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Working up loads when you have to pay to use the range

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October 19, 2018, 02:16 PM
400m
Working up loads when you have to pay to use the range
Paying a public range fee while trying to work up a load is a real pain in the butt. Not only does it cost a lot, it takes forever if the range isn’t close and/or you’re limited to one trip per month. How do you manage this effectively?
October 19, 2018, 02:32 PM
rduckwor
I would try to find a most cost effective range. I know that may not be possible. So, plan your range work carefully so as to get as much done in the time/costs as possible.

Sorry, no easy answer.

RMD




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October 19, 2018, 07:48 PM
MikeinNC
I prepare a loading block with loaded rounds

Handgun:
5 rounds of a particular loading ie, 4.5
5 rounds 4.6
5 rounds 4.7

etc

same thing with rifle rounds

I write on the brass with a sharpie so nothing gets mixed up


when I've found one that meets my criteria, fps, cycles the gun properly...I use that load.

then, when I get home I tear apart all the left rounds and recycle the compotents.

But mostly I load my pistol rounds to the standard velocity to a factory round.

(ie, 5.56, I load a 55 grain FMJ to the NATO velocity based on my loading book-and I don't try to make it match that out of my 16" M4)



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October 19, 2018, 09:12 PM
LS1 GTO
quote:
Originally posted by MikeinNC:
I prepare a loading block with loaded rounds

Handgun:
5 rounds of a particular loading ie, 4.5
5 rounds 4.6
5 rounds 4.7

etc

same thing with rifle rounds

I write on the brass with a sharpie so nothing gets mixed up


when I've found one that meets my criteria, fps, cycles the gun properly...I use that load.

then, when I get home I tear apart all the left rounds and recycle the compotents.

But mostly I load my pistol rounds to the standard velocity to a factory round.

(ie, 5.56, I load a 55 grain FMJ to the NATO velocity based on my loading book-and I don't try to make it match that out of my 16" M4)


This is basically how I do it also. For the hand gun though it might be 10 - 15 rounds per load. Rifle is 3 - 5 round.

LOTS of notes too. I have a little 3x5 (or so? ) book for each caliber. The kind of small bound notebook you find at Office Depot for $3 per. On each page I'll have the load's info (powder, grains, COA, etc) and three ring target. Mark where each round hits and go from there.







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Are the deeds of a man in his prime


October 20, 2018, 06:12 PM
400m
The good lord must have read my post. An old acquaintance just invited me to join him on a private farm.
October 21, 2018, 08:00 AM
jmorris
Take the press with you. Much faster than any other method I have used.



October 22, 2018, 12:40 PM
1967Goat
Do you live near public lands? I've sighted in my rifle to 300 yards in National Forest. May not have been exactly 300 yards, but close enough for sighting it in. Handgun would be much simpler.
October 22, 2018, 10:33 PM
400m
1967goat I’m probably 300 miles from the closest national forest. And jmorriss, I was going rob hat exact same thing but I don’t have a trailer hitch anymore. Went from acdurango to a Grabd Marquis.
October 26, 2018, 06:21 PM
jmorris
If you have a bench to shoot from, mount the press to a board and c clamp it to the bench.


October 27, 2018, 11:22 PM
reflex/deflex 64
quote:
Originally posted by 400m:
1967goat I’m probably 300 miles from the closest national forest. And jmorriss, I was going rob hat exact same thing but I don’t have a trailer hitch anymore. Went from acdurango to a Grabd Marquis.

My press is bolted to a 30" section of left over deck board, 5/4" X 6". That gets clamped into a Black & Decker Workmate. It's rock solid, the press on one end and the powder measure on the other.


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October 27, 2018, 11:48 PM
FN in MT
I have to drive 6 miles to get to a piece of state land where many of us shoot. An old Quarry. Good for 105 yds. Though one has to bring your own bench. No cost. Seldom ever anyone else there.
October 28, 2018, 01:23 AM
Gustofer
quote:
Originally posted by FN in MT:
I have to drive 6 miles to get to a piece of state land where many of us shoot. An old Quarry. Good for 105 yds. Though one has to bring your own bench. No cost. Seldom ever anyone else there.

Yeah, I'm about two miles. I could should on my land, but I don't want to bother the neighbors with the noise.

I feel bad for folks who don't have the open land that we do to play on.


________________________________________________________
"Great danger lies in the notion that we can reason with evil." Doug Patton.
October 30, 2018, 12:16 AM
cas
The answer is to have many guns for which you're trying to work up an accurate load. Then each trip is worth the effort. As well, sometimes it's the journey that's the enjoyment and not the destination.


I had a rifle rebarreled about 20 years ago and the very first load I tried, totally picking it at random, shot 1/4" groups. I was never so disappointed with a project.


_____________________________________________________
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October 31, 2018, 03:44 PM
fredj338
I am an hour from a range I can shoot 100y at, 3hrs to a 300y range. So I put my test ammo together, chrono & other shooting gear & go shoot. Both ranges are private, so I only pay the annual & no range fee but still gotta get there.
I do ladder test for my rifles when working up loads. Then next visit, the cherry picked loads get tested. So I can do it in two trips.


IF YOU AREN'T HANDLOADING, YOU AREN'T SHOOTING ENOUGH!
NRA Instruc: Basic Pistol & Met Reloading
October 31, 2018, 03:45 PM
fredj338
quote:
I have to drive 6 miles to get to a piece of state land where many of us shoot. An old Quarry. Good for 105 yds. Though one has to bring your own bench. No cost. Seldom ever anyone else there.

Come on Frank, you can shoot 105y at your place.


IF YOU AREN'T HANDLOADING, YOU AREN'T SHOOTING ENOUGH!
NRA Instruc: Basic Pistol & Met Reloading
November 04, 2018, 01:58 PM
FN in MT
quote:
Originally posted by fredj338:
quote:
I have to drive 6 miles to get to a piece of state land where many of us shoot. An old Quarry. Good for 105 yds. Though one has to bring your own bench. No cost. Seldom ever anyone else there.

Come on Frank, you can shoot 105y at your place.


I can shoot to 800+ yds but unless it's something threaded for a can...Opal the border collie gets upset. I was recently shooting a .26 Nosler, with a brake. WHY the trip to the quarry...one LOUD bugger that twenty six.