Sven
Senior Member
...THRer 'larryw' was kind enough to take me under his wing for some loading on the Dillon 550 today - my first ever experience handloading.
I'm now 110% sold on hand loading... it was so easy to load, once I saw how it worked. I can't believe it didn't do it sooner. Now I just need a strong bench and a press. Larry showed me pretty much everything for pistol reloading. Even let me screw up so we could learn how to unload the press and check for unprimed cases.
Now I can't wait to learn to load for rifle. I'm sold on a 550 for my first press - I can use it in single stage or progressive modes, depending on MY mode and needs.
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Larry showed me his favorite 45 ACP load - recipe one:
4.3 gr. Winchester WST powder
200 gr. SWC plate (from West Coast Bullet)
Winchester Virgin Brass
WLP Primer
We then also worked up some loads for the Winchester 231 powder that Jardine recommended I try - Larry says this powder will be a bit dirtier than the WST. Jardine recommended 5.2 gr. of the 231 for 200 gr. Lead SWCs , but I picked up some 230 grain plated bullets (Speer .451) so - after consulting with the Speer manual I picked up today - Larry helped me work up a few loads to test in the Valtro:
5.6, 5.8, 6.0, & 6.2 gr. Winchester 231 Powder
230 gr. TMJ
Winchester Virgin Brass
WLP Primer
Can't wait to bench rest / ransom and begin tuning my own 'pet loads'!
I'm hooked!
I'm now 110% sold on hand loading... it was so easy to load, once I saw how it worked. I can't believe it didn't do it sooner. Now I just need a strong bench and a press. Larry showed me pretty much everything for pistol reloading. Even let me screw up so we could learn how to unload the press and check for unprimed cases.
Now I can't wait to learn to load for rifle. I'm sold on a 550 for my first press - I can use it in single stage or progressive modes, depending on MY mode and needs.
-
Larry showed me his favorite 45 ACP load - recipe one:
4.3 gr. Winchester WST powder
200 gr. SWC plate (from West Coast Bullet)
Winchester Virgin Brass
WLP Primer
We then also worked up some loads for the Winchester 231 powder that Jardine recommended I try - Larry says this powder will be a bit dirtier than the WST. Jardine recommended 5.2 gr. of the 231 for 200 gr. Lead SWCs , but I picked up some 230 grain plated bullets (Speer .451) so - after consulting with the Speer manual I picked up today - Larry helped me work up a few loads to test in the Valtro:
5.6, 5.8, 6.0, & 6.2 gr. Winchester 231 Powder
230 gr. TMJ
Winchester Virgin Brass
WLP Primer
Can't wait to bench rest / ransom and begin tuning my own 'pet loads'!
I'm hooked!