Gun Porn Wednesday - Reloading

[Ben Lamb]

I've got about 350 pistol rounds (40 S&W, 44 special, 38 special) to crank through as well as more development work for the 33 wcf and some 577/500 No. 2 BPE's to fill up. Also been playing with the 22-250 and have managed a 12 shot sub MOA group using Dad's old reloads. Glad I saved the last one to measure his charge!

 

[jryoung]

Been working on a COW (Polenta) load to fire form my Mashburn brass. I was all ready to go and shoot lastnight but she wanted to shoot trap instead....how could I say no.

 

[Ben Lamb]

What are you using for sealing the polenta in? Been thinking of getting my 7mm mauser re-barreled to 7mm Mauser AI.

 

[starvingoutdoorsman]

Nice. I have about 300 10mm auto, 200 7mm rem mag, 300 22.250, and who knows how many 6mm. And the only one I have a good load for is 6mm...

 

[Ben Lamb]

What's your load for the 10mm?

 

[putm2sleep]

What's your trap gun jryoung?

 

[jryoung]

What are you using for sealing the polenta in? Been thinking of getting my 7mm mauser re-barreled to 7mm Mauser AI.

Paraffin wax, I've heard soap works too (insert the neck into a bar and let it break off), and of course tissue or toilet paper.

With the powder measure to load the polenta, and syringe to dispense wax, I was able to do 95 cases in a hurry.

 

[MKotur325]

So for us unenlightened... What's with the Cornmeal and wax shells...?? I've done just enough reloading to understand the process... but not so much the finer points...

 

[1_pointer]

What are you using for sealing the polenta in? Been thinking of getting my 7mm mauser re-barreled to 7mm Mauser AI.

IIRC the Mashburn moves/alters the shoulder somewhat. In a regular AI, I wouldn't bother with fireforming with inert stuff. Just load 50, go practice your off hand for a bit and load 'em up. I've got about 1500pcs of 223 that I've formed to AI. One of these days/years I'm gonna have to buy some AI dies...

 

[Ben Lamb]

IIRC the Mashburn moves/alters the shoulder somewhat. In a regular AI, I wouldn't bother with fireforming with inert stuff. Just load 50, go practice your off hand for a bit and load 'em up. I've got about 1500pcs of 223 that I've formed to AI. One of these days/years I'm gonna have to buy some AI dies...

All you need it a neck sizer. That's the beauty of AI brass - takes a lot longer to kill a case than with a regular chambering. Well, that and the extra case capacity.

Also - polenta and parafin are much cheaper than running 200 bullets through the cases.

 

[jryoung]

So for us unenlightened... What's with the Cornmeal and wax shells...?? I've done just enough reloading to understand the process... but not so much the finer points...

I'm fire forming my 7 Mashburn from 300 WM brass, I've ran them through the Case Forming die to adjust the shoulder and neck size. I opted for the polenta and wax for two main reasons, one is cost, and the second is time.

Time wise I can shoot polenta fire forming loads much faster than a regular load as my barrel doesn't heat as much with a regular fire forming load that is a full charge of powder and bullet....on top of that barrel life is extended a bit too.

 

[MKotur325]

So its fireforming w/o wasting slugs. That makes sense...

Thanks Fellas!

Next stupid reloading question in regards to case prep... Can someone explain What annealing is and why I should anneal cases? Always wondered on that one...

 

[jryoung]

Firing and resizing hardens brass and eventually you will have difficulty resizing and or your cases can split.

The annealing process heats the neck and shoulder to a high temperature creating a chemical reaction where the brass remains "soft" and allowing for longer case life.

There are several guys out there that will de-prime, tumble and anneal your brass for around $.10 a case. I sent 250 cases of 7RM brass to a guy and it came back awesome.

 

[Ben Lamb]

you can also make your own annealing machine with a few simple tools:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cbqx4YhjCO4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgD5D0Wzu-c

Once we get into a new place, I'm setting one up for myself. Price for some of these older, obsolete cases is ridiculous.

 

[starvingoutdoorsman]

What's your load for the 10mm?

I have just been buying what I can find in stores so far. About time to put my reloading stuff to use. 180gr is all I have shot from various brands.

 

[Ben Lamb]

I have just been buying what I can find in stores so far. About time to put my reloading stuff to use. 180gr is all I have shot from various brands.

Nice. I've been playing with the plated 180 berry's in my 40 and have liked them so far. The 10 is a fun cartridge, certainly on my list (in a stainless Colt Delta). What powder are you using?

 

[flyfishmadison]

Hey Ben, would you mind sharing your 22-250 load data or is that bad etiquette in the reloading world. I am just getting into reloading and am trying to figure out a good load.

Andy

 

[Ben Lamb]

Andy,

I'm still working them up. The two loads I have right now are:

55 grain Vmax with 41.2 grains of H414, Fed 210 primer (I like fed primers because they're a tad softer than CCI's). This is a maximum load out of Hornady #7. Approach it with caution. I'm getting right at MOA with this load, but I think I can do better with it.

50 grain Nosler B-tip: 34.9 grains of IMR 4320, Fed 210 primer. This is not a max load (about 1.5 grains below max) and should achieve about 3600 fps. I've not shot this load yet, but hoping it comes close to mimicing what dad had.

 

[MKotur325]

Another to test if you want. I have a Tikka T-3 Light that enjoys this combo.

55gr Nosler B-Tip 39Gr IMR-4350 Remingtion 9 1/2 Primer. Sub MOA Last I shot it across the chrono, it was about 40Degrees, clocked 3362fps out of the short barrel (22.4) on the Tikka.

 

[Ben Lamb]

Same rig as mine. I'll have to try some 4350.