So this is the year I will finally go to some PRS shoots in my region, which means I'll probably make a fool out of myself as I (re)learn the arts of target identification and wind reading at ranges up to 1,300 yards or so. But I've got a good gun, and I'd like to be reloading ammunition that's consistent enough that ammo isn't the issue that's holding me back.
So I'm looking for reasonable accuracy without investing too much into this before I decide whether to take this sport really seriously.
I'm pretty certain in the end I'll be shooting 139gr Scenars, 140gr AMAX, or 140gr Berger VLDs on top of Reloder 19 or H4831SC using Lapua brass. That's the end point, and I'll need to do some testing to see what works best in my rifle.
Right now, though, I need to understand all the steps I should be taking to make ammo the right way. A buddy wanted me to make him some 22-250 ammo over the weekend which resulted in about half-MOA for my first batch reloads which wasn't bad. But the hair-pulling over the lessons I was learning was just rough - in this case it turns out resizing factory new brass was essential or the rounds wouldn't necessarily chamber properly.
So, what I have now:
I'd love pointers and tips from folks who've walked this path before.
So I'm looking for reasonable accuracy without investing too much into this before I decide whether to take this sport really seriously.
I'm pretty certain in the end I'll be shooting 139gr Scenars, 140gr AMAX, or 140gr Berger VLDs on top of Reloder 19 or H4831SC using Lapua brass. That's the end point, and I'll need to do some testing to see what works best in my rifle.
Right now, though, I need to understand all the steps I should be taking to make ammo the right way. A buddy wanted me to make him some 22-250 ammo over the weekend which resulted in about half-MOA for my first batch reloads which wasn't bad. But the hair-pulling over the lessons I was learning was just rough - in this case it turns out resizing factory new brass was essential or the rounds wouldn't necessarily chamber properly.
So, what I have now:
- I've got a tumbler with some Lee media in it. Works fine, though I wish it worked faster.
- I'm priming with an RCBS handheld device - works fine
- RCBS Rockchucker supreme - no issues unless I forget to lube cases for full-length sizing, but I think that lesson is locked into my brain pretty well
- Lee neck resizing die
- An RCBS Chargemaster 1500 that I'm really impressed with.
- 4 reloading trays, with some funnels that should have been included with the Chargemaster kit in my opinion.
- A Redding Competition Bullet Seating die.
- I've discovered Hornady Lock 'n Load Die Bushings, which means I'll now need to build die storage since nothing fits in the original boxes any more.
- Probably some way to clean the inside of fired cases, especially after they've spent a few hours grinding against bits of corn cob. (I've only ever loaded factory-new brass at this point)
- A way to trim cases for length, ideally with some short-cut that's faster than using the micrometer on each one. This includes chamfering and deburring steps.
- I probably want a decapping die. Does it make sense to pop the primers out before throwing the cases in the tumbler, as separate process from resizing?
- I definitely want a better way to capture primers after I use the decapping/resizing die. I don't like picking these things up off the floor at all.
I'd love pointers and tips from folks who've walked this path before.
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