Thread: What Have You Loaded Today

Originally Posted by Rn-85

I've officially reloaded more than 200 rounds so far in this journey.

FL Resized and loaded 34x rounds of 308 with 165sst and 2206h.

OAL about 72.5mm

Stuffed a few cases. Too much lube?

Happy new year and thanks for all the advice over 2024.

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Greetings @Rn-85,
I have been handloading the .308 since the 1970's and so far not managed to stuff a case like that. I don't think it is too much lube as this usually leaves dents in the shoulder but does not collapse the case like that. I wonder if the cases have been over annealed or are very hard and perhaps the die may need adjustment. I assume that they are .308 cases and not made from something else.
GPM.

Over the last few days I have:

• Cast fifty .45 cal bullets
• Cast fifty x .50 cal bullets
• Loaded twenty 500 No.2 Black powder express - 130 gr 2f
• loaded 50 or so 45/70
• Loaded 120 odd 9x39 Russian

Originally Posted by Crusty

Over the last few days I have:

• Cast fifty .45 cal bullets
• Cast fifty x .50 cal bullets
• Loaded twenty 500 No.2 Black powder express - 130 gr 2f
• loaded 50 or so 45/70
• Loaded 120 odd 9x39 Russian

Attachment 266206
Attachment 266207
Attachment 266208

@Crusty 577-500 no2 and at a guess a BACo 300 grain express bullet ?
How much BP in your no2 ?

My 577-500 #2 Double will be in hand later this month
I have brass and will make a case forming die when the rifle arrives and I can chamber cast it.

But as yet I don't have a .510 Express weight bullet mould

Originally Posted by akaroa1

@Crusty 577-500 no2 and at a guess a BACo 300 grain express bullet ?
How much BP in your no2 ?

My 577-500 #2 Double will be in hand later this month
I have brass and will make a case forming die when the rifle arrives and I can chamber cast it.

But as yet I don't have a .510 Express weight bullet mould

OK see you were running 130 grains 2FG

I intend trying my Holy Smoke 1 1/2 FG cartridge powder.
But do also have some FG available locally and Holy Smoke will be making a little bit of FG soon and getting a kg to the sight island for me

If the 577-500 doesn't like the FG I will just gave to make a cannon to use it up

I'm using a Cast Bullet Engineering 509 -325.
I have used 1 1/2 FG Holy smoke (cartridge), but velocity was lower than expected at about 1600fps. First time with 2fg.

HS is the best powder I have used so far - burns cleaner than Swiss or the Curtis's and Harvey No6.

hopefully the 2fg cartridge will shoot well too.

Mine is a Westley Richards 1871 retailed by John Dickson & Son, Edinburgh.

This load kicks - don't shoot it prone!

Originally Posted by Crusty

I'm using a Cast Bullet Engineering 509 -325.
I have used 1 1/2 FG Holy smoke (cartridge), but velocity was lower than expected at about 1600fps. First time with 2fg.

HS is the best powder I have used so far - burns cleaner than Swiss or the Curtis's and Harvey No6.

hopefully the 2fg cartridge will shoot well too.

Mine is a Westley Richards 1871 retailed by John Dickson & Son, Edinburgh.

This load kicks - don't shoot it prone!

@Crusty the CBE looks ideal for the #2
I hadn't considered that option

The BACO 510 300 just seems a bit light

Are you aiming for 1700 to 1800 fps to regulate your double ?

Mine is a single shot - "Improved Martini" action Westley Richards.

Original loads were up around 1900fps

Originally Posted by Crusty

I'm using a Cast Bullet Engineering 509 -325.
I have used 1 1/2 FG Holy smoke (cartridge), but velocity was lower than expected at about 1600fps. First time with 2fg.

HS is the best powder I have used so far - burns cleaner than Swiss or the Curtis's and Harvey No6.

hopefully the 2fg cartridge will shoot well too.

Mine is a Westley Richards 1871 retailed by John Dickson & Son, Edinburgh.

This load kicks - don't shoot it prone!

OK if it's a WR 1871 single shot martini the full noise 577-500 #2 will be pretty lively

Originally Posted by akaroa1

OK if it's a WR 1871 single shot martini the full noise 577-500 #2 will be pretty lively

At the range the other day - Holy Smoke 2fg is the best load yet. Fraser from Pard was there with the new Labradar. Load tested out at average of 1775 fps. Most accurate so far.

A bit of lead in the bore so might need to go a bit harder.

Very impressed with the Labradar!
Yes, it does give a BC - about .125 in my case, so nearly the BC of a brick.

Originally Posted by grandpamac

Greetings @Rn-85,
I have been handloading the .308 since the 1970's and so far not managed to stuff a case like that. I don't think it is too much lube as this usually leaves dents in the shoulder but does not collapse the case like that. I wonder if the cases have been over annealed or are very hard and perhaps the die may need adjustment. I assume that they are .308 cases and not made from something else.
GPM.

Hey GPM,

The primer pin was set very high, and i changed that and cleaned the die and it seemed to change that. I may have over anealed a part of the shell. I tried to be
Sparing and only aneal the neck.

Cheers,

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Originally Posted by Rn-85

Hey GPM,

The primer pin was set very high, and i changed that and cleaned the die and it seemed to change that. I may have over anealed a part of the shell. I tried to be
Sparing and only aneal the neck.

Cheers,

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With the primer pin set very high, the expander might have been up high enough that it was trying to squeeze the neck against the expander. Not physically enough space for the neck of the cartridge to pass by them both at the same time. Don't ask me how I know...

Originally Posted by bjp

With the primer pin set very high, the expander might have been up high enough that it was trying to squeeze the neck against the expander. Not physically enough space for the neck of the cartridge to pass by them both at the same time. Don't ask me how I know...

That makes sense. I thought my annealing was on point if not slightly too light.

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