my first 60 rounds...
- Thread starter trigga
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I have been sick last week but managed to get out on saturday. the range is at the side of a public hunting ground so I didn't get a change to shoot all the reloads because there were two trucks parked and hunting there.
according to my lee chart, a 180gr copper plated bullet using accurate number 5 started at 5.8gr and max at 6.5 gr with OAL 1.125. i loaded up 15 of each using aa no. 5 @ 5.4, 5.6, 5.8, 6.0, and 6.2 seated at 1.130 with light crimps.
gun used is a glock 22 with 6" storm lake barrel. for this demostration, i used my factory barrel to see if there were any bulges. secondary gun used was a glock 27 (not pictured). the bullets seat flush and fed reliable at 1.130 OAL. No issues what so ever... All targets shot around 10 yards in a rather fast pace. The last target with the glock 22 was using the 6.0gr charge. both the g22 and g27 shot this last group.
according to my lee chart, a 180gr copper plated bullet using accurate number 5 started at 5.8gr and max at 6.5 gr with OAL 1.125. i loaded up 15 of each using aa no. 5 @ 5.4, 5.6, 5.8, 6.0, and 6.2 seated at 1.130 with light crimps.
gun used is a glock 22 with 6" storm lake barrel. for this demostration, i used my factory barrel to see if there were any bulges. secondary gun used was a glock 27 (not pictured). the bullets seat flush and fed reliable at 1.130 OAL. No issues what so ever... All targets shot around 10 yards in a rather fast pace. The last target with the glock 22 was using the 6.0gr charge. both the g22 and g27 shot this last group.
oh and i was able to score me some field brass which I have not gone out to the range for a while. most were lake city 5.56 brass and various hunting calibers.
the 5.4gr loads shot fairly soft. Very pleasant to shoot and control. I did notice some blow back or debris during my first few rounds. this could just be lint or dirt from not shooting the gun in a long time.
the 6.0gr charges are what i think i'm going to stick with. The loads are fairly close to factory offerings with a slight snap. I could not tell much of a difference between the 6.2 but found the 6.0 to be plenty accurate. i did notice flames using the 6.0 out of my g27.
overall I did not noticed any case bulges or signs of excessive pressure. everything fed reliably and went quite well.
the 5.4gr loads shot fairly soft. Very pleasant to shoot and control. I did notice some blow back or debris during my first few rounds. this could just be lint or dirt from not shooting the gun in a long time.
the 6.0gr charges are what i think i'm going to stick with. The loads are fairly close to factory offerings with a slight snap. I could not tell much of a difference between the 6.2 but found the 6.0 to be plenty accurate. i did notice flames using the 6.0 out of my g27.
overall I did not noticed any case bulges or signs of excessive pressure. everything fed reliably and went quite well.
ArchAngelCD
Member.
If your manual tells you the starting charge weight is 5.8gr AA#5 why did you build and shoot rounds with 5.4gr and 5.6gr charges? A starting charge is just that, it's where you start. You shouldn't start below that charge weight because that can be dangerous too.
ArchAngelCD
Member.
If the charge range is 5.8gr to 6.5gr I would have built rounds with 5.8gr, 6.0gr, 6.2gr and 6.4gr AA#5. I know you said 6.0gr is accurate but without going up to the Max charge you can't know if there is another accurate load there too. USUALLY, in the charge range given by the manufacturers and manuals you will find 2 accurate loads. One will be near the bottom of the charge range and the other near the top. Rarely is the Max charge the most accurate and like I said, usually but not always.
ArchAngelCD
Member.
How about sticking a bullet in the barrel without realizing it? The next shot will get very interesting very quickly. There are handful more reasons too...
Squib huh? Much different than a light load.
I shoot light loads all the time. Even with 1gr they will all leave the barrel.
I've loaded lighter than starting loads. I've done it, not read about it.
If the starting load is 4.0gr and you load 3.0gr with any powder the bullet will exit the barrel. The case may not eject and it may not feed another round but starting out below published starting loads is not dangerous.
Not the same as a squib.
I shoot light loads all the time. Even with 1gr they will all leave the barrel.
I've loaded lighter than starting loads. I've done it, not read about it.
If the starting load is 4.0gr and you load 3.0gr with any powder the bullet will exit the barrel. The case may not eject and it may not feed another round but starting out below published starting loads is not dangerous.
Not the same as a squib.
ArchAngelCD
Member.
Your answer is a little arrogant and you should never tell a new reloader to vary from published load data. Your answer implies I'm speaking from reading instead of doing but I can tell you I have done a lot of loading that isn't published, sometimes even dangerous BUT I would not tell someone else to do what I've done.
I was not talking about a squib load. In a semi-auto light loads can stick a bullet. It's not often but it can happen so new loaders should be aware it's not a good idea to load over or under published load data.
While some of us do indeed load a little below published loads, we have a lot of experience and can do it safely with some powders in some applications.
For the novice asking about their first reloads we should be giving sound, safe, established, advice on how to follow the load books and how to assemble rounds correctly with reasonable OALs, "crimps", charges, etc.
Let's use some good sense when advising those new to the game.
For the novice asking about their first reloads we should be giving sound, safe, established, advice on how to follow the load books and how to assemble rounds correctly with reasonable OALs, "crimps", charges, etc.
Let's use some good sense when advising those new to the game.
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trigga,
The LEE data is complied from old data tested by someone else. They have never tested any powder.
If you download the current Alliant Powder manual, or call them, they will send you one.
For a AA#5 and a 180 gr plated HP the range is 5.7 to 6.7
For a 180 gr lead bullet it is 5.4 to 6.0
Data will be conflicting between manuals and when tests are done.
When in doubt it is always good to go to the powder company data.
http://www.accuratepowder.com/load-data/
The LEE data is complied from old data tested by someone else. They have never tested any powder.
If you download the current Alliant Powder manual, or call them, they will send you one.
For a AA#5 and a 180 gr plated HP the range is 5.7 to 6.7
For a 180 gr lead bullet it is 5.4 to 6.0
Data will be conflicting between manuals and when tests are done.
When in doubt it is always good to go to the powder company data.
http://www.accuratepowder.com/load-data/
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