What did you do in the reloading room recently?

This week I worked up some test loads for a couple of milsurp calibers I haven't loaded before...


10 rounds of 8x60r for the Portuguese Kropatschek I picked up a few months ago. I only loaded 10 rounds this time just to test function. 210gr cast bullet over some H4198.
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20x 8x56r for the Steyr M95 carbine I picked up a while back. PPU 8x56r can be hard to find so I decided to start rolling my own. I went with some 208gr .330 FMJs over IMR4064. I loaded a few different charge weights to see if I can find some sort of node.

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This week I worked up some test loads for a couple of milsurp calibers I haven't loaded before...


10 rounds of 8x60r for the Portuguese Kropatschek I picked up a few months ago. I only loaded 10 rounds this time just to test function. 210gr cast bullet over some H4198.
View attachment 479990

20x 8x56r for the Steyr M95 carbine I picked up a while back. PPU 8x56r can be hard to find so I decided to start rolling my own. I went with some 208gr .330 FMJs over IMR4064. I loaded a few different charge weights to see if I can find some sort of node.

View attachment 479992
i have some surplus 8x56?_
Tossed around the idea of buying a rifle just to shoot the ammo.
 
This week I worked up some test loads for a couple of milsurp calibers I haven't loaded before...
20x 8x56r for the Steyr M95 carbine I picked up a while back. PPU 8x56r can be hard to find so I decided to start rolling my own. I went with some 208gr .330 FMJs over IMR4064. I loaded a few different charge weights to see if I can find some sort of node.

I have a couple of boxes of that on strippers if you need more...


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Primed 100 of my sawn off .223 to 300BLK.

Just ordered my upper today and already got a shipping notification. Website said, "14-21 business days" for shipping and it turned out to be about 15 minutes and USPS already has a scheduled date for Friday ha.

Thought I had plenty of time to track down some projectiles. Guess I should have bought those .308 at BPS the other day. I'll swing up there tomorrow to see if they're still there.
 
Not reloading but that’s where my 3D printer is. I bloke my “Empty Chamber” flag the other day so I printed a new one. Really only wanted it for my Tavor but is also fits in AR’s. I was a tad long for AR’s so I made a few changes and hit the print button again. Pull the bolt back, insert the flag and ride the bolt till it makes contact. Simple and it works. If anyone wants the STL just PM me.
 

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400 rounds of 223 today. I found this good training case for my kids. This round is close to a case separation. Given the location I suspect it was from a belt fed at an NES shoot.

Caught it after loading. I load all my ammo on strippers and inspect before storing. You'll sometimes crack a neck or shoulder on high round count brass when seating bullets, so checking high use brass only before loading I've found is not a good practice.

I don't get too concerned about tiny neck defects that are borderline for training ammo as a neck crack will have minimal effect in close ranges. But if you're loading long range ammo a neck crack on a .223 round can be a 1-2ft flyer at 600. So limit your brass if you're shooting competition.

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Glenn's in North Reading has Varget! 2 pounds still on the shelf when they closed today. Also H4350 and R17. The R17 was also available in one 8# jug. Various other rifle powders in 1# too. No primers but lots of bullets.
Wow! I’m guessing $40 for the Varget?
Any pistol powder?
 
Spent some time at the range testing some 300blk ammo. 12.3gr H110 under a 155gr BTHP cycled well, surprisingly little muzzle flash and boom, but didn't lock back.

13.4gr was the same thing. 14.7 was the one. Couple hundred fps faster and everything functioned well and locked back after the last round.

Looking forward to trying the 220gr I have on order.

Not bad for a thrown together budget blaster. I'm under $350 for everything on this thing.
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My first reloaded 5 live rounds ever (9mm) ! The amount of LNL set-up and trial & error was a little more than I expected. But, given all that - the process is very repeatable now.

The seating/taper crimp die was the absolute worst - but I think I've got it now.

I don't know whether to frame them or shoot them. Maybe a little anal - but all weigh within 0.1 gr, and lengths are 1.115 +/-.001.

OK......where's my participation trophy.......:cool:

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