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Returning Precision Shooter -- Reloading Advice?

DocBernard

Returning precision shooter in Georgia. I used to run a heavily tweaked Winchester Model 70 heavy barrel in 22-250 out in California, did my own hand loads and would push anywhere from 3800 to 4250 fps out the end. That rifle was a tack driver and accurate as a surgeon's scalpel. Getting 0.750 inch groups at 300 yards was not that hard, if there wasn't a whisper of wind. But, things got interesting and I had to sell the rifle and got out of the sport.

Fast forward to 2020, and I have decided to get back into the sport. This time I went with an Ruger Precision Rifle in 6.5 CM. Getting my hand load station all set up, and now I'm basically just looking at it. I realize I have forgotten most of what I knew about hand loading. Basically I have become a newbie again. I am going to need to relearn and I'll be going over the thread history here to try to get that knowledge back.

So if you have any knowledge, wisdom, or advice to impart, please feel free to do so.
 
Soak up all you can around here...Its all been written and discussed to death...but thats a good thing.
I read these pages for years before actually doing any reloading...
Become a paid member and do a search on your favorite topic my friend and welcome to the forum.
 
I went through the same thing geez 15 yrs ago now. Grew up shooting/reloading, got busy doing other things, and when I got back to it in '05ish, there was a wealth of information via the internet I wasn't aware of before. After setting everything back up I also felt a little uneasy about just diving back in. So honestly I started back at the beginning and read through a couple reloading manuals to refresh my memory. After getting my bearings back it was like riding a bike. Just walking through it slow the first time again made it painless
 
I got busy back in 2007 with band business and I too dropped out of shooting for around 8 years or so. Glad I got back into it and regained my place with some very good rifles built by (WSMNUT) here on the site. Happy to be back here to learn more as well. Welcome back.
 
Welcome to the forum.....
Now all the fun begins. In no time at all you'll be just fine. Recently there have been threads about the order of operation when prepping brass, reloading do's and don't's, as well as a large number of 6.5 CM threads with bullet selection and powders, etc.

 
DocBernard said:
Returning precision shooter in Georgia. I used to run a heavily tweaked Winchester Model 70 heavy barrel in 22-250 out in California, did my own hand loads and would push anywhere from 3800 to 4250 fps out the end. That rifle was a tack driver and accurate as a surgeon's scalpel. Getting 0.750 inch groups at 300 yards was not that hard, if there wasn't a whisper of wind. But, things got interesting and I had to sell the rifle and got out of the sport.

Fast forward to 2020, and I have decided to get back into the sport. This time I went with an Ruger Precision Rifle in 6.5 CM. Getting my hand load station all set up, and now I'm basically just looking at it. I realize I have forgotten most of what I knew about hand loading. Basically I have become a newbie again. I am going to need to relearn and I'll be going over the thread history here to try to get that knowledge back.

So if you have any knowledge, wisdom, or advice to impart, please feel free to do so.
Click to expand...
Welcome to the forum. Here's a list of things that are very important in producing great groups and consistent ammo with that 6.5CM. Wilson trimmer, Sinclair or K&M neck turner, Wilson straight line seater, Redding bushing full length die, Redding competition shell holder set, Hornaday headspace guage set, Hornady bullet comparator set, Starrett digital 6 inch caliper, 0-1 inch micrometer measuring to .0001", digital neck ball micrometer measuring to .0001", an FX120 scale, a Harrels powder measure, a Dandy trickler, and some good custom bullets and Lapua brass with small rifle primer! Of course Federal 205M primers and Reloader 16 powder if you can find! I've had experience loading for the Ruger Precision in 6.5CM and it'll take all these tools and components to make it shoot in my opinion.
 
Here are some reloading principles I follow:

1. Focus on quality not quantity.

2. Dedicate a group of cases to one rifle and rotate their use keeping track of the number of times reloaded and trimmed.

3. Full length resize cases with a .001 to .002" shoulder set back. I lean more towards the .001" area. To do this precisely you need a bump gauge and caliber to measure a fired case (primer removed) then adjust your sizing die to produce the desired set back. Periodically recheck since as cases age some adjustment may be needed to produce the desired set back.

4. Monitor case length and trim when necessary. I like the Wilson Trimmer with the Sinclair upgrades. It produces precise trim lengths without pilots that scar the inside of the neck. It's a quality tool that should last a lifetime. I like the carbide cutter.

5. I single hand prime my cases with Sinclair priming tool. I can get a precise feel of seating. It's durable tool that should last a lifetime.

6. Measure the max over all cartridge length for the bullet you are using in the rifle that you are loading for. I use a homemade version of the old Frankfort Arsenal tool. I start load development at 0.020" off the lands. I'm not a fan of jamming bullets into the lands and never seat closer than 0.010" to the lands to allow for variations in bullet ogives and avoid jamming the bullet into the lands.

7. Since I only load "stick" powders for rifle, I weigh every charge and double check each charged case to insure that I have charged it with powder.

8. I select powder and bullet combo's that are well established performers as a starting point if I'm loading a new cartridge for the first time.

9. One of the most useful reloading Manuals I ever read is the Lyman Reloading Handbook. It's a good resource for beginners and those getting back into the reloading game after a long lay off.

10. Safety issue: Never have more than one powder on the bench at one time and make sure you empty the powder measure and return the powder to the canister after a loading session.

Good luck and don't be afraid to ask questions.
 
Few nuggets of advice from me: never forget who teaches you something and dont get better than they are (dont forget where you come from), do a search and ask questions before every purchase. We waste a ton of money around here buying bargains and useless junk. For a 6.5 creedmoor you only need to remember one starting point- carolina load.
 
Dusty Stevens said:
Few nuggets of advice from me: never forget who teaches you something and dont get better than they are (dont forget where you come from), do a search and ask questions before every purchase. We waste a ton of money around here buying bargains and useless junk. For a 6.5 creedmoor you only need to remember one starting point- carolina load.
Click to expand...
What’s Carolina load
 
Make sure you check the regs for the competitions you intend. Some of them have limits on projectile energy or velocity to avoid destroying targets. That way you develop a tune you can use.
 
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