When is enough enough

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jsickle

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Been reloading 44mag(240gr) and357(158gr)mag for sometime now with a lot of different powders but mainly XTP and coated SWC bullets in both calibers.
I have got some special sweet loads that I like but I just can't seem to stop playing around with loads and powders trying to find a better one (is this normal). I really enjoy reloading and the variety of loads I can make but when does a guy stop looking for that perfect load or know when you have found it.
 
Reloading is like that. You're normal.
Been wanting to try those DTAC 115 grain .243 bullets for eons despite having a rifle that isn't worth using premium bullets out of. Barrel's not up to high accuracy. It shoots 90 and 105 grain bullets minute of deer consistently, but the 115's are new. And pretty. And cool looking.
 
Yep, I have tried way to many combinations. Shot Load #220 in .357 Mag today. It's a good one.
 
It is OK .... one day ... someone(after you're gone) will be asking ... what to do with all those different reloads that (Grandad/Uncle Joe/Cousin Billy... ) loaded ...

SO ... here is my answer ... load all the different loads you want .... just make sure that you shoot'em up before you leave!!

In the past a fellow could find a good load with X powder, X bullet, X brass and X brand primer .... you could run down to the local gun shop and grab some of each and continue reloading their favorite load ... Now days It is find what you can .... develop a new load ... and get ready to start all over again next trip down because if you're lucky ... you may find the same product twice in a row .... more than likely not!!

I've shot so many different loads since 2009(I started reloading in 1965) that I need a new notebook to list them in ... nothing like the days gone by.... some better than others ... but they all went bang!
 
I'm notorious at working up bullet and powder loads not listed in any manual....like last week I loaded up and shot out of 357 mag cases a 200gr plated bullet with 11gr of AA4100 powder behind it.
By golly it shot and felt wonderful. 1.5" groups at 25yds. I was happy.

Love my new 586-8 revolver. I've always liked a blued 586 over a 686.
 
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Not sure, but with a dozen different pistol powders, a half a dozen rifle powders, an array of jacketed, plated, and cast bullets. 8 different calibers.

As many here have said, it is an addiction. But a good one. :)

I have only recently started keeping better records. :( So that means, some of those earlier loads will get repeated.
 
To tell the truth, I don't really like reloading. I don't find it distasteful or anything, but more like a pleasant chore that needs to be done - like splitting firewood. So, although I do some experimenting initially, when I find a load I am very comfortable with I will stick with that load. My 30-30 uses 31 grains of IMR 3031 and a 150 grain bullet and it always performs well.

The only experimenting I am likely to do in the future would be with black powder.
 
I have worked up/found some really good loads for my various firearms, and I'll put a big red star on the load entry in my binder and make notes on my computer saved data. But, I still load up "differently" after I've achieved that "perfect" load; there's always something new/different to try. If I were to stop "experimenting/varying" loads, I'd get bored real quick and prolly sell all my equipment and just order my specific loads from a commercial reloader...:mad:
 
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You're normal.
There are two kinds of reloaders :

1.) the searcher, always looking for just a little bit better load, trying different combination of powder , primer and bullet.

2.) the satisfied reloader. If it goes bang, puts a hole in the target anywhere close to where he's aiming....he's satisfied with that load and looks no farther.

You and I are in the first group. I'm always willing to try a new mould and/or powder looking for those nice one hole groups in the 10X ring.
Gary
 
Enough is enough when you feel satisfied loading the same recipe for the rest of your loading career.
until then, there are still combinations to be tried. :D Thankfully.
 
Most of us have tried and true loads we use all the time, but many of us also like to try new things. It's fun.
 
I believe the search for the perfect load for each gun is the escence of reloading. Two identical guns will shoot different with the same load.... This is why I reload.
Keep records. Write load powder bullet and speed in tje ammo cases.
 
gwpercle said:
1.) the searcher, always looking for just a little bit better load, trying different combination of powder , primer and bullet.

2.) the satisfied reloader. If it goes bang, puts a hole in the target anywhere close to where he's aiming....he's satisfied with that load and looks no farther.
Click to expand...
3. The sated searcher...the shooter/reloader who seeks a load that does exactly what he wants in regards to outstanding accuracy, desired velocity, muzzle flash (important with my SD loads), recoil, and utter reliability, and then looks no further.

Maybe i'm lazy and boring...but most of my load recipes i inherited. My dad kept good logs, and apparently did quite a bit of accuracy research. I made slight tweaks to a couple (like bumping up the 45acp from his 4.6 grains of bullseye to 5.0 grains).
I anticipated making changes after I got a chrony, but everything I found left me fully satisfied.
If the food is delicious, I dont mess with the recipe.
 
I've been on this same ride loading for my AR. Three powders, two primers, eight bullets. My wife is pretty sure I've gone over the edge.
I know my rifle shoots the 55gr V-max very well. Should have stopped there...but no...I've also found it likes the 55gr SP. In spite of this little bit of info, I'm still trying to find the right set up for the 55gr and 62gr fmj bullets (even though I know they will not shoot all that well)

It is the fun part of reloading! Accept it and move along. :D

Mark
 
gwpercle said:
You're normal.
There are two kinds of reloaders :

1.) the searcher, always looking for just a little bit better load, trying different combination of powder , primer and bullet.

2.) the satisfied reloader. If it goes bang, puts a hole in the target anywhere close to where he's aiming....he's satisfied with that load and looks no farther.

You and I are in the first group. I'm always willing to try a new mould and/or powder looking for those nice one hole groups in the 10X ring.
Gary
Click to expand...
I fall into the 2nd category. I found powder, bullet and recipe that my guns seem to like so I just pretty much stick to that. I don't do a lot of experimenting.
 
I remember there was a time when I enjoyed experimenting the hand loads. Now days I find a combination that works, and then load that. I'm with Ironicaintit on his, well said, if the food is delicious, don't mess with the recipe.
 
If the food is delicious don't change the recipe. Unless you like just a little more spice. Or a little less. or....
 
Goofing around with different loading is half the fun with magnum revolvers. I like to have about five flavors: very light, light, medium, medium-heavy and KABOOM! The POI shifts are acceptable to me as long as I stick to a single bullet weight, and sometimes an extra-heavy bullet works with a 6 o'clock hold for the same sight setting that gave a good center hold with a medium load and standard bullet.
 
I reload pistol for volume, and rifle for accuracy. A rifle's barrel wears over time and thus, new loads *need* to be developed. EG, length modified, etc.
 
It never ends. Even when a load is perfected I will just move on to something else.

A good FMJ load... done. Now I need JHPs. So again I try different things, spend some money, find out what the gun likes, and another load is done. Now cast bullets!

Before too long I found myself buying new guns just so I can have another caliber to explore.
 
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