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.243 reloading


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Hi all.

 

I'm going to Start reloading using the equipment at my local club/range ..

 

Main question is there a set powder/ head combination for various grns ...

I am currently using Geco 105grn and would like to replicate this particular bullet ...

Thanks any advice appreciated

Edited by fruity
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Hi all.

 

I'm going to Start reloading using the equipment at my local club/range ..

 

Main question is there a set powder/ bullet combination for various grns ...

I am currently using Geco 105grn and would like to replicate this particular cartridge...

Thanks any advice appreciated

 

Get some decent reloading manuals - which ones do you already use?

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Reloading is like making a cake. Follow the recipie and you'll get a cake. Tweak the recipie to suit your tastes and you've got a cake that you like. Stray too far from the recipie and you've got a beef trifle instead of a cake.

 

Be careful, only make incremental changes, dont change too many things at the same time and you'll be fine.

 

I deprime, neck size, reprime, add 1 dipper of powder, drop a buller in, seat the bullet and bingo bango there's your home made ammo.

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Reloading is like making a cake. Follow the recipie and you'll get a cake. Tweak the recipie to suit your tastes and you've got a cake that you like. Stray too far from the recipie and you've got a beef trifle instead of a cake.

 

Be careful, only make incremental changes, dont change too many things at the same time and you'll be fine.

 

I deprime, neck size, reprime, add 1 dipper of powder, drop a buller in, seat the bullet and bingo bango there's your home made ammo.

Is there a set recipe for the .243 100grn cake ...

I have no interest in tweeking etc , this is purely for cheaper ammunition nothing more . :)

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Is there a set recipe for the .243 100grn cake ...

I have no interest in tweeking etc , this is purely for cheaper ammunition nothing more . :)

 

It doesn't matter what it's for, no-one is likely to share their pet loads with you simply because it may not be safe in your rifle. You really do need to read up on reloading before you start. You're opening yourself up to potentially fatal consequences if you don't.

 

You need to work up a load starting with the bullet of choice for the terminal ballistics you want. That establishes the bullet type and weight.

 

You then need to select a powder with a suitable burn rate for that bullet in that calibre for your barrel length and twist rate (read the manual).

 

You then need to start with the "starting load" recommended by the powder manufacturer for that bullet in that calibre or refer to the reloading manual data tables (read the manual).

 

Your cases need to be inspected for any signs of damage and to ensure they're within tolerance (read the manual for details).

 

You then need to clean and de-prime the cases, trim if needed, neck or FL size (read the manual for how to set the dies up and for details on trimming).

 

You then need to measure out the starting load and work up in no more than about 10% intervals of the min to max recommended loads (ie if the difference is 5 grains, you work up on no more than 0.5 grain intervals).

 

You then need to test each load, ladder testing up in load from starting upwards until you come across pressure signs (read the manual) and than back off, I would suggest, up to 1 full grain to allow enough headroom for temperature variations (read the manual).

 

Ladder testing will also pin point the barrel harmonics that result in some loads falling within the vertical axis of the target you're aiming at and those which fly off (they can be eliminated). Choose a load that groups well and that's your load for that bullet, in that case, using that primer and that powder in YOUR rifle.

 

As you may have gathered, the common thread here is to READ THE MANUAL. Anyone launching into reloading blind, witrhout knowing what they're doing is either very brave or very foolish or both. It isn't hard but you do need to understand the basics to ensure your safety and the safety of those around you. I'd be surprised if a responsible club would actually allow anyone the use of reloading gear unless they'd first checked to see that they'd at least read up on it, otherwise it would raise an interesting issue for their insurance...

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You may be lucky with any reloading if your going to be guesstimating measures.

Or you could end up with a nice spray of primer casing and bits of hard stuff coming back into you eyes and face, and I must add at pretty high speed.

You ain't going to blink fast enough.

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There will be a powder/bullet/dipper combination. I like the volumetric reloading using the lee loader dipper because it's easy and as long as you do everything the same every time you get a fairly consistent, safe charge. What works in one gun might not work in another. My gun is very unfussy. I could probably load it with the powder out of caps and a small pebble and it would still shoot well enough for hunting. But others are very fussy and slight changes will open up groupings.

 

I don't want to share my 100gr load because after a lot of tinkering it is on the hot side of things but my foxing round is hornaday brass, 62gr Barnes varmint grenade bullet and a 2.5cc dipper of H4895. It's well on the safe side of things but reliable, makes big holes in foxes and is comfortable to shoot repeatedly if I want to do a bit of practise.

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