Questions About Reloading

[DoD1776]

So I got some questions about reloading that I didn't see answers to in the books
How do you seat the primers in perfectly? is there an adjuster? what if I go to deep?

What bullet should I use for a 1-10 twist for my .30-06? Can the 160 grain bullets be okay?

should I use IMR 4895 or should I use 748?

Edit:
Why do I need to know the cartridge brand? why does it matter?

 

[MilesTeg]

Primers should be seated just below flush, there's a measurement but I can't remember it off the top of my head.

As far as what bullet to use 160gr is a normal weight for that caliber. Once you pick a bullet you can go to the charts and select a powder. I don't reload 30-06 yet so IDK what powder to recommend.

 

[dsdmmat]

Below flush for primers 4-5 thousands of an inch.
160- 180 grain is usually the bullet preferred by '06 shooters
IMR 4895 is fine, you may get better velocity with a slower powder like IMR 4320 though.

I use IMR4895 in the Garand and H4831 in the 700.

 

[kev74]

In practical terms, seat the primer until it bottoms out in the case. Once you feel the resistance start to increase, its probably done. Look at the bottom of the case and see if the primer is flush or slightly recessed- that's what you're looking for. If the primer sticks out a little, give it another push. Seating primers is the most dangerous part of reloading, so wear safety glasses in case you set one off.

As for powders and bullet weights, don't be afraid to experiment as long as you stick with published loads. You might find an oddball combination that your gun likes. Make sure you keep good notes. It gets frustrating when you want to recreate a load, but can't find the recepie.

Don't worry about case brands yet. As long as the case is in good shape and has been trimmed to length its good enough for now. As you dial in your loads, then you might want to segregate your cases. Personally I haven't felt the need to go through the trouble.

 

[meketrefe]

So I got some questions about reloading that I didn't see answers to in the books
How do you seat the primers in perfectly? is there an adjuster? what if I go to deep?

What bullet should I use for a 1-10 twist for my .30-06? Can the 160 grain bullets be okay?

should I use IMR 4895 or should I use 748?

Edit:
Why do I need to know the cartridge brand? why does it matter?

The 160gr is good. 1-10 twist is good for very long bullets like some 230gr lead core low drag bullets
that is too much for the 30-06 anyway.
With that twist you can load anything from 110gr to 220gr lead core (except large copper solids).

You can use those two powders but they are not the best powders for this caliber and for starting.
I am not saying they cannot be used but if you didn't buy them yet get something like Varget
that is a powder very consistent in different weather and falls right in the middle so it can be used
reliably with lighter and also a tad heavier bullets. Although if you are going to use heavier a tad
slower powders will be better.

Estimated burn rate from fastest powder to slowest....

http://www.wwpowder.com/PDF/Burn Rates - 2015-2016.pdf

Dayten did you finish reading the books? What did you read?
Also did you watch those videos form that ammo smith channel?

 

[Robin]

Good questions Dayton!!! Keep it up!
Robin

 

[DoD1776]

The 160gr is good. 1-10 twist is good for very long bullets like some 230gr lead core low drag bullets
that is too much for the 30-06 anyway.
With that twist you can load anything from 110gr to 220gr lead core (except large copper solids).

You can use those two powders but they are not the best powders for this caliber and for starting.
I am not saying they cannot be used but if you didn't buy them yet get something like Varget
that is a powder very consistent in different weather and falls right in the middle so it can be used
reliably with lighter and also a tad heavier bullets. Although if you are going to use heavier a tad
slower powders will be better.

Estimated burn rate from fastest powder to slowest....

http://www.wwpowder.com/PDF/Burn Rates - 2015-2016.pdf

Dayten did you finish reading the books? What did you read?
Also did you watch those videos form that ammo smith channel?

Yes I did finish reading, learned it was a whole lot more dangerous than I thought, gonna be a lot more cautious, gonna make myself a reloading table, still confused on how to make the primers fit well, but once I open up my Lee I will probably get it. Gonna youtube some videos to fix up some of my confusion, but I'm a tiny bit scared and confident

 

[DoD1776]

holy crap, I want one of those powder scale and dispensers and theyre expensive as hell! this sucks!

 

[MilesTeg]

I reload thousands of rounds a year without one on a single stage press. Yes they are nice but not needed. Start slow get your feet under you and you will have more ammo than you can shoot.

 

[meketrefe]

Yes I did finish reading, learned it was a whole lot more dangerous than I thought, gonna be a lot more cautious, gonna make myself a reloading table, still confused on how to make the primers fit well, but once I open up my Lee I will probably get it. Gonna youtube some videos to fix up some of my confusion, but I'm a tiny bit scared and confident

the primer goes with slight force but not huge force. You will feel a resistance then going in and then a stop that should be
firm but not keep pressing like crazy at the risk of crushing the primer and even popping one. Always wear glasses, it is loud
but nothing happens.
Some people like to use the hand priming tool because it gives a nice feeling about the primers. One has to press firmly and feels when
it stops, then press a bit more to make sure it bumps with the end of the pocket (well seated) and then will need huge force
by hand like that to actually crush a primer.

I have 4 presses and still prime with the lee from time to time. I actually grab the arm by the middle and with my index and middle finger I
find perfect to apply correct pressure and feel the primer in and specially if it is too loose and perhaps the last reload for that case.

Just make sure the primer pockets are clean and flared w/o any burrs or military crimps obviously.

Once the primer is seated it will be below the level of the rim so if you put that case on top of a piece of glass or very flat surface it
will not wobble. It will stand firmly.

keep reading and watch the ammo smith. I believe he goes into priming too with good close up footage.

we will help you out.

Write a checklist and put it in front of your press. This always even when you have been reloading for 20 or 30 years.

 

[meketrefe]

holy crap, I want one of those powder scale and dispensers and they are expensive as hell! this sucks!

What for? you don't need one.
Throwers are pretty consistent these days and In a large case capacity a 10th or 20th of a grain is not going to make a darn difference.
A different story is if you were loading the 5.7FN.
With some powders and large cases you can load by volume w/o a scale and I bet you will rarely notice a difference for the average use.
the % variant is not that great to make a substantial impact.

Get a nice electronic one for convenience, a couple of lithium batteries and you can weight using a delta weight that is pretty convenient.
I mean everyone should know how to use the analogical one but when you start using an electronic scale there is going back. It is so
much faster and convenient.

 

[meketrefe]

holy crap, I want one of those powder scale and dispensers and they are expensive as hell! this sucks!

What for? you don't need one.
Throwers are pretty consistent these days and In a large case capacity a 10th or 20th of a grain is not going to make a darn difference.
A different story is if you were loading the 5.7FN.
With some powders and large cases you can load by volume w/o a scale and I bet you will rarely notice a difference for the average use.
the % variant is not that great to make a substantial impact.

Get a nice electronic one for convenience, a couple of lithium batteries and you can weight using a delta weight that is pretty convenient.
I mean everyone should know how to use the analogical one but when you start using an electronic scale there is going back. It is so
much faster and convenient.

 

[Robin]

Dayton, scared is good. It is a natural emotion that every man jack feels. Always use it to your advantage!!! It is when you are scared of being scared that you have a problem.
robin

 

[kev74]

Just wait till you pull the trigger on your first reload. That will make you sweat a little.

 

[HighlandLofts]

I bought a bunch of stuff for reloading that I haven't even opened yet, when I first started I used the lee dippers and trickler to load up my handgun ammo.

I went with the Hornady Lock & Load Classic kit, I did buy the micrometer adjusters for rifle & pistol. once you get your pet loads down you can see where the micometer setting is for the powder you are useing and write it down on your cheat sheet for next time.

I like the Lee hand held priming tool better Hornady one.
I have two of the lee hand held priming tools, one set up for small primers and one set up for large primers.

Just go slow and enjoy the ride.

 

[Acer-m14]

I like the Lee hand held priming tool better Hornady one.

i'm pretty sure i got the RCBS one and bought the shell holder kit ( thought it needed it too ) .. didn't need it , the one i got uses the same ones my press uses

 

[Acer-m14]

here you go @Dayten .. how to reload and kill a beer too .. no fancy stuff needed .. easy as ABC .. LOL ..

 

[meketrefe]

I like how he gets consistent powder measures from milk bottles!!

 

[4excal]

Yes I did finish reading, learned it was a whole lot more dangerous than I thought.

I guess your Mom did too.."what!! you're not gonna blow up my house!!"...to the lockdown with you..

 

[DoD1776]

I guess your Mom did too.."what!! you're not gonna blow up my house!!"...to the lockdown with you..

naw it's not that.
plus it wasn;t really my mom, it was my stepdad

 

[HighlandLofts]

i'm pretty sure i got the RCBS one and bought the shell holder kit ( thought it needed it too ) .. didn't need it , the one i got uses the same ones my press uses

Yea the Lee Auto-Prime uses special shell holders, I bought the set. I need to pick up another set. I some how misplaced my number 19 auto-prime shell holder.
I'll have to pick another one of them on E-Bay

The set doesn't cost that much if I remember right. I should look at the Natchez catalog, it just came in the mail.

 

[meketrefe]

how is that reloading going?
I am reloading too!

 

[Onegunnotenough]

Yes I did finish reading, learned it was a whole lot more dangerous than I thought, gonna be a lot more cautious, gonna make myself a reloading table, still confused on how to make the primers fit well, but once I open up my Lee I will probably get it. Gonna youtube some videos to fix up some of my confusion, but I'm a tiny bit scared and confident

remember one thing about primers, if they go in too easy , something is wrong.. always check loads twice,just in case there is a typo...And use published data for specific bullets, don't think just cause a bullet is 230 or whatever GRAIN, you can use for all 230 gr..be specific.....don't mix individual lots of powder,always keep track how many times your specific brass has been reloaded....

 

[Big John]

Not to blow my own horn but did you read thru the sticky note I posted in the section? Being safe is utmost important! Primer depth is just below flush if you have a hand primer it is easier to use in my opinion because you can feel it seat. As for bullets for a 30-06 I swear by Barnes bullets the 150Gr tsx is machined out of solid copper and again in my opinion the most accurate for any application.