New reloader, try it!!

[juliang]

Well, this forum finally pushed me into trying reloading. Armed with my new $70 Lee Anniversary kit, I got to work. I also bought a used tumbler at a gun show for $15. So, nothing fancy, nothing expensive. The Lee scale and powder measure looked like the quality you get free in a box of cornflakes. They do however seem to work. I tried 2 loads, Benchmark 24.5 gr and Benchmark 25gr with 55gr NBT in 223 from Tikka varmint rifle. The 24.5 load seemed very good. The first 2 were a little off, due to fear of personal injury and a little excitement. The last 3 were all touching. The 3 with 25 gr, shot outside in 25f with slippers, so.....can probably be improved, but still about .72".
I post this as a total beginner as an encouragement to others considering reloading. It doesn't have to be expensive, it's not black magic and surprisingly works pretty well. I have now purchased a Lee classic turret press, at least I can leave each caliber set up. 204, 308, 243 and 30-06 dies are all awaiting their turn!!!
I just returned from a 3 week work project in Mexico, dying to try this out. It was worth the wait!

[bigblue]

Sounds like you did a great job with your first reloads. I've reloaded for each of the calibers you mentioned with the exception of the .204. They are all pretty easy and straight forward to reload. It becomes a bit more involved when you use belted magnums.
When I'm trying to find a hunting load, I start with a bullet and then pick the appropriate powders for that bullet. I go to the published data and pick two or three of the fastest loads. I then load up three cartridges with each powder, one with the smallest published charge, one form the middle, and one with the maximum charge. I then shoot them starting with the lowest powder charge and working up to the maximum. I watch for pressure signs with each shot fired, looking for backed out or flattened primers and signs of case failure. If I get to shoot all three of each powder and see no signs of pressure problems, I pick the powder that gave me the best accuracy with the fastest load. I can then back off the charge a few tenths of a grain at a time, play with the over all cartridge length and even the amount of crimp used, trying to get the best accuracy from those combinations. You always need to look the primers and cases over after each shot when your working up a load and changing things around. If I chose to change the case manufacturer, primer make or type, or bullet weight or design, I go back to the start and test each for pressure signs again. If I was loading strictly for accuracy I'd approach it differently.
I have the Savage model 12 in .223 and it really responds well to reloads. It has a fast 1 in 9" rifling twist rate, so I tried heavier 69gr. bullets from Nosler and Sierra over 26.0gr. of Varget. They both shoot under 1/2" groups at 100 yards, with most closer to 1/4". Picking the right bullet for your twist rate is important. If the bullet is too heavy for the twist rate, you'll find they don't stabilize properly. I like both Benchmark and Varget for the .223. Varget also worked well for me with the .308. I like RL-19, H4350, or IMR7828SSC for the 30-06 and .243. I have heard of some real good results from H414 in the .243. The great thing about reloading is that you can customize the ammunition for your rifle. Using factory loads your pretty well going to get stuck with a cartridge that works the best in most of the rifles of that caliber that are sold. While you can always remember the first deer you shot, you can also always remember the first you shot with a cartridge you loaded. It adds a whole new dimension to hunting and shooting.
Glad to see another reloader here!
Don

[bubbawitha4570]

Welcome to the club that will swallow you up if you let it!!!

Reloading can become an addiction, and you will start to spend more on ammunition. The big payoff comes when you realize that you are shooting 3X more for the same money, and getting much better results than factory ammunition. It just takes time to learn your guns likes and dislikes.