Nervous

boat_magic

boat_magic

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So I made my first batch of handloads a couple days ago. I'm heading out to the range today to fire them off.

Is it weird to be really nervous? I mean, according to all the tutorials, resources, and advice I've acquired, I've done everything properly, within safe tolerances. I should be okay, but I'm still a bit scared that I'm going to blow my head off.

Here's what I've loaded:

.308
168 gr Berger VLD
39 gr Hodgson H4895 (for 15 rounds)
40 gr Hodgson H4895 (for 15 rounds)
Federal primers
Once-fired Nosler brass


Tempted to bring a length of string to the range, mount my rifle in a lead sled, and pull the trigger from behind a wall.
 
Givvvvvvvvvvvvvv'er.

Just pay attention to what happens after you pull the trigger.
Meaning, make sure the spent bullet isn't left in the barrel.

Go have some fun with your reloads.
 
Shooter ----/ said:
What manual are you using? Did you load to OAL listed in your manual?
Click to expand...

Hornady

SoylentD said:
Don't be there alone when you're testing new loads.

Nervous is fine, almost expected for the first loads you make.
Click to expand...

Haha good. If I have to be alone, I might get my girlfriend on the phone, tell her that if I don't come back to the phone in a few seconds, to hang up and call 911 lol.

kamlooky said:
Givvvvvvvvvvvvvv'er.

Just pay attention to what happens after you pull the trigger.
Meaning, make sure the spent bullet isn't left in the barrel.

Go have some fun with your reloads.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I'm definitely going to be pulling the bolt and checking the bore after the first bunch of shots.
 
I was the same way. Load them one at a time, treat whatever rifle you are shooting as a single-shot. As mentioned, for the first few, make sure the projectile actually left the barrel - if I take a shot with a new load and don't see the target dance or otherwise develop a new hole, I automatically assume the projectile didn't leave, because my aim is so impeccible!
 
boat_magic said:
Hornady
Click to expand...

You're shooting Berger VLDs but you used a Hornady manual for load data?

What OAL did you use?

What length did you trim your cases to?

Berger's manual for those bullets lists 37.0 gr as starting and 41.3 gr as max load for H4895. Personally, I would have started with the minimum load data in the book published by the bullet manufacturer.. but I wouldn't worry too much. Just look carefully at the case after you fire the first couple. Look for stick bolt lift, wacky primers, extractor marks, etc.
 
HeavyTread said:
You're shooting Berger VLDs but you used a Hornady manual for load data?

What OAL did you use?

What length did you trim your cases to?

Berger's manual for those bullets lists 37.0 gr as starting and 41.3 gr as max load for H4895. Personally, I would have started with the minimum load data in the book published by the bullet manufacturer.. but I wouldn't worry too much. Just look carefully at the case after you fire the first couple. Look for stick bolt lift, wacky primers, extractor marks, etc.
Click to expand...

Yeah, WSS didn't have the Berger manual available. Plus I cross referenced the load data with Hodgson's website, and a few other places which recommended a starting load at 39 gr.

OAL is 2.78/2.79" (the bullets had some variance at the tip), and I'm becoming suspect of my calipers.

Cases were trimmed to 2.00 (though that's as precise as my calipers get, so they could be anywhere between 2.000 and 2.009.

Thanks! :]
 
Take your rounds one at a time and but them between your thumb and fore finger.
Shake them lightly.
You should feel the powder moving inside.
I don't think your near a compressed load.
No powder shifting would raise me eye brows.
Just a quick simple check.
 
boat_magic said:
So I made my first batch of handloads a couple days ago. I'm heading out to the range today to fire them off.

Is it weird to be really nervous? I mean, according to all the tutorials, resources, and advice I've acquired, I've done everything properly, within safe tolerances. I should be okay, but I'm still a bit scared that I'm going to blow my head off.

Here's what I've loaded:

.308
168 gr Berger VLD
39 gr Hodgson H4895 (for 15 rounds)
40 gr Hodgson H4895 (for 15 rounds)
Federal primers
Once-fired Nosler brass


Tempted to bring a length of string to the range, mount my rifle in a lead sled, and pull the trigger from behind a wall.
Click to expand...
One of the most important things to check is your brass and bolt lift. Check for pressure indicators on the brass, such as, ejector marks on the head, split necks, etc. Your manual is a great reference guide to the noted above. Good luck and have lots of FUN!
 
kamlooky said:
Take your rounds one at a time and but them between your thumb and fore finger.
Shake them lightly.
You should feel the powder moving inside.
I don't think your near a compressed load.
No powder shifting would raise me eye brows.
Just a quick simple check.
Click to expand...

+1 - I did this for the first 1000 rounds I loaded of .223 and .308... juuuust to be sure. I also ran each one through a chamber gauge as well.

Since then I've become more confident in my press and procedure, so I don't do that anymore. But TOTALLY understand the anxious/nervous feeling the first time you pull the trigger on a round YOU made! :)
 
kamlooky said:
Take your rounds one at a time and but them between your thumb and fore finger.
Shake them lightly.
You should feel the powder moving inside.
I don't think your near a compressed load.
No powder shifting would raise me eye brows.
Just a quick simple check.
Click to expand...


Yeah, they all shake. I also did an inspection of each before seating the bullet to make sure there was only one charge in there.
 
You have nothing to worry about, IF the powder charges are as you say, there is nothing else you could do to cause the rifle to come unglued on you. Even if your COAL jammed the bullet into the leade the worst that may happen is you might blow a primer.
 
I've seen pics in threads several times of people just getting into reloading who follow the COAL to the thousandth and I often see bullets with the cannalure as much as 1/8" above the case mouth.
I don't think I checked a COAL measurement from a book until I had already fired several hundred reloads.
Of course if you are starting with bullets that don't have a cannalure you can't use that as a gauge.
I just follow an old rule I've heard several places of minimum one bullet diameter in the neck (or fill the neck if shorter) and as much shorter as is necessary to fit your magazine and feed properly.
At starting loads I can't imagine COAL being able to push you to dangerous pressure levels. Keep COAL consistent during load development, of course, but I really can't see it being dangerous to start way in or way out so long as it chambers properly.
 
I compared my hand loads to a nosler factory round, and despite the different bullet profile (HPBT vs VLD), they were nearly identical. My hand load was a 16th or 32nd of an inch longer, but the oal was still under the 2.8 I see listed evergwhere
 
boat_magic said:
Is it weird to be really nervous? I mean, according to all the tutorials, resources, and advice I've acquired, I've done everything properly, within safe tolerances. I should be okay, but I'm still a bit scared that I'm going to blow my head off.
Click to expand...
I used to be "nervous" when I got my first 7" blade knife, and my first bb guns :)
 
If you're measuring in 16ths or 32nds you aren't measuring with the necessary accuracy for reloading.
A good-enough caliper will run you $20-40 and measures to a thousandth of an inch (.001") in theory. In practice they can be assumed to have a tolerance of +/- .002" if you haven't checked them against gauge blocks or something precise.
Some digital calipers measure 5 or even 2 tenths (a tenth of a thou or a ten-thousandth; .0005" or .0002") but again unless you have checked it against precision ground gauge blocks or something you can assume these numbers are meaningless.
Vernier calipers are good but can be slower to read. Digital are expensive for an accurate one. I prefer dial as you can get decent accuracy and read it quickly.

If you want to measure bullet diameter you need a micrometer to be sure of the results. They can legitimately measure to within a tenth (.0001") most of the time.
 
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