JLeeCZ Posted January 12, 2014 Share Posted January 12, 2014 ........about shooting your first reloads. I just finished my first 147gr Xtreme plated 9mm reloads on my new RL550b. Took me about 45 minutes to do 30 rounds doing one round at a time, sorta single stage. Getting the powder drop adjusted right took a little longer than I thought it would but wow, is it accurate measured against my Dillon eliminator scale. I really took my time measuring every round but still a little apprehensive. Only problem I had was a few hard to seat primers. Using AA#7, I loaded 10 to 5.7gr, 10 to 5.9, and 10 to 6.1. I tinkered a little with OAL with 1.16, 1.15 and then 1.14". all with the 5.7 drop on the 1st 10 loads. The last 20(10 ea at 5.9gr and 6.1gr) were all at 1.14. Curious to see the Chrono difference on the 1st 10 and the oal difference . I'll stick with what gets me 130PF if accurate and if any do. They seem to be seated pretty tight or I don't know how to use a bullet puller. Had a few primers that went in funny and tried to pull the bullets later. Probably my technique with both. Doubt if I was as smooth as I will be with the press handle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donnyglock Posted January 12, 2014 Share Posted January 12, 2014 I'm never nervous shooting my new reloads. There is always someone at the range that will try out my gun if I ask. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JLeeCZ Posted January 12, 2014 Author Share Posted January 12, 2014 I'm never nervous shooting my new reloads. There is always someone at the range that will try out my gun if I ask. Good idea. Ex-wife wants to bury the hatchet. I'll see if she wants to go to the range. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Youngeyes Posted January 12, 2014 Share Posted January 12, 2014 (edited) Best advise I have. If they load into your gun, shoot. Pull the trigger and enjoy. Also, just loading 10 will not give you a good sampling. Load up 25-50 ( or more) of each and try them out. It's going to take awhile to find the proper load you like. Felt recoil and accurracy are not achieved in 10 rds. Don't be nervous. Be safe. Nervous has no place in loading. BTW your Dillon is a progressive press. Load it that way and you'll get better results. If you single stage the press, you'll be all over the place. You're off to a good start loading, now start shooting. Edited January 12, 2014 by Youngeyes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarge Posted January 12, 2014 Share Posted January 12, 2014 Don't be nervous. If you followed established load info they will be fine. As for the primers seating hard or crooked you may have had crimped pockets (WCC, WIN NT, FC NT, etc..)or certain brass that is known to have tight pockets. (S& And yes, it takes quite a whack with the puller. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarge Posted January 12, 2014 Share Posted January 12, 2014 Best advise I have. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pasley Posted January 12, 2014 Share Posted January 12, 2014 Also, just loading 10 will not give you a good sampling. If the first one blows up your gun you won't need the other 25-50 rounds. If they don't cycle your action or if a bullet sticks in the barrel you don't have to pull the bullets or shoot them single shot. I like to load two rounds to start if I have any doubt about the above. I'm fortunate to be able to walk out the back door to shoot those two rounds. I have colored outside the lines on occasion in my 40+ years of reloading and confess to turning my head away on the first shot of some stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G29SF Posted January 12, 2014 Share Posted January 12, 2014 If you are really concerned, but have no valid reason (like you think you really did screw something up), drop the magazine after you chamber a round. Firing without a magazine leaves an escape for the presure if a blow-out occurs. Now, this is not a replacement for proper loading... but it is a bit of a safety process when trying a new load. If you think you loaded everything OK but just have butterflies because you are a new loader, just proceed with caution. If you are a seasoned loader and have butterflies because you think you screwed something up... time to get out the bullet puller and do some checking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Youngeyes Posted January 12, 2014 Share Posted January 12, 2014 Also, just loading 10 will not give you a good sampling. If the first one blows up your gun you won't need the other 25-50 rounds. If they don't cycle your action or if a bullet sticks in the barrel you don't have to pull the bullets or shoot them single shot. I like to load two rounds to start if I have any doubt about the above. I'm fortunate to be able to walk out the back door to shoot those two rounds. I have colored outside the lines on occasion in my 40+ years of reloading and confess to turning my head away on the first shot of some stuff. Wow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ropsitos Posted January 12, 2014 Share Posted January 12, 2014 I was spooked out when I shot my first reloads. You're just never really sure of the process till you done it a couple times. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JLeeCZ Posted January 12, 2014 Author Share Posted January 12, 2014 I feel comfortable in that I know I have no doublecharged loads, one reason I started with AA#7 as my first powder. A double charge would fill the case and plus I went slow and made sure re the powder drop. Repitition will get my comfort level up. I'll be fine after the 1st round goes bang and my gun is still intact. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Youngeyes Posted January 12, 2014 Share Posted January 12, 2014 I feel comfortable in that I know I have no doublecharged loads, one reason I started with AA#7 as my first powder. A double charge would fill the case and plus I went slow and made sure re the powder drop. Repitition will get my comfort level up. I'll be fine after the 1st round goes bang and my gun is still intact. You never forget your first bang. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twowheels Posted January 12, 2014 Share Posted January 12, 2014 I remember my first reloads and yes I was nervous upon the first pull of the trigger. I quickly got over that feeling as I came to trust them and I have happily fired many thousands of my own rounds over the last 1.5 years. Now I sometimes feel a bit apprehensive shooting something other than my reloads. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lifeislarge Posted January 12, 2014 Share Posted January 12, 2014 Yep went from sketchy first loads which were shot out of my bull barreled Edge to a marathon (for me) 950 round loading session on Friday. Other than 3 rounds missing primers I have faith that they'll all go bang. Of course I have my press lit up like a Christmas tree and eyeball my powder charge on just about every round. WST meters well and can't double charge .40 so every time I stop and weigh its bang on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will Abrahams Posted January 12, 2014 Share Posted January 12, 2014 I noticed you mentioned using the 550 as a single stage. Something to keep in mind: You may notice difference in OAL and crimp when using the 550 as a single stage then try to transition to progressive. When I first got my dillon I set up the dies with only one case in the press at a time. Then when I started loading using all 4 stations I noticed my initial values would change slightly. Finally I figured out that if I was going to use it as a progressive press I need to set the die heights with a case in all four stations, like it will be when actually loading. Just my observations, YMMV or maybe my 550 was just being quirky... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JLeeCZ Posted January 13, 2014 Author Share Posted January 13, 2014 I noticed you mentioned using the 550 as a single stage. Something to keep in mind: You may notice difference in OAL and crimp when using the 550 as a single stage then try to transition to progressive. When I first got my dillon I set up the dies with only one case in the press at a time. Then when I started loading using all 4 stations I noticed my initial values would change slightly. Finally I figured out that if I was going to use it as a progressive press I need to set the die heights with a case in all four stations, like it will be when actually loading. Just my observations, YMMV or maybe my 550 was just being quirky... Seems like someone else mentioned this in a post. Thanks for reminding me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyK Posted January 13, 2014 Share Posted January 13, 2014 Yep, I was in the apprehensive crowd the first time I fired my own reloads but that passed until I shot my own at a match but even that passed and now I don't like firing factory stuff! Not that there is anything wrong with it just enjoy pulling the trigger on my own rounds. Be safe, have fun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Overscore Posted January 13, 2014 Share Posted January 13, 2014 Best advise I have. I love it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
powderMonkey Posted January 13, 2014 Share Posted January 13, 2014 I shot my first rifle handloads with a motorcycle helmet and safety glasses on and my friend had 9-1- already typed in on his phone. Seriously! This is rocket science after all with 60k PSI all up in your face...! Like everyone said if you are following established loads, you have good attention to detail, and worked in a sterile environment with no distractions you will be G2G... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Youngeyes Posted January 13, 2014 Share Posted January 13, 2014 I shot my first rifle handloads with a motorcycle helmet and safety glasses on and my friend had 9-1- already typed in on his phone. Seriously! This is rocket science after all with 60k PSI all up in your face...! Like everyone said if you are following established loads, you have good attention to detail, and worked in a sterile environment with no distractions you will be G2G... Have you seen some of our loading areas? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimmyZip Posted January 13, 2014 Share Posted January 13, 2014 My biggest problem was that the range was 10 minutes one way from my house. I must have driven an hour the first day I was doing load development in .40 and 9mm. 40 of each, and then the various charge weights, and oals, then going to accuracy the following weekend. I guess if I'd stopped to worry about many things I would be more nervous. Too much fun finding the personal holy grail load for a particular pistol. Just be careful and you should be good to go. But then again, I like reloading almost as much as shooting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lifeislarge Posted January 13, 2014 Share Posted January 13, 2014 Anyone ever considered bringing their press to the range and mounting it to one of the benches there? I just pictured my 550 mounted to a piece of plywood clamped to the tailgate of my truck. Hmmmmm...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pasley Posted January 13, 2014 Share Posted January 13, 2014 Anyone ever considered bringing their press to the range and mounting it to one of the benches there? I just pictured my 550 mounted to a piece of plywood clamped to the tailgate of my truck. Hmmmmm...... You can get a hand press for $30. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JLeeCZ Posted January 14, 2014 Author Share Posted January 14, 2014 Went to the range during lunch. Went well. Not crazy about AA#7 but it is what I could find, other than 2 lbs of power pistol. Have WSF and 231 on BO but not looking for it any time soon so I'll make due with what I have. Just started with AA because I have more of it. 6.2gr of AA7 stayed in the low 900's with the G19 on the chrono, avg 919 fps. Thats a 135 PF and it felt good. Surprised that the XDM 4.5 was fairly consistently 30 fps faster. The 19 grouped well and that's the gun I will shoot in IDPA since it is my EDC. Shot some 115gr White Box for the fun of it. 1180 fps avg, guess I'm having fun with all this. First time chrono user also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve RA Posted January 14, 2014 Share Posted January 14, 2014 Maybe a little, back in 61 when I loaded my first .300 H&H with a Lee Target Loader. It was like what they sell now only it had an inside case neck turner which worked real well, which the present ones don't have. Loads worked well, very accurate and was able to "capture" a # of deer with that Sako Finnbear thru the years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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