tisch006

Sorry for the gap in info....doh! I'm using a lee breach lock challenger. Most of my brass is stuff that I've fired so I usually get 50 of the same head stamp before I do a batch. I really appreciate all the feedback!!!!!! oh....and by the way, yup.....I meant 0.010" variation! I get anywhere from 1.138 to 1.128 on average without touching (adjusting) the die.

OK....fairly new to reloading and have been getting variations in my OAL up to 0.010"!!!! Wasn't sure if this was even a big deal and, if it was, not sue what the cause may be. Here's some info I found and thought I'd share. First off, I've done tons of searching on this forum have have found this topic discussed regarding other brand presses and dies and the consensus seems to be this this is not a really huge issue as long and the seating depth is not to deep as to cause an unsafe increase in pressure. Also, I've read that the bullets I'm using are not the best quality. Here's the load that I'm currently using for 40 S&W: Berry's Plated RS 180 gn 5.4 WSF mixed brass CCI #500 primers OAL 1.135 (ish) I started to think the Lee may be able to provide some insight on this issue since they are called Lee "Presicion" and their press and die set are giving my a fairly large variance in OAL (even with low quality bullet). Here's what I've gotten from Lee: There are a number of possible causes for overall length variation. One is the way it is measured. If you measure overall length from the tip of the bullet to the base of the case, remember to subtract the variation due to bullet length tolerance. The bullets will vary in length due to manufacturing tolerances (bullets with exposed lead noses are the worst in this regard) and this will add to the overall cartridge length variation. Remember that the bullet seater plug does not (or shouldn't) contact the tip of the bullet when seating, but contacts farther down the ogive. For a more accurate seating depth measurement, take the seater plug out of the bullet seating die, place it on top of the cartridge and measure from the base of the case to the top of the seater plug. So, it does sound like it may be largely due to the bullet I'm using!!!! Well, as a new reloader, I just thought I'd share the info I found. Happy (and safe) reloading!!!! -tisch

Well that makes sense. Thanks! Being very new to reloading I wasn't sure if unburnt powder was generally indicative of one thing or another. The gun seems to really like this recipe and they fly straight! I'll run them over the chrono soon to see if they make major and then bump up the charge if needed.

I'm pretty new to reloading. Only a couple hundred rounds. I cleaned my stock XD-40 last night and found some unburnt powder. Not sure what this is telling me. Here's my recipe: 180 gr Berry's plated RS 5.4 gr WSF CCI #500 primers 1.135 OAL once fired federal bass I'm interested in any thoughts. Thanks!

Ozzie, my XD likes the 1.135 just fine however, at 5.4 gr of WSF I'm finding some unburnt powder?!?!? Not sure if I should try bumping it up a bit or not? Berry's 180 RS WSF 5.4 gr CCI #500 primers OAL 1.135 stock XD-40 w/4" barrel

Fairly new to reloading. I've produced approx 200 rds in the last couple of weeks. So, do I need to worry about cleaning my primer pockets? It's kinda a pain in the rear! I'm loading .40 s&w for a stock XD-40. I just shoot weekly matches at our local league and am shooting limited (major). Here's what I've been using 185 berry's plated 5.4 WSF CCI #500 OAL 1.135 Lee Breech lock Lee 4 die set Thanks for your opinion!

Billski, I wear contacts but, since I have astigmatism, I may still be having trouble as you described since I rotate and my contact doesn't. If I really concentrated I could, just as you described, make the sights somewhat clear however, the target would go fuzzy. Maybe I will just get a clear sight picture and shoot at the fuzzy things! Thanks for the advice.....

....see, that's my problem. My sights were blurry and I had trouble focusing on them. Hard to line them up if I cannot see them! Do you weat bi-focal eyeglasses? It's possible that you normally sight thru your lower lenses (near sight) to see the sights, but when you're laying down, all you can see is thru the upper lenses - (far sight). Then the sights are blurry. I "solved" the problem by getting a pair of single Rx shooting glasses that's a compromise - I focus at arms length (the sights) and can see "okay" at a distance - that's okay since I want to focus on the sights, anyway. Nope. Doc says I will need bi-focals in a couple of years but not yet! Hi, I'm not sure of any other info ie. last eye exam etc, but nobody can focus on two different distances at the same time. If you focus on your finger at arms length you must refocus on an object further out and vice-versa. If you focus on your sights you refocus to see your target.If you are 20/20 at all ranges without correction it's all good. If you are age challeged things are different, but that's another story. eye sight's good the doc says. I've not had problems shooting farther ranges standing-up so not sure if it's a laying-down thing?

I use a Lee case trimmer set-up in a drill. Give the case a spin while holding a sharpie to it. One ring = once reloaded, two rings = twice reloaded, etc. Everybody teases me about my rings!

So, last night during a league night match, we had a course of fire that included getting under a table and shooting two steel and one cardboard target at 50 yds! What a blast! Never shot at that distance or laying down! Now for the surprise....when I got down on the ground (carpet piece), and went to line up my sights for the long shots I couldn't see my sights! They were so blurry I couldn't hardly tell that there were little white dots on them! I fired a shot, then another, and then I heard the RO say, "high right" (giving me a little support). Another shot, "high right" and again and again. It took me 5 shots to get the first steel to fall over and three for the second. I was, and still am, flabbergasted about not being able to focus on the sights! I could change my focus and bring the sights into focus but then couldn't see the targets... So, anybody else have experience with laying down and/or taking really long shots? Any advice would be appreciated! Thanks!

WOW! What a great thread! I've got to get to the range as fast as i can so I can practice some of the exercises described. I think the biggest epiphany is the idea that I try to fire a shot by jamming the trigger as soon as the sight passes the bullseye instead of being smooth. Perhaps what I thought was "anticipation" is really a need for better trigger control?

WOW! Sorry to here 'bout that! Now I do feel fortunate! Well...next time it's time to order I'm going to save my pennies and try precision delta. I'd like to give'm a try also. Thanks for the info!!!

based on a lot of the feedback I've read, I was assuming that I'd have to wait weeks for my 1000 .40 TCFMs to show up but, there they were! Sittin' on my doorstep 4 business days after I placed the order! So, allowing 3 days for shipping that means they shipped the day after I placed my order! Can wait to begin loading/shooting with them! Just thought I'd share my experience....

Anybody ever try one of these? http://www.scales-co.com/cart.php?target=product&product_id=376&category_id=96