Our family will be going to Africa in June 2004. I have completed load developmnet and will start loading the hunting loads soon. Does anyone have suggestions that I could ponder such as new brass or once fired brass or anything like that?
Thanks Dulcinea
Posts: 713 | Location: York,Pa | Registered: 27 February 2003
Get only new brass for your actual hunting loads and once fired brass for your practice stuff if you must. My way of getting once fired brass is to fire off factory rounds and I know where it came from and the rifle with correct chamber dimensions.
The brand of brass is important too. Maek sure it will work with your loads. I had a fellow gunsmith who worked up his 35 whelen elk loads by loading up Remington brass until the primer pockets blew out. Then he switched to Winchester brass & that was his load. (not recommended) That's good advice to use new brass. Be sure to true the neck face. I loaded a bunch of ammo for my favorite African "light" gun 375/338, that I built a bunch of for african hunts. Always full length sized them and trimmed a few thousandths extra off the brass. Very dusty in places there and wanted plenty of clearance.
Posts: 808 | Location: N. FL | Registered: 21 September 2003
Are you suggesting that your need new brass because he is hunting in Africa? I've always used once fired brass for my hunting load as it is usually the most accurate.
Run every cartridge thru the gun, to check chambering. I have had ones that slipped by with a high primer, buckled neck, or something else that kept it from chambering easily. No fun to have a jam in the field.
Posts: 345 | Location: Michigan | Registered: 09 February 2003
I agree wholeheartedly with the advice on using once-fired brass rather than new brass, and cycling every cartridge through your rifle (from the magazine) before packing. You may want to full-length resize your brass for added peace of mind on the chamber fit thing, but I like to partial size, as long as the resultant cartridge still chambers easily. Uniforming and deburring flash holes and primer pockets is always good practice, and a check on case length and possible trim is quite important. Reload for reliability and accuracy rather than velocity. In fact, our high temps might make a stiff load developed in colder climes dangerous. (go conservative on the powder charges)
You don't say where in Africa you will be hunting for what species, or what calibre you'll be using. Typical advice is to use premium, heavy for calibre bullets, but this could vary depending on the variables I have mentioned above. Give us some details (PM if you like), but also discuss these issues with your outfitter / PH. They are in the best position to give you solid advice.
Enjoy the preparations for the hunt of a lifetime!
quote:Originally posted by Dulcinea: Our family will be going to Africa in June 2004. I have completed load developmnet and will start loading the hunting loads soon. Does anyone have suggestions that I could ponder such as new brass or once fired brass or anything like that?
Thanks Dulcinea
Some outfitters will not allow reloads for dangerous game. I have only hunted ungulates in the US, so don't have direct experience. I normally take my own reloads as they are matched to the guns and have known behaviour.
Posts: 14717 | Location: Moreno Valley CA USA | Registered: 20 November 2000
Consider the consequences of a misfire or poor shot placement due to ammunition inconsistency.
Consider what action your bereaved spouse might wish to take following your demise when a noncommercial round had a hand in the outcome. Factory ammo at least has the benefit of some significant testing regarding suitability and efficacy. Follow the factory guidelines regarding suitablity for specific game and conditions. It may be quite possible to hand craft superior ammunition, but try telling that to a jury when you're being sued by a decedant's offspring.
There are bound to be sufficient commercial selections available that you can find one that performs satisfactorily in your individual firearm. If not, maybe you might seriously consider using a more familiar and well proven caliber.
Testing such loads and being able to convincingly testify that you did your homework and understood the ammunition and firearm's capabilities and failings could have a significant bearing on your continued well being should significantly important considerations go awry.
Snipers have to answer such questions in such instances often enough that they can provide an object lesson on unintended consequences. Stick with well proven commercial loads. It's hard to do better and the cost is not prohibitive, especially considering the costs associated with potential unfavorable consequences.
In other words, grieving widows tend to sue everything in sight. Would you care to admit you made that ammo under those circumsatnces?
I trust my own loads implicitly. Some conventional wisdom tout using virgin brass, particularly if dangerous game hunting. When I went to Africa, my PH loved the fact that I was using my own ammo. In theory they were not reloads as all components were knew. Come to think of it, the only "re" in reloading is the brass Regardless of what I load though, I ALWAYS cycle my rounds to make sure thye feed properly and so should you. jorge
Posts: 7149 | Location: Orange Park, Florida. USA | Registered: 22 March 2001
quote:Originally posted by Greg Langelius: Consider the consequences of a misfire or poor shot placement due to ammunition inconsistency.
Consider what action your bereaved spouse might wish to take following your demise when a noncommercial round had a hand in the outcome. Factory ammo at least has the benefit of some significant testing regarding suitability and efficacy. Follow the factory guidelines regarding suitablity for specific game and conditions. It may be quite possible to hand craft superior ammunition, but try telling that to a jury when you're being sued by a decedant's offspring.
There are bound to be sufficient commercial selections available that you can find one that performs satisfactorily in your individual firearm. If not, maybe you might seriously consider using a more familiar and well proven caliber.
Testing such loads and being able to convincingly testify that you did your homework and understood the ammunition and firearm's capabilities and failings could have a significant bearing on your continued well being should significantly important considerations go awry.
Snipers have to answer such questions in such instances often enough that they can provide an object lesson on unintended consequences. Stick with well proven commercial loads. It's hard to do better and the cost is not prohibitive, especially considering the costs associated with potential unfavorable consequences.
In other words, grieving widows tend to sue everything in sight. Would you care to admit you made that ammo under those circumsatnces?
Greg Langelius
Do you suppose those grieving widows always served their husbands frozen dinners instead of making dinner from fresh components?
Frozen dinners, after all, at least have the benefit of some significant testing regarding suitability and efficacy.
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Greg Langelius: [QB]Consider the consequences of a misfire or poor shot placement due to ammunition inconsistency.
Consider what action your bereaved spouse might wish to take following your demise when a noncommercial round had a hand in the outcome. Factory ammo at least has the benefit of some significant testing regarding suitability >>
With well made handloads, a jury will not be necessary. ) I've had dozens of misfires with factory loads and in 40 some odd years of shooting & re-loading, have never had a misfire with a rifle or handgun handload. Consider also that I've probably fired 50 times the number of handloads that I have factory. Never, and I've been a gunsmith for a bunch of years. I'll go out on a limb and say, without reservation, that factory loads are very poorly controlled. Why do you think they are much less accurate...? poor quality control (IMO). I use new brass for my customers who go to Africa because of the often very dusty conditions. They rarely can be resized ALL the way back to new specs at the case head; esp with belted cases. They are also very clean with no (hydrophylic)deposits to contaminate a charge or primer. I always carefully inspect to make sure they have flash holes etc and trim to length (a little short). I also crimp the bullets and sometimes seal the primers but I don't think it's really necessary. Cycling each round is a good idea and I tell them ro do it again in the field.
Posts: 808 | Location: N. FL | Registered: 21 September 2003
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Rikkie: [QB]I agree wholeheartedly with the advice on using once-fired brass rather than new brass, and cycling every cartridge through your rifle (from the magazine) before packing. .>>
I use new brass for African loads because I've had defective brass fail on the second firing (esp with heavy loads) much more than the first. A case head seperation ot broken shell isn't a fun thing if you happen to be facing something that can (& will) skewer, trample or eat you. I full length size it and true/chamfer the necks etc. as well. This precludes the very unlikely occurence of no flash hole ).
Posts: 808 | Location: N. FL | Registered: 21 September 2003
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Regardless of what I load though, I ALWAYS cycle my rounds to make sure thye feed properly and so should you. jorge
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) I've had dozens of misfires with factory loads and in 40 some odd years of shooting & re-loading, have never had a misfire with a rifle or handgun handload. Consider also that I've probably fired 50 times the number of handloads that I have factory. Never, and I've been a gunsmith for a bunch of years. I'll go out on a limb and say, without reservation, that factory loads are very poorly controlled. Why do you think they are much less accurate...? poor quality control (IMO). I use new brass for my customers who go to Africa because of the often very dusty conditions. They rarely can be resized ALL the way back to new specs at the case head; esp with belted cases. They are also very clean with no (hydrophylic)deposits to contaminate a charge or primer. I always carefully inspect to make sure they have flash holes etc and trim to length (a little short). I also crimp the bullets and sometimes seal the primers but I don't think it's really necessary. Cycling each round is a good idea and I tell them ro do it again in the field.
