rmcelwee

iTrader: (1)

No flash hider on the Colt 6724.

So, you're saying I need to buy another rifle (at least that is how my brain is processing "you'll find a use for it". Thanks!

rmcelwee

iTrader: (1)

I just cooked up some 23 and 23.5 grain loads. So, I have those as well as some 24 and 25.5 grain loads for my next trip to the range (probably a week or so from now). I'll let you guys know how it works.

Pen2_the_penguin

iTrader: (4)

forgot that i made a video of our last outing. Just having fun. Had to teach my buddy to hold a handgun (black sweatshirted dude)

samnavy

iTrader: (7)

Another major variable in "tuning" handloads is seating depth. Your distance from the lands can make as much difference in your groups as a few tenths of a grain of powder. Every barrel is different, and the more precise the barrel, generally the smaller the "window" of distance from the lands that it like the bullet to be. After you get a clear idea of what powder load it likes, then start messing with seating depth to dial in a particular load. Then you can start all over when you switch primers... then again when you switch brass... then again when it's 50* warmer out... if the bug really bites (and now you've got the gun to do it), you will learn to geek out like never before.

I know a few guys who aren't necessarily "gun guys"... they only own a couple of very expensive precision rifles. One guy wouldn't be caught dead with an AR because only neanderthals shoot semi-auto. But this dude is an encyclopedia of reloading nerd-dom. He found a hobby that he knew he could geek out on for eternity, and if he ever got bored, new passion lies in building a gun in some crazy wildcat that nobody else he knows is shooting.

rmcelwee

iTrader: (1)

Didn't work out great. My groups were all around 2" or so. Not sure whether to blame the shooter or the rounds. I've ordered a cheapy "lead sled" to take some variables out. Seems like the best groups have been with 24 grains of powder but it is hard to tell. I definitely did not get the 1.25" groups I was getting last week.

Sam, have you used the all copper bullets yet? I'm having some problems with loading them. I'm not sure if it is the projectiles or my equipment. I've been loading on a Lee single stage but got a good deal on a Lee Classic 4-Hole Turret and will try on it next.

Anyway, I made 71 rounds today:
50 had OAL of 2.250 +/- 0.005
2 rounds the bullet pushed through the next and fell in the cartridge
8 were too long (2.266 was the longest)
11 were too short (2.237 was the shortest)

I'm going to pull the bullets and do some checking on them tomorrow. I'm guessing that they have an irregular shape but that is just a guess. Taking a long round and putting it back into the press does not make it any shorter.

BTW, the problems with my brass trimming with crazy lengths have been solved by purchasing a Lee Quick Trim. I just did 94 rounds and the brass was all +/- 0.001 vs my normal +/- 0.007 (?) lengths.

I finally decided on a Hi-Point 9mm carbine (995-TS) to use for my 9mm rounds and it should be here next week. I've got about $250 shipped/ffl'd in the rifle and another $50 for two extra mags and a double mag holder that hooks on to the stock. 10 round mags are going to suck but I couldn't argue with the price.

samnavy

iTrader: (7)

^This is all on your new Colt, right? When you get your lead-sled, maybe a box of Remington Premier of FGGM is a good idea to baseline the gun with some really good ammo... then if you're still getting +1" groups, you'll know it's something else.

And since we talked last, it hasn't broken 35* outside... last 2 nights it's been down in single-digits. Tomorrow is supposed to be 50*, but there's so much other **** to do here that I haven't been able to do in weeks that I'm not sure I'm gonna get to load anything. This coming week is supposed to be freezing as well.

The really good news is that long-term weather outlook shows this coming week as the last cold one. Should get up into low-50's next weekend and that's it... winter essentially over.

I'm sorry I can't add any data for those bullets yet.

Splitime

iTrader: (24)

So i'm selling my reloading stuff... car budget has run dry and its best option to fund it atm. I'll have a list of stuff after a friend grabs what he wants this evening.

Dillon 650 + lots extras.

rmcelwee

iTrader: (1)

OK, I took a look at the projectiles today. There are some short and long ones as well as some that have a strange shape to them. I'm going to contact TheAmericanMarksman.com and see what they say about it. They were supposed to be "blemished" not the wrong size.

The "one stripe" round is short (0.776"), "two stripe" is long (0.810") and the other two fall through the brass. All four are close to 0.223" diameter at the largest point. There is a flat spot on top of the boolits where I pulled them using an impact puller.

Roda

A small piece of soft foam in the nose of the puller will help to keep from deforming the tips. Something like half of a foam earplug.

Tip damage aside, those look like crap. Have you taken measurements and weighed a sample of, say, 10 or so bullets out of the batch to see what you're dealing with?

rmcelwee

iTrader: (1)

Yeah, I lost my foam and have not replaced it. No, I have not weighed them yet. I'll wait until I can use the digital scale at work.

samnavy

iTrader: (7)

Holy **** man, those are terrible... and to think I've got like 2000 sitting in the garage. I haven't even looked at mine yet, but if that's what they all look like you're not going to get any repeatable precision out of them. I'm gonna go take some pictures.

Pics... mine don't look that bad for the price. They're clearly not Barnes quality, and I'll never use them for any sort of precision, but they should plink just fine. I'll need to see them hit some gelatin before I'd shoot a critter with one.

The good news is that I think 2" groups with these are pretty good. When a bullet is so badly formed that you see it with the naked eye, it's pretty bad.

samnavy

iTrader: (7)

For comparison... these .277 caliber bullets are 110gr Sierra Pro-Hunters (the ones with the exposed lead tip) and 110gr Barnes TSX (all copper). The Sierra's are factory seconds, so there is some inconsistency in the lead tip, which are all within toleranes of first's, so no worries there.

Also, the base of a bullet also affects accuracy. An all-copper bullet should not have a smashed up base like that.

rmcelwee

iTrader: (1)

Just went through about 100 of them. Here is a picture (flat spot is NOT from my bullet puller - these are brand new):



Weight on those two are 54.8 grains and 54.9 grains.

samnavy

iTrader: (7)

more...

samnavy

iTrader: (7)

Wow, it doesn't even look like those are the same bullet. The entire shape is different. Like I said, 2" groups with those is pretty good. Can you do me a favor and cut one in half? It almost looks like they've put a copper jacket over a copper core.

shooterschmidty

Wow, those are terrible. Buy yourself a box of Nosler Ballistic Tips and try your loads with them.

fooger03

iTrader: (2)

Oh...****...

Roda

+1

Those aren't blems, they're the garbage from the shop floor sweeper.

Probably the easiest way to baseline the rifle is a box of good quality factory ammo as noted above. Then you can make choices on which way you want to go...

Splitime

iTrader: (24)

Saved you worries, majority just sold to buddy...

rmcelwee

iTrader: (1)

Just smelted my first batch today. What have I gotten myself into???

30 pounds of COWW and 9 pounds of SOWW (was 49 pounds to start with including steel and zinc). Paid $5 to the manager and he let me pick them out of the trash can.