non-common fun rounds to reload?

[raddiver]

So i was thinking tonight that it would be nice to add a unique gun to my collection.

Im looking for a round that is not overly common, but fun to reload.
I was thinking WSSM, 6.5 Grendel, or possibly 6.5 creedmore.
For me the more oddly shaped the cartridge, the better.

What say you?

 

[Mohave-Tec]

Load? Have you got the room to shoot them? LOL.
I've never known a handloader who gets more anal about his loads than a 6.5 Creedmore loader.

 

[savanahsdad]

not sure about fun to load but I load for a 25WSSM and it is fun to shoot out of an AR15. I load 75gr V-max ,Sierra 90gr and 117gr , 120gr HP interlock,and 120gr BTSP interlocks

 

[Romeo 33 Delta]

Well, I don't know how much "fun" it will be, but figuring out how to make and reload the 14mm Wanzl Rimfire ought to be my Waterloo!:banghead:

 

[cfullgraf]

I load for two wildcat cartridges (7mm International Rimmed and 38-45 Clerke) and one obsolete cartridge (6.5x54 Mauser Kurz). I do not shoot any of them alot but I enjoy working with them every now and then.

Each requires manufacture of cases besides reloading. Cases for these are easy to form. Once the cases are formed, reloading is straight forward.

They satisfy my desired to work with special cartridges.

 

[MtnCreek]

I've been loading creedmoor for a few weeks now and it's been the most boring cartridge I've ever loaded. Fun to shoot; just not a challenge to load. A few evenings ago I made a headshot on a crow at ~125 yds. Edit: It was a fair kill. He was pulling up corn sprouts.

 

[50 Shooter]

If you had an erector set as a kid or liked Legos, try 50 BMG. With everything being so big it makes it easy to load. It helps if you have a long range to shoot it also.

 

[ReloaderFred]

The only "exotic" rounds I load are .45-120 Sharps, 9x25 Dillon and .400 Cor-Bon. The most fun shooting is the .45-120 Sharps, but the most fun loading is the 9x25 Dillon, as in experimenting with different bullets and loads. The other 27 calibers I load are pretty mundane.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[warhwkbb]

I wanted a challenge so I purchased a Winchester model 1910 401SL. I use blown out 7.62x39 brass. Not much in the way of load data with modern propellents though.

 

[Kachok]

6.5x55 is my favorite hands down, I am sure the Creedmore is really good as well, or if you wanted to push things a bit faster track down a 6.5 Rem Mag, that thing can shoot flatter then my 270 WSM! I don't own a WSSM but my gunsmith has a 25 WSSM that is his favorite rifle, I think it would be really cool to have super short action rifle that is fully capable of deer hunting inside 500 yards. I actually have given some thought to wildcating a 6.5 WSSM and making a super light out of it.

 

[mdi]

For fun only, I think I'd try a 500 Nitro Express (I don't have to worry though, I can't afford a rifle to shoot 'em in). Huge bullet, huge recoil, huge muzzle blast. Wouldn't be able to shoot much more than 5 or 6 per session (or devolope detached retinas), but it'd be a kick in the rear, er, shoulder...

 

[Springfield0612]

Never shot it, don't reload for it, but I got a couple brass cartridges in a trade for .458 Socom. Did some research on the gun and balistics it was quite impressive, and the brass is just very odd looking. I have one sitting on my dresser and every time I look at it I have to tell myself I don't need to buy a rifle just because I have brass for it!

 

[Certaindeaf]

Every non-common cartridge is fun to reload for because a) you can't get it otherwise, or b) it's about $3-7 per shot instead of the standard five cents to on up a bit per.

 

[oneounceload]

Easy and fun to load, but hard to maximize would be one of the 6mm BR cartridges. When done right, one ragged holes are the norm

 

[Sam1911]

I've really been tempted by a beautiful old Remington rolling block in .430 Spanish that I know of for sale nearby. Paper patched and black powder should provide enough interest, I'd think.

 

[PRD1]

mdi:

The .500 Nitro is not so brutal as you seem to believe. The typical British double rifle in that caliber weighs about 12 lbs, and is fitted with a recoil pad.
Consider that the bullet only weighs 70 grains more than a .458 Winchester (570 vs. 500 grains), and the muzzle velocities are about the same.
The bolt actions for the .458 typically weigh 9 - 9 1/2 lbs, and are fairly brisk to shoot (they should be a bit heavier - mine is a custom rifle built on a Remington Model 30S action, and weighs ca. 10 1/2 lbs. and is not unpleasant at all).
My .500 Nitro, on the other hand, is a Merkel DR, and only weighs 10lb. 4oz. - it is a bit lighter than I'd like, but with a decent recoil pad it, too, is not unmanageable, though you do know you've done something when you pull the trigger.
If you want brutal, try the .378 or .460 Weatherby in a factory rifle.
And, one of the most unpleasant rifles I've ever shot was a Ruger #3 carbine in .45-70 with fairly brisk (but not maximum) handloads - one shot was all the fun I wanted.

PRD1 - mhb - Mike

 

[tahunua001]

6.5x50 japanese is my favorite. killed my first black bear with it this spring. light bullets with imr3031 make good squirrel blasters while the heavier stuff is dead-nuts-accurate with imr4064. my carbine had issues with velocity not living up to the manuals but it's a fantastic little combo to play around with. uses standard .264 diameter 6.5 bullets and brass can be formed from 308 win.

 

[rayatphonix]

Raddiver, I have all three calibers you mentioned plus kachok's 6.5 rem mag... Creedmoor's probably the easiest to reload for with the Grendel coming in a close second. WSSM brass typically has very thick necks (due to the way it's formed I'm told) and I have to work hard to size it. Somewhat of a PITA, but when people see the cartridge these is a "wow" factor. 6.5 Rem Mag is difficult to find loads for and help on the net is hard to find if not non-existent.

 

[MtnCreek]

Never shot it, don't reload for it, but I got a couple brass cartridges in a trade for .458 Socom.

Now I want one!!!

 

[stubbicatt]

Actually, loading for black powder cartridge rifles is about as different as you can get from loading smokeless.

Load density, proper compression, proper lube, proper alloy, nose pour moulds, proper seating depth, proper wads, so many different factors. You might consider that if you want a real challenge that will probably take you several months to sort out. AND a bonus, you will be surprised how accurately those whopping big old soft alloy bullets will shoot when propelled by a case full of black powder!

 

[mdi]

The .500 Nitro is not so brutal as you seem to believe. The typical British double rifle in that caliber weighs about 12 lbs, and is fitted with a recoil pad.
Consider that the bullet only weighs 70 grains more than a .458 Winchester (570 vs. 500 grains), and the muzzle velocities are about the same.
The bolt actions for the .458 typically weigh 9 - 9 1/2 lbs, and are fairly brisk to shoot (they should be a bit heavier - mine is a custom rifle built on a Remington Model 30S action, and weighs ca. 10 1/2 lbs. and is not unpleasant at all).
My .500 Nitro, on the other hand, is a Merkel DR, and only weighs 10lb. 4oz. - it is a bit lighter than I'd like, but with a decent recoil pad it, too, is not unmanageable, though you do know you've done something when you pull the trigger.
If you want brutal, try the .378 or .460 Weatherby in a factory rifle.
And, one of the most unpleasant rifles I've ever shot was a Ruger #3 carbine in .45-70 with fairly brisk (but not maximum) handloads - one shot was all the fun I wanted.

PRD1 - mhb - Mike

Thanx. I have seen only one loaded cartridge, no rifles, and have only seen someone shooting them in a video...