cockercas Posted August 14, 2011 Report Share Posted August 14, 2011 I've put 140 shots thru the .243 since mid April and saved all the cases. Now what do I need to start reloading. Were do I buy. And what costs am I looking at. Moneys not really an issue but I'm not after spending mega monies. Can I buy a full kit with every thing I need included. Thanks for looking oh and dose it matter if some cases are federal and some remington Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vince Green Posted August 14, 2011 Report Share Posted August 14, 2011 Best to find a friend to show you even if it means driving a bit. You really can't beat a bit of hands on. But in the mean time go on ebay and search for some reloading books. They often come up secondhand for much less than new. Numerous American A4 sized softcovers to choose from. Also hit youtube and the like, lots of reloading vids. By then you will have more of an idea what you want. And the answer to your other question, no it doesn't matter at all but don't mix them. Just for consistancy really. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luckyshot Posted August 14, 2011 Report Share Posted August 14, 2011 (edited) Going through that many rounds in such a short space of time I would say reloading would definately be worth your while. I use a pretty cheap kit mostly Lee apart from some RCBS 505 scales as the Lee ones are terrible. All together my whole setup cost less than £200 all in and makes pretty good accurate rounds for my 243, Reloading setup A 3 shot group @ 100 yards 75g Hornady V-Max over 37g Varget. Edited August 14, 2011 by Luckyshot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cockercas Posted August 14, 2011 Author Report Share Posted August 14, 2011 Many thanks. Any titles of reloading books I should be looking for Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_R Posted August 14, 2011 Report Share Posted August 14, 2011 Lee book of Modern Reloading, second edition is a good one, as is the latest Speer book. Those have a lot of info about techniques etc. as well as loading data. The powder manufacturers web sites are also full of loading data. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dicehorn Posted August 15, 2011 Report Share Posted August 15, 2011 Many thanks. Any titles of reloading books I should be looking for Recommend ABC of Reloading - its not biased towards any powder or reloading manufacturer. Also go onto U Tube and have a look at some of the vids by Ammosmith - a guy who knows what he is talking about. Peter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scotland rifles Posted August 15, 2011 Report Share Posted August 15, 2011 one thing you can do is speak to a local that reloads and see if he is willing to help you, there is nothing like reading how to do it, but doing it hands on will never be beaten, kind regards bob. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cockercas Posted August 15, 2011 Author Report Share Posted August 15, 2011 Hey bob. A lad on here did offer to show me how to do it. I'll pm him as soon as the nights draw in and I stop working so much. Thanks for looking lads I'll have a look about and get some of them books. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coyotemaster Posted August 20, 2011 Report Share Posted August 20, 2011 As you gain some experience you may want to peruse Dan Newberry's OCW theory on charge weights and harmonics. You can make that .243 hum with the right combo. I have loaded the 65 vmax for some friends .243 with 3031 and it was scary accurate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cockercas Posted August 21, 2011 Author Report Share Posted August 21, 2011 Cheers coyotemaster Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cockercas Posted August 27, 2011 Author Report Share Posted August 27, 2011 Thanks to all that helped. If and when I meet you ther is definitely a pint or two with your names on. I've settled on a kit. Phoned Henry krank today and told them what I was after and after a brief conversation I've settled on a lee anniversary kit .243 die and modern book of reloading. Now a few more questions. If you don't mind 1. Were in east Yorkshire can I buy powder without paying £25 delivery. 2. Do I have to spend hours cleaning all my spent cases 3. How do I choose a powder. Bullet heads ect. 4. And I've read that what is ok in one gun might blow another up. How do I know what my rifles limit is. Thanks for all your help. much appreciated Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magman Posted August 27, 2011 Report Share Posted August 27, 2011 Find a re-loader close to you on the site and im sure they will take you under there wing They will answer all your questions and then some Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Imperfection Posted August 27, 2011 Report Share Posted August 27, 2011 Cleaning cases can be easy even when you dont have a tumbler.Pop 20 of them inside a thick hiking sock,double knot it then stick it all in the washing machine with your clothes.I do this with 303 cases and they come out sparkingly clean! I do agree with Magman with that try to find someone nearby to show you the basics.Its not rocket science,but you do need to be careful with loads and how to spot signs of over pressure.Powder wise i use Alliant and get on well with it,but each to their own. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njc110381 Posted August 27, 2011 Report Share Posted August 27, 2011 When your loading book arrives look at the section on .243 and it will tell you the ideal powders. Bullet wise, what do you do with your .243? Stick a post up on here and ask what people use in theirs for that job. I never got as far as trying them when I had a .243, but the 95gr Nosler BT is a popular one for all round use. Failing that what do you use now? There's a good chance it's available as a component. Regarding loads, if you start at the listed start load you will be fine. Sticky bolt lift is a good sign of pressures getting high but again the Lee book will explain all of that. I tend to just not go near book max, then you'll be 100% fine anyway. As others have said someone to show you and help you would be a lot better than reading or being told here. If you don't get that chance though it is possible on your own. As long as you're sensible, double check everything you do and make sure you follow the instructions to the letter without going near the maximum loads you will be fine. Cleaning cases wise, well I spent 3 years not bothering and all my loads have worked fine. I just bought a tumbler and sometimes I wonder why I bothered! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted August 27, 2011 Report Share Posted August 27, 2011 Thanks to all that helped. If and when I meet you ther is definitely a pint or two with your names on. I've settled on a kit. Phoned Henry krank today and told them what I was after and after a brief conversation I've settled on a lee anniversary kit .243 die and modern book of reloading. Now a few more questions. If you don't mind 1. Were in east Yorkshire can I buy powder without paying £25 delivery. 2. Do I have to spend hours cleaning all my spent cases 3. How do I choose a powder. Bullet heads ect. 4. And I've read that what is ok in one gun might blow another up. How do I know what my rifles limit is. Thanks for all your help. much appreciated You need a mentor realy, someone you can learn from and discuss issues that come up. Surely there is someone close why not just post your approximate location and ask for a PM from anyone close enough Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luckyshot Posted August 27, 2011 Report Share Posted August 27, 2011 (edited) Going through that many rounds in such a short space of time I would say reloading would definately be worth your while. I use a pretty cheap kit mostly Lee apart from some RCBS 505 scales as the Lee ones are terrible. All together my whole setup cost less than £200 all in and makes pretty good accurate rounds for my 243, Reloading setup A 3 shot group @ 100 yards 75g Hornady V-Max over 37g Varget. Thanks to all that helped. If and when I meet you ther is definitely a pint or two with your names on. I've settled on a kit. Phoned Henry krank today and told them what I was after and after a brief conversation I've settled on a lee anniversary kit .243 die and modern book of reloading. Now a few more questions. If you don't mind 1. Were in east Yorkshire can I buy powder without paying £25 delivery. 2. Do I have to spend hours cleaning all my spent cases 3. How do I choose a powder. Bullet heads ect. 4. And I've read that what is ok in one gun might blow another up. How do I know what my rifles limit is. Thanks for all your help. much appreciated I dont clean any of my cases even though I have a sonic cleaner (you can see it on my reloading bench) and it dosent make one bit of difference at all as you can see from my above group. As for choosing powder or bullet heads it all depends what you want ie vmax sp etc there are alot to choose from. I also use nosler 95g BT and they group similar to the 75g vmax above. Edited August 27, 2011 by Luckyshot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bewsher500 Posted August 30, 2011 Report Share Posted August 30, 2011 Going through that many rounds in such a short space of time I would say reloading would definately be worth your while. I use a pretty cheap kit mostly Lee apart from some RCBS 505 scales as the Lee ones are terrible. All together my whole setup cost less than £200 all in and makes pretty good accurate rounds for my 243, Reloading setup You must have bought the majority of that stuff second hand to get it for under £200 The OAL gauge alone is £27-30 good effort if you did. OP - there a million ways to approach reloading. I have only been doing it a little over a year and its a no brainer. I approached it initially from a cost perspective as it was all a bit daunting. I figured if I could match factiry accuracy for less cash I was winning. lots of stuff for sale second hand lots of options for how deep into the detail you can go. Like anything that involves toys, it can be addictive and there will always be some new toy that helps you get that little extra.....at a cost. I bought one book, Lee second edition reloading. wish I hadn't everything you need is available free on the web. bullet manufacturers publish their data powder manufacturers publish theirs it all needs to initial testing in your rifle anyway but it is a lot easier than it sounds. I load for 270 and more recently 243 I bought a Lee Hand loader(£25) with approx £25 worth little extra bits (trimmer, primer pocket cleaner, chamfer tool etc) one tub of N160 (£70) assorted bullets new and second hand from £22 per 100. you dont need a reloading laboratory with a dedicated bench covered in thousands of pounds of kit to easily beat factory ammo accuracy at a significant discount. I produce 243 rounds with Hornady SPBT 87 and 100gn for less than 40p a round. I produce 270 rounds with Hornady SP 130 gn for less than 45p cant complain Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_R Posted August 30, 2011 Report Share Posted August 30, 2011 I bought one book, Lee second edition reloading. wish I hadn't everything you need is available free on the web. bullet manufacturers publish their data powder manufacturers publish theirs it all needs to initial testing in your rifle anyway but it is a lot easier than it sounds. The manufacturers sites do not help you learn the actual business of reloading though. Good for "recipes" but not much else. A book works 24/7 (unless it is too dark to read and you have a power cut), the internet is great but only when it convenient. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cockercas Posted August 30, 2011 Author Report Share Posted August 30, 2011 Thanks lads I'm picking the stuff up from Henry kranks and meeting a member of here as he has kindly offered to show me how to Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bewsher500 Posted September 5, 2011 Report Share Posted September 5, 2011 The manufacturers sites do not help you learn the actual business of reloading though. Good for "recipes" but not much else. A book works 24/7 (unless it is too dark to read and you have a power cut), the internet is great but only when it convenient. the Lee book teaches you nothing about the actual business of reloading. it is a sales catalogue with a load data section. You can learn an awful lot more on the web from numerous sources and viewpoints than you can from one or two books. I would love to find a book that does go into the detail but many dont, they touch on it and try to cover the perspective of everyone from target to game shooters, pistol to rifle shooters, cast bullets to premium jacketed. you cant do that and expect to go into the detail for each one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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