Hunting Washington Forum

Equipment & Gear => Guns and Ammo => Topic started by: Emptyhanded on February 13, 2009, 01:35:16 PM

Title: Dumb Question?
Post by: Emptyhanded on February 13, 2009, 01:35:16 PM: I always read about how some cartridges are "easier" to reload for. What makes one cartridge easier to reload than another? All i can come up with is availability of brass. Sorry, for the dumb question. Thanks for any help.
Title: Re: Dumb Question?
Post by: bobcat on February 13, 2009, 01:46:41 PM: I'm not sure there is any difference in the ease of loading different cartridges. The only "easier" one would be any straight walled pistol cartridge, like a 44 Remington Magnum. With that type of case you can use carbide resizing dies which eliminates the need to lube the case before running it through the die. Other than that I can't think of why any cartridge would be easier to reload than any other.
Title: Re: Dumb Question?
Post by: ThePascoKid on February 13, 2009, 01:51:31 PM: Using a single stage press like a Rock chucker I have found it harder to load the smaller calibers like .223 just because of the size of the bullet, or maybe it's the size of my damn fingers :dunno: Starting it up through the seating die can be a pain.
Title: Re: Dumb Question?
Post by: littletoes on February 13, 2009, 06:42:31 PM: "Easier" is usually a reference to how easy it is to make a round accurate.

Cartriges such as the .308, .223, or such are "easy". It doesn't take a lot of load work to make em shoot.
Title: Re: Dumb Question?
Post by: Threebyfour on February 13, 2009, 06:45:34 PM: Some cartridges can be more difficult it seems to me,, I load for the 243 and it seems easy,, When I load for the .350 rem mag I have to be careful not to collapse the shoulder due to a very steep angle.
Title: Re: Dumb Question?
Post by: littletoes on February 14, 2009, 06:59:50 AM: Yessiree, I think "accurate" means sub 1/2 MOA. My factory 300 Weatherby is a hard one to load for. All of the factory "free bore" makes it very diffucult for boat-tail bullets to perform well.
Title: Re: Dumb Question?
Post by: 12Gauge on February 14, 2009, 07:47:38 AM: Quote from: ThePascoKid on February 13, 2009, 01:51:31 PM
Using a single stage press like a Rock chucker I have found it harder to load the smaller calibers like .223 just because of the size of the bullet, or maybe it's the size of my damn fingers :dunno: Starting it up through the seating die can be a pain.

That's why I chucked my rock chucker and bought a Lee Turrret press, so I do not have to re-set the dies everytime, been using it 35 years now
Title: Re: Dumb Question?
Post by: ing on February 14, 2009, 09:55:21 AM: Quote from: littletoes on February 14, 2009, 06:59:50 AM
Yessiree, I think "accurate" means sub 1/2 MOA. My factory 300 Weatherby is a hard one to load for. All of the factory "free bore" makes it very diffucult for boat-tail bullets to perform well.
I'm in the market for a 300 WBY and plan on reloading for it. Why dont boat-tails perform well out of a free bore? I plan on loading 165 and 180 grain bullets. What is your recommended bullet?
Title: Re: Dumb Question?
Post by: Emptyhanded on February 14, 2009, 08:13:36 PM: Thanks guys for the help. I was just curious as to what made one less difficult. Thanks Again.
Title: Re: Dumb Question?
Post by: littletoes on February 14, 2009, 08:45:54 PM: Just hope it helped Emptyhanded!

Ing-The 300 Weatherby is an amazing round, but the "Freebore" that allows the higher velocity (they kinda sneek that in for a little "sales pitch" in the speed department), it isn't conducive for the proper harmonics that boat-tails like, to put it simple.

Flat-based bullets are more forgiving in this area.
If you arn't afraid to play with the seating depth, you may find a sweet spot that the rifle likes, but Weatherby uses so much (more than the Remington's and Winchester's I've been around, but YES, they use freebore too), free bore, its hard to get close to the lands.

I haven't tried the 240 grain Match Kings yet, but yes I do want to. The new Weatherby's come with a 1 in 9 1/2" twist, which may just stabilize that round.
Sierra MK's are very forgiving in that department, and it may just be a powder/bullet combo. I've tried the 200 grain Mk, which is a very accuratly made bullet, and have had 3 shot groups just over an 1", using Reloader 25 (I'm a sucker for slow burning powders!). But I also have a weekness for ity bity groups, 1" just isn't small enough for me. The Sierra Manuel for instance recommends Reloader 22, which I haven't tried, so go figure? ;)

I had the R25 on the shelf.....it does work great with Speer Grand Slams though, under 1" at 100, and over 3100 fps in my rifle. Those 200 MK's? Had 'em over 3150 fps, but you have to work up your own loads, that one was too hot to publish on here....some nut might try it!

What bullets were you thinking?
Title: Re: Dumb Question?
Post by: ing on February 15, 2009, 11:33:28 AM: littletoes, I was planning on using 165 grain Nosler Partitions and Ballistic tips. Maybe even an Accubond. I am also thinking about trying Hornady 165 grain soft points. I believe those are a flat based bullet. I am a big fan of .30 cal 165 grain bullets. I have had great success using them for deer out of a 30-06. They hit hard and dont seem to tear up too much meat.
Title: Re: Dumb Question?
Post by: buckhorn2 on February 15, 2009, 12:02:00 PM: I have had good luck and good groups useing 79 grains of H4831 and 180 grain accubounds I used to use ballistic tips but the accubound has shown better results for us . It has helped acciracy for us by seating the bullets out more.
Title: Re: Dumb Question?
Post by: norsepeak on February 15, 2009, 12:28:09 PM: I haven't had great luck grouping with the ballistic tips in my 300 wtby either in the 165 or 180. Trying Barnes tsx now, we'll see. :dunno: