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Thread: New reloader has some questions

  1. #1

    New reloader has some questions

    hello all. I finally tracked down some primers, Winchester 296 ball power, 265 grain fp bullets and cases for my 44mag. now to the questions I have a lee loader kit and the 1.3 cc scoop. now if I use a standard large pistol primmer one 1.3cc scoop of 296 and a 265 grain bullet am I going to keep all my fingers? I'm not scared of recoil but I'd like decent accuracy and a safe load for my inter continental arms super Dakota. i'd like to stick with the scoop if possible as I don't have a grain scale but I could be convinced to go get one. also could I use a kitchen scale for a grain scale? and finally if i use the aforementioned load of 1.3 cc of 296 what would it be like?

    Thanks all.

    Nick

  2. #2
    Member Crazy Dane's Avatar
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    Nov 2015
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    In the Modern Reloading book by Lee , the powder dipper chart shows the 1.3cc giving approximately 19.8gr of 296. The Lyman 50th Reloading handbook shows a max load of 22gr of 296 under a 265gr jacked flat point. The data says you are good but you really need to get these manuals and study the information provided in them and only when you have done so you can start making ammo. The Lee book will have instructions on how to use your Lee loader kit and the necessary charts to use their dippers.

  3. #3
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    Sep 2017
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    South Louisiana
    @Crazy Dane gives good advice. Also, your kitchen scale is nowhere near precise enough for reloading. Reloading scales measure down to .1 grains; there are 7000 grains in a pound, so that's 1/70,000 lb.

  4. #4

    Thanks for the help

    Alright I'll double check the the reloading manual and buy a grain scale. any idea what a 265 grain fp over 19.8 grains of 296 would feel like?

    Thanks for all the help.

    Nick

  5. #5
    If you have to ask whether using anything might cause you to lose fingers, then you need to slow down.

    We dispense powder by volume but measure charges in weight. Loaders use a conventional powder measure to adjust volume until the measure drops a charge of the proper weight. Lee scoops work on the same principle and you can usually trust them, but they’re more consistent with some powders than with others.

    You can reload good revolver ammo with the tools that you mention but it will be very slow going. At a minimum I’d add a proper scale and a powder measure.

    Every powder has a maximum charge. Some—including WW296—also have a minimum. (Ignition gets spotty with 296 if you go below that, but other powders have minimums for different reasons.) I overlooked this one time and loaded up some of what I thought would be mid-range ammo for a 454 Casull. Recoil from the first shot was mild but the gun tied up after that because the unburned granules of powder were like someone dumped a tablespoon of fine sand into my very tightly-fitted revolver. Cleaning it afterwards required complete disassembly. The answer is to use a powder more suited to mid-range loads like HS6 or 2400.

    Hodgon shows 19.5 grains as the minimum charge for WW296, so you’re close to the minimum. Their max charge is 21.5 grains, so I’d try to get a little closer to that. To be honest, I’d set the 296 aside for a while, find another powder that’s more forgiving, again like HS6 or 2400, and work with that until you get your feet on the ground.

    Hodgdon shows 19.5 grains of WW296 to do 1,295 fps with a 270-grain bullet, which is about like your 265s. I'd expect recoil to be fast, sharp, and heavy.

    Keep the questions coming.


    Okie John
    “The reliability of the 30-06 on most of the world’s non-dangerous game is so well established as to be beyond intelligent dispute.” Finn Aagaard
    "Don't fuck with it" seems to prevent the vast majority of reported issues." BehindBlueI's

  6. #6
    I started off with a Lee Loader and dippers. As I recall, it was recommended to develop a consistent technique to push the dipper through the powder, then level it off. I think poured the powder into a coffee mug and dipped out of that.

  7. #7
    Again thanks for the great advice this has been hugely helpful. so my problem is I bought the 296 before my towns gun store sold out and they don't have any powder left (other than BP) so I'm kind of stuck with 296. so the way I see it I have 3 options. A go get a grain scale and stick with 296. B wait on a powder restock and buy the powder recommended by okie John. or C go with the 19.8 grains of 296. what do you guys think is best? I'm open to any of them but i'd rather not wait for a restock if it isn't necessary.

    Thanks all

    Nick

  8. #8
    Site Supporter richiecotite's Avatar
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    Jul 2013
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    Woodbridge, VA
    Just get a scale. I’ve been using the Frankfort Arsenal mini digital Scale for years in my portable reloading setup and it works well.

    I’ve also trimmed the Lee dippers down with a pocket knife to get it to the point where it would dip within .1-.2 of desired charge weight.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    "I'm a tactical operator and Instructor and also retired military."

    -read on another forum

  9. #9
    Quote Originally Posted by Nick from Nebraska View Post
    Again thanks for the great advice this has been hugely helpful. so my problem is I bought the 296 before my towns gun store sold out and they don't have any powder left (other than BP) so I'm kind of stuck with 296. so the way I see it I have 3 options. A go get a grain scale and stick with 296. B wait on a powder restock and buy the powder recommended by okie John. or C go with the 19.8 grains of 296. what do you guys think is best? I'm open to any of them but i'd rather not wait for a restock if it isn't necessary.
    Or try Option D: shop online for powder. I've been able to buy a fair amount of it that way over the last couple of months. Not enough to hoard but enough not to run out.

    Fortunately for you, faster pistol powders seem to become available much more often than medium rifle powders.

    https://www.powdervalleyinc.com/prod...keless-powder/
    https://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog...Id/3512?page=1
    https://outdoors.natchezss.com/produ...loading-powder
    https://shop.hodgdon.com/reloading-data-center
    https://www.midsouthshooterssupply.c...okeless-powder
    https://www.midwayusa.com/smokeless-powder/br?cid=17586
    https://www.precisionreloading.com/cart.php#!c=103&s=in

    All preloaded to get you to the smokeless powder page.


    Okie John
    “The reliability of the 30-06 on most of the world’s non-dangerous game is so well established as to be beyond intelligent dispute.” Finn Aagaard
    "Don't fuck with it" seems to prevent the vast majority of reported issues." BehindBlueI's

  10. #10
    Quote Originally Posted by okie john View Post
    Or try Option D: shop online for powder. I've been able to buy a fair amount of it that way over the last couple of months. Not enough to hoard but enough not to run out.

    Fortunately for you, faster pistol powders seem to become available much more often than medium rifle powders.

    https://www.powdervalleyinc.com/prod...keless-powder/
    https://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog...Id/3512?page=1
    https://outdoors.natchezss.com/produ...loading-powder
    https://shop.hodgdon.com/reloading-data-center
    https://www.midsouthshooterssupply.c...okeless-powder
    https://www.midwayusa.com/smokeless-powder/br?cid=17586
    https://www.precisionreloading.com/cart.php#!c=103&s=in

    All preloaded to get you to the smokeless powder page.


    Okie John
    Mostly OOS as I expected.

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