Reloading bench build...

[Papa Charlie]

Great looking set up you have Terry. The bench came out really nice. I also like the metal storage tool chest usage. Can never have enough storage. One thing that I would be concerned about, I like the idea of compressed air, but those compressors are awfully noisy, especially in that metallic speaker box you have it mounted in.

Still a great setup. All you need now is a wall mount for your TV so that it is easier to watch. Maybe one that allows you to swivel and tilt for viewing.

 

[spclark]

True. I am not the cat person but I do like my wife to be happy so....

Well... I’d think that’s true for those of us who are (still) married, yes?

BUT: Google up toxoplasmosis gondii sometime, read what cats can do to create an environment that’s more in line with their needs than that of humans... like us.

And for whomever gets the honor of cleaning the cat’s box, probably not a bad idea to wear gloves & some kind of dust mask....

 

[TerryH]

Great looking set up you have Terry. The bench came out really nice. I also like the metal storage tool chest usage. Can never have enough storage. One thing that I would be concerned about, I like the idea of compressed air, but those compressors are awfully noisy, especially in that metallic speaker box you have it mounted in.

Still a great setup. All you need now is a wall mount for your TV so that it is easier to watch. Maybe one that allows you to swivel and tilt for viewing.

Thanks. I actually bought a TV wall mount but not sure that I'm going to use it. It's really not bad at all in the present configuration. The compressor will be seldom used. I just wanted the ability to have air just in case I needed to blow something off or whatever. Believe it or not, it's actually much quieter in the cabinet than out although it is not quiet.

 

[TerryH]

Well... I’d think that’s true for those of us who are (still) married, yes?

BUT: Google up toxoplasmosis gondii sometime, read what cats can do to create an environment that’s more in line with their needs than that of humans... like us.

And for whomever gets the honor of cleaning the cat’s box, probably not a bad idea to wear gloves & some kind of dust mask....

Well that certainly brightened my day. lol...

 

[nmkid]

Very nice outcome! However, you still have tons of wall space to work with. I have the same "pancake" compressor for use on the loading tables, (3). Never knew I would use it so much cleaning the loading tables off. As my brother would say, "you done good".

 

[TerryH]

Very nice outcome! However, you still have tons of wall space to work with. I have the same "pancake" compressor for use on the loading tables, (3). Never knew I would use it so much cleaning the loading tables off. As my brother would say, "you done good".

Thanks. I figure the wall space will allow for plenty of further expansion once I determine what that should be.

 

[TerryH]

I finally got to make some rounds!!! 7 to be exact. Incremental pressure test coming up tomorrow. I also got the 4' led work lights up and changed the existing bulbs in the room to 17w led's. All 5000k led's in the gun room now. I can see!

 

[TerryH]

I've very much enjoying the reloading room, bench and equipment. I was/am anxious to get going with the .308 F-TR rifle. I ended up loading rounds forthe pressure test from 42.5 to 45.0. I shot those over the weekend at my local indoor range. I will confess to be a fair weather shooter and 5 degrees is not fair in my book. lol...

Very minimal case expansion with .002 just above the extractor groove max. Bolt was free and smooth for all tested. Took some time to day to get 100 cases prepped and primed. Seems that somewhere between 43.4 and 44.0 seems to be the sweet spot for the 200.20x's, 30" barrel/FTR reamer combo so I'll start there and see what happens. Hopefully some better weather soon. Got 100 new Lapua cases prepped and primed today.





I am SO ready to do some ladder testing with this rifle!!

 

[Papa Charlie]

What powder are you using Terry?

 

[TerryH]

What powder are you using Terry?

Duh. Guess it would help if I had said I'm using Varget.

 

[spclark]

Very minimal case expansion with .002 just above the extractor groove max.

Uh... 0.002” ?

You maybe missed adding another zero ‘twixt decimal & numeral?

2 thousandths - if indeed that’s what you’re seeing - is rather a lot on first (or any!) firing IMHO.

 

[Prose]

I just put in three LED sets yesterday. Outstanding light and no interference/hum.

 

[TerryH]

Uh... 0.002” ?

You maybe missed adding another zero ‘twixt decimal & numeral?

2 thousandths - if indeed that’s what you’re seeing - is rather a lot on first (or any!) firing IMHO.

No really. .002 at the max that I fired (45.0 of Varget). I was trying to determine how much room I had to experiment when I went that high. Guessing I'll end up at 43.4 to 44.0. Case expansion was .001 or less in that range. That seems to be where everyone is loading with the similar configurations. Previous owner of the rifle was loading 44.0 gr Varget getting 2650 fps. In lieu of just going with that, I want to test for myself so I can see how my particular lot of Varget tests out.

 

[memilanuk]

@TerryH here is some reading material for you... specifically the one on 'PRE, CHE, RIP' would be applicable in this instance.

 

[TerryH]

@TerryH here is some reading material for you... specifically the one on 'PRE, CHE, RIP' would be applicable in this instance.

Thanks Monte. So the measuring is all for naught. What methodology should one employ to determine a safe load from an unsafe one? I'm truly trying to learn here and be safe in the process.

 

[memilanuk]

Short of a PressureTrace system, we're pretty much stuck with reading tea leaves i.e. observing the deformation of primer cups, ejector wipe on case head, or case head expansion. It's just that what we 'observe' with the naked eye varies greatly. I wish there was something in between, but there isn't - that I'm aware of. I'm just saying don't take CHE as gospel, but if you do... 0.002" is a *lot* - like 'holy heck' *lot*.

 

[spclark]

I'm just saying don't take CHE as gospel, but if you do... 0.002" is a *lot* - like 'holy heck' *lot*.

A good load is one you can shoot safely until the barrel’s toast, not your eyebrows.

Perhaps another forum member well-versed in QuikLoad can run some numbers for you?

My take on 45 grains of Varget, behind a 200 grain 308 bullet, would be “Don’t! Please!” With some batches that’s not far off a respectable Palma load.

Developing a 308 case-based 7mm wildcat year before last I bought a Pressure Trace system. Proved to be invaluable while evaluating loads, as was help I got from a member here more comfortable & experienced with QL. That assistance helped me quickly settle on just which propellant would be most likely to work best.

308’s well established so there ought to be well-proven load info available that will give you a better place to start than just tipping the can a bit more with each load.

I’d help more but I mostly shoot 155’s myself.

 

[TerryH]

Short of a PressureTrace system, we're pretty much stuck with reading tea leaves i.e. observing the deformation of primer cups, ejector wipe on case head, or case head expansion. It's just that what we 'observe' with the naked eye varies greatly. I wish there was something in between, but there isn't - that I'm aware of. I'm just saying don't take CHE as gospel, but if you do... 0.002" is a *lot* - like 'holy heck' *lot*.

Lightest load on the left and hottest on the right. Thoughts?

 

[memilanuk]

The one on the left looks fine; the one on the right... the primer is *flat*, almost no radius left, and it looks like the beginnings of cratering on the primer. Definitely too hot.

 

[TerryH]

The one on the left looks fine; the one on the right... the primer is *flat*, almost no radius left, and it looks like the beginnings of cratering on the primer. Definitely too hot.

Thank you.

The one on the left looks fine; the one on the right... the primer is *flat*, almost no radius left, and it looks like the beginnings of cratering on the primer. Definitely too hot.

Thanks for your help.

I realize I need to end up in the 2625fps - 2650fps range given what others have done with the 200.20x's. I'm sure that is somewhere in the range of these (43.2 - 44.00) is the correct load.