Sorry about the one load "man", but I can't recall seeing our gals much in this forum. Which do you believe yourself to be, and why ? Myself, the mad scientist kinda reloader. This kinda shooter really should have a chrono, and yet I don't yet. Just in .44spec I must have 6 different loads, probably more. The couple of heavist loads for the Rugers only, yet not really hot, not Keiths. But I have my "frog smackin'" loads, cowboy loads,varmint loads, 'Squatch loads, etc.. I guess my logic would be that I don't want to fling 250gr of lead at a frog,leaf,knothole,bumble-bee,snake. I get it, I'd be better in the marksmanship category if I only used one load per gun. Your choices, and why ? A friendly discussion hopefully. steve
One Load Man or Mad Scientist ?
- Thread starter stevemb
- Start date
Clovishound
Blackhawk
I used to be a one load "man". Then the bullet/powder shortage, and I had to keep changing what I shot based on availability.
They only caveat to that is in rifle, I have an accuracy load, and a hunting load. I also made some .38 SD loads to have around just in case.
They only caveat to that is in rifle, I have an accuracy load, and a hunting load. I also made some .38 SD loads to have around just in case.
Tellico
Buckeye
Mad Scientist here! I have 5 loads for .30 Carbine BH, 7 for .45 Colt, 5 for .44 spl and at least 8 for .45 ACP! 3 for .44 mag and 4 for .357, I don't want to even count .223 loads but have 4 for 30-30. I have been "going to buy" a chrony for at least 40 yrs. One of these days maybe. I can't really say some of these loads shoot better than others, but there are many different bullet types and weights for different purposes.
Fred
Fred
jsh
Single-Sixer
To me it is pretty much all about accuracy.
I shoot cast in pretty much all of my pistols and rifles. Jacketed, I would guess I have shot less than 200 in the last 15 years. That is working up a few hunting loads in some rifles, less than fifty there. The rest were in some match ammo for a couple of XP's.
My worst problem now is chasing molds that will work for the chore at hand. I have enough alloy to last me for a long time. So, why spend $30 a box on ammo when I can take that times three or four and buy a mold and be ahead of the game in a few hundred rounds of shooting. Providing the gun likes the mold of course, the glitch in my system.
I usually have two loads per gun reguardless of what it is. Target loads and hunting loads. I dislike the term of plinking ammo. If I am going to sling lead and burn powder I expect good to excellent accuracy all the time. Each time out should be a learning experience and not just a pray and spray event. Practice ammo should be as accurate as gun possible. If ammo is substandard, you end up with substandard results. Which in turn does nothing for ones confidence.
Not saying I don't have junk ammo. Have more than I would like to be honest. It is used for fouling bores before I get into any serious work.
Best money I have spent in a long time was my new SS 5.5" bisley 45 Colt/45 acp gun. I had amassed a couple of coffee cans of 45acp that were just not bullseye worthy. Half a dozen different powders,loads,weights and designs. The bisley ate most of these with ease. The accuracy really had me raise an eyebrow on the mix at 25-35 yards.
I have seen folks try to force feed a gun a load combo that it just does not like for one reason or another. What one shooter deems a success another may deem it substandard. I see a lot of money spent on various guns. Then groups shot at 25-50 yards. Short of a 2-4" carry gun that tells me nothing. Then some folks ranges won't allow hand guns to be shot past that either, so I understand that part.
I start at 50, then go to 100 at least.
On thing I fell into in my early years of IHMSA was multiple loads rather than change sight settings. This can be a disaster if same case and projectile are used with no clear marking to seperate them. Imagine a shooting box dropping three 100 round ammo boxes on the ground and mixing them all together. A mess to say the least and a lot weighing to sort ammo.
I try not to get on to many powders. It is hard to do some times. What I hate is one spends a LOT of time on working up a load that shoots extremely well, then the powder is dropped from the line. Then replaced with a new better version that doesn't perform as we would wish. Then we start all over, unless we have tinkered some.
Sorry for the long winded reply.
I guess in a nut shell, if it ain't broke don't fix it.
Jeff
I shoot cast in pretty much all of my pistols and rifles. Jacketed, I would guess I have shot less than 200 in the last 15 years. That is working up a few hunting loads in some rifles, less than fifty there. The rest were in some match ammo for a couple of XP's.
My worst problem now is chasing molds that will work for the chore at hand. I have enough alloy to last me for a long time. So, why spend $30 a box on ammo when I can take that times three or four and buy a mold and be ahead of the game in a few hundred rounds of shooting. Providing the gun likes the mold of course, the glitch in my system.
I usually have two loads per gun reguardless of what it is. Target loads and hunting loads. I dislike the term of plinking ammo. If I am going to sling lead and burn powder I expect good to excellent accuracy all the time. Each time out should be a learning experience and not just a pray and spray event. Practice ammo should be as accurate as gun possible. If ammo is substandard, you end up with substandard results. Which in turn does nothing for ones confidence.
Not saying I don't have junk ammo. Have more than I would like to be honest. It is used for fouling bores before I get into any serious work.
Best money I have spent in a long time was my new SS 5.5" bisley 45 Colt/45 acp gun. I had amassed a couple of coffee cans of 45acp that were just not bullseye worthy. Half a dozen different powders,loads,weights and designs. The bisley ate most of these with ease. The accuracy really had me raise an eyebrow on the mix at 25-35 yards.
I have seen folks try to force feed a gun a load combo that it just does not like for one reason or another. What one shooter deems a success another may deem it substandard. I see a lot of money spent on various guns. Then groups shot at 25-50 yards. Short of a 2-4" carry gun that tells me nothing. Then some folks ranges won't allow hand guns to be shot past that either, so I understand that part.
I start at 50, then go to 100 at least.
On thing I fell into in my early years of IHMSA was multiple loads rather than change sight settings. This can be a disaster if same case and projectile are used with no clear marking to seperate them. Imagine a shooting box dropping three 100 round ammo boxes on the ground and mixing them all together. A mess to say the least and a lot weighing to sort ammo.
I try not to get on to many powders. It is hard to do some times. What I hate is one spends a LOT of time on working up a load that shoots extremely well, then the powder is dropped from the line. Then replaced with a new better version that doesn't perform as we would wish. Then we start all over, unless we have tinkered some.
Sorry for the long winded reply.
I guess in a nut shell, if it ain't broke don't fix it.
Jeff
Jimbo357mag
Hawkeye
I like to divide my loads up into power factors. I have full power loads and then I have -10% loads and some -20% loads and some 'cowboy' loads for the 357mag/38sp and 44mag/44sp. I also use several different powders and a few different bullets. That makes for a lot of different loads. (maybe 50-60 different loads)
I also load for the 30-30 but have only about six different loads that I shoot. I use three different powders and three different weight bullets.
I have only one load for the 30 carbine. (how did that happen?)
I also load for the 30-30 but have only about six different loads that I shoot. I use three different powders and three different weight bullets.
I have only one load for the 30 carbine. (how did that happen?)
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45Colt_Man
Blackhawk
I do believe I fall in the mad scientist category. Quick check reveals I have 8 different .45 colt loads right now and 4 new types of bullets I haven't started on yet. We won't even address the .32H&R, .357mag, .41mag, .44mag or .45acp calibers. :lol:
Dana
Dana
For heavy hunting I am a one load man but for a walking around, everyday, stump shooting, paper punching load I do change them up from time to time. I enjoy my quite time that I spend loading so it gives my something to do when I work up a new load.
I've tested a lot of powders for my favorite calibers for three reasons... 1) for accuracy of course, 2) the velocity I am looking for, and 3) to build a list of loads that I can use when I don't have my 'favorite' powder available. And yes, I have a chrony. So not really mad scientist. I have my standard 'go to' load for each caliber and that is that. Well, I do have another .45 Colt load ... a 'woods' load too when I need it. Same with .44Special. But those are 'useless' for general shooting. I have standardized on bullets too. 250g RNFP and 255g SWC for .45 Colt. 240g SWC for .44Mag/.44Spec, and 158g SWC for .357/.38. Still looking for the bullet I want to use for .32 H&R Mag though (running some 78g RN tests at this time, did quite a bit of testing with 100g RN bullets)....
OldePhart
Blackhawk
I find a load I like for a gun and purpose and stick with it as long as the components are available. I actually hate the chore of loading a bunch of small batches of different recipes to test, etc. If I was shooting long ranges it might be different...but since I basically just reload because it's the only way I can afford to shoot action pistol (mostly 10-15 yards, occasionally "all the way out" to 25) I'm not looking for MOA accuracy.
I try to have one load per caliber for pistol. I also have two rifles in pistol calibers and separate loads for them. I have to completely label the ammo boxes so I don't pick up the wrong one. In 357 I have to label the boxes as to which firearm they are for.
The majority of mine are for hunting purposes or self defense.
I didn't realize it until I looked that the only ones I'm currently using with one load data are the 45acp and 45colt.
Some differing loads I'm happy with:
5-223 Rem
3-7mm Rem Mag
2-30/30 Win
2-308 Win
3-30'06 Spr
2-45/70 Gvt
3-38spl (and expanding to at least 2 more)
2-357mag (and expanding to at least 2 more)
2-44spl (and expanding to 1 more)
2-44mag (and expanding to 1 more)
I didn't realize it until I looked that the only ones I'm currently using with one load data are the 45acp and 45colt.
Some differing loads I'm happy with:
5-223 Rem
3-7mm Rem Mag
2-30/30 Win
2-308 Win
3-30'06 Spr
2-45/70 Gvt
3-38spl (and expanding to at least 2 more)
2-357mag (and expanding to at least 2 more)
2-44spl (and expanding to 1 more)
2-44mag (and expanding to 1 more)
The Mad Scientist Reloader Support Group is now forming ! The next loading subject for me is bear loads, as spring trout season for Penn is mid-April. We always see bear sign, as the bears have learned to key in on the streams. At least in Penn.,it seems to be a tradition to clean fish as you go, or just before you leave the water. Not a good idea.
I try to be a one load man but sometimes it's hard.
cleardatum
Single-Sixer
- Joined
- Oct 7, 2013
- Messages
- 297
consummate mad scientist here. in everything i do, and hand loading is no different. please refer to my "microscopic observations" series. as far as a chrony, all it has done for me is to muddy the waters even further. my test subject is a savage 10pc, with a barrel that looks like a railroad yard. not a good test subject. i'll be re barreling it, but not before i learn how to hone. that thing is the perfect test subject for that. how else are we supposed to learn? let us continue our experimentation with joy and gladness. for god sakes, be careful. 
Shooter973
Bearcat
As a rule I'm a two load man. One load for cast bullets, and another load for jacketed bullets. My cast bullet loads are middle of the road loads. My jacketed loads are close to red line loads. If I'm shooting the expensive jacketed loads I want all the performance I can get. 90-95% of my shooting is with the cast bullets. I do load my cast bullet 30-30 loads to fullpower. All the others are handgun loads. I don't shoot cast in my other 30 cals. or other center fire rifles. I do load 2 loads for 45/70. Cast are moderate, jacketed near red line. I've settled on these loads for each different caliber and know exactly what the load is, determined by the bullet. Cast-Jacketed. Works for me.
DGW1949
Hawkeye
I'm for sure a one load kind of guy....but I have to admit that it does involve some compromise.
DGW
DGW
375supermag
Blackhawk
- Joined
- Jan 1, 2013
- Messages
- 557
Hi...
Not sure where i fall on this...
I used to have about 6-8 different loads for my .357Mag revolvers alone, but I gradually pared that down a bit.
Still have a couple of jacketed loads (Hornady 125,158 and 180 gr HP/XTPs) for certain perceived needs, but I mostly shoot 158gr LSWC out of all of them as general-purpose loads. I pretty much dispensed with loading 125gr LSWC entirely.
Other revolver calibers (.41Mag, .45Colt and .44Mag) have been trimmed down to one cast and one jacketed load each and in some cases (.38Spl, .45AutoRim and .44Spl) just one cast load.
Semi-auto loads are pretty much one cast load that shoots to the same POI as much carry load in .45ACP so I have a cheaper alternative to practice with.
I just got my first .40S&W last week and will probably shoot cast and plated out of it for awhile until I settle on what works best. No real plans to carry either the new S&W M&P or one of my 9mms for self-defense...they were bought primarily as range guns and test platforms. In fact, one of the primary reasons I chose the M&P was the availability of after-market drop-in barrels in 9mm and .357Sig. That will give me basically three gun/cartridge combinations on one platform.
Have no idea how many load combinations I may try in this new tupperware gun, but since it was bought as a test bed platform(new to me caliber/calibers and platform) I suspect it will see many different loads before I make a decision on what works best for the deadly serious business of punching holes in paper targets.
I do know that after playing with it for the last week, I may eventually find a need for something similar in 10mm. I have always been intrigued by that caliber(sort of like a .41Mag ballistics-wise in an autoloader).
Not sure where i fall on this...
I used to have about 6-8 different loads for my .357Mag revolvers alone, but I gradually pared that down a bit.
Still have a couple of jacketed loads (Hornady 125,158 and 180 gr HP/XTPs) for certain perceived needs, but I mostly shoot 158gr LSWC out of all of them as general-purpose loads. I pretty much dispensed with loading 125gr LSWC entirely.
Other revolver calibers (.41Mag, .45Colt and .44Mag) have been trimmed down to one cast and one jacketed load each and in some cases (.38Spl, .45AutoRim and .44Spl) just one cast load.
Semi-auto loads are pretty much one cast load that shoots to the same POI as much carry load in .45ACP so I have a cheaper alternative to practice with.
I just got my first .40S&W last week and will probably shoot cast and plated out of it for awhile until I settle on what works best. No real plans to carry either the new S&W M&P or one of my 9mms for self-defense...they were bought primarily as range guns and test platforms. In fact, one of the primary reasons I chose the M&P was the availability of after-market drop-in barrels in 9mm and .357Sig. That will give me basically three gun/cartridge combinations on one platform.
Have no idea how many load combinations I may try in this new tupperware gun, but since it was bought as a test bed platform(new to me caliber/calibers and platform) I suspect it will see many different loads before I make a decision on what works best for the deadly serious business of punching holes in paper targets.
I do know that after playing with it for the last week, I may eventually find a need for something similar in 10mm. I have always been intrigued by that caliber(sort of like a .41Mag ballistics-wise in an autoloader).
OldePhart
Blackhawk
I know a couple of people who swear by a Glock in 10mm as an "all around" gun when concealment isn't an issue. It might not be my first choice for hunting pigs, for example, but is powerful enough to deal with angry porkers if you happen to stumble across one...or six. Glocks are generally very tough and will handle max loads well...and are probably the most reliable tupperware guns around.
If I were spending a lot of time in the woods I might lean pretty hard towards one myself.
Cheesewhiz
Hunter
I guess you would call me a curious "Mad Scientist". I have loaded so many different bullets and used so many different powders for 9mm alone that it would make your head spin. Like many, I have my pet loads but those number in the 10's by now and that is just for 9mm. I also have quite a few in .45 ACP.
I've found some great bullets in these trials and some pretty lousy ones too.
I know of one FMJ bullet maker that is so inconsistent as I can't believe anyone even buys the product anymore, the bullet lengths move around, so do the weights and the diameters, just awful stuff.
Powders are powders and one may work well with certain loads and in other loads, it might fail to impress. I try to find a viable use for every powder that I acquire and have been successful in the vast majority of the cases, I don't give up on a powder if I know it will fit in a window but if that window is small, I may not purchase that powder over another. As has already been said in the thread, this powder shortage has actually taught me a lot.
I've found some great bullets in these trials and some pretty lousy ones too.
I know of one FMJ bullet maker that is so inconsistent as I can't believe anyone even buys the product anymore, the bullet lengths move around, so do the weights and the diameters, just awful stuff.
Powders are powders and one may work well with certain loads and in other loads, it might fail to impress. I try to find a viable use for every powder that I acquire and have been successful in the vast majority of the cases, I don't give up on a powder if I know it will fit in a window but if that window is small, I may not purchase that powder over another. As has already been said in the thread, this powder shortage has actually taught me a lot.
Bucks Owin
Hunter
Chronic experimenter here. It's the main reason I shoot! 8)
Chrono? I feel naked without it... :shock:
Chrono? I feel naked without it... :shock:
I'm a "one load" kinda guy except for .38 special. With it I have "my" load (standard velocity) then a light load for the wife and grandson to shoot. Over time I've found the combinations that work for my purposes and stick with it. That enables me to limit the varieties of components and keep a larger quantity of those on hand so I can weather the storms of panic buying.
Certified Jekyl and Hyde.
One load once it has been determined based on accuracy, purpose, gun, and caliber. Mad scientist in that I will go "off the books" to try something I think will work even though it has never been published. That probably stems from when I started reloading I had two calibers, one of which was a wildcat, so off the books was the norm for me from day one.
One load once it has been determined based on accuracy, purpose, gun, and caliber. Mad scientist in that I will go "off the books" to try something I think will work even though it has never been published. That probably stems from when I started reloading I had two calibers, one of which was a wildcat, so off the books was the norm for me from day one.
OldePhart
Blackhawk
Glad I'm not the only one that does this. These days you almost have to be willing to do a bit of that given the sketchy availability of components, particularly powder.Dan in MI said:
Another reason to do it is to find loads that work well (as in good terminal performance) when fired from short barrels. For example, the typical .357 and even .38 +P loads are really designed around 4" barrels and so the .357, especially, tends to have mediocre performance plus lots of flash-bang from stubbies (especially those at less than 3").
With a new 3" .357 revolver to feed I'll probably try to work up good defensive and practice loads that shoot to the same point of impact with the best muzzle energy I can get without excessive flash.
Actually, I'll probably try the Buffalo Bore short barrel .357 round first...then if it works well in my SP-101 I'll try to work up a practice load to match it.
However, if one doesn't have the kind of education/technical background to extrapolate from several variables at once it's probably better to color inside the lines...
John
As 375Supermag said..."certain perceived needs". Yup, this is where it starts ! In .44spec I have Skeeter loads, full wadcutters,bear loads,my varmint loads of a 135gr bullet with 9-shot under it,frog smackin' loads, etc...Oh, and black powder loads in two calibers, and..
