How many of you reload at range..either for load work up, or because of limited number of cases? Trying to get my head around needed tools..and if dedicated powder measure is needed for loading box? this duplicating can become expensive! but I can see where something would probably be left home otherwise. Any comments welcome. Thanks!
Reloading at range?
- Thread starter .22-5-40
- Start date
rkittine
Gold $$ Contributor
Seems that the short range Bench Rest guys load more at the bench to tweak their loads to the conditions, where the long range guys load primarily ahead of shooting. I have a set up for loading 6PPC and 30BR at the bench, but load in advance (after load workup) for my long range shooting.
Bob
Bob
Jet
Gold $$ Contributor
I load at the range. Don’t mess around with trying to weigh charges at the range. Buy some 1-2 dram glass vials off Amazon and load them at home with the charges you want to test. I will usually take enough to do ladders then seating depth tests. 25-35 per charge weight usually works fine.
Good Shooting
Rich
Good Shooting
Rich
This is good advice. Wind wreaks havoc on getting an accurate weighing.
I don’t take a press. I just carry enough prepped brass and a hand primer tool with primers and a Wilson seater. Neck tension low enough that I can easily push the top down by hand on the seater die.
Then I just double check length with calipers and bullet comp and away we go.
If you really wanted to use a press the Forster Coax is easy enough to clamp to a table and doesn’t seem to torque on the bench near as much as other presses.
144 glass vials on the cheap
https://www.premiumvials.com/144-pc...MI2JPax_iq4AIVC7XACh2lzQh6EAQYAiABEgKG1_D_BwE
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Tim Singleton
Gold $$ Contributor
Tim Singleton
Gold $$ Contributor
Oh yeah, plenty Bart’s Bullets!
boltman13
Gold $$ Contributor
Back when I shot a lot of Hunter Bench Rest and loaded at the range I used a Lee Challenger O press mounted on a board clamped to the bench and collet die to deprime, and neck size, a Lee Auto Prime to reprime, a Redding BR30 powder measure, and a Wilson In Line Seating Die. All of this fit into a plastic tote box with room to spare for powder, primers, and bullets a loading block, powder funnel, brass and primer pocket cleaner. Switch to a Wilson bushing neck sizing die and small hammer and it's even more compact. I prechecked the powder weights at various powder measure settings and kept careful notes on that and seating depth.
jimmymac
Jim McGregor
Good options here in this thread. The CM with a battery pack does pretty good at the range. If you shield it a bit from the wind, it helps. You can also just drop charges with a good powder measure, like a Harrell’s. Your precision will vary a bit, but if short range work is your primary objective you should be okay. The pre-charged vials are the most precise option of the three.
If you want a press that is small and lightweight, consider a inexpensive RCBS Partner press and bar clamp it to a table or bench. Alternately, you can permanently mount that press to a plate, then clamp the plate to a bench when you want to use it. As a side note, Dave Short Customs here in SW PA has a fixture he uses on his lathe to square up the the top of the press. He does this for a small fee.
Arbor press and in line seater die round out the major equipment. You probably already have the rest of what you need like powder funnels, calipers, priming tool, etc.
I like loading at the range.
If you want a press that is small and lightweight, consider a inexpensive RCBS Partner press and bar clamp it to a table or bench. Alternately, you can permanently mount that press to a plate, then clamp the plate to a bench when you want to use it. As a side note, Dave Short Customs here in SW PA has a fixture he uses on his lathe to square up the the top of the press. He does this for a small fee.
Arbor press and in line seater die round out the major equipment. You probably already have the rest of what you need like powder funnels, calipers, priming tool, etc.
I like loading at the range.
I can get everything I need in a small tote
my range reloading kit consist of
a harrell combo press
a harrell BR powder measure
a gempro 250 if i am curious
harrell sizing die and wilson seater
Sinclair priming tool
and calipers, deburring tool, funnels, loading block and all that other misc small tools
all of it fits nicely in this kit
a harrell combo press
a harrell BR powder measure
a gempro 250 if i am curious
harrell sizing die and wilson seater
Sinclair priming tool
and calipers, deburring tool, funnels, loading block and all that other misc small tools
all of it fits nicely in this kit
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Jet
Gold $$ Contributor
I do to. Don't really understand why more folks don't do it. I can get a tune on a rifle in 2-4 hrs. When I loaded at home it would take me multiple weekends/range trips to get a tune I was happy with. Big time saver.
Rich
I, like Jet, measure and weigh a series of charges that are placed in small plastic screw lid containers (Walmart - for bead crafts) temporary sticky labels ID contents. I completely prep my brass. I then use a Lee hand press (two hand operation) with the appropriate seating die. Powder weight increments vary depending on cartridge, tiny for .20 P and much bigger for .300 Win. When using the Lee hand press, point everything up to avoid dumping bullet & powder out, an assistant helps at this stage. Wind, less than level surfaces, and bad vibes at range make using a balance scale tricky.
Don't forget the funnel. No F/L size here.
Don't forget the funnel. No F/L size here.
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