When to reload

[Roach]

I know some people (like me) load up a couple hundred rounds of precision rifle ammo and shoot them over the course of a couple outings. Some like to reload right before shooting and some at a match.

Is there any measurable difference in groups based on how "fresh" your hand loads are?

personal experiences vs heresy would be awesome.

 

[Fast14riot]

Neck tension can and does change over time. I'll clean and size brass after shooting, but also size again before reloading as I go through my large batch of brass. Compressed loads can push the bullet back out as well.

 

[ShootDots]

Neck tension can and does change over time. I'll clean and size brass after shooting, but also size again before reloading as I go through my large batch of brass. Compressed loads can push the bullet back out as well.

If you intend to hang on to loaded rounds for an extended period of time, say a month or two, swab the inside of the cases neck with Imperial Dry Neck Lube prior to charging and seating, you will be fine. I have shot them like that after loading and NOT firing for several months with ZERO discernible difference in performance or accuracy.

 

[Roach]

If you intend to hang on to loaded rounds for an extended period of time, say a month or two, swab the inside of the cases neck with Imperial Dry Neck Lube prior to charging and seating, you will be fine. I have shot them like that after loading and NOT firing for several months with ZERO discernible difference in performance or accuracy.

Good to know. Ive loaded up about 3000 rounds of .308 usually 250 at a time and shoot ~100 or so each time out. They sit for probably about a month at times. Ive never had any issues but with the 6.5CM being such a good shooter out of the box I'm looking for every advantage I can get. How long do you think factory match ammo sits around before being used?

 

[ShootDots]

Good to know. Ive loaded up about 3000 rounds of .308 usually 250 at a time and shoot ~100 or so each time out. They sit for probably about a month at times. Ive never had any issues but with the 6.5CM being such a good shooter out of the box I'm looking for every advantage I can get. How long do you think factory match ammo sits around before being used?

I have no way of knowing how long factory ammo sits.. But I have waited over 3 months before firing rounds swabbed with Dry Neck Lube... If you do that much loading prior to firing, it would serve you well to use the neck lube.. It only takes a few seconds to apply it>>>well worth the little effort and time it takes.

 

[dkhunt14]

Good to know. Ive loaded up about 3000 rounds of .308 usually 250 at a time and shoot ~100 or so each time out. They sit for probably about a month at times. Ive never had any issues but with the 6.5CM being such a good shooter out of the box I'm looking for every advantage I can get. How long do you think factory match ammo sits around before being used?

Factory ammo isn't made to win matches or shoot extremely small. They might use some kind of lube or chemical to keep them from bonding. It is the chemical bonding that welds them fast. It starts as soon as you seat a bullet. Matt

 

[snert]

Use a Redding Competition seat die and seat long. Then just before you shoot, take 100 and seat them a "smidge" (scientific term) deeper...if this worries you that much.

 

[Roach]

It doesn't really worry me I'm just wondering if it makes any difference. im just trying to squeeze out every bit of accuracy hoping to get some practice in to do some PRS type matches.

 

[jpx2rk]

Would moly coated bullets act the same as the "lube" being referenced? Reason I ask is I had some Berger 52g moly coated bullets loaded for 20+ yrs and found them earlier this year. I broke them down as I didn't want to use moly coated bullets and they actually broke down pretty easy with a kinetic puller. Usually a couple or three hits and the bullet was out of the neck.

 

[Texas10]

I only neck size my 223 brass. My procedure is to de-capp, SS tumble and box. When it's time to reload I neck size and load. I usually shoot within 2 or 3 days. I have tried the "seat long" method mentioned above and have notice that after the load has sat about 3 months, I'll hear a loud "snap" while seating it deeper as the bullet breaks loose and begins to move. I can feel the force on the press handle change, so yes, the case and bullet are bonding, and I don't mean that in a good way

 

[SheepDog]

To provide any useful answer you need to let us know what the rounds are intended for, the accuracy you expect and the length of time you expect to store them. The long range competition guys like to have the same exact pull on all the rounds they are going to shoot so they seat just before or during the match. If it is for informal target use at no more than 200 yards then it won't matter as much. If you intend to use them to hunt with then it matters a lot less unless you hunt at very long range. Stored ammo may change in the point of impact slightly but as long as you sight in you shouldn't have any problems. I am a hunter and recreational shooter so I keep a lot of ammo and reloading supplies stored over long periods of time. I don't find that groups differ but the point of impact may change up to an inch at 200 yards.

 

[Iowa Fox]

I like to do my brass prep in January and box it with good written notes. Just before I head out is when I prime what I will need, drop powder, and seat the bullet. I don't like to work up a lot of brass a head, good chance the barrel will be gone and new chambers are never the same as the old one.

Didn't work this year wife broke her arm first week of January then both of us were sick all spring.

 

[Roach]

To provide any useful answer you need to let us know what the rounds are intended for, the accuracy you expect and the length of time you expect to store them. The long range competition guys like to have the same exact pull on all the rounds they are going to shoot so they seat just before or during the match. If it is for informal target use at no more than 200 yards then it won't matter as much. If you intend to use them to hunt with then it matters a lot less unless you hunt at very long range. Stored ammo may change in the point of impact slightly but as long as you sight in you shouldn't have any problems. I am a hunter and recreational shooter so I keep a lot of ammo and reloading supplies stored over long periods of time. I don't find that groups differ but the point of impact may change up to an inch at 200 yards.

I like shooting 800+ yards, primarily steel. One of my favorite targets is an AR500 steel plate in the shape of a head. It's probably 8"x10" Ive had hits on it with my .308 out to 1200 yards. The tighter the groups and more consistent the ammo, the greater the first round hits. I'm thinking about doing some of the tactical precision match type stuff for fun. I don't hunt.

As stated before I've loaded up 10,000+ rounds over the past few years with the .308 being about 3000 of those. The ammo was 1/2 MOA at 100 and could hit 1 MOA targets at distance. My old trusty Savage was stolen and I replaced it with another Savage, this time the 10 stealth to try out the chassis rifles. I only did this because I had a stockpile of reloading supplies for 308. I found a good deal on a Ruger RPR in 6.5CM so I picked it up. I was pretty shocked that was so damned accurate with Hornady 140g match ammo. It had been a long time since I sat at the bench and shot at 100 yards. I find that shooting steel out in the desert makes me a little sloppy because the targets are so easy to hit once on target. After a couple warm up groups and remembering the basics the factory rounds were a consistent 1/2 MOA. On the .308 it was really easy to make ammo that was cheaper and better than GMM. Seeing how good the match ammo is in 6.5 I'm thinking I need to step up my reloading game. Ive tested with sierra 140s and found a low node at 41.6 with IRM 4451 at avg 2666 FPS out of a 24" barrel. 42.2 started looking good again at 2810.

So I'm wondering if letting the ammo sit for any length of time has a measurable impact. I want reloads as good or better than factory match so 1/2 MOA is probably the acceptable level of accuracy. I'm not going to chase an extra 1/10 or two by sorting by weight etc.

 

[SheepDog]

If you are not sorting your cases by weight then having your ammo set on a shelf will not likely to give you a measurable impact.