How I reload for handguns.

I load for volume, speed, and savings. My handgun ammo is loaded on a Dillon 550 or a SDB.

As I do not load my ammo to the top edge of sanity so I do not weigh anything but to check as I set up or if I have any doubts about what is happening.

Brass gets used untill it splits. If I am going on a big hunt or shoot I may grab new brass (I keep plenty on hand) for the trip then throw it in will all others as it gets used.

Triming, weighing, sorting, ect. has not helped in the tests I have done. I do a visual inspection of the bullets as I cast/size/load them and look at the brass as I load it. The finished ammo is looked over as I bucket/box/bag it.

I cronograph when testing to help learn the pressure range the powder wants with the bullet/brass/primer combo I am using.

I have never used a load that if I increased the powder charge by a grain or two it would put me in danger of blowing a gun. When testing I will up the powder charge a grain or more at at time.

I have found that my 500 Linebaugh will shoot bullets from 400 grains to 468 grains with the same powder charge of 2400 verry well. A 454 will do the same with bullets from 260 grains to 325 grains, and a 44 will with 240's to 320's.

I use CCI 350 primers for almost every thing as I buy them 20K at a time.

I use HS-6, 2400, and H-110 for almost every thing with 2400 used WAY more than anything else.

With 2400 the case on most handgun ammo is near or over 1/2 full. A under, over, or double carge is easy to see. I have a mirror mounted on my Dillon's so I can see each powder charge as I place the bullet in the case.

I test loads sitting with my hands between my knees at 25, 100, and 300 yards. Some loads that shoot well up close will not shoot good at long range, but all of the loads that have shot well at long range also shoot good up close.

I do alot of testing, with good record keeping. Shooting 1,558 rounds of 500 Linebaugh to find "my" load. The better loads were shot hundreds of times to learn how they shot and how I liked them.

thanks for sharing, we are always pleased to be enlightened...

Rich
DRSS

its cool to know how other people do things..

I like the mirror idea.

OTOH if I had to shoot 1558 rounds to find a load a pistol liked, I'd have gotten rid of the SOB long before then. Obviously you're more patient than I am.

Back when I was loading to max safe pressure for 454 Casull, I did all my loading during August. Typically the hottest month. This ensured my pressures will not exceed where I wanted them. I have met lots of folks that loaded when it was cold and wondered why they had split cases, extration problems, and blown groups when the weather got hot.

Andy

Yeah, that many rounds to find a load???? It might take me 25 shots unless I have other powders to check, that might take me to 100.
From that point on it is just shooting for fun and practice.
One thing I see is the use of new brass for hunting, not a good idea. Hunting is when you want the best accuracy and new brass will not cut it.
Go down to the post about new brass giving lower velocity and see what I have proved many times.

I found a lot of loads the gun liked, in fact just about all of them would shoot under 2" at 25 yards. Alot of them shot well at long range but some lost it a two or three hundred yards.

I used light and heavy loads to see how I liked them. A medium load (440gr @ 1,150fps) is what I found that I like. It doesn't kick bad, shoots good, and works for everything.

I like to experiment and never leave well enough alone. New loads when I find them get run just for the fun of it.

I will try new brass against one, two, and three times fired as well as very used brass and find out myself, thanks.

quote:

I like to experiment and never leave well enough alone.

Me neither.

Thanks for sharing your ideas TX5Gun. Who built your .500 Linebaugh?

BTW, I have enjoyed your you-tube videos of long range revolver shooting.

quote:

Posted 10 September 2009 17:19 Hide Post
I found a lot of loads the gun liked, in fact just about all of them would shoot under 2" at 25 yards. Alot of them shot well at long range but some lost it a two or three hundred yards.

I used light and heavy loads to see how I liked them. A medium load (440gr @ 1,150fps) is what I found that I like. It doesn't kick bad, shoots good, and works for everything.

I like to experiment and never leave well enough alone. New loads when I find them get run just for the fun of it.

I will try new brass against one, two, and three times fired as well as very used brass and find out myself, thanks.

A good start is to use a spotting scope to plot each shot with new brass and sort it for POI.
It will even out some as they are shot. Some never get right because it depends on the brass grain structure. I have found that brass and how it is to start with along with how it is handled while loading (dies used) will make or break groups.
It has been common for my friends and I to shoot 1" and under groups at 100 yards. My .44 is a little worse with groups running around 1-1/4".
Here is what I do with the .44. The target is 50 yards and I shot the can at 100. I was hitting low so I aimed higher for the last shot just to try and center the can.

I never shot a .500 yet but Whitworth will have his soon. I can't wait to see what we can do with it. I might have to make a mold for it once we see what it likes. I hope he ordered Hornady dies and a shell holder. Need a spud for the trimmer too.

Let me add something "fun" to your program: get a good camcorder and video all of your targets as you shoot them. They do this at the Olympic Training Center, as well as the shooter as he shoots. Helps work on flinching, shot control and groups.

Rich