Ready to Start

[photobiker]

Back from vacation and got all my stuff: HP-38, Fed. Primers, Berry's 124 HBRN-TP bullets.  Read through the archives and my understanding with these particular components OVL should be 1.135-1.140, seen a lot of variation and I know this is important to pick an OVL and stick to it and adjust powder load and a powder load starting at maybe 3.6 and work up to 4.2 in 0.2 increments.  Make 8 or 10 of each load and test.  Brass is my once fired I picked up with anyone else's fired brass sorted my stamp.  Going to start with FC because that is what I have been shooting and collection for a couple of years and I know most of it is once fired.  my first gun to load for is a full size CZ-75B.  Is this the correct direction?
Since I'm asking questions what or who is R-P and AP 10 brass and any good?

[bang bang]

Back from vacation and got all my stuff: HP-38, Fed. Primers, Berry's 124 HBRN-TP bullets.  Read through the archives and my understanding with these particular components OVL should be 1.135-1.140, seen a lot of variation and I know this is important to pick an OVL and stick to it and adjust powder load and a powder load starting at maybe 3.6 and work up to 4.2 in 0.2 increments.  Make 8 or 10 of each load and test.  Brass is my once fired I picked up with anyone else's fired brass sorted my stamp.  Going to start with FC because that is what I have been shooting and collection for a couple of years and I know most of it is once fired.  my first gun to load for is a full size CZ-75B.  Is this the correct direction?
Since I'm asking questions what or who is R-P and AP 10 brass and any good?

R-P is Remington - Peters.

AP never seen or herd of that one.

[painter]

From this site... http://cartridgecollectors.org/?page=headstampcodes

AP    Arms Corporation of the Philippines, Parang, Marikina City, Metro Manila, 1800 Republic of the Philippines (formally Squires Bingham Co.-see SB)    1
AP    Unknown Factory, France    15

Never seen any.

It seems like you're on the right track with your procedure.

Have fun.

[1SOW]

Sounds like you're ready to start.  Your "FC" Federal brass will work just fine.
Some have criticized the latest model ".FC." plain FC have been good fo me and others I know. 
I don't know what the other brass you mentioned is either.
Keep us posted on your progress. 
Enjoy!

P.S.  R&P is one of my three favorites.

[Wobbly]

Mr Biker -

? Military brass usually has a maker and date. So I suppose that "AP10" is really made by AP in the year 2010. Now most military brass is made to very high specs, but watch for crimped or Berdan type primers. The old boxer primers come out just fine, but because the entrance to the primer cup has been crimped, the new primers can't be installed without a little work. If that is the case, then you'll want to start a "dead brass" box and toss them in. For the same amount of work as fixing one piece of mil brass, you can pick up 10 more Fed, Win, Speer, or some other much more useable commercial grade brass. Shame really. A waste of great brass.

? Best place to start is by making 5 "dummy cartridges" with no primer and no powder. If those will all 5 drop into and out of the chamber of your naked barrel using only their own weight, then you're set to go. Usually though, a new reloader will have some basic die setup issues, and minor die adjustments to make, which are much better spotted without using 'live' ammo.

 

[kobus]

you are on the right track. i was there not very long ago but i already feel like an old hand at reloading with all the good advice and guidance from the helpful and knowledgeable guys on this forum.     enjoy your new addiction. 

[painter]

Nice work.

.003 variation is great for your first...second...third...attempt.

[1SOW]

Struggled with OVL.  I was shooting for 1.140, but the range was 1.138 to 1.141.  Have read, here, that it take time to learn your equipment and I hope that range will be close enough to give me a fair comparison of the loads.

Those oals are well within a consistent performance range.  Even with a chrono,  at your  light to low-middle range loads, the "extreme spread" of speed differences due to oal will be perfectly acceptable.

Let us know how the 4.0 and 4.2 compare.

[Wobbly]

Went with the advice and made 5 dummy rounds for feel and adjustment.  Took them apart and did them again.  They dropped in the barrel just fine at 1.140.  What was interesting was that the rounds I made dropped in and fell out when the barrel was inverted but the Federal factory rounds at 1.148 dropped in, little snug and didn't fall out when the barrel was inverted.  Just an observation. 

That's telling me that YOUR rounds are already better than factory.

The scariest part for me was loading the primers, they just made me nervous. 

Don't ever loose that edge, and you'll never loose an eye or finger! 

Made 10 each at 3.6 gn, 3.8 gn, 4.0 gn and 4.2 gn.  Stored them in separate bags so I know who is who.  Struggled with OVL.  I was shooting for 1.140, but the range was 1.138 to 1.141.  Have read, here, that it take time to learn your equipment and I hope that range will be close enough to give me a fair comparison of the loads.  I guess I am going to have to wait until next weekend to give them a try.  Let's hope for good weather.

Shoot those each at new targets from a supported position, starting low and working up. If possible over a chrono. You'll see in short order. Take notes in your notebook of what works and what doesn't work.

Ready to Start

Believe me. You're well prepared to push the "Start" button!   

 

[kobus]

Nice work.

.003 variation is great for your first...second...third...attempt.

i agree and it gets better. after a year of reloading on a basic progressive Lee press i got these results this past weekend:
(i will not mention powder as it is local and i don't believe you will know it)
147gr XTP 1st  string 10 rounds ave 869fps extreme spread 7 standard deviation 3.
147gr XTP 2nd string 10 rounds ave 919fps extreme spread 10 standard deviation 4.

this is what you get when you get the "feel" for the press and all adjustments are sweet. 

[Wobbly]

....standard deviation 3.
....standard deviation 4.

Show off!! 

 

[kobus]

....standard deviation 3.
....standard deviation 4.

Show off!! 

 

sorry !     couldn't resist.    it's just so nice when your reloads work well.   

[kobus]

....standard deviation 3.
....standard deviation 4.

Show off!! 

 

ahem !   ..... this was a hint for Prof Wobbly.    i was hoping that the esteemed professor would at least issue me with a qualified reloader certificate. 

[Wobbly]

So let it be written, so let it be done!

[painter]

So let it be written, so let it be done!

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