Single most important step in reloading?
- Thread starter lewie36
- Start date
I am not real picky on case prep. Thats what I was wondering. I never trim (until now) I usally shoot them 4 to 5 times and have lost them by then. I never do much with prime pockets either. So I am probably missing the boat for getting the most out of my rifles.
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stiff neck
New member
Uniformity. That means every piece of brass needs to be exactly the same, and every powder charge needs to weigh the same, and every bullet has to be seated the same way.
If your load is uniform, then it will shoot consistently the same, good or bad. Then you can tweek it to figure out what steps you can improve on.
If your load is not uniform, you'll never be certain what you need to improve on.
Start with one step in the process and perfect it. Then move on to the next step and perfect that step.
If your load is uniform, then it will shoot consistently the same, good or bad. Then you can tweek it to figure out what steps you can improve on.
If your load is not uniform, you'll never be certain what you need to improve on.
Start with one step in the process and perfect it. Then move on to the next step and perfect that step.
Bullmastiff
New member
The most important step in all reloading situations is to store your primers in a different area than your powder - just trust me on this one.
Easy...Keep good records. Record everything. Powder charge, lot #'s, OAL, bullet weights & types, number of rounds loaded, number of times you fired the brass, gun used, you name it. How many times have you loaded something up and they've just sat there waiting to be shot. If you didn't record what you've loaded, how do you know what you're shooting, and more importantly, how do you duplicate it again?
bownut
bownut
OldTurtle
Moderator - Deceased
The "Single" would be my thoughts as well...::
Quote:
Uniformity. That means every piece of brass needs to be exactly the same, and every powder charge needs to weigh the same, and every bullet has to be seated the same way
If any of the mentioned factors change, then the consistency will likely be affected...
IMHO, it all starts with the brass preparation and spreads out from there...
Quote:
Uniformity. That means every piece of brass needs to be exactly the same, and every powder charge needs to weigh the same, and every bullet has to be seated the same way
If any of the mentioned factors change, then the consistency will likely be affected...
IMHO, it all starts with the brass preparation and spreads out from there...
songdogslayer
New member
1. Uniformity - stated very succinctly by stiff neck.
2. Keep good records! I agree with bownut. Record everything, even the environmental conditions when you're testing your loads!
Bottom line, if you do #1 & #2 you should be able to achieve repeatability.
No offense to the other contributors to this thread! I mean, I could say "safety glasses" and it would be hard to disagree with the importance. Fact of the matter is this: if you need someone to tell you to be safe when reloading, then you probably shouldn't reproduce. But, just in case, BE SAFE! You can't do #1 or #2 above if you're blinded by an explosion on your reloading desk!
Good thread. Good luck & God bless.
~Scott
2. Keep good records! I agree with bownut. Record everything, even the environmental conditions when you're testing your loads!
Bottom line, if you do #1 & #2 you should be able to achieve repeatability.
No offense to the other contributors to this thread! I mean, I could say "safety glasses" and it would be hard to disagree with the importance. Fact of the matter is this: if you need someone to tell you to be safe when reloading, then you probably shouldn't reproduce. But, just in case, BE SAFE! You can't do #1 or #2 above if you're blinded by an explosion on your reloading desk!
Good thread. Good luck & God bless.
~Scott
SodakJim
New member
If your not shooting a benchrest or heavy varmint rifle, you won't ever need ammo that good. You will never see the difference when it's fired in off-the-shelf hunting rifles. If your rifle has been properly bedded, has a good trigger, and better than average optics, you would start to see the benefit of benchrest quality ammo. I would agree that repeatability in all steps gets you the most consistant ammo.
stiff neck
New member
I never heard of anyone complaining that their rifle/ammo was TOO accurate.
"Darn, I wish my hunting rifle was less accurate!". Yeah right.
I want every single round I shoot to be the most accurate round I can make. That's how I roll 'em. Every round in my ammo box is the most accurate round I've ever made.
"Darn, I wish my hunting rifle was less accurate!". Yeah right.
I want every single round I shoot to be the most accurate round I can make. That's how I roll 'em. Every round in my ammo box is the most accurate round I've ever made.
Martyn4802
New member
Quote:
1. Case Preparation.
2. Run Out.
Tom.
Ditto.
Case Prep: I de-bur primer flash holes inside, and ream primer pockets outside. Then I sort cases by weight. I also do all of the checks of cases normally done for reloading; checking case length, and full length size them, or for target rifles neck size them, chamfering inside aod outside neck mouths. I seat primers using a single primer tool, of course using the correct primers for the load.
Run Out. I seat bullets for all of my rifles using Wilson seaters, or Wilson equivalents, to control run out and insure bullet alignment. I seat bullets at .010 from the lands initially, and go from there for optimum seating depth for best accuracy.
Other than these two important aspects of getting the most accurate loads, the use of the best components, and the best load for the rifle are important too. Some loads just don't shoot well in a rifle, and these loads can't produce great accuracy no mater how much you try.
1. Case Preparation.
2. Run Out.
Tom.
Ditto.
Case Prep: I de-bur primer flash holes inside, and ream primer pockets outside. Then I sort cases by weight. I also do all of the checks of cases normally done for reloading; checking case length, and full length size them, or for target rifles neck size them, chamfering inside aod outside neck mouths. I seat primers using a single primer tool, of course using the correct primers for the load.
Run Out. I seat bullets for all of my rifles using Wilson seaters, or Wilson equivalents, to control run out and insure bullet alignment. I seat bullets at .010 from the lands initially, and go from there for optimum seating depth for best accuracy.
Other than these two important aspects of getting the most accurate loads, the use of the best components, and the best load for the rifle are important too. Some loads just don't shoot well in a rifle, and these loads can't produce great accuracy no mater how much you try.
Furhunter
New member
I think SodakJim has a valid point.
You can spend all the time you want with case prep and worry about runout, .002 thousands difference in seating depth, turn necks for consistant brass, buy all kinds of measuring tools for every step of the process....you know the story. I think we all have read about some extrodoary steps in reloading taken by some, that honestly isnt needed if the rifle isnt capable of shooting very small groups to start with, I am talking consistently every time you take it out. Most cant do it, I would group 80% of the rifles you find on the rack at the sporting goods store in this category. They just dont build them tight enough, with enough QC to do it much anymore....if they ever did.
A good solid bench, rests and proper shooting technique can be more important than alot of meticulous steps people take when reloading for an "average" hunting or even varmint rifle.
You can spend all the time you want with case prep and worry about runout, .002 thousands difference in seating depth, turn necks for consistant brass, buy all kinds of measuring tools for every step of the process....you know the story. I think we all have read about some extrodoary steps in reloading taken by some, that honestly isnt needed if the rifle isnt capable of shooting very small groups to start with, I am talking consistently every time you take it out. Most cant do it, I would group 80% of the rifles you find on the rack at the sporting goods store in this category. They just dont build them tight enough, with enough QC to do it much anymore....if they ever did.
A good solid bench, rests and proper shooting technique can be more important than alot of meticulous steps people take when reloading for an "average" hunting or even varmint rifle.
Linefinder
New member
Quote:
A good solid bench, rests and proper shooting technique can be more important than alot of meticulous steps people take when reloading for an "average" hunting or even varmint rifle.
I agree. With a rifle that's already accurate, minding your manners at the bench and paying very close attention to wind and lighting changes will produce more significant results than almost any "reloading" technique.
If we are discussing simply what reloading step is the most important regarding accuracy, I'd say it's powder selection.
Mike
A good solid bench, rests and proper shooting technique can be more important than alot of meticulous steps people take when reloading for an "average" hunting or even varmint rifle.
I agree. With a rifle that's already accurate, minding your manners at the bench and paying very close attention to wind and lighting changes will produce more significant results than almost any "reloading" technique.
If we are discussing simply what reloading step is the most important regarding accuracy, I'd say it's powder selection.
Mike
Fast Ed
New member
IMHO,(as always) here is the stuff to get anal about.
Single most important step in improving accuracy is to practice.
Single most important step in reloading is controlling bullet runout while seating bullet. Keeping everything else consistent is important, but runout has the most serious effect outside of totally inconsistent loads.
Single most important thing to check on your rifle is the crown. If that is screwed up, nothing will shoot right. Then check bedding.
If you watch these three things, your ability, bullet runout and the rifle crown, you are a long way to getting the most out of the system.
Fast Ed
Single most important step in improving accuracy is to practice.
Single most important step in reloading is controlling bullet runout while seating bullet. Keeping everything else consistent is important, but runout has the most serious effect outside of totally inconsistent loads.
Single most important thing to check on your rifle is the crown. If that is screwed up, nothing will shoot right. Then check bedding.
If you watch these three things, your ability, bullet runout and the rifle crown, you are a long way to getting the most out of the system.
Fast Ed
