Scrumbag

Hey, if it makes you happy. I still like putting clean ammo in my guns. Scrummy

Thanks. I wouldn't mind trying some of those Bergers but my 1:9 twist barrel limits it a bit. That 70 gr bullet looks the mutts nutts Scrummy

Hi Miseryguts, Dropped you a PM. So, for your reloading (and to see if I understand the process correctly) Starting with fired cases. Deprime a batch with Lee decapping die (Turret locked) Sonic clean Prime (I have an RCBS hand primer that I use fairly quickly) Size using carbide sizing die (presumably with the decapping pin raised? And turrent press cycling) Auto drum powder fill using flow through / expander dies Seat Crimp Best wishes, Scrummy

Hi Andy, there will be some competitions shot but nothing serious. I am trying to develop an accurate hunting load though. 44 mag with N110 and Nosler JSP. I am learning what a difference crimping makes. These loads I am developing are done singly. ATB, Scrummy

Hi Andy, I guess it could well be just it seems to take a while reloading them and a mornings shooting you can burn through quite a few in a lever action. Plus - new set of skills, way of doing things and I quite like learning. Scrummy

This was actually a place that was closing down so I cleaned him out of 400x 60gr TMK and 750x 62gr Hornady FMJBT

Happy to help!

Duplicate

Did you not find you liked it? I think it's great fun. Scrummy

Ah understood. I have had an XS sight installed on my 1892 Chiappa clone and it works OK. Just waiting for a sight stem which can take smaller apertures to turn up... If you put Weaver blocks on your 94 AE you could of course use a NEGC or XS weaver peep sight. The above isn't my rifle, it's a Canadian youtuber called Brobee223. I reckon with QD rings that would be a great iron sight / scope option on your 357. Think that's a Leupold VX-Freedom 1.5-4x28 IER Scout Rifle Scope | Uttings.co.uk Scrummy

I have a Chiappa Alaskan with a Leupold 2.5x28 and the scope is quite nice (Think they have stopped making it though...) If you have an AE, why do you need a scout scope? The point of the AE models is you can mount a scope conventionally...

I'm going to try the 60gr TMK.

Well my friends, It’s Friday and I have been popping out to the garage to play about with reloading gizmo’s and such on my journey into reloading pistol cartridges for the first time. I have for a long time had a Lee turret press but I have only used the turrets to change between calibres rather than for any progressive reloading. However, this week given how slow I am at reloading “pistol” rounds vs the guys who do it regularly I thought I would automate the turret and see how I do. So, I have set up the 4 hole turret with my Lee 4 die 44 mag / 44 special pistol set So, I have learnt a few things… 1) I’m still not 100% sold on priming on the press and I think for my precision / hunting bottle neck rifle rounds I will still primer using a hand primer but I will persist as it might be just my lack of practice 2) I think I’m going to buy a Lee auto drum powder dispenser. a. It would seem to be quicker rather than a scoop of powder for each charge (seems to take 2 hands) b. You are less likely to forget to charge your case as if you have to remember to i. Place primer on primer arm and seat ii. Manually charge case iii. Put bullet on top of case ready to seat (If I can cut of these steps seems I will be less likely mess-up something) c. If you drop a charge through your “charge-through” expander die without raising the ram all the way after priming, it is just a little messy… 3) I still frickin’ hate handling Unique powder… I swear you look at that stuff and it leaves whatever vessel it is in for somewhere else (Also still not convinced I like how it throws / scoops for volumetric measures) 4) I also learned that if you don’t do a full stroke, your load through expander can make any pistol bullet look like it was designed for a weird, big bore Nagant or a wadcutter…. 5) I’m impressed with how clean the Federal 150 primers are vs the small and large Magtech rifle primers I use in bottle neck cartridges… (I wonder if this tells me something…) So, despite the “learning process”, I did load 50+ rds of 44 special fairly quickly yesterday afternoon and I think it bears working with more. (Unique and 240gr RNFP) So, next plan of action is: 1) Get Lee autodrum (Might pick up a small Rifle Charging Die as well, I load a fair bit of .223 Rem with X-terminator and that does very consistent weights volumetrically) 2) I’m going to experiment with priming by hand (using RCBS hand primer) and then resizing, expanding etc (For Lee Carbide pistol dies the pin isn’t needed for the case sizing so can set the decapping pin so it doesn’t decap on the up stroke. If I'm going to do this for .223 Rem looks like I will have to trim the primer pin of the EZ Expander). 3) Order up some Hogdgon Universal (Apparently it meters well and is the single base, modern, Unique – which I like how it shoots, but hate how it handles…) Please chime in with advice, wise cracks, anecdotes or anything else you feel. Scrummy

Looks good, enjoy!

Sounds good. Pictures please?

Really? That's unlike Zeiss. Be interesting to know if Zeiss Germany could help direct. (There are customs codes for stuff being sent for repair which should not incur duty or charges). Scrummy

Miki has it pretty much spot on I think. I have a 257 Roberts that when it's barrel goes I'll probably get a faster twist put on it. Scrummy

Don’t discount Chiappa

Very interesting! I have the same rifle

If anyone is interested, here's the set up I am currently using: Currently with a Leupold 2.5x28 Scout Scope with low Hawke QD Rings Skinner carry case: Reckon should be good for a cleaning kit / rod and an MTM box of 50 rds. And when you unpack it: And out on the range: Scrummy

Well folks, In a bizzare fixation I have, I believe I should have hunting loads worked useable in all rifles. This includes a hunting load for my 20" barrel .44 mag Chiappa Alaskan. I think I have a lead load which should work: That's at 50 yds and is a Nosler 240gr JSP over N110, PPU brass and a Federal Large Pistol Primer. (Data start point came from Viht and their 240gr JTC-Sil load). The load I have with this should give me a bit over the magic ME of 1,700 ftlbs (240gr bullet at MV 1,787fps should do it) according to GRT with about 45fps to spare. (Man I need to spring for my own Chronograph). Hopefully I can reproduce the load above (Last time I tried either my shooting was off, crimp was wrong or was just a crappy day at the range and nothing seemed to work). Anyway, new batch loaded and a full crimp applied. Anyway, with non-lead bullets seeming to be more and more of a thing these days, I wondered if I could get something in non-lead to work. This became a bit interesting as 44 mag has limited powder capacity and because it is a straight wall case, a longer bullet really eats up useable case capacity in a big way. (See photo below). So, I started trying to find a 44 cal non-lead bullet which would work. First choice seemed to be Barnes and their 200gr XPB but that is apparently unobtainium so back to the drawing board. Peregrine bullets are getting into making non-lead bullets for the .44 cal so I purchased some of the lighter options: Left - 180gr Hog (Check out that as the definition of flying ashtray). Centre - Nosler 240gr JSP (for comparison) Right - 205gr VRG3 So, according to the software (big assumption I know) I should be able to get both of those bullets going fast enough to make the 1,700ftlb requirement. 180gr Hog should do it with N105 and the VRG3 should work best with Lil'gun. Luckily enough I should be able to collect both powders on Sunday. Then the loading fun begins. And I still need to get a chronograph of my own... Scrummy

Will that work in .44 special as well? (Some of our RO's are sticklers for not letting you use 44 mag as it could get over the range ME limits...)

Interesting stuff, thanks.

Good to know. Bullseye sounds more and more likely. What I find a bit peeving is Viht don't show a load for powders that will work with cast bullets in .44 Special and.44 mag

Fantastic stuff