I FINALLY MADE IT HAPPEN !!!

R

Ricky Bobby

New member
Today was a major step forward for my hunting and shooting abilities! This is going to allow me to fine tune every rifle I own and that really gets me excited! I have been spending alot of time reading about reloading and alot of time spent setting up my reloading bench and area. I will admit that up to this point I have been a little intimidated about the whole reloading thing, but after today those feelings are long gone! It was a pretty simple process and I'm sure the more I do it the less of a struggle it will become! I only loaded 10 rounds for my .22 Hornet because I want to see how they'll shoot and I'll adjust from there. I used new Winchester brass and loaded them with the Hornady 35grain V-MAX's. V-MAX's will have 12.3 grs of Hodgdon Lil' Gun powder pushing them after being ignited by CCI #500 small pistol primers. My cartridge OAL ended up at 1.686" and this is what I spent most my time trying to decide on. I'm shooting a Ruger 77/22 with a rotary clip and I wanted to be sure they'd fit the clip. I still might have room to go a little longer, but I wanted to be on the safe side for now. Check out my pics of my very first ever handloaded cartridges! I feel like a proud new papa!
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Now the "Madness" begins. The search for the "Holy Grail", one hole group begins. Congrats on the new hobby, I hope you enjoy it as much as the rest of us do.
 
Excellent.....you did a good job of picking out your equipment. RCBS is great stuff brother. I'm currently replacing all my Lee stuff with Hornady. You won't regret it.
 
Originally Posted By: pyscodogNow the "Madness" begins. The search for the "Holy Grail", one hole group begins. Congrats on the new hobby, I hope you enjoy it as much as the rest of us do.

Madness was the word I was gonna use too! Enjoy your new addiction....we do......
 
Thats fantastic RB, I hope they work out good for you.
I loaded my first 20 or so rnds. at a friends, using his equipment, and then it still seemed a little intimidating on my own.
Just remember you have a valuable resource here @ PM`s, and no question is ever a dumb one.
We`ll all have to really celebrate after they go BANG, and you post some targets..lol..and hey don`t be ashamed regardless of the results (groups) at first.
 
From looking at the pics, it looks like the wife may have stuck ya in the basement
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....your not alone my reloading friend...your not alone!
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Good looking set up and good luck with your loading.
 
Oh boy, it's on now! Pouring over bullet choices, reloading manuals, experimenting with powder and on and on. It's very rewarding though. I'm fairly new myself at reloading centerfire rifle, currently working up loads for .223 and 25-06.

Got my first "good" 100 yard group this week. A .575" with the .223 and a 52 gr. Nosler Custom Competition HPBT. Never able to get that with factory ammo.

Also shot my first coyote this week with my own handload. A 55 gr. Nosler Ballistic Tip in the .223.

So good luck with the loading, pay attention, check and then check again and have fun, be safe. I hear the .22 Hornet is a finicky eater...you'll have LOT'S of experimenting to do!
 
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After looking at the picture, I might suggest you empty your powder thrower after each reload session. Perhaps not an issue now, but when you get several powders you might forget what was in there. Just a good habbit I think...even though I have a `keen eye` for distinguishing between types..(joke, from another thread).
 
I put a white sticky label atop my powder dispenser and scratch out the old powder and right down the new one every time I change powders. I can usually change powders about 30 times before I need a new label.

Good job Ricky.....
 
Originally Posted By: pyscodogNow the "Madness" begins. The search for the "Holy Grail", one hole group begins. Congrats on the new hobby, I hope you enjoy it as much as the rest of us do.



Aint that the truth too!

Good luck and be safe.
 
Congratulations! Great equipment and good looking loaded rounds. I love the feeling of satisfaction that comes of making it all work with my own handloads. You are gonna LOVE this addiction.
 
Good looking equipment, just the stuff I started with many years ago. Have never quit enjoying it. If I could give you one piece of advice it would be to focus more on accuracy and less on velocity. Your powder will go a lot further and you will be more satisfied with the results of a well placed shot. Good luck...
 
Congrats on getting set up and started with your reloading. I'll give you a tip that I flat out guarantee will help you. Anytime Sierra makes a Blitz King in the caliber you are shooting, give it a try. I know at least a dozen dedicated hand loaders who have found the Blitz King to be the bullet they judge by for accuracy and performance. On top of that, they have one of the most helpful staffs available anywhere to help you with technical info.
 
Thanks alot guys! Hey, this is another one of those silly new to reloading questions but does anyone have any good suggestions on emptying and cleaning my powder dispenser after I'm done with a session? I have it mounted just high enough that I can slide my factory bottle under it and cycle the remaining powder back into it, but I had alot that stuck to the inside wall of my hopper and I had to take a rag and wipe it all down to get it clean. Seemed like I might have wasted some powder when doing that. It would be nice if you could take something and scrape it all off the sides. Maybe somebody knows a nifty trick perhaps!
 
wipe your powder dispenser down with a dryer sheet, it gets rid of the static electricity. Also run a hopper or two of powder through it before you load again. Good luck and have a blast.
 


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