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I never thought reloading could be so complex...


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Well, here I am having visited my 'local' dealer to buy some items to start reloading and I'm more confused than ever. I opted for the Vihtavuori N150 powder as it seemed (erroneously) to meet the need of both bullet choices.

 

I opted for 70gn Nosler Ballistic Tips for my foxing round (I'm zeroed for 75gn Winchester at the moment so not too much fiddling I thought) - no load data online for this combo (n160 yes, n150 nooooo....) also, Nosler don't seem to state a trim or col for this load/bullet combo (handy)

 

... and then for my target shooting (fingers crossed my range membership will be approved shortly) Sierra Matchkings in 95gn (not too far off my 100g stalking load so any target practice should help improve my stalking accuracy at range - I'm thinking 100 yard to 200 yard only here) - no load data anywhere at all.

 

Is there a secret to this - can I get one powder to do both (I can't return the 70gn Noslers as they're opened but everything else can be backed if needed). very confused.

Edited by mick miller
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.243 win

 

I'm thinking of using this (which is a best average from the data I can find and after getting advice from 1967Spud):

 

243win Powder Viht N150 Sierra Matchking 95gn COL 2.894" min load 31gn max 32.5gn

243win Powder Viht N150 Nosler Ballistic Tip 70gn COL 2.638" min load 40gn max load 41.5gn

 

To be fair, I'm only going to be loading the 70gn for now anyhow. Just working up one load is going to be work enough!

Edited by mick miller
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Personally I would start with one first and load as per your manual. I use an 85 soft point for deer and it kills foxes fine. Though I do have a 56g vmax load that shoots the same poi at 100 yards and does simply flatten foxes. Keep it simple to start with

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Guest cookoff013

Get data.

Buy components exactly.

Load as data.

Shoot.

 

I research for at least a few months before even consider loading or developing any cartridge. Takes a long time. Few calculations. Then off to proof.

I used a powder never before used in 12gauge.

 

But for every day reloading, you can't beat solid data.

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Trouble is, the data conflicts. Viht's site states for 70gn...

 

243win Powder Viht N150 Hornady SXSP 70gn COL 2.638" min load 41.9gn max load 45.5gn - (I assume here that the bullet weight is the vital part, but I don't really like assumptions)

 

Nosler's site doesn't state a N150 powder for the 70gn Ballistic Tips but does give one for N160...

 

243win Powder Viht N160 Nosler Ballistic Tip 70gn COL 2.680" min load 43gn max load 47gn

 

But Viht's site describes the N150 powder as "This powder burns a bit slower than N140 and works as well as Hodgdon H414 and Winchester 760" so, could I use the data for H414 from Nosler's site?

 

243win Powder H414 Nosler Ballistic Tip 70gn COL 2.680" min load 43.5gn max load 47.5gn

 

I cannot find anything for Sierra's little 95gn Matchking pill...

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Well, Lee's data matches Viht's. That's good. But am I correct in my assumption that powder weight is linked to bullet weight, not type. The COL changes dependent on type if following S.A.A.M.I specs (I'm not getting into tailoring a bullet to a rifle yet. Just resetting to a nominal default for cartridge and bullet type).

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Okay, I think ditch the Sierra's. Swap the powder for IMR4350. Get Nosler 105gn Custom Competition or 105gn Hornady A-Max to cover the target side of things. One powder does both with load data from Nosler or use Hunter from Ramshot (as per previous post) which will cover both too.

 

I'll have to ring them tomorrow.

Edited by mick miller
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My advise is to get a notebook that you can write up the results of any testing as per load type and any measurements that you can because it is all to easy to loose track of what did what Ect. and then it is all an expensive waste of time developing a load and not know the data. The other thing I would advise is to get a chrono as it is really helpful. Not having a chrono is like driving a car with no spedo.

AND if you think that this is complicated then using something like a Mec 9000 loading shotgun cartridges is more so because there are a lot more things going on and adjustments to make and consider.

PS>> It's great when it all comes together and your shooting the stuff that you produce.

Edited by fortune
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1/10". What I would like to find is a match bullet close to 100gn that I can use for target shooting (as there is no limit tothe amount I can purchase at one time) and because this will be close, but not exactly the same ballistics, as the 100gn soft points I use for stalking. So I can practice shooting at greater distances.

 

I'm pretty sure I can't just use soft points on the range.

Edited by mick miller
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Most componants are hit and miss at the moment,in Yorkshire vit and ramshot are quite obtainable, imr can be found but hodgdans is getting scratchy hornady amax are very hard to find but some sp can be sorced.

 

Best bet is to find what is available to you with in your traveling distance and match a load to that. Print off your data from vit ramshot serria etc and take with. You will find some corilation between componants and formulas for an idea of powder/ bullet weight ratio.

For sheer value for money vit or ramshot maybe worth a look.

http://www.lapua.com/upload/downloads/brochures/2012/vihtavuorireloadingguideed10_2012eng.pdf

http://www.ramshot.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/WP_LoadSpec_1-23-14.pdf

 

http://www.hodgdonreloading.com/data/rifle

 

http://www.alliantpowder.com/reloaders/default.aspx

 

http://accurateshooter.net/Downloads/sierra243win.pdf

 

http://www.6mmbr.com/243Win.html

 

Have fun.

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