Do You Use More Than 1 Load ?

[Jonty H]

Now that i`ve been bitten by the reloading bug and i`m trying out different bullet heads and powders, i was wondering if you guys stick to one bullet, once you`ve found one that suits your rifle or do you use different ones depending on what you are hunting ?. I suppose this is mainly aimed at 222 and 223 owners who might be after Foxes or Rabbits/smaller vermin.

[jkata]

I reload for 223 and have worked up different loads for it.

Not really for shooting different things rather to work out how I can use different combinations of powders and heads.

Espescially as some powders/heads seem to be very hit and miss regarding availability

[vincy]

i always go by the saying if it's not broken dont try and fix it . if your getting good results why would you need to change your round

[Stover Rover]

I have worked up accurate loads with 110 Speer TNT, 120 Sierra Prohunter, 3x140 Prohunter/Gameking/NBT and 150 Gameking in my 7mm-08. Mainly out of the interests of the challenge and self education, Life would be boring if we stopped seeking improvement regardless of how small. Also it is nice to get a "cheap" load that shoots as well as a premium load.

Simon

[Treebone]

Hi Jonty,
I am using 53grn SMKs very succesfully in my 22-250 AI, they proved superbly accurate during fireforming and and equally so in the improved case.
This is my pet load that i use for fox and vermin control but i am also playing with 36grn Varmint Grenades for small soft targets and will be loading 60grn Partitions for Munty and CWD.

TB.

[bullbarrel]

Not for my .223, but for the .243 I mainly do target (running deer) with 70 grain FMH. Once happy with that, I worked up a load for 100gr gameking that has the same zero at 100 yards as the 70 grain FMJ.

This means on the odd occasion I go stalking I can confidently use the softpoints.

With rabbits in the .223 I've ordered some a-max ballistic types which "should" be fine for target and the rabbits. Hopefully.

[jeffk]

I am using 53grn SMKs very succesfully in my 22-250 AI, they proved superbly accurate during fireforming and and equally so in the improved case.

TB.

Out of interest, did you try different things whilst fireforming, or just one powder/bullet which you noted were accurate?

Just asking as if you did try different loads, I'd be interested whether the ones that were best in the factory case were also best once you had the improved case capacity?

[Treebone]

Hi JeffK,
Yes i tried different bullets whilst fireforming but the same powder, H380.
The bullets were 52grn A-max and 55grn Bergers as well as the 53grn SMKs which i chose because they have a flat base as opposed to a small BT of the 52grn version.
I thought i would use the fireforming time to find a bullet that my barrel would like and then work with that on my improved loads.
The A-max's were abysmal grouping around 1 1/4"-1 1/2", the Bergers took the groups down to less then 1/2" and the SMKs improved on that slightly.
All charges were the calssic 22-250 load of 38grns of H380.
The Bergers and the SMKs were seated to touch the lands but the A-max would not reach and leave an adequate amount of bullet shank in the case neck.
Both the SMKs and the varmint grenades are performing around the 1/2" mark with charges of Vit 140 and Vit 135 respectively.
I have yet to test the Bergers in the improved cases but will do in time, i will also see if i can get the A-max's to shoot as well.

TB.