Load Development – Part Two
Step By Step
1. Starting with 20 once fired brass, we will neck size them as neck sizing makes the brass last longer and certainly aids accuracy These cases must be previously fired in your rifle , do not use cases fired in another rifle without first full length sizing.
2. Clean primer pockets
3.. Seating primers is best completed using a hand tool, as press seating systems lack any sensitivity through compound linkages and one can very easily crush the priming compound against the primer anvil, causing very inconsistent ignition. Lee Ergo Prime is well worth the investment if reloading is going to be a big part of your shooting future.
4. Weighing Powder the good book states 50 grains is a MAX load for ADI 2208 powder behind a 125 grain projectile at a NOM 3135 fps. We will stay on the right side of a maximum listed load and try
loading 5 cartridges of each weight from 46, 47, 48 & 49 grains. For best results hand weigh powder. (It is worth the time and effort). I suggest a simple powder scale like the Hornady beam scale.
5. Seating projectiles some earlier groundwork will be required before starting to seat projectiles in your (test batch) loads. Projectile seating depth is a complex question to answer, let alone a short blog article. In short, the closer the projectile is to the rifling lead the more accurate, but pressure signs will show sooner. The further away from the rifling the projectile is seated there is less likely to be a drop in potential accuracy but pressure signs should be less likely to be an issue when nearing maximum powder load.
Firearm makers chamber & throat there rifle’s differently depending upon caliber spec, magazine feeding requirements, and so on. When we talk about throat of free bore, we are talking about the gap from the front of the chamber to the start of the rifling. Best accuracy is generally achieved with the projectile seated against the rifling lands but high pressure can develop like this before your chosen cartridge has developed its full turn of speed.
Next article: How the 0.A.L. Gauge works
Warning: All the reloading data in this article should be used with caution. Never use the heaviest recommended powder charge until lighter charges of the same powder have been tried and found to be safe in each individual gun. All data contained herein is derived from various sources and is believed to be entirely safe when used in properly maintained firearms that are in good mechanical condition and chambered for the respective cartridge.
Since neither the author nor publisher have any control over choice of components, the manner in which they are assembled, or the arms the resulting ammunition may be used in, no responsibility- either expressed or Implied- is assumed for the use of this data.