My ongoing journey into reloading for pistol calibre lever actions

[Scrumbag]

Well my friends,

It’s Friday and I have been popping out to the garage to play about with reloading gizmo’s and such on my journey into reloading pistol cartridges for the first time.

I have for a long time had a Lee turret press but I have only used the turrets to change between calibres rather than for any progressive reloading.

However, this week given how slow I am at reloading “pistol” rounds vs the guys who do it regularly I thought I would automate the turret and see how I do. So, I have set up the 4 hole turret with my Lee 4 die 44 mag / 44 special pistol set

So, I have learnt a few things…

• I’m still not 100% sold on priming on the press and I think for my precision / hunting bottle neck rifle rounds I will still primer using a hand primer but I will persist as it might be just my lack of practice
• I think I’m going to buy a Lee auto drum powder dispenser.
• It would seem to be quicker rather than a scoop of powder for each charge (seems to take 2 hands)
• You are less likely to forget to charge your case as if you have to remember to
• Place primer on primer arm and seat
• Manually charge case
• Put bullet on top of case ready to seat
• (If I can cut of these steps seems I will be less likely mess-up something)
• If you drop a charge through your “charge-through” expander die without raising the ram all the way after priming, it is just a little messy…
• I still frickin’ hate handling Unique powder… I swear you look at that stuff and it leaves whatever vessel it is in for somewhere else (Also still not convinced I like how it throws / scoops for volumetric measures)
• I also learned that if you don’t do a full stroke, your load through expander can make any pistol bullet look like it was designed for a weird, big bore Nagant….
• I’m impressed with how clean the Federal 150 primers are vs the small and large Magtech rifle primers I use in bottle neck cartridges… (I wonder if this tells me something…)

So, despite the “learning process”, I did load 50+ rds of 44 special fairly quickly this afternoon and I think it bears working with more. (Unique and 240gr RNFP)

So, next plan of action is:

• Get Lee autodrum (Might pick up a Rifle Charging Die as well, I load a fair bit of .223 Rem with X-terminator and that does very consistent weights volumetrically)
• I’m going to experiment with priming by hand (using RCBS hand primer) and then resizing, expanding etc (For Lee Carbide pistol dies the pin isn’t needed for the case sizing so can set the decapping pin so it doesn’t decap on the up stroke).
• Order up some Hogdgon Universal (Apparently it meters well and is the single base, modern, Unique – which I like how it shoots, but hate how it handles…)

Please chime in with advice, wise cracks, anecdotes or anything else you feel.

Scrummy

 

[Mark W]

I’ve recently began loading for a Henry 44 Mag lever action rifle. I haven’t done any real testing yet. Mostly just tried out a few baseline loads just to make sure they go boom.

 

[GLShooter]

50 reps isn't quite enough to get the process automatic in your mind. You'll find it much easier after 500. My usual session on pistol ammo is 500 or 1000 on one of my Dillons.

Small batches of special loads or test ammo is done on a AA Turret. After that if a quantity is needed it goes on a Dillon.

Single stage loading was my method for years until I got into competition handgun games and doing 20,000 a year was just too slow.

Greg

 

[Scrumbag]

I’ve recently began loading for a Henry 44 Mag lever action rifle. I haven’t done any real testing yet. Mostly just tried out a few baseline loads just to make sure they go boom.

It's fun. I'm starting to load for a 20" Chiappa Alaskan...

 

[RegionRat]

GLShooter is right, you will want to give yourself many sessions of this before you get good habits sorted out.

Give yourself a chance to think and stick with the "slow is smooth, smooth is fast" philosophy at first. You will pick up speed while you learn to smooth out the work flow.

Eliminate distractions, mistakes are very easy when interruptions come into play. You will get interruptions when the process hangs up or when someone else comes into your work flow, that is when you must learn how to double check everything and or clear the error, then start with care to avoid squibs and over-loads.

Don't be in a hurry to go too fast too soon, you will do fine and get there soon. Mind the Gap.

 

[Surgeonwithagun]

Everyone does it their own way. I use .5 cc Lee powder scoops for practice loads on my Lee Turret Press for 38 Special and it works out fine. Most Flake powders suck through most powder dispensers, so I got tired of measuring every load on the digital.


John

 

[Scrumbag]

Everyone does it their own way. I use .5 cc Lee powder scoops for practice loads on my Lee Turret Press for 38 Special and it works out fine. Most Flake powders suck through most powder dispensers, so I got tired of measuring every load on the digital.


John

Ah gotcha. I am too stingy to buy a digital

Scrummy

 

[Surgeonwithagun]

Ah gotcha. I am too stingy to buy a digital

Scrummy

A cheap digital on Ebay with a .1 gr variance can be had for about $15.

 

[mousegunner]

Like brushing your teeth, it's all muscle memory but distractions will mess up your rhythm then you poke your eye out!

 

[Scrumbag]

A cheap digital on Ebay with a .1 gr variance can be had for about $15.

Ah, sorry, I thought you meant an auto trickler!

Yes I have an electronic scale.

Scrummy

 

[Scrumbag]

Like brushing your teeth, it's all muscle memory but distractions will mess up your rhythm then you poke your eye out!

I'm not sure I've ever been quite that special brushing my teeth but give it time...

 

[Gargoyle]

I've been loading on my Lee 4 hole turret for 20yrs now. Some 20 + calibers in that time. I stopped loading 9mm/45 years ago and resorted to just buying ammo by the case. I do still load for 44 mag. I load them like I load a rifle round. Prep brass, dispense powder from the 1500 chargemaster, seat bullet.

Henry 44mag 16" likes 25gr AA9, 27gr H110. 160gr Lehigh Extreme Defense and Hornady 200gr XTP. (Starline Brass, WLP) I can load these two bullets the same even though 160 ED much lighter, it has more bearing surface. (160 ED killed a 100lb hog on the spot with TX heart shot. Like, straight in the anus. lol)

AA9 always gives more velocity by 80fps. AA9 and H110 same accuracy.
H4227 too slow. N110 only works in 200gr XTP rounds. 24.5gr. Not enough case capacity with the 160 EDs to seat the bullet.

 

[Scrumbag]

Thanks Gargoyle,

I'm going to try some non-lead as well in the 44 mag lever action:

Left: Peregrine 180gr Hog (will try with N105)
Centre: 240gr Nosler JSP (for comparison)
Right: Peregrine 205gr VRG3 (Will try with Lil'gun)

Best wishes,

Scrummy

 

[Gargoyle]

Thanks Gargoyle,

I'm going to try some non-lead as well in the 44 mag lever action:

Left: Peregrine 180gr Hog (will try with N105)
Centre: 240gr Nosler JSP (for comparison)
Right: Peregrine 205gr VRG3 (Will try with Lil'gun)

Best wishes,

Scrummy

That 180 hog looks killer, but I would hope it wouldn't shed it's petals too quick. Hogs are my forte for bullets testing. Past 22yrs hunting NW TX hogs shows me what works and what don't on that type creature. With that said, I would keep the projectiles copper and/or lighter grain for caliber.

35 Rem and 44 mag get compared a lot for 100-125yd guns. I shot three hogs like the one in the video with a 35 Remington 200gr RN. Same run-offs each time. If only my buddy would have turned the camera to see the look on my face...I am not used to seeing hogs run so healthy after a straight hit! So, I am ditching the 200 RN and load developed some Hammer bullets, 140gr shock hunters @2400fps. (2100 for 200 RN) I'm gonna use this lesson for the 44mag projectiles.

 

[jcm800]

Universal meters great through a Hornady LnL w/ the pistol drum. Max loads of 296 /h110 usually get best accuracy with jacketed bullets.

 

[C_Ackley]

I shot three hogs like the one in the video with a 35 Remington 200gr RN. Same run-offs each time. If only my buddy would have turned the camera to see the look on my face...I am not used to seeing hogs run so healthy after a straight hit!

Ever recover any of them?
Sounds like the bullet mushroomed and never reached the vitals or if it did, not much damage. While expansion is great, it means the energy is expended in a shallower, wider wound channel.

 

[hoz53]

Well my friends,

It’s Friday and I have been popping out to the garage to play about with reloading gizmo’s and such on my journey into reloading pistol cartridges for the first time.

I have for a long time had a Lee turret press but I have only used the turrets to change between calibres rather than for any progressive reloading.

However, this week given how slow I am at reloading “pistol” rounds vs the guys who do it regularly I thought I would automate the turret and see how I do. So, I have set up the 4 hole turret with my Lee 4 die 44 mag / 44 special pistol set

So, I have learnt a few things…

• I’m still not 100% sold on priming on the press and I think for my precision / hunting bottle neck rifle rounds I will still primer using a hand primer but I will persist as it might be just my lack of practice
• I think I’m going to buy a Lee auto drum powder dispenser.
• It would seem to be quicker rather than a scoop of powder for each charge (seems to take 2 hands)
• You are less likely to forget to charge your case as if you have to remember to
• Place primer on primer arm and seat
• Manually charge case
• Put bullet on top of case ready to seat
• (If I can cut of these steps seems I will be less likely mess-up something)
• If you drop a charge through your “charge-through” expander die without raising the ram all the way after priming, it is just a little messy…
• I still frickin’ hate handling Unique powder… I swear you look at that stuff and it leaves whatever vessel it is in for somewhere else (Also still not convinced I like how it throws / scoops for volumetric measures)
• I also learned that if you don’t do a full stroke, your load through expander can make any pistol bullet look like it was designed for a weird, big bore Nagant….
• I’m impressed with how clean the Federal 150 primers are vs the small and large Magtech rifle primers I use in bottle neck cartridges… (I wonder if this tells me something…)

So, despite the “learning process”, I did load 50+ rds of 44 special fairly quickly this afternoon and I think it bears working with more. (Unique and 240gr RNFP)

So, next plan of action is:

• Get Lee autodrum (Might pick up a Rifle Charging Die as well, I load a fair bit of .223 Rem with X-terminator and that does very consistent weights volumetrically)
• I’m going to experiment with priming by hand (using RCBS hand primer) and then resizing, expanding etc (For Lee Carbide pistol dies the pin isn’t needed for the case sizing so can set the decapping pin so it doesn’t decap on the up stroke).
• Order up some Hogdgon Universal (Apparently it meters well and is the single base, modern, Unique – which I like how it shoots, but hate how it handles…)

Please chime in with advice, wise cracks, anecdotes or anything else you feel.

Scrummy

I just resetup the dillon 550 for 44 magnum. went from 200 swc cast with lite load of unique to 240 swc cast with N320 - since i have some. only shot a few cylinders of it so ill report later. that unique may be a pain in the powder measure but it is accurate in my gun.

 

[Surgeonwithagun]

Did you recover the animal? Where did the round hit exactly?

John

 

[NZ_Fclass]

There's really not much wrong with a Lee press. Until you get a Dillon.

 

[joshb]

I have 2 progressives. It’s been ten years since I used one. These days, I use my Rockchucker. I prep and prime all my brass, then load and seat 50 at a time. It may take a little longer but there are a lot less headaches.