Reloading ammunition
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While reloading ammunition is a worthwhile part of our shooting hobby, it is a relatively simple process. We reload ammunition to save money, to improve our own rifles performance, to taylor a load for a specific instance, and to improve accuracy of OUR rifles.
While this process is simple, there are a great number of factors that affect the reloading of ammunition.
First is the condition of YOUR rifle. Some design of actions are not as strong as others, and using the .303 as an example, loads that a P-14 (strong action) will digest could wreck a Lee Enfield (weaker action.) Even in the Lee-Enfields, a No.4 action is generally accepted as stronger than an earlier No.1 Mark III, or even earlier Lee-Metfords....all of which take a .303 cartridge. Rough bores have more friction, and raise pressures. Even ammunition companies in North America download cartridges such as the 7x57 Mauser because of the possibility of someone using one in a weak action Remington Rolling block, or the 8x57 Mauser because of older rifles with a smaller bore size (.318) versus the later .323 bore.
Temperature and altitude are other factors. A safe load developed in the Arctic could be an overload in southern Alberta in August, due to a hotter temperature. Substituting components such as primers (which have different burning characteristics), powder (which has different burning rates) and bullets (even in the same weight, some bullets have more bore surface area than others and can cause more pressure.) Cartridge cases from different manufacturers can vary in internal capacity. Add to this, the age of components, especially primers and powder. Even the same powder can vary in burning rate from Lot to Lot, although it has the same name or number on the can. Loads with 4831 powder (IMR) are generally hotter and faster than loads with H-4831 (Hogdon) powder, even though both are labeled 4831. Bore condition (smooth versus rough and pitted) can cause pressure changes, and using the .303 again, although the bore specifications is .312 average, some wartime ones have gone up to .318 diameter. your barrel can even have a tight spot in the bore, a long leade or freebore, a tight or oversize chamber, and other factors. These are just a few common things that affect a cartridges performance.
On the other hand, a game animal does not care if it gets hit with a 150 grain bullet out of a 30-06 or a .308. If it is hit in the right place, it will go down, even though the 30-06 is about 100 fps faster. A lot of us are too enamored with speed.
It is no good having something going like a bat out of hell if you can not hit anything with it. Only hits count. Accuracy, not speed, is what counts.
When you reload, you can custom make cartridges that provide better accuracy in YOUR rifle. Reloading is fun, and testing loads to get the top performance from YOUR rifle is a great way to get to know what your rifle will do, and enhance its performance. However, just because a load works in YOUR rifle does not say that it will work as well in your buddys rifle. Rifles are like fingerprints.....they are different. THE BIG THING, THE NUMBER ONE THING IN RELOADING, IS SAFETY, SAFETY, AND MORE SAFETY.
Be sensible, work your loads up slowly, keep good records, and enjoy the hobby of reloading.
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