Loading at the range!

[JDBraddy]

Recently have been struggling to get away from pre-loading and learn to "tune" my loads, adjusting beteen matches by loading at the range. However the increased equipment bulk, set-up and tear-down time, and more time spent loading rather than shooting etc...have me constantly looking for a better way. Here's my current setup, let's see yours. What have you found that increased convenience, saved time, and made your loading at the range more efficient.

 

[Falfan2017]

If I’m doing a seating depth test I’ll just bring a bunch of rounds with bullets seated extra long and then seat them down to what I want to test or use at the range. Then all I need is an arbor press and die.

if I’m doing a powder test I bring vials pre weighed at charges I’m gonna want so I can just dump em and seat em.

 

[Chiquita]

This is what I use to keep the wind out and have an arbor press for seating. I don't take the big press with me.

 

[BoydAllen]

To reduce the size of what I have to lug, I combine functions and use a Harrell'c combo press for both sizing and seating, and clamp my measure on a PMA Tool stand that clamps on the table. My entire reloading and range smithing kit fits in one identical to this, now discontinued by Harbor Freight.

 

[std7mag]

By the time i get all my stuff out of the way for tbe next relay, use the other facilities, get a drink, it's time to put my stuff back on the line.

Load in beyween relays? Not gonna happen.

 

[RegionRat]

If you are not trying to load between relays at a match, and just loading at the range in general, then you do whatever you need in order to go home with answers rather than needing to make round trips.

Loading at the range in order to cross check your results and verify answers without a round trip home is always more efficient than leaving the range without the answers.

For efficiency, having all your brass prepped and primed is a way to avoid all those processes at the range. Then the only ones you are dealing with are charge and seating depth, both are easy at the range.

 

[Dub]

I don't do it often but here is my set up

 

[jimmymac]

If you are score shooting, try going with your brass already prepped and primed. It saves time and eliminates the need to take your press. Maybe make yourself a small reloading table to carry with you as well for comfort because the picnic table isn’t ideal. Loading at the range is awesome. Getting immediate feedback and having the ability to change on the fly are worth it.

 

[JimSC]

I tried reloading at the range several times over the years, made some cases such as those pictured above, tied loading in the back of a SUV etc etc The wind was always able to outsmart anything me. I finally gave up and now just do the seating. Now I just home load three shot load workups looking for velocity flat spots. For the seating tests load 50 rounds at home seated at jam, then tweak the seating depth at the range using a Wilson inline die and a small dead blow plastic mallet

 

[Hudge76]

While I do all of my loading at home, I was at the range 2 weeks ago and a gentleman came and set everything up and then disappeared. When I left, he was at the back of his Ford Expedition loading 300 WM. He had a pretty neat setup as well. He’s the second person I’ve seen laid at the range this year.

 

[RegionRat]

He’s the second person I’ve seen laid at the range this year.

If loading at the range is going to get me laid, then I'm going to keep trying cause that hasn't happened to me yet!!! LOL

(Sorry, couldn't help myself)

 

[357Mag]

Recently have been struggling to get away from pre-loading and learn to "tune" my loads, adjusting beteen matches by loading at the range. However the increased equipment bulk, set-up and tear-down time, and more time spent loading rather than shooting etc...have me constantly looking for a better way. Here's my current setup, let's see yours. What have you found that increased convenience, saved time, and made your loading at the range more efficient.

View attachment 1280189

JD -

Howdy !

Sometimes I do range work shooting charges that I already measured back in my reloading room.
I drop the various measured charges ( typically of the same powder ) into labelled snap-lid plastic cannisters.
I'll start by loading pre-prepped cases w/ the lightest charge I brought, seat the bullet; and shoot to determine best accuracy. As I go up incrementally in charge wt, I am able to stop loading any additional increased charge weights once I note onset of excess pressure signs. I am shooting a wildcat w/o any established load data. It has proven helpful to not have to load and then pull bullets from cartridges that would give excess pressure if they ultimately were fired.

A variation of this is to throw charges from a measure at the range, starting at the lowest charge; and then going up incrementally in charge weights. When the best charge wt is verified, I put a sample of that charge
weight into one of the snap-lid cannisters; and then weigh it back in the loading room....to determine wt in grains ( not in clicks ). Whatever the cannister materiel happens to be, you just want to be sure all powder kennels make it out and into the cases being loaded... one cannister....one case.

When / if using a digi scale at the range, I have often used a cardboard box that is open on one side, as a shield from breezes.


With regards,
357Mag

 

[WayneShaw]

I load at the range all the time, for bench guns. Some type of tool box helps, carries the press, arbor press (I did get a combo press, works great) measure, etc. I carry the components in a separate box, brass, powder, primers. I just can't bring myself to not have the ability to change a load. In sanctioned matches, you have 30 minutes at a minimum between matches. You can clean your gun, reload 10 rounds in that time, as long as people don't bother you.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

If loading at the range is going to get me laid, then I'm going to keep trying cause that hasn't happened to me yet!!! LOL

(Sorry, couldn't help myself)

If the other sex turns your head at the range in the summer, you have wasted winter.

 

[RegionRat]

If the other sex turns your head at the range in the summer, you have wasted winter.

That's the problem with SoCal, it is like perpetual spring... but I'll keep loading at the range in case I ever make it up near Hudge76 cause apparently in Alaska it has more benefits!!!