Hi everyone,
I have some basic experience with reloading for bolt action rifles. I just bought myself a CVA Scout in 35 Whelen as a Christmas present. I'm going to be using this for deer and maybe some other medium or larger game down the road.
Because ammo selection is hard to come by locally, I've decided to hand load everything I shoot in this gun. I've bought some Hornady brass, Sierra gaming 225 gr bullets, and I have a few powders and primers on hand already that should be OK.
Anyways, I have a few basic questions, since this is my first time loading from new brass (versus reloading brass from commercial ammo) and my first time loading for a break action rifle. Please bear with me if these questions are basic, I'm pretty new at this stuff.
1) Considering I'm using brand new brass, should I expect to have to do any sizing or other brass work before loading and firing the first time? Should I wait until the brass has been fired in my rifle before I get serious about fine tuning a load?
2) I've bought both a full length sizing die and a neck sizing die. I'm used to the idea of setting headspace on a bolt action rifle. How does that transfer to a break action like the CVA? How do I know if headspace is correct, and should I expect to use the full length die or the neck die or both?
3) Given I have no magazine size to limit cartridge overall length, how do I determine ideal depth for this bullet with my rifle? Should I plan on seating so the bullet is just touching the rifling or should I expect to start there and work my way back to potentially find some better spot with some jump? Something else?
Thanks everyone and merry Christmas.
I have some basic experience with reloading for bolt action rifles. I just bought myself a CVA Scout in 35 Whelen as a Christmas present. I'm going to be using this for deer and maybe some other medium or larger game down the road.
Because ammo selection is hard to come by locally, I've decided to hand load everything I shoot in this gun. I've bought some Hornady brass, Sierra gaming 225 gr bullets, and I have a few powders and primers on hand already that should be OK.
Anyways, I have a few basic questions, since this is my first time loading from new brass (versus reloading brass from commercial ammo) and my first time loading for a break action rifle. Please bear with me if these questions are basic, I'm pretty new at this stuff.
1) Considering I'm using brand new brass, should I expect to have to do any sizing or other brass work before loading and firing the first time? Should I wait until the brass has been fired in my rifle before I get serious about fine tuning a load?
2) I've bought both a full length sizing die and a neck sizing die. I'm used to the idea of setting headspace on a bolt action rifle. How does that transfer to a break action like the CVA? How do I know if headspace is correct, and should I expect to use the full length die or the neck die or both?
3) Given I have no magazine size to limit cartridge overall length, how do I determine ideal depth for this bullet with my rifle? Should I plan on seating so the bullet is just touching the rifling or should I expect to start there and work my way back to potentially find some better spot with some jump? Something else?
Thanks everyone and merry Christmas.
