Baldrage's reloading log

[Wobbly]

Similarly, plunk testing the RMR 124 gr plated RN revealed 1.141 COAL would plunk, spin, and fall out, so I subtract .015 off-set, and get a nominal COAL of 1.125, same as I have been using for the Extreme 124 gr plated RN.  These RMR bullets are .584 in length (based on average of 5 randomly-selected bullets), compared to .583 for the Extreme, so .001 longer (is "smidge" or "skosh" the correct terminology for measurements of one one-thousandth of an inch).  Hodgdon data has 1.150 COAL for Berry's 124 gr HBRN TP, with starting load of 3.9 gr and max load of 4.4 gr HP-38.  Per previous discussion in this thread, I understand that both Extreme 124 gr RN and these RMR 124 gr RN are shorter than the Berry's HBRN, so I do not need to move the load window even though I will be using a shorter COAL, correct?

Since the 2 bullets (RMR and Xtreme) are so similar in length and composition, you'd use the same load range you used on the Xtreme. The load range we (you, us, all) derived for the Xtreme has worked out well, so don't change it. You want to move from fact to fact. With so little difference in the 2 plated bullets you have there, it doesn't make sense to go back to the published data with that really long 1.150" OAL.

Of course the first thing you want to do with the RMR is shoot a ladder of 5-8 rounds each using that load range and 1.125" OAL. To prove that the Xtreme load range when used on the RMR bullets is indeed a "fact". Starting load covers up a host of errors.

 

[Wobbly]

One other question I forgot to ask:  should I be concerned if it takes 10-15 whacks with the kinetic hammer to take apart a dummy round? 

Only if you end up looking like this...



 

[Wobbly]

Queue the speling Nazi responses

That's not a misspelling, it's simply "fake news".

[Wobbly]

Shot off my test-ladder of 125 gr RN Blue Bullets - nominal 1.110 COAL, WSPP, Winchester brass, 5 rounds each at 3.8, 3.9, 4.0, 4.1, and 4.2 gr of HP-38.  I say "nominal" COAL, because I had more variation (+/- .007) then what I have been getting for the hundreds of X-treme bullets and FC and Blazer Brass (usually +/- .003) rounds I have loaded. 

Anyway, all functioned and fired fine.  I was more concerned about function then accuracy, but they all seemed to have about same felt recoil and accuracy shooting free style at 7 yards. 

At 0.1gr increments you won't be able to tell any difference. So what did the brass tell you ?

Hodgdon load data for 125 gr LCN says 1,009 FPS for 3.9 gr at 1.125 COAL and 1,085 for 4.4 gr.  I need 1,000 FPS for PF and am loading a bit shorter, so maybe 4.0 gr? 4.1 gr?  I will load up 25 at 4.0 and 4.1 gr and see if one is more accurate for me than the other.

I thought you had the Lyman #49 manual ? Why do you keep referring to the Hodgdon data when you have a load manual ? A lot of the Winchester and IMR load data Hodgdon is peddling is almost 20 years old.

 

[baldrage]

I thought you had the Lyman #49 manual ? Why do you keep referring to the Hodgdon data when you have a load manual ? A lot of the Winchester and IMR load data Hodgdon is peddling is almost 20 years old.

Thanks for the feedback on the RMR!

As for why I keep referencing Hodgdon data rather than Lyman manual ... in this case, the only data Lyman has for 125 gr bullets is JHP.  It has data for 120 gr cast bullet, but not using Win 231. I'm still too much of a newb to try and interpolate from that data to the components I have, so I've been sticking with the Hodgdon data that may be out of date, but at least more closely reflects the components I am using.

[baldrage]

Shot off 15 rounds of the 125 gr RN Blue Bullets, each loaded at 4.0 gr and 4.1 gr HP-38, 1.110 nominal COAL, WSPP, Win brass.  Both seemed a bit snappier than the 124 gr RN Extreme bullets I have been using at 1.125 COAL and 4.2 or 4.3 gr HP-38. 

Targets were at 7 yards, shooting about 2 rounds/second, standing, free-style.  Results were a toss-up. 
01292017 BB TEST by baldrage, on Flickr

I'll probably just pick 4.0 gr and load up the rest of my 200 blue bullets to shoot my normal training routine and see how the results compare to the Extreme bullets.   

[IDescribe]

Your Blue Bullets are snappier because they're traveling faster, and higher muzzle energy equals higher recoil energy. 

[baldrage]

Finished loading the last 100 of my 250 test run of Blue Bullets 125 gr RN last night ? nominal 1.11 COAL, 4.0 gr HP-38, WSPP.  Still getting a pretty wide variance in COAL ? from 1.1125 down to 1.05 (edit: meant to type 1.105).  Aside from some blue-tinged fingerprints, I haven?t had any problems loading these bullets once I increased the belling just a smidge.  Have not seen any leading in my barrel, just a trace of ?smurf poop? that cleans up easily with a patch.  I?m going to set 50 or so of these rounds aside and save them for a future shoot-off against the Extreme 124 gr RN that I have stockpiled and the RMR 124 gr plated RN that I am going to turn to next.  Would be nice if they are comparatively accurate, as the Blue Bullets are about $.01 cheaper/round than the RMR plated, and $.03 cheaper/round than the Extreme.

Now that I am closing in on 2,000 hand-loads and am a grizzled reloading vet (ha!), I have developed a love-hate relationship with my Dillon SDB.  Love it when it?s working well, but hate it when the finicky primer system works itself out of synch.  I spent three or four hours this week with the primer system disassembled to trouble-shoot it.  Finally figured out that that the blue plastic tip on the primer magazine tube was not completely pushed on (apparently the last .01 inch, which is not detectable to the eye or touch, really matters).  My experience has been that once it is set up correctly, the primer system will hum along for several hundred rounds, then work itself out of alignment.  The frustrating thing is that there isn?t one cause or fix ? to date, every time the primer system has gone out of whack, it?s been for a different reason.  I?ve gone through four of the blue plastic tips for the primer system so far, as they are designed to rip apart if they become misaligned, so roughly one every 500 rounds.  Fortunately, the blue plastic tips are inexpensive, but the lost time in figuring out the cause is very frustrating.  Hopefully I?ve learned all of the likely causes and can trouble-shoot primer problems faster going forward.

[amada8]

COAL ? from 1.1125 down to 1.05

That is WAY too wide a spread.  Something is wrong.

[painter]

COAL ? from 1.1125 down to 1.05

That is WAY too wide a spread.  Something is wrong.

Agreed.

He needs to fix that.

eta...wondering if that's a typo, and should read 1.105

[IDescribe]

Are you running the press without the brass retaining pin at the seating station?

[baldrage]

Gah! You are right -- that's a typo on COAL.  Should be 1.105!

[painter]

Gah! You are right -- that's a typo on COAL.  Should be 1.105!

Still...it's excessive and you need to tighten things up.

[Wobbly]

COAL ? from 1.113 down to 1.105

That is WAY too wide a spread.  Something is wrong.

? It's only ~0.008" so he's closing in.

? On the primer issue...
? Call Dillon CS and describe your issue. At least you'll get some new tips.
? Run a cleaning patch down through the primer tube, just like a gun barrel.
? Each time you install the primer tube you have to slide (not drop !) the tube into place, then rotate the tube until it engages the flange on the end of the tube and drops another 1/8 inch. THEN you can screw on the knurled cap.
? Get a 45ACP brass and a 147gr bullet. Put the bullet inside the brass. Press the brass onto the top of the black Dillon primer follower rod.

Hope this helps. 

[painter]

COAL ? from 1.113 down to 1.105

That is WAY too wide a spread.  Something is wrong.

? It's only ~0.008" so he's closing in.

<snip

The numbers initially presented indicated a ~.060 variance.

He was waaaaaaaay off.