loading ammo without working up a load

Evanguy

Evanguy

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
100   0   0
Location
Gambier Island B.C.
I know this is is kind of of a newb question and the simplest answer is to work up a load but

I'm going on a hunting trip in less then 2 weeks and wont get to the range before I leave, so I want to load some ammo but I don't have a load worked up.

factory Winchester super-X shoots about 3 moa in my rifle 6" group at 200 yards (my shots will be within 200 yards) is there a way to put some reloads together that will be at least as good as factory Winchester ammo?

if there isn't an easy way ill just buy a box of Winchester super X on the way, but I have all the stuff to make ammo and am in the mood to reload.
 
Not the best advice and I don’t recommend it for everyone, but when I am in a bind, I look at a couple reloading books (I have about 12) and I find a load right in the middle and follow their seating depth, etc. I’m sure even that would shoot 3 moa or better.
 
If you can't get to the range for load work, how will you zero your rifle before your trip? Even different lot numbers of supposedly the same ammo can have different points of impact.
 
Google is your friend. You can usually find discussions about specific fire arms / calibers and loads and generally find a load mentioned more than once. Again cross check with manuals for safety. But I have found some of my best loads this way...
 
9.3mauser said:
If you can't get to the range for load work, how will you zero your rifle before your trip? Even different lot numbers of supposedly the same ammo can have different points of impact.
Click to expand...

ill be able to shoot on a logging road, but ill already be in northern BC by then, I do plan to rezero the rifle with what ever load I use

so I could load 15 round of each powder charge, do that with 3 or 4 different charges/powders and see what shoot the best then keep a few rounds for hunting.

but I was hoping to be able to load up 50-100 rounds of the same charge and have them work as well as factory Winchester ammo





alright, ill spill the bean, the rifle in question is the first rifle I ever bought/owned, so I want to take it on this hunt, its a Parker Hale custom no1 Lee Enfield fixed 4 scope on it.
I want t use 150gr bullets and hoping to use H4895 or maybe IMR3031
 
I am not as "brave" anymore, since experiencing a bolt locked shut from first hand load - that was NOT worked up. However, I understand that others may not share that concern. At minimum, pay attention to what primers, brand of brass, brand of bullet that they used in the loading manuals, besides the amount of powder. As has been posted by others on CGN, some of those can be like adding two grains of powder to your load - or make no difference at all. Good luck on your hunt - and on your first shot!!!
 
The suggested starting load from your reloading manuals will be safe. You say you are shooting maybe out to 200 yards so I wouldn't be too concerned about velocity. Accuracy wise, you won't know until you put it on paper. Which cartridge? Bolt rifle? I don't see that in your post.
 
Last edited:
I'm just going to buy a box of factory 180gr ammo, ill get better velocity then even max load listed on Hodgdon's and I know it shoots good enough, ill have to rezero but I was going to do that anyway.

I'm in the mood to reload but no the mood to waste components, ill wait until I can get a range day in so i can test the load before loading a hundred or so.
 
Evanguy said:
I'm just going to buy a box of factory 180gr ammo, ill get better velocity then even max load listed on Hodgdon's and I know it shoots good enough, ill have to rezero but I was going to do that anyway.

I'm in the mood to reload but no the mood to waste components, ill wait until I can get a range day in so i can test the load before loading a hundred or so.
Click to expand...

I think that's your best option for now.
 
If you want to reload, use the same bullet weight as the Win Super X. Pick an "average" powder charge, and load 30 thou off the lands. Check your loaded cartridges for fit in the chamber... Your load should perform fairly close to the factory load, you can do minor tweaks in the field. In the end, your hand loads should group equal to, or better, than factory. No need to load more than 30 rounds for your trip. You can do fancy tuning , including different bullet weights, later on...
 
cosmic said:
If you want to reload, use the same bullet weight as the Win Super X. Pick an "average" powder charge, and load 30 thou off the lands. Check your loaded cartridges for fit in the chamber... Your load should perform fairly close to the factory load, you can do minor tweaks in the field. In the end, your hand loads should group equal to, or better, than factory. No need to load more than 30 rounds for your trip. You can do fancy tuning , including different bullet weights, later on...
Click to expand...
A good chance that would work fine.... but buy the box of factory 180gr as backup, just in case. Because it would be a real pia to get out there and find out the reloads aren't shooting well.
 
Evanguy said:
I know this is is kind of of a newb question and the simplest answer is to work up a load but

I'm going on a hunting trip in less then 2 weeks and wont get to the range before I leave, so I want to load some ammo but I don't have a load worked up.

factory Winchester super-X shoots about 3 moa in my rifle 6" group at 200 yards (my shots will be within 200 yards) is there a way to put some reloads together that will be at least as good as factory Winchester ammo?

if there isn't an easy way ill just buy a box of Winchester super X on the way, but I have all the stuff to make ammo and am in the mood to reload.
Click to expand...

If it were me in your situation, I would

Find a few loads in the middle range of the data, with a slightly slower or bulkier powder for the cartridge (full cases have almost always worked well for me), try to seat close to the lands without jamming them (you want full functioning hunting ammo, not target fodder) and a slight crimp. Either I'm the luckiest reloader alive, or something like this will give you a good basic load, at least equal to factory Fed blue box or Win powerpoint? or whatever, and probably better. I have never, never, ever...had a reload that was not comparable to factory, unless...
Cast bullet (sizing/lube/mix), too fast/too slow powder and low percentage case fill, such as using Unique, or other voodoo related things when you go too far off the rez.

Make up 30-40 rounds of 2-3 loads. When you get to your logging road, take all the time in the world to bore site at 25 meters, use as few rounds as possible to be about 1/2" low at 25 meters. You're probably now 2-3" high at 100 meters, but you'll be close. Fine tune. Go on hunt, be successful, and eat delicious animal.
 
I think the Winchester white box ammo specify muzzle velocity and bullet energy on the package
The Lyman reloading manual shows the velocities with each powder charge so you could use that info with the same bullet weight as the Winchester to make a load that would be close but as was stated your prob better off to buy a box of ammo
 
303 is never going to be a powerhouse. Find two boxes in a gun store, go zero it. Go kill stuff. The 308 is a modern equivalent of 303.

Don't blow your face off. Deal with developing a load when you get back.....8mo it's still 308 power, weak action....just buy factory and spend the money on a better rifle/caliber. On a positive note, if you need a jack handle on your trip, your covered.
 
39gr of H4895 with a 150gr Hornady SP work great in my No1/No4/No5 rifles. This is quite a mild load and should be fine for what you need. Iron sight accuracy is around 3MOA in my rifles. I'd also get a box of factory ammo for backup, just in case. Good luck on your hunt.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom