Agreed. I have loaded many thousands of rounds of 30BR and 6PPC on my Partner press.
Reloading press @ the rifle range
- Thread starter bobcat93
- Start date
Agreed. I have loaded many thousands of rounds of 30BR and 6PPC on my Partner press.
jackieschmidt
Gold $$ Contributor
When I went to my first Tack Driver 5 years ago, quite a large number of visitors and other shooters who would come by the loading area where most of the Short Range Benchrest Shooters were loading seemed amazed.
However, by the time Tack Driver 6 rolled around, the loading area was populated by a much larger contingent of shooters who see the benefits of loading where you shoot.
jds holler
Gold $$ Contributor
I like the flexibility of having powder measuring capability at the range, so I take my electronic scale and dip and trickle right there. Then the Lee hand press for seating, and of course calipers for measuring seating depth. All cases have been sized and primed at home.
Every thing I take fits in a yallar plastic tool box and is specific for just the cartridge I'm using that trip. I'm trying to keep it simple and light. jd
Every thing I take fits in a yallar plastic tool box and is specific for just the cartridge I'm using that trip. I'm trying to keep it simple and light. jd
charlie b
Gold $$ Contributor
I've tried the Lee hand press and the Lee C press at the range. I really did not like them much. They worked ok if I was using dies like the Redding Competition seat dies, but, std seat dies not so much. FWIW, the hand press was a PITA. If I wasn't careful the bullet would fall off the case or powder would spill.
I had a Challenger that worked well and was light, easily moved. But, I don't load at the range anymore so it went away after I went back to the Rockchucker on the bench.
I had a Challenger that worked well and was light, easily moved. But, I don't load at the range anymore so it went away after I went back to the Rockchucker on the bench.
Tend to agree. A small Lee C press will work fine for neck sizing and bullet seating tho.
They will. They will Fls a 3o8 too tho. No idea about longivity doing that tho, Obviously a light weight O would be better
Arbor press if I have the dies for it, RCBS Partner press if I don't. Simple set up, screwed the press to a small piece of wood and C-clamp it to the bench.
My biggest piece of advice, besides attending an SRBR match to see how it's done, is to practice with your range kit at home before taking it out. It's not as simple as just throwing all your loading gear into a box and hauling it all to the range. I see guys do that and it's a clusterF. It's not complicated though, the trick is just to get it simplified/streamlined down to it's basic steps/components.
My biggest piece of advice, besides attending an SRBR match to see how it's done, is to practice with your range kit at home before taking it out. It's not as simple as just throwing all your loading gear into a box and hauling it all to the range. I see guys do that and it's a clusterF. It's not complicated though, the trick is just to get it simplified/streamlined down to it's basic steps/components.
AckleymanII
Gold $$ Contributor
I have used two partner presses, have for years. It would be hard to imagine not reloading at the rifle range while shooting, making changes to the load as needed. Not using a wind flag is like shooting blind.
When I lived out West, I had a camper shell that extended 6-8" over the top of the cab in height. I had cabinets made inside and a small bench on one side of the camper. A rock chucker was attached to an extension that came out of the Hitch on the back of the bumper. RCBS 10/10 scale was set up in side with Partner presses mounted with C clamps on the bench top.
Jackie's suggestion on the RCBS Charge Master Lite is pure GOLD! This little scale solves most of the problems of getting set up to load at the range.
www.midwayusa.com
I was in a predator calling club that had up to 120 members. When we did not have a club hunt going on, guys were at the range shooting, maybe as many as 20 of us at a time. Several other guys set the camper shell on their trucks, similar to mine or better. When a guy would get a new rifle, one /two of us would load for him while he shot. IF he was new and wet behind the ears on loading and shooting, we did all work for him, then taught him the ropes, but the goal on a predator rifle was 1/2" at 200, which was no problem at all with a custom barrel in 22/250,22/250 AI, and 243 Win. Several of us shot Benchrest when there was not a Club Hunt going on. We had a rifle cleaning station set up also, went through the procedures of cleaning, which few if any knew anything about.
The time and effort spent to get set up to reload at the rifle range is well worth all effort.
If you do not have out a wind flag, it is like shooting blind...trust me on this, even for varmint and deer hunters. Bullets move in the wind, no getting around that fact.
When I lived out West, I had a camper shell that extended 6-8" over the top of the cab in height. I had cabinets made inside and a small bench on one side of the camper. A rock chucker was attached to an extension that came out of the Hitch on the back of the bumper. RCBS 10/10 scale was set up in side with Partner presses mounted with C clamps on the bench top.
Jackie's suggestion on the RCBS Charge Master Lite is pure GOLD! This little scale solves most of the problems of getting set up to load at the range.
RCBS ChargeMaster Link Digital Powder Scale Dispenser
RCBS, the world leader in powder dispensing is proud to announce the ChargeMaster Link. The Link is built off the rock-solid load cell and electronics...
www.midwayusa.com
I was in a predator calling club that had up to 120 members. When we did not have a club hunt going on, guys were at the range shooting, maybe as many as 20 of us at a time. Several other guys set the camper shell on their trucks, similar to mine or better. When a guy would get a new rifle, one /two of us would load for him while he shot. IF he was new and wet behind the ears on loading and shooting, we did all work for him, then taught him the ropes, but the goal on a predator rifle was 1/2" at 200, which was no problem at all with a custom barrel in 22/250,22/250 AI, and 243 Win. Several of us shot Benchrest when there was not a Club Hunt going on. We had a rifle cleaning station set up also, went through the procedures of cleaning, which few if any knew anything about.
The time and effort spent to get set up to reload at the rifle range is well worth all effort.
If you do not have out a wind flag, it is like shooting blind...trust me on this, even for varmint and deer hunters. Bullets move in the wind, no getting around that fact.
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The comments on wind flags are spot on. We all spend a lot of money to reduce the size of our groups but then shoot without knowing how much the wind is affecting the bullets. In the past 13 years as a RSO at a local range I have only seen 2 people using range flags (I was one of them). Some of the shooters were shooting very expensive long range guns but they weren't using flags. Waste of time and ammo, IMO. Decent flags don't cost that much and I think they are the best bang for the buck compared to the other equipment we buy to reduce group size. Even a piece of surveyor's tape on a stick is better than nothing.
FWIW, enter your shooting data in a ballistic calculator and dial in 3-5 MPH of wind. You will be surprised how much this slight breeze moves the bullet.
FWIW, enter your shooting data in a ballistic calculator and dial in 3-5 MPH of wind. You will be surprised how much this slight breeze moves the bullet.
RegionRat
Gold $$ Contributor
Compared to everything else you put yourself through to learn reloading and precision shooting...
Planting some electric fence stakes with surveyor's tape is inexpensive, quick, and simple.
Learning to read those wind flags is slow and takes a long time to learn.
Like many difficult things in life, the journey starts with the first steps.
You can have no interest in tuning at the range or shooting over flags in the long term, however... by not even taking a look at what these things do for you, you are at a disadvantage.
Like learning to tune loads with portable gear at the range, or learning to read wind flags, the best way to get started is to visit with a live mentor (who is qualified) and watch these things being done.
Take a trip to a BR match and then decide.
I realize that for many folks, it will take research and some travel expense to visit a short-range BR match. I still think the effort and expense of at least that one visit is going to save a rookie from the time and expense of trying to learn these things in a vacuum and pay them back with interest. YMMV
Happy New Year!
Planting some electric fence stakes with surveyor's tape is inexpensive, quick, and simple.
Learning to read those wind flags is slow and takes a long time to learn.
Like many difficult things in life, the journey starts with the first steps.
You can have no interest in tuning at the range or shooting over flags in the long term, however... by not even taking a look at what these things do for you, you are at a disadvantage.
Like learning to tune loads with portable gear at the range, or learning to read wind flags, the best way to get started is to visit with a live mentor (who is qualified) and watch these things being done.
Take a trip to a BR match and then decide.
I realize that for many folks, it will take research and some travel expense to visit a short-range BR match. I still think the effort and expense of at least that one visit is going to save a rookie from the time and expense of trying to learn these things in a vacuum and pay them back with interest. YMMV
Happy New Year!
AlNyhus
Silver $$ Contributor
It's simpler than blindly blamming away and compiling false 'data points'. That seems to be the latest buzz word.Wind flag proponents make it sound so simple
I may sound simple but of all the aspects of shooting at distance (in this case 100 yds and longer) its probably the most difficult skill to master. It takes years to be good at it but the return is worth it.Wind flag proponents make it sound so simple
Bullet drop is science. Windage is voodoo.
I have 2 of these I take to the range
HDS Compact hand press
HDS Compact hand press
I used a Harrel’s portable press for several years, currently use RS-3
Compact Reloading Press
Our Reloading Presses are precision machined from solid 6061 aluminum stock and come in 3 sizes to suit your needs. - The PPC size will resize the PPC, BR and shorter cases. - The 308 size will resize the 308 or shorter cases. - The Mag size will resize up to 2.9” cases and seat bullets. They...
www.harrellsprecision.com
Back when I was a serious BR competitor (45+ years ago), I had a RCBS jr press mounted on top of a wooden box. I also mounted my powder measure on this box. I still have this set up but mostly use an arbor press and Wilson-type dies. I have Lyman and Lee presses to replace the heavy RCBS unit. WH
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