Recent content by 8emem

After some experimentation for mid-range loads with 800X, I have settled on 11.0 - 12.0 grains with 240 gr SWC coated bullets for .44 mag. I don't have a chronograph. This range is narrow because I get a lot of un-burned particles below 11, yet above 12 recoil starts to feel pretty strong...

My top 3 powders for 10MM (in order): 1. Blue Dot 2. Accurate #7 3. 800-X As you work up your loads you will probably find that you need to run them on the warm side of the published data. These powders are very good in my S&W 1006 at about 5% below max using 180 JHP's, so I stopped there...

Hey, Rclark, thanks for posting your loading results for CFE Pistol. I really enjoyed your work with 20/28 and the loads I've assembled with that powder are working out great. Will you be testing other calibers with CFE Pistol?

Alliant says (more or less "off-the-record") that BE-86 is basically Power Pistol with a flash suppressant, which makes it burn a little faster, with a burn rate between Unique and Power Pistol. There is plenty of data on Alliant's website. I'm going to get some as soon as I can find an 8-lb jug.

I meant the load data and C.E. Harris article is easy to find. I never said anything was the same as anything else, just suggesting alternatives for reduced rifle loads when SR 4759 goes away. There's one in every crowd (sigh).

Alliant 2400 and Accurate 5744 should work well for reduced rifle loads. Accurate publishes data for 5744 with many rifle cartridges and C. E. Harris is well-known for his work with 2400. Both easy to find.

+1 for Alliant Promo. Natchezss has the 8lb jugs in stock briefly 2-3 times per month. I bought it because that's all I could get. So far I have been loading 45 acp using Red Dot data and it works just fine. Shipping to where I'm at and hazmat bring the price up to $18/lb. Not a great deal...

Perfect crimp for magnum-strength loads. That's the way you do it!

For handgun, I find that after 3-4 loadings of the brass I start to get some primers that don't seat completely. I clean the pockets at this point. Haven't started reloading rifle yet but I have a few thousand .223, .308, and .30-06 cleaned (including primer pocket), sized and trimmed brass...

.44 magnum - Win 240 HSP, 15.0 gr Blue Dot, WLP primer. .357 magnum - Rem 158 JHP, 9.0 gr HS6, WSP primer. Caution - the Blue Dot load is over maximum in some manuals, but not all. No signs of pressure in the 77/44, Redhawks, Blackhawk. I am getting great accuracy, a good size flash, and...

I load mostly for military-style or surplus rifles and use Varget or H4895 for .223 with the 55gr FMJ bullets. Results are good in my Armalite, excellent in my Savage 11 Trophy Hunter. Both powders also work well in .308 and .30-06 with 150gr FMJ.

I have used plated and jacketed bullets without a cannelure in 45 colt. I back off the roll crimp so that only a light crease is made in the bullet without cutting the jacket. This takes some trial and error, and I pulled some bullets from loaded rounds at the start just to be sure. I...

I use 231 for almost all handgun reloading these days.

I asked this crimping question to a couple of members at my gun club who shoot regional/national competitions with the AR-15/.223. They said that crimping is not necessary and they do not do it. According to them, the most important things are to make sure that your sizing die provides the...

There seems to be plenty of new blue 4" GP100 .38's around, and new stainless 3" .357's, so that may crowd the market for the 831 somewhat. It is a desirable piece to me, I really like the GP100 platform (I have 3). The 3" barrel in .38 is not rare but scarce enough to get a small premium in...