First reloaded ammo of the year!

This was probably the latest in the Spring that I've loaded the first ammo of the year. It was a long winter and late spring weather here in Maine. Besides, I'm getting a bit "long in the tooth" at 77 yrs. old and don't like to shoot in the cold.

Yesterday, I loaded some .223 Rem in three-time used Starline cases, using 55 grain Hornady spitzers and a mild charge of Varget and WW primers, just one grain above the minimum recommended load by my newest Lyman Manual for that weight bullet. The Starline cases are the best I've used in over 60 years of handloading. I hope to shoot some of these in the next few days, but it's been way too windy to test lately, especially in the wide-open blueberry field range.

PHOTO: I have a couple of .223s here, both Remingtons. Lower-One: a 22" BBL blued, factory standard barreled-action in a pillar-bedded, H.S. Precision plastic stock and Leupold 3-9X with duplex reticle.

The other, a Rem. Light Varmint - fluted 20" stainless, in the factory synthetic varmint stock, bedded/floated, Timney-triggered. Scope is a Bushnell 3-12X mil-dot .

The rifles both shoot 1/2 min. groups and when I'm going for a hunting-walk down back, it's a tough decision as to which one to take, but I've got to make it. They both shoot 1/2 min. or better, depending more on my handloads than the rifles. The blued one in the H.S. Precision stock is more comfortable to carry, due to the rounded configuration and is more weight-forward, so feels easier to aim offhand. The Stainless one is more angular, so not as comfortable to carry, but the barrel is shorter. Both rifles weigh 8.8 lbs. as they are.

I was considering going down back to check the new ammo, but it's too windy for fine shooting today, so will put it off until I can do a good job sighting-in with the new load. JP

AgPilot said:

52 here. But after a couple car wrecks, a horse wreck and an airplane wreck I feel 152. But I still wake up breathing every morning!!!!

And I need to get New friends that are younger!! )))

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You might try getting a younger girlfriend, unless you're married...then it could be life-ending.

Had a good range session. The new ammo works great without changing the scope in one of the two rifles and the old bunch works great in the other one, so I don't have to change settings...just use the ammo each rifle likes at its present setting. Cool! I didn't even retrieve the target, but left it up and will replace it the next time I shoot. BTW: I HATE my new Bushnell spotting scope. I got it because it was on sale and because it had higher power than my old one, but it's a real pain to aim and the tripod that came with it is lousy. The worst thing is that it's not as clear as my old one. It's hard to see .22 caliber bullet holes at 100 yards on a cloudy day.

jeffreybehr said:

Hello from another 77-year-old.. My main ailments are arthritis in my right hand and a replaced right shoulder joint that has broken and will be rereplaced this summer.. But I wake each morning, feeling, generally, quite good and thank God that I and my loving wife are still going relatively well.
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This is my Savage 12 BR, in this pic chambered in 6XC.. Late this summer, after the shoulder surgery, it'll receive its fifth* barrel, a new Shilen 28"er in .25 WSSM.

* The first four were the original 6.5-284, than Criterions in 6.5 Creedmoor, 30" 6XC, then this 28" 6XC.

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I hope the WSSM doesn't stand for (WaSSaMatter you)! LOL! Hope the new surgery does the trick for your shoulder. If it doesn't, come to Maine and visit one of our crackerjack "horse-doctors" and they'll fix you right up! LOL

Clipper67 said:

Hmmm, if you think the 70's is Old Age, wait until you turn 86! Feel good most of the time, some age related aches and pains, but getting old is NOT for sissies!

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By the time I'm 86, I might be happy just to remember which direction to push/pull the trigger.