I am very new to reloading and have been relaoding 45 ACP (100 rounds or so) and have just begun to reload my first batch of 7mm Rem Mag.
My basic question is how do I know what tolerances are good? For example, with 7mm Mag cartridge length. I am reloading a batch of 10 to start with. Case lengths before trimming were 2.50+ with the upper end at 2.51+. I used a Lee hand trimmer and trimmed cases to 2.498+ with nothing over 2.50.
With 45 I followed Hodgdon's load for 230grn FMJ and Hodgdon Clays powder. They specified 1.20" COL. My loads ranged from 1.99+ to 1.20+ with none over 1.21. From what I have learned the 1.20" COL seems short but it is what Hodgdon specfied. I have yet to shoot these loads to see how my pistol will feed them.
So before I bore everyone to death with a long post, how do I learn/identify what measurements are most critical and when is too long to long, too short too short, taper crimp to tight/loose, or anything else I don't know Jack about.
Oh, and for the record any reloading in the future will include 30-06 and 7mm-08 in addition to the 7mm Mag and 45 acp.
Thanks for the help everyone.
My basic question is how do I know what tolerances are good? For example, with 7mm Mag cartridge length. I am reloading a batch of 10 to start with. Case lengths before trimming were 2.50+ with the upper end at 2.51+. I used a Lee hand trimmer and trimmed cases to 2.498+ with nothing over 2.50.
With 45 I followed Hodgdon's load for 230grn FMJ and Hodgdon Clays powder. They specified 1.20" COL. My loads ranged from 1.99+ to 1.20+ with none over 1.21. From what I have learned the 1.20" COL seems short but it is what Hodgdon specfied. I have yet to shoot these loads to see how my pistol will feed them.
So before I bore everyone to death with a long post, how do I learn/identify what measurements are most critical and when is too long to long, too short too short, taper crimp to tight/loose, or anything else I don't know Jack about.
Oh, and for the record any reloading in the future will include 30-06 and 7mm-08 in addition to the 7mm Mag and 45 acp.
Thanks for the help everyone.
