GET those manuals online and you will get more sales Period!

Nosler is a perfect example of a company that has benefited from having their manual on line. Of all my reloading  over 75% of my reloading is Nosler bullets. Hmmm you guys do the math. I have the Hornady manual, just because I grabbed some bullets when I first started reloading. Now they are pretty good and I do like them. but the Nosler are the ones that I’m working my way through most of the line that is available in 223 and 243.

http://www.nosler.com/load-data

 Same can be said for powders, IMR, Hodgdon and Winchester appear to of teamed up and have a great site..

http://www.hodgdonreloading.com/

So my word to you guys out there, If you want my business make it easy for me to “Want to buy” from you.

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Guess how many rounds….

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🙂