How many do load development at the range?

I've thought about doing this, especially when I'm testing a new match load. Just that way, I don't have to make another trip to range just to shoot another set of three or whatnot. Had thought about getting one of those Lee ones.

My nearest 100 yard range is about an hour away. I have brought a Lee hand press out several times to develop a load. I do all the case prep/priming at home and just bring seating/FCD.

I think I am going to start bringing it out with a 9mm setup. I think some new shooters would love a demonstration of how it all works. Pick brass up off the ground, reload, and shoot it. De-mystify the process for them, and show them how small of an investment it can be. I know the first time I saw someone do it, it was nothing short of amazing.

I used to.



Now I have a range in my backyard.

Gamestalker, I'm glad you posted this.

So for the guys that have done it....where did you measure your powder at? Inside the vehicle to block the wind? I have a truck with a top on it, so I could do it in the bed.

Range load development is what the Lee Hand Press does better than most other presses...

Everything is out in the shed, but I have a single valise that holds it all including dies and 505 scale for travel and loading at the shooting bench...

What I did was set the powder measure to throw the smallest starting load and had already measured powder weight given the same volume at home so I knew what powder to start with (figuring this out saves a lot of time at the range). Once I adjusted up to the FPS I was looking for I would load a handful for further testing and drop a charge and weigh it.

If you look on top of the cooler in the jeep above you can see a cae pan lid (it blocks the wind and the powder scale is sitting inside it.

Now I know my wife has one of those. Lol

It'd be nice while I was there testing loads, that if I found two loads close, to be able to test loads in between while I'm there.

My gun club is about an hour away, and it'd sure save time, money and gas.

load development at the range

Did load development at the range years ago when it was inclosed/heated in the winter. Used a scale and Lee target loader. [/URL][/IMG] Soon found out neck sizing brass requires FL sizing, soon or later. Load at home now.

What would be easier to take to range? The Lee Loader in .308, or the Lee Hand Press? I'm leaning towards the hand press.

I built this to use at the range. Al the peripheral stuff is kept in a large toolbox. Easy to tote back and forth. I keep a table of the exact measure of powder vs setting on the micrometer. That avoids the wind issue. There is a second Lee Classic Turret on my regular bench so when I do a load development at the range all I have to do is move the turret to the bench press and crank out ammo. Works great.

Yes, if you take a system to the range you draw a crowd pretty quick. Lots of guys are intimidated by the whole process until they see it done. I even let guys help if they want to. Several who did not handload before do now. Only downside to that is now they take all their brass home with them.

I have a private range at my son's land and belong to a Sportman's Club with a 100 yard range that is only 10 minutes away. Because I go to the range so often and shoot, I have no problem waiting till next week's trip to teak a load a tad. When using new components or loading for a new caliber, again, I'm not in that much of a hurry that I need to load up reloading equipment to take to the range too. It already takes me 20 minutes and fills up the back of the Jeep just to take the guns, range bags and rests. I just do the standard 5-10 rounds at different powder charges and compare results. Then next week I do it again till the load is tweaked. This generally only takes two or three trips. I also will continue to tweak loads slightly as I go if I feel they need it. For someone with a new gun going hunting next week, I can understand the necessity of doing it in one trip.

I do it all of the time. I bring sized, primed cases, bullets and powders, a Lee hand press with the seater die installed, the chrony and a Chargemaster. The scheme works well.

Drue

My range is 5min from my house. It doesn't make sense for me to load there. I have seen a guy with a hand press there doing some fine tuning of his pistol loads.

The consummate reloader develops loads at the range, but presumably he has a better way to measure charges than I do.

About 65% done at range. But I question the term "developing" as about the best we can do is fine tune for components, rifle and conditions.

Not true, you can start from scratch with primers, powder and bullets and come away with a great load for your gun.

jwrowland77 said:

What would be easier to take to range? The Lee Loader in .308, or the Lee Hand Press? I'm leaning towards the hand press.

Click to expand...

If it helps choose, you can use the hand press dies in any other press. The Lee oader is a one caliber deal.

Quoted from above post:
"Not true, you can start from scratch with primers, powder and bullets and come away with a great load for your gun."

Yes, of course, and doing so is the essence of handloading. But, as Mr Flashole points out, only as a matter of combining and fine tuning components "developed" by someone else. I've been in a firearms related business for over four decades and have known hundreds of handloaders, some of them quite expert. But have met and worked with only a rare few dozen individuals who actually developed bullets, propellants, cartridges or other essential components.

I'm one of the lucky ones. My range is out the back door, across the pasture. Just have to make sure not to have any animals in there that day.

I have two small presses I mounted to some 1/4 and 3/8" by 4" flat bar. The flat bar is not only drilled and tapped for the presses but also to mount the measure on should I need to conserve room. Moving it is as simple as screwing in two 1/4 x 20 screws. I have multiple sets of tapped holes which also allow me to set up the presses or the measure in any number of directions so it is a VERY versatile set up.I have some C-clamps which I have accumulated through the years that will fit just about anything. Everything seen below will fit into the one grey plastic tote and takes only a few minutes to load up and be gone.


I will take the powder(s) I want to work with, and weigh out the charge weights using the Uniflow measure, from start to max, while I am at the house as well as what 1/4 turn of the stem will add to the throw. Once I have the weight ranges noted for each powder, and how much the quarter turn will add, I am set to go.

When I get to the range I set it up and using the setting on the stem dial in the start charge, and go to loading. Sometimes I will go ahead and load up half a dozen using the start load just so I have something to do while the rifle is cooling down, also just in case I manage to catch a cease fire as I walk up to the line. Makes it nice to have something to shoot when you DO get there.

Once I find the load that is working for me, I can dial it in using 1/8 turns or even less, to see if it helps out with groups. This little set up works for both rifle or handguns, and I have different Uniflow measures for each.

I have to walk 20 yards and go upstairs! Very lucky I can see now. This is what I have upstairs.

I do, using a Lee Loader and a Sinclair Arbor Press.

A few years we built a shooter shack (or is it a BS shack) at our club range so getting inside to weigh charges is not an issue.