Here We Go...

[DeerhoundLurcherMan 997]

So I bought a second hand LEE 50th anniversary kit with .223 dies and a lyman tumbler a few days ago and had a play earlier...This is my first go at reloading, so if you folks see something I'm doing wrong please let me know....

 

So first of all I chucked a bunch of once fired hornady cases in the tumbler for a couple of hours...They came out nice and clean...I then realized the die kit didn't have a neck sizing collet, only the full sizing die...So I went to the local gun shop and picked one up along with a new case length gauge...Then got it set up in the press and began, I checked each case for neck tension by using a vmax head....I got them to fit snug using a pair of pliers, just a bit to tight to push in with my fingers.,,? I then trimmed all the cases up using the gauge and cutter in a drill, they all came out at a very consistent 1.744. Chamfered both the internal and external edges of the necks and cleaned out the primer pockets...So far so good?...100 cases prepped ready for loading and building some data for my rifle...

 

 

Now I need some advise for which powder to start with, and am I best off buying a loading manual? or is all the info I need out there online? I'm sure my local shop stocks Hodgesons, Alliant and Vhitavuori powders....Any recommendations? Something to shoot the 50grn vmax or blitzking...

 

I'm going to start the first batch of 4 rounds at the minimum measure of powder and work up in .5grn until I reach max load...and hopefully find a load which my barrel likes...

 

Also crimping....Can someone give me a heads up on the purpose of crimping and how its done properly... is it dangerous if you do it wrong?

 

Cheers!

[Tremo 138]

Have a look here mate:

 

http://www.hodgdonreloading.com/data/rifle

 

For my .223 I use Hodgdon's CFE 223 and Nosler Varmageddon 55gr.

 

All rifles are different, so it is not a great deal of worth me telling you the powder weight that I use, plus it can be a little unsafe. Just be careful when you approach the max load. Keep an eye out for any signs of over-pressure.

 

Crimping? Mmmm ... I don't crimp personally (and I get consistent accuracy). Some people do, some don't. Personal choice I guess.

 

 

Enjoy! Good luck.

[AThomas 32]

Good luck

First time I used the hand primer I had the oven glove and sweating like a lesbian in a fishmongers.

 

I doubt you'll reach max loads,usualy close to 10-20% from max is where it's at.

 

Keeping an eye on pressure all the time.

A lot don't crimp when beck sizing, just seat the bullet,get it wrong and the pressure starts to build.

Edited April 12, 2015 by AThomas

[DeerhoundLurcherMan 997]

Thanks for the link Tremo...

 

What signs should I be looking for with regards to the pressure getting a bit much? I'm guessing something on the cases?

 

I was only keen to crimp as when I neck sized the cases I test fitted a vmax round in them an although they will all grip the round, some felt tighter than others... We are talking very very slightly.. Will this matter or should I use a light crimp to get them all identical...?

[Cedric 132]

A good sign of overpressure is the primer. It is usually obvious when they become flattened and completely fill the hole (no rounded edges left).

 

With my .22 Hornet sometimes with neck sizing I was not convinced they were all identical so I lightly crimped, seemed to work fine. You'd have to dig in real hard to cause any problems.

[charlie caller 3,654]

Crimp mate, the idea of crimping is to ensure uniform starting pressure on every round, do not start playing around with seating depth, just set it to the depth given in your load data, in my experience, so many people get hot under the collar about trying to seat the bullet 10.000" off the lands, when in reality, many many rifles actually prefer a jump to the lands, and if you crimp, seating depth becomes even less important.

[Tremo 138]

Both my Tikkas like jumping to the lands.