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efether

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About efether

  • Birthday 11/14/1966

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  • Website URL
    http://www.pukin-dogs.com

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  • Location
    Atlanta, GA
  • Interests
    Shooting, flying and computers.
  • Real Name
    Eric Fether

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Looks for Range

Looks for Range (1/11)

  1. Well, if every round that comes out passes a double caseguage test (once from the bullet end, and again from the primer end), do I really need the these other dies?? I mean, from my current point of view, the Dillon dies are working just fine...please enlighten me as to why I should invest more money on new dies. Thanks! -Eric
  2. Okay, I've setup the OAL on the press to 1.135". Seems to load clean via hand cycling...and will test some loads with it to be certain. I did the marker trick..and there's no evidence that I see that I'm into the rifling. First, What VV powder would youi use? From the books I've read, I would be pushing the top end of the TItegroup to hit Major. Have to build some test loads and give it a shot. Second, why should I throw out the Dillon sizing die? What's wrong with it? Please be detailed and specific..if possible. You're really caught my attention here...I mean, every single round that's been spit out of the 550 has fit perfectly into the case guage, and I've seen little brass fatique yet (5-6 reloads per brass to date)...and I examine the brass before they go into the tumbler, and again after reload (case guage from both ends of the bullet..and visual inspection). Thanks... Okay...what's wrong with the Dillon Crimp Die? Please be detailed and specific..if possible. Also, do you not trust 231 because of it's sensatively to temp? To be honest, I like the VV powders the best...clean, and measures perfect everytime (X800, btw, never seems to have the same powder drop). I've got N350, 3N37 and N340 on the shelf...making test loads. From what was said in this thread, I'll hold off on the N320 until I move into an STI. According to VV's burn chart, the N340 is the fastest of the three listed...so I'll be extra careful with that one...but VV does publish numbers for it in .40S&W. I also have a Springfield XD that I'm starting to trick out (hate the 8# trigger, but like the feel of the gun itself). How would it fair with N320?? Stock everything internal. Thanks again for all the helpful info here....I'm drinking it up. Sincerely, Eric Fether
  3. Thanks...I always referred to the chamber as the chamber in the past...but read somewhere that it was called headspace, and changed my reference...so I truly appreciate your clarification. Now...question -- how can I tell if the loads I make are touching the rifling? I'm loading FMJ...and the lands/groves don't mark it as they would lead bullets. So, any insight on this would be helpful. From what I'm hearing...sounds like 1.130" - 1.135" SHOULD be acceptable in my glock with 3N37, N340 or N350 powder. But N320 might be pushing it. Am I understanding this right? That with the faster N320 powder, OAL becomes MORE critcal, and should be the longest OAL the barrel/magazine can handle. However, Carlos stated, Yet, when I posted that I extended my OAL to 1.138" I was told BerKim, And GRW said, .So...it's pretty confusing. What is the BEST recommendation out there? How much difference can 0.05" ot 0.015" really effect the pressures. I mean...geez, that's not much space at all...15 Ten-Thousandths of an inch... Also, how much of a difference is there from N320 to 3N37 to N340 to N350? And what if I use Winchester 231 or Universal Clays. I can hit Major with any of these powders...and the Winchester and Clays is cheaper than Viavardi...and easier to get. Man...I got into reloading to save $$$ in my shooting...but it's getting more and more expensive...different powders, a Chrony, bullets of the tested loads, range time...etc. Geez.... Thanks again for everyone's help...now if I can just consolidate it down to one firm answer. -Eric
  4. I'm using Dillion's Carbide Dies. I opened the OAL to 1.130 and it "appears" to feed fine and no hangs in the mags. I would concede your 1.155" for a stock Glock Barrel, but I'm using a custom fitted Bar-Sto Match Grade Barrel. Wouldn't that make a difference? That stock Glock barrel had WAY too much head space...this Bar-sto is tight. I can take a spent case and it'll fit into my Case Guage...the brass from the stock Glock couldn't. Thanks! -Eric
  5. I reset the OAL up to 1.137". I loads fine in the mag and the chamber. Sound like a good number to stay at? Thanks! -Eric
  6. I'm shooting a Glock 35 with a Custom Fitted Bar-Sto Match grade Barrrel. What would be a good OAL? I setup the 550 to 1.122, which is longer than Lyman's recommends (1.150) and shorter than SPEER (1.125). Question -- A longer OAL has less pressure pressure than a shorter OAL. Makes sense. However, how does this effect FPS? When trying to achieve a Major load with a 180 grain FMJ, I figure 940 fps is a good target to shoot for. Also, by the sound of it...you want to use as little powder as possible to reduce "the amount of stuff coming out of the barrel." But I've read that a compressed load is more accurate...I've also talked to people who use Grits (yes, as in corn meal) to "top off the brass" to create a compressed load. I was also told that the grits help keep the barrel clean. Comments on this idea? Thanks for the help. -Eric
  7. I've been spending many sleepless hours reading this forum (WOW! It's great!!), and I keep seeing post of people recommending Viavardi N320 powder for .40S&W. I go to their web site, and refer to my two reloading manuals (SPEER and LYMAN's), and there's nothing on that powder for .40S&W. They list N340, N360 and 3N37...but no N320. Now, according to their burn-rate chart, N320 burns fastest...and I've read here that with heavy bullets, burn fast powders. But why? And why the N320 when even Viavardi doesn't show it used in that caliber? Also, what's a good load (180 grain FMJ) to start with? What performance should I expect with a 5" barrel and a 1.122" OAL? I'm seeking enlightenment. Any replies are appreciated Thanks, Eric Fether efether@pukin-dogs.com
  8. It was an outdoor range. I was under cover, but the sky was partly cloudy. Temperature was about 86 degF. Pressure was about 27.79 inHG. CRONY was used with, and without the white covers over the sensors. Wow! You guys are quick to post your replies...I'm impressed! Thanks! Sincerely, Eric D. Fether efether@pukin-dogs.com
  9. First...I was about 3-5 feet from the CRONY when shooting. I figured that was enough distance to prevent muzzle flash from affecting, yet close enough to prevent a bullet from hitting it. The Guide Rods have a sliver of Electrical tape from 4-6" above the sensors, so I have a good reference on where to pass the bullets over the sensors. Lastly, the crimp is set for 0.421" Thanks. Sincerely, Eric Fether efether@pukin-dogs.com
  10. Okay, I'm still a newbie (duh) at reloading and hoping to get a good load built for IPSC and USPSA. I'm shooting a Glock 35 (.40 S&W) with a 5" Bar-sto barrel. I'm using a Dillion 550 I bought from Brian and proceded to make some test loads using various powders (Bullseye, Winchester 231, Viavarti N350, X800, and Clays Universal). I bought a CRONY Beta to test the loads, made a bunch (some measuring each powder load by hand to ensure accuracy...and to prevent having to screw around with the powder measure on the press ... these are marked). I'm using SPEER 180 grain FMJ bullets, and have the 550 setup for a OAL of 1.122" (which I test and verify from each batch. Also, the Lyman reports a 1.115" OAL, The SPEER manual lists 1.120", and the Viavarti listing had 1.126"...so I'm a little short on the Viavarti, but long on the SPEER and the Lyman). I also verify each round with a case guage. Now, I made some loads (20 rounds each) and headed on out to the range today...what I find is VERY disturbing. Here are some results -- Bullseye 5.0 gn Lo 551.8 Hi 635.7 Avg 596.1 ES 83.85 SD 35.7 Okay...this doesn't look too far off from what I expected ... next load Winchester 231 (BTW, the Winchester 231 loads were measured by HAND...did NOT use the powder measure from the 550) -- W231 5.0 gn Lo 1218 Hi 1587 Avg 1296 ES 369.4 SD 119.4 Is this RIGHT??? I was expecting around 900fps (as defined in Lyman's 48th Edition Loading Handbook). Also...look at that HI and LO spread...almost 400fps. W231 5.2 gn Lo 1227 Hi 1695 Avg 1402 ES 468.1 SD 173.3 Again, the HI and LO have a huge spread...also...Avg of 1402?!?!? I was expecting around 950-1000 fps. Did another 10 rounds of Bullseye...see if things are on par with the first 10 shot (listed above)... Bullseye 5.0 gn Lo 558.2 Hi 1506 Avg 971.4 ES 948.3 SD 426.4 WTF?!? A HI of 1506?!? From Bullseye? Is that even possible?? I KNOW that no double loads occured (I'm paranoid about that)...so where the hell did that come from?!? SO...thinking the CRONY was acting up...shot 10 rounds of 22-cal Remington Yellow Jacket rounds from a .22 I had handy.... 22 Yellow Jacket Lo 1371 Hi 1454 Avg 1418 ES 83.24 SD 24.81 Yup..pretty close to what Remington says it should do...it should be around 1500...I'm close, and the spread/Standard Deviation is faily even too. Okay...let's try the N350...first ten shots of 6.0 grain...BTW, the N350 loads were HAND MEASURED! Did NOT use the poweder measure on the 550...did these one at a time BY HAND.... N350 6.0gn Lo 1389 Hi 1829 Avg 1661 ES 439.9 SD 120.9 WTF?!? 1829 fps HI?!?!? Avg 1661 fps?!? I should be around 1050 fps max...at least according to Viavarti's tables published on their site...The Spead was off too...almost 440 fps spread, with a 120.9 Deviation?!? HOW? Now the 6.2 grain loads..(two ten(10) shot groups) -- N350 6.2 gn Lo 1505 Hi 1733 Avg 1611 ES 228 SD 70.14 Lo 1513 Hi 1745 Avg 1601 ES 232.1 SD 79.42 WTF?!? How am getting LESS velocity from this load than from the 6.0 grains listed above?!?!? It should be MORE...I use more powder...same bullet...same OAL...same gun...same everything (BTW, I run a bore snake through the gun after each load shot...to make sure no residue was screwing up the pressures). So...why is it LESS?!? And the X800 loads...geez...they were SO screwed up...I didn't even write them down. Spreads of 800-900 fps...I thew out that whole data set. It as at this point that I was too concerned about what I was seeing to continue. How can these numbers be right?!? The .22 Yellow Jackets were pretty close to Factory claims...and the first 10 shot group of Bullseye was right where I expected...but the rest...geez...can't be right...can it? Is the CRONY BETA a piece of crap? Can it be trusted?!? Again...with a KNOWN variable of the .22 Yellow Jackets..I say, it's pretty close. If that's the case...WTF is going on with the rest? I mean...even from HAND MEASURED loads...I'm WAY off. I need some help here...before I blow up my gun and my hand. I'm TRYING to stay close to what the Reloading Handbooks / Published Load Data as I can. I start at the minimum loads and step up by 2 grains per batch and only do two batches until I can figure out where those two were..then adjust as needed. However, from what I'm seeing...I'm shooting 600+ FPS HIGHER than what the minimums should be. Also, some data sets I threw out because I simply could not believe them...2400fps from 5.0 gn of Universal? Couldn't be.... One last point....there were a number of shooters at the range, shooting everything from .22 rifles to .40/.45 handguns, to AK-47's, etc. I did notice that I did get some errors on the CRONY when someone shot a large gun near me when I was testing...but these errors were very noticable, and nothing was recorded in the memory. Also, these same shooters were firing when I tested the .22 Yellow Jacket Loads...so I'm not sure how much of an impact they had on the CRONY outside of the Displayed ERRORS when they did occur. Please help! Sincerely, Eric D. Fether efether@pukin-dogs.com
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