loading precedure for newby

[deadon]

Hey guy,Its 20 degrees in Va Beach, the wind has been howling for days and I cant find any AA 5744. I purchased my new ML10 about two weeks ago. Lurked here and everyplace else I could find for months before the purchase. I nave found the mmp sabots and some hornady sst and have some shockwaves and other bullets from many years of ML shooting. Tonight I took a hornady 259 sst and a mmp sabo and wanted to see if I could get it down the barrel. I sold an Omege yrs ago before all the easy load sabots came out because I got a hernia everytime I tried to get a bullet loaded. I was pleasantly surprised after reading about folks using mallets to load bullets. I have a stainless steel field rod and i placed the bullet in the muzzle and the with a little effort i was able to get it seated. I then removed the breach plug , pushed the bullet on through and had not deformed it. My question is how important is the bullet starter, havent used on in many years. also is there a standard loading precedure that everyone uses or is it hit and miss.If you had to start out with a powder other than 5744 that always ignites what would it be. guess you can see I have alot of time til the weather breaks. Hope this isnt too many questions. Thank you Rusty

[herman]

I would get a jug of IMR 4759 and a box of 250 xtps (these are cheaper than the sst's).Start out with book loads and shoot a bunch at 100 yds getting to know the rifle and how to load it.
Some wants to be swabbed between shots and some don't,win primers work better in some than others etc.
With my 50 I only use the ram rod to load but the 45 seems to be tighter than my 50.So I am useing a starter with it.
Try different sabots and see what your barrel likes the best. The last few years I have been useing the cheaper MMP short black sabots and they work great in my rifle even with heavy loads.
If I couldn't find IMR 4759 I would try N110.

[mike3132]

Most want a bullet seating pressure of 30 - 35 lbs for best accuracy. Find a bullet/sabot that fits this ideal loading pressure is the key to good accuracy.

Any of the book load powders will work very good. My first choice is IMR 4759, then 5744 and N110. 40-45 grains usually is the ticket. Mike

[whyohe]

as stated go to your gun store with a list of book powders and see what is available. all the 3 mike listed are popular book powders and work very well. find the one that is most readily available. the Hornady SSTs and NON BONDED shockwaves are/use to be the same bullet. (I'm not sure that they still are) IF you got the ones that say EASY LOADING you might have ignition reliability problems. but i see you got the MMP sabots. Do you recall wich ones? there are the 12s, 24s, and the shorts. you do need a tight fit for proper ignition with smokeless powder. not saying to need a mallet to get it down but as stated 30-40 pounds of pressure down the barrel.

I have not used a "spin jag" or the like in any of my guns and i have not had any problems with accuracy. I will say i have not shoved a bullet threw and checked id there was any deformation.


P.S. did you say Va. Beach? I'll come down in june or july and give you a hand for a week or two!! ;D ;D and you can teach me mor on surf and peir ocean fishing

[rexxer]

deadon-I'm not for sure but you might want to be careful using ss rod. Unless it has some kind of plastic bushing its possible to do damage to your crown. I use a brass rod with a bushing for my range rod. Maybee someof the guys here could give some advice.Glad your having fun with you new shooting stick!

Loading force seems to vary with different shooters. I found my best accuracy at around 40-55 loading force. It seems too light will probably get you in more trouble shooting sabots.

[dd]

Another tip I learned from this Board that I use is to index the sabot to the lands when loading. I wont't swear it make a huge difference, but just another way to keep things as consistent as possible from one shot to the next. BTW, your weather sounds great to me, we are having -30 to -40 wind chills today in Iowa!! Next week our weather "breaks" for us when we get up to 20 degrees!! Best of luck with your new rifle, these things are just great once you have them dialed in.

dd

[deadon]

Thanks for all the info, please keep it coming. I just put my rifle on my bathroom scale and it weighs about 8lbs. I inserted the 250 horn sst into the black sabot and pushed it down the rifle barrel. The scale went from 45 to 55 lbs then to 60 when I hit the breach plug. Maybe too tight? So far the IMR 4759 seems to be ahead. IS it easy to ignite? Again thanks to all, Rusty

[deadon]

Whyohe, I build water features and have just about given up fishing but I have a pier cart and a bunch of rods from 7 to 15 ft you are welcome too use while your here.

[rexxer]

Jan 8, 2010 9:49:39 GMT -5 deadon said:

Thanks for all the info, please keep it coming. I just put my rifle on my bathroom scale and it weighs about 8lbs. I inserted the 250 horn sst into the black sabot and pushed it down the rifle barrel. The scale went from 45 to 55 lbs then to 60 when I hit the breach plug. Maybe too tight? So far the IMR 4759 seems to be ahead. IS it easy to ignite? Again thanks to all, Rusty

Ramrod force sounds good to me! Imr4759,AA 5744,N-110 probably three of the easiest powders to ignite!

Loading procedure- I always open the bolt before loading.

[youp50]

4759 is easy to ignite. Check the tips of the SST. If you do not have the right type of loading jag you may damage the nose cone.

Many happy and reliable bangs.

[Richard]

I have yet to use any type of scale to check the loading pressure to seat a bullet/slabot??? For me, its "two hands" and some body weight seating the load! "If it ain't tight? It ain't right!"
It will not take long and you will find what pressure works and what does not. Mainly, it wants to be tight and the same each time for consistent velocity. If the velocity is not consistent, your groups will suffer..........particularly out past 100 yards. A chronograph would be a worthwhile investment if your serious about accuracy.
Richard