So my latest reloading journey is getting back to the basics of rifle reloading. I started with shotshell loading then expanded to pistols and then rifles. I feel I am good at making safe and serviceable ammo for all, but I’ve never really played with the finer points of accuracy.
It all started when I inherited my great grandfather's 25 caliber rifles and equipment (my grandfather was a shotgun guy). I didn’t want to learn the ropes on a 80+ year old 250savage. So I wanted an easy to load rifle and had a pile of 223 brass. I was going to buy a bolt action to learn, but the AR siren song called. Loading for the AR isn’t hard but it’s different as an auto loader.
Now, years later, I’ve come into a Savage 340B in .222. This is the rifle I didn’t know then that I was looking for. It’s ugly but functional, and it burns powder modestly in a caliber I already stockpile for. First though, I need to test shoot it.
Normally,I just buy 20 rounds of factory ammo and check the scope, but that’s been hard to find. So I loaded up some basic sight-in loads and a simple work up. I had no clue if the rifle was shot out or where the scope was pointed. So I loaded up some bulk 55 gr fmj bullets and mixed brass with H335.
They shot well considering the 1980s 4x Simmons and cheap Remington bulk bullets with inconsistent length and weight. I was pleased enough to plan on using better bullets and brass, but I did find these loads worked the full course of pressure/primer signs within published data. I finally felt a heavy bolt lift at hogdon’s max load (but a grain under Hornady and Speer’s). That’s why we do work ups.
I also had primer setback on the lighter loads. Heavy loads were flattening but light ones were protruding a bit. It wasn’t noticeable until I put them in the comparator to find a baseline headspace.
Anyway, I feel like there is always a lot to learn and I’m looking forward to the next phase with better components. The Winchester might provide some distractions too.
It all started when I inherited my great grandfather's 25 caliber rifles and equipment (my grandfather was a shotgun guy). I didn’t want to learn the ropes on a 80+ year old 250savage. So I wanted an easy to load rifle and had a pile of 223 brass. I was going to buy a bolt action to learn, but the AR siren song called. Loading for the AR isn’t hard but it’s different as an auto loader.
Now, years later, I’ve come into a Savage 340B in .222. This is the rifle I didn’t know then that I was looking for. It’s ugly but functional, and it burns powder modestly in a caliber I already stockpile for. First though, I need to test shoot it.
Normally,I just buy 20 rounds of factory ammo and check the scope, but that’s been hard to find. So I loaded up some basic sight-in loads and a simple work up. I had no clue if the rifle was shot out or where the scope was pointed. So I loaded up some bulk 55 gr fmj bullets and mixed brass with H335.
They shot well considering the 1980s 4x Simmons and cheap Remington bulk bullets with inconsistent length and weight. I was pleased enough to plan on using better bullets and brass, but I did find these loads worked the full course of pressure/primer signs within published data. I finally felt a heavy bolt lift at hogdon’s max load (but a grain under Hornady and Speer’s). That’s why we do work ups.
I also had primer setback on the lighter loads. Heavy loads were flattening but light ones were protruding a bit. It wasn’t noticeable until I put them in the comparator to find a baseline headspace.
Anyway, I feel like there is always a lot to learn and I’m looking forward to the next phase with better components. The Winchester might provide some distractions too.
