F-Class match loading- when do you load?

[Heavies]

I was looking through the artical about brass sizing versus time. I was impressed with the notion of sizing all your match brass at the same time. Then, loading(seating) all of them in the same session to have the best consistency in neck tension.
Question, how short or long before your match do you load up your rounds? Does time effect the rounds in any way? IE. If you load up a month ahead of time would that effect tension/pull force enough to have significant tuning problems with the load?
Or is it better to load your rounds as close to your match as practicable?
Your experiences are much appreciated. ;D

 

[artbosco]

I F/L size and reload usually one or two days before a match, regardless of class.

 

[memilanuk]

Due to having a phd in Procrastination... very often the night before, if its a local one-day match.

For multi-day matches... anywhere from the week before to the night before I head out.

I'm trying to get better about this... but I'll probably procrastinate at that too

 

[Heavies]

anywhere from the week before to the night before I head out.

Do you notice any difference in performance, associated with the different loading times?

 

[Steve Blair]

Question, how short or long before your match do you load up your rounds? Does time effect the rounds in any way?

I usually load anywhere from one to thirty days prior to a match. I have never noticed any difference shooting different batches of the same load. The best scores I shot in the Arizona State Palma were with ammo loaded 17 October and fired 4 December. The worst scores were fired with ammo loaded 25 November and fired 5 December. IMHO, neither was related to when I loaded the ammunition.

That said, I usually procrastinate and shoot ammo loaded just a couple of days prior to the match. For the SW Nationals 28-30 January, I have already loaded 100 rounds and seek motivation to load another 150 sometime prior to departure.

 

[GermanS1]

I shot a match a few months ago with ammo I loaded about 5 years ago - the score was right in my average zone. Usually I shoot ammo within a month or two of loading. Not an F-Class shooter, just regular Highpower.

 

[DCRYDER]

Are you guys shooting coated bullets? Seems like my loaded naked bullets that sit for a while will "bond" with the neck. I have had some loaded, then go back later and seat them deeper and they will "pop" when i push them down.

 

[Heavies]

Are you guys shooting coated bullets? Seems like my loaded naked bullets that sit for a while will "bond" with the neck. I have had some loaded, then go back later and seat them deeper and they will "pop" when i push them down.

Interesting.
I know guys that use milsup often seat them a little deeper to 'break them loose' before they shoot them. I know this makes them a little more consistant.

I do use HBN coating on all my bullets.

 

[Steve Blair]

I know guys that use milsup often seat them a little deeper to 'break them loose' before they shoot them. I know this makes them s little more consistant.

Most military ammunition is assembled with a sealant at both the neck and primer pocket. When I assembled "Mexican Match" back in the 80's, we seated the 173 FMJ a little deeper to break the bond so it could be easily pulled.

All my F-TR ammo is naked bullets. The Berger 210 BT-LR is in contact ¼" with the neck and does not seem to cause a problem @ .002 tension. Unless the bullet was seated in a new or very thoroughly cleaned case, there would be a thin carbon layer between bullet and brass.

 

[DCRYDER]

It wasn't new brass, and I only clean necks with a nylon brush. Maybe the pressure ring of the bullet had "grooved" the inside of the neck? ???

 

[Steve Blair]

It wasn't new brass, and I only clean necks with a nylon brush. Maybe the pressure ring of the bullet had "grooved" the inside of the neck? ???

How much tension do you use?

 

[DCRYDER]

These were 7mm/08 hunting rounds loaded with F/L non bushing dies, so probably .004" to .006". I loaded several rounds to touch the lands and was testfiring, if they didn't satisfy me i would go back and seat them .020" or so deeper. Rounds that has been sitting loaded for a week or so popped when pushed on down. Come to think of it I was using Lapua 308 brass necked down and turned to .313" for .004" clearance in a factory Remington LVSF chamber, factory brass loaded was around .310" i think. I already had the brass and was bored, the thicker necks and springback after expander probably made a LOT more tension. This was a few years back. Good catch Gator!

Even still I think this is odd.

 

[Longtrain]

Now I know where those 8's came from at 1K, loaded too early...

Tony
Longtrain