Reload Testing?

[roysroyce]

Just began reloading, going to actually fire them in the next few weeks...

What advice does anyone have?

Working off of the assumption that once you're at the range, it's too late to be cautious w/ firing your reloads. Can I be any safer while firing? Safety glasses?, Gloves? I"m shooting an AR style rifles, so maybe not put my face right behind the sights?

I'm trying to be super cautious, and during reloading (I've loaded up 15 cartridges **VERY FIRST 15) and I've logged everything I could to ensure no mistakes have been made. But now that all the "technical" manufacturing is over... What can I do to be more safe at the range given these are my first reloads?

Appreciate the help...

[rsrocket1]

Yes, shooting those first reloads can be a nervous experience. Mine were 45ACP rounds in a 1911 and I wanted to tie the gun to a tree and pull the trigger with a string.

Provided you loaded to mid range loads (between min and max) or even min loads, you will be OK. The rounds may not be MOA accurate, but they should all go bang and hopefully cycle the action. It might make you feel better if you loaded just one round at a time and not fill the magazine but other than that, eye and ear protection is all you ought to need (as always).

[roysroyce]

Yeah, I didn't mention but was only going to load 1 round in the mag. But yeah... I also thought about firing it from some other device where I wasn't so close to it.
thx

[kengotit]

Or two rounds to see if it's hot enough to load the next round/or cycle the gun

[davek8s]

Reload Testing?

I've been reloading for almost 6 years now. My advice would be to load up a mag and put lead down range.

If you did your homework, checked your powder charge and OAL you'll be fine.

I will admit that I was nervous the first few times i shot my reloads.

[Desertdoc]

I guess, I was different. I was uptight and read, re-read, then read information again. Then I asked questions, then I watched youtube, then I did things step by methodical step, and asked questions at each step in the process. Then, when I was at the range I knew for a fact my **** was right.

[Desertdoc]

Just began reloading, going to actually fire them in the next few weeks...

What advice does anyone have?

Working off of the assumption that once you're at the range, it's too late to be cautious w/ firing your reloads. Can I be any safer while firing? Safety glasses?, Gloves? I"m shooting an AR style rifles, so maybe not put my face right behind the sights?

I'm trying to be super cautious, and during reloading (I've loaded up 15 cartridges **VERY FIRST 15) and I've logged everything I could to ensure no mistakes have been made. But now that all the "technical" manufacturing is over... What can I do to be more safe at the range given these are my first reloads?

Appreciate the help...

Did you read, re-read your mainstream published reloading books? I hope you did not follow someone elses load data developed just for their guns.

Did you check, recheck then have someone else check your work and math?

Too late once you are at the range? If there is EVER any doubt, STOP and start over. I do not care where you are or who is with you.

One round in the mag at a time. Did you seat the primers deep enough?

The time for QA is not at the range. It MUST be started at step one, and continued throughout the process at each step.

[NorCalFocus]

What charge did you put in the cases and how did you come up with that charge?

Outside of just making sure you did everything correct, you should also be sure your working up in pressure.

[Heydeck52]

I feel you on this one. Just made my first batch of .308 for my Howa. Started low according to the Hornady manual then went up to right below max. I'm heading out to San Joaquin Rifle and Pistol on Sunday to test them out. Any takers on first shots?

[waveslayer]

Can you share your loads with us? Powder, brass, primers, bullets, charges, seating depth, rifle, gas or bolt, etc..

You can use people's loads as long as you know your rifle's max charge. They are all different

My wife thinks I only have 3 guns

[NorCalFocus]

I feel you on this one. Just made my first batch of .308 for my Howa. Started low according to the Hornady manual then went up to right below max. I'm heading out to San Joaquin Rifle and Pistol on Sunday to test them out. Any takers on first shots?

How many rounds of each charge?

I adopted a step of loading 1 round per charge in 1/2 grain steps and shooting those first to find the max charge for my rifle.

After that I can narrow down the area in which I want to test different charge weights.

[Heydeck52]

How many rounds of each charge?

I adopted a step of loading 1 round per charge in 1/2 grain steps and shooting those first to find the max charge for my rifle.

After that I can narrow down the area in which I want to test different charge weights.

Probably was a little overzealous but I started with 35gr of rl15 and made sets of 10. Ended up at 42.5grs right before max load. 168gr A-max winchester brass and cci 200 primers.

Reading around online for awhile I see people loading 43grs and up so I'm thinking I'll be fine.

[NorCalFocus]

Probably was a little overzealous but I started with 35gr of rl15 and made sets of 10. Ended up at 42.5grs right before max load. 168gr A-max winchester brass and cci 200 primers.



Reading around online for awhile I see people loading 43grs and up so I'm thinking I'll be fine.

I'm not real familiar with RL15, but 35g in a 308 case with a 168 seems low. I'm running 42.8g of 4064 with a 178 Amax.

You should be fine with pressure. Let's us know how it goes.

['09CTS-V&'87Turbo-T]

Without sharing your load info it is very hard if not impossible for people to help you. I shoot pistol, not rifle, but depending upon your charge weight, bullet weight uniformity, & case weight uniformity it might be possible to verify that your charge weight consistency is close enough to ensure there aren't any "no charges" or "double charges" I do this on my handgun reloading, but I am sure that my situation is different than yours.
Might also consider pulling a couple of bullets, or is that possible with rifle ammo?

[Cincinnatus]

Speaking from exceptionally painful experience....

Make sure the amount of powder you have for each round goes into each round. Check your last round for the correct amount of powder...

Nothing quite like double-loading a cartridge, pulling the trigger, and having the gun literally blow up in your hand, drive shrapnel into your face, bleed profusely in the lane, and have three different LE groups show up at the range to document the fiasco.

It was a friend's ammo I shot, nothing I loaded, but I paid the price. One Wilson KZ-45 pistol now worthless (great paperweight, tho), one dimple in my cheek where the muscles trapped a piece of shrapnel, and a black eye.