What Did You Shoot Today?
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Snakeoil
Well-Known Member
The M die only goes as deep as you set it.
What I truly like is the bullet enters the case straight. It really cannot tip. I stick the bullet in the case and then put case in the press and seat it.
I used flaring before and it is somewhat awkward to hold the bullet straight while it starts into the case. I have even dropped bullets in the process. For me, the M die makes the process more accurate and easier. Normally, easy and accurate don't go together. So, it's a ++.
Might not be for everyone. But every shooter at the club who competes and tried using an M die likes it and uses it. But there are others who won't use them without ever trying them. Each to his own, right?
What I truly like is the bullet enters the case straight. It really cannot tip. I stick the bullet in the case and then put case in the press and seat it.
I used flaring before and it is somewhat awkward to hold the bullet straight while it starts into the case. I have even dropped bullets in the process. For me, the M die makes the process more accurate and easier. Normally, easy and accurate don't go together. So, it's a ++.
Might not be for everyone. But every shooter at the club who competes and tried using an M die likes it and uses it. But there are others who won't use them without ever trying them. Each to his own, right?
Ian
Notorious member
Like you, I make my own. I've also made a few stepped dies exactly to the sizes and proportions which seemed to do the most good and found them to be of particular help with seating .45 ACP and .38 Special bullets straight, so the stepped expanding dies do have their uses on my bench....just not for rifles.
oscarflytyer
Well-Known Member
Today was a 38 SPC day! Smith 1902 3rd Change circa ~1910; Colt Army Special circa 1920; Smith 38/44 Heavy Duty shipped 1 Sept 1939 (factory letter; Hitler/Germany Blitzkreig into Poland date) w/ custom Keith Brown grips!!!; and (lame?!?) Smith 10-8 RB 3".
All 3 of the 80-110 yo guns shot MUCH better with same load then the modern 3"... Maybe my old eyes/shot the new gun last and 'tired eyes,'/maybe RB config... BUT - I DEF LOVE the older guns, even with my tired old eyes and their archaic fixed sights (Mod 10-8 also has fixed sights...)
All 3 of the 80-110 yo guns shot MUCH better with same load then the modern 3"... Maybe my old eyes/shot the new gun last and 'tired eyes,'/maybe RB config... BUT - I DEF LOVE the older guns, even with my tired old eyes and their archaic fixed sights (Mod 10-8 also has fixed sights...)
RicinYakima
High Steppes of Eastern Washington
38 Special day here also; 1906 M&P Target 6 1/2 inch RB, 1914 M&P HE 6 inch RB and 1963 Model 10-6. Cases fired in the Model 10 would not fit into the early revolvers with their tight chambers. Also C. Sharps Arms 50 Gov Hunter's rifle for 50 yard zero. zero at 25 yards, 2 inches high at 50, zero at 75 and 4 inches low at 100. Better be able to estimate range with that puppy!!
Took the LR398 and 30/30 today. 165GC PC and Amax for the 408, 145 PB and 185 GC for the 30/30. Got an almost popped primer and expanded head in the 308 - suspect jam seated bullet deeper - was getting nose bumps on several - wrong mag. Funny, just a slight ejector swipe. PMJ H.S. 40gr I4895, maybe just too hot for cast as most were in the 9 ring but not good pattern. Always wondered if Hornady expander isn't too small for Amax - 0.305 gives pretty good neck tension. For the 20 mph wind, 145gr did OK but not great. 185 did fine. Flyer we me.
edit; went back and shot pistol after my lunch and nap. 40 had a head separation, dang Fed brass. Hadn't gotten a slide slice since about '68. XDs 9 got me today. Green hog lite came in tonite, charging.
edit; went back and shot pistol after my lunch and nap. 40 had a head separation, dang Fed brass. Hadn't gotten a slide slice since about '68. XDs 9 got me today. Green hog lite came in tonite, charging.
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L Ross
Well-Known Member
I signed up for a bunny shoot organized by my friend Jon. Of course the dead line is rapidly approaching to get the targets in. So after our MC ride yesterday I rummaged around on my junk table and found the bunny target. Grabbed a target frame, cardboard, a stapler, the laser range finder, a Model 92 .25-20 that I last fired in Sept. of 2019 I think with a 25 yard zero for squirrel hunting. I decided to cold turkey this. I put up the target at 50 yards, held for the middle of the shoulder and fired ten shots leaning against a post. I did not use the spotting scope, or walk down and check point of impact. Just shot my 10 to get it over with.
Put all ten above the scoring rings in a reasonable group for a Marbles Tang sight and blade front. Sent a photo to Jon and the nefarious group of scoundrels that shoot here from time to time. Jon e-mailed me back and said I shot the sighter target and should find the score target and shoot that and mail it back to him. So I guess I'm not done after all.
Oh load details. W-W brass, 9.0 grains of IMR-4227, Lyman 257470 70 grain with gas check, probably a small pistol primer, I didn't write it down. Now I have to shoot up 10 more precious rounds and that'll about deplete that box.
This is fun from the standpoint of seeing what all the guys use. My buddy Big Goose shot an original Model 73 in musket configuration with a case full of 4198. Another buddy used a Model 25 Remington in .32-20 that was scoped. Big Goose'
s oldest son is going to shoot it today with an 1861 Springfield.
Put all ten above the scoring rings in a reasonable group for a Marbles Tang sight and blade front. Sent a photo to Jon and the nefarious group of scoundrels that shoot here from time to time. Jon e-mailed me back and said I shot the sighter target and should find the score target and shoot that and mail it back to him. So I guess I'm not done after all.
Oh load details. W-W brass, 9.0 grains of IMR-4227, Lyman 257470 70 grain with gas check, probably a small pistol primer, I didn't write it down. Now I have to shoot up 10 more precious rounds and that'll about deplete that box.
This is fun from the standpoint of seeing what all the guys use. My buddy Big Goose shot an original Model 73 in musket configuration with a case full of 4198. Another buddy used a Model 25 Remington in .32-20 that was scoped. Big Goose'
s oldest son is going to shoot it today with an 1861 Springfield.
Ian
Notorious member
Finally got to shoot a little from under my new roof, poopin' in high cotton now!
The newer PSA LR-308 didn't do well, 3" group of ten scattered back and forth from low right to high left. I went to adjust the focus a little and noticed the ocular bell was loose and wobbly due to some apprentice tightening the locking ring the wrong way for this Japanese scope (it locks by UN screwing all the way against the bell, not forward against the power ring like most). So I loaded another ten and got the scope tight, shot five with a loose hold and got the old stovepipe jam thing going on again. After twice I went back to a firm benchrest hold and no more hiccups. Groups improved to a little over an inch and off enough from the original grouping location that it will require scope adjustment. Think I've had enough of this scope once and for all and will be replacing it.
The newer PSA LR-308 didn't do well, 3" group of ten scattered back and forth from low right to high left. I went to adjust the focus a little and noticed the ocular bell was loose and wobbly due to some apprentice tightening the locking ring the wrong way for this Japanese scope (it locks by UN screwing all the way against the bell, not forward against the power ring like most). So I loaded another ten and got the scope tight, shot five with a loose hold and got the old stovepipe jam thing going on again. After twice I went back to a firm benchrest hold and no more hiccups. Groups improved to a little over an inch and off enough from the original grouping location that it will require scope adjustment. Think I've had enough of this scope once and for all and will be replacing it.
L Ross
Well-Known Member
Shot the Model 92 in .25-20 again yesterday, afterI was informed that I had shot and photographed the practice target. Jon told me to look in the envelope for the score target. I did and sure enough it was there.
Back out to the back yard and set everything up again, only now I had 20 to 30 mph left to right wind to deal with. I tried harder, held harder, squeezed with more attention and shot a bigger group. I held lower on the target and did not really hit much lower. I suppose I could have actually zeroed the rifle for 50 yards but my heart just isn't into shooting right now. I'm fishin'! This dad blamed weather really isn't good for either activity. Day after day of wind and mostly below normal temps save for a freaky spike of warmth for one day before the wind swings around and the temps drop back. Yuck!
Back out to the back yard and set everything up again, only now I had 20 to 30 mph left to right wind to deal with. I tried harder, held harder, squeezed with more attention and shot a bigger group. I held lower on the target and did not really hit much lower. I suppose I could have actually zeroed the rifle for 50 yards but my heart just isn't into shooting right now. I'm fishin'! This dad blamed weather really isn't good for either activity. Day after day of wind and mostly below normal temps save for a freaky spike of warmth for one day before the wind swings around and the temps drop back. Yuck!
The PMJ (Israeli brass) was definitely over pressure, case head mik'd a lot larger then the LC07 stuff. FP flow and primer just barely held in the pocket on the fired case. Bullets were an experiment, sized small and then PC'd but came out a tad smaller than 310 the rifle like. Did the bench press on loaded rnds and they didn't move. Used a 10 rnd Pmag vs the metal one and got some nose dings. Smaller size gave the larger group.
Hhmmm . . . I don't think that's correct. The only PMJ brass I'm familiar with is from Poongsan S. Korea. The only Israeli brass I've seen is head stamped IMI. (Israeli Military Industries).
Yesterday AM after work, I managed to snipe a coyote with the SP-101. I took it out for some brief load testing today and realized I forgot to take my chronograph. POI of the new loads is the same as that of 38 Special +P FBI loads at 50 yards; I may call that "good enough".
L Ross
Well-Known Member
Just came in from firing 30 rounds of .22 Auto-Match in my Bergara B-14 .22 at prairie dogs and 4" squares. Shot well, then walking past a wet patch of willow brush and scrub Boxelder I spotted a bunch of Lilies coming up and I got distracted and grabbed the Stihl electric chain saw and cleared the brush around the Lilies to give them some sun.
Came back in to see I did not finish my post in the obsolete firearms thread. Finished it, sent it and saw it was now superfluous.
Oh well, 8 of 10, then 7 of 10 on dogs, had three rounds left after clearing the rail and shot at 4" squares.The smaller target forced me to bear down and I went 3 for 3. How did Yogi Berra put it? Half the game is 90% mental?
Came back in to see I did not finish my post in the obsolete firearms thread. Finished it, sent it and saw it was now superfluous.
Oh well, 8 of 10, then 7 of 10 on dogs, had three rounds left after clearing the rail and shot at 4" squares.The smaller target forced me to bear down and I went 3 for 3. How did Yogi Berra put it? Half the game is 90% mental?