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November 7, 2015
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Like much of the country the current and/or impending weather is preventing any sane person (or this gun nut) from enjoying some recreational activities at our local shooting facility. Today I envy some of the old gunwriters who could simply open a window to crank off a round or twenty. Many of my neighbors here in N Texas are losing their minds but I started a pot of beans and put some dirty brass in the cleaner before dawn. Both are almost ready!
I don’t think I’ll work on any ammo for my vintage Winchesters but I’ve surveyed the supplies on hand and I’ll have no trouble staying busy as long as I have electricity. I’m glad I’m not facing a frigid weekend without a few reloading projects to keep me busy! I think I’ll sort some brass and get some shiny brass out of the cleaner before cocktail time rolls around.
What’s on your loading bench?
Y’all stay safe and warm!
Mike
October 29, 2011
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Mike–You got that right. Think I will load 100 33WCF and 100 38-56 and maybe some 50-95. Don’t ski on Saturday–too many kids. Sunday is gym and NFL
Make good use of bad weather……………..Bill
November 7, 2015
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426crown said
Mike–You got that right. Think I will load 100 33WCF and 100 38-56 and maybe some 50-95. Don’t ski on Saturday–too many kids. Sunday is gym and NFL
Make good use of bad weather……………..Bill
You’re my hero, Bill! I tried skiing when I was a kid and spent the rest of the trip doing the tourist thing in a beautiful little town in New Mexico, too banged up and sore to ski. I’ll work out tomorrow morning but will likely skip my walk, most of the neighborhood pups will be inside hanging out with their peeps anyway. Then I get to put together a pile of ammo for my social equipment so I can cover up that big blue machine and return to the fun stuff; big cases and lead bullets!
Mike
April 15, 2005
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TXGunNut said
Like much of the country the current and/or impending weather is preventing any sane person (or this gun nut) from enjoying some recreational activities at our local shooting facility. Today I envy some of the old gunwriters who could simply open a window to crank off a round or twenty. Many of my neighbors here in N Texas are losing their minds but I started a pot of beans and put some dirty brass in the cleaner before dawn. Both are almost ready!
I don’t think I’ll work on any ammo for my vintage Winchesters but I’ve surveyed the supplies on hand and I’ll have no trouble staying busy as long as I have electricity. I’m glad I’m not facing a frigid weekend without a few reloading projects to keep me busy! I think I’ll sort some brass and get some shiny brass out of the cleaner before cocktail time rolls around.
What’s on your loading bench?
Y’all stay safe and warm!
Mike
I found a box of empty 38 Short Colt cases, so I loaded them up last night. I think I will load 50-rounds of 44 WCF later this evening (just got in a batch of 250 .44 caliber 200-gr cast bullets). Tomorrow I am driving over to Port Angeles to go evaluate a ’92 Trapper.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
October 14, 2024
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I’m going to fire up my lead pot and cast bullets for my muzzleloader, pistols and some of my rifles.
November 7, 2015
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Bert-
Looking to acquire or simply evaluate? 44? I was looking at a generous supply of 35 Whelen cases this afternoon, I guess I won’t need to empty any cases after all. Someone did a 9mm mag dump earlier this evening, putting a few rounds into my bullet stop would be fun but like everything else around here it is getting old and probably not up to such abuse.
Mike
November 7, 2015
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In case y’all wonder about the shelf life of loading components. Winchester primers changed packaging a long time ago, the 40+ year old bullet box was falling apart and the Unique powder was marked $22.89. Yep, they work just fine! If we have power tomorrow I have 700 45A ($15.95/500!) bullets and some 35 Whelen cases and bullets. Some of that 45A brass has mil headstamps. The 35 Whelen cases are practically new, less than 20 years old! OTOH a large percentage of my 40+ year old brass split when I fired it recently but they had been fired several times.
Climate controlled storage is the key!
Mike
May 22, 2024
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Plenty bad-good reloading weather here. I loaded bunch of 30-30 yesterday, and 270Win & 30-06 previously. First half of January here spoiled me, I was in the woods a lot. Looks kinda slim for a while here now!
November 7, 2015
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I guess we’re lucky to have something to do to pass the time, M64lvr. I’ve had to clean up my loading bench several times, today I’m loading some rifle rounds that I’ve been thinking about last few weeks. Loading room is the warmest room in my house so I’ll be heading back in there after my nap!
Mike
April 15, 2005
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No reloading today for me… I am going to be glued to the TV watching the NFL games (and rooting for my Seahawks).
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
November 7, 2015
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Good plan, Bert. I hear it’s going to be a good game. I figure I’ll convert my Dillon back to a respectable cartridge and load some 30-06 and 38-55. I actually have one of those TV thingys, great for when I want to watch old movies. Got on a Steve McQueen kick last week and saw a movie co-starring an old Dodge with an 1897 as a supporting cast member.
Mike
May 22, 2024
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Well I just woke, tried reading, but falling asleep is inevitable! I’m chilled, and Mr reloading corner is also my warmest spot, but im loaded up, in every cartridge with exception of one liad, waiting on bullets in few days.
Im gonna try watch games, but im still torn up at my Bills loosing, im a big fan! Their latest team, probably my favorite, 2nd only to the mid 70’s Oakland Raiders!
March 31, 2009
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When I got back from Vegas last night the new Hodgdon loading manual had showed up. Since they bought out IMR I was curious which IMR powders they are still making. 4227, 4198, 3031, 4895, 4064, 4350, 4831, and 8 others I have never used are listed. The problem is most are out of stock. They also bought out Accurate and they do list the 5744 but it is out of stock too.
The only Win lever action calibers in the manual are the 45-70 and the 44 WCF.
If Hodgdon follows course they will stop making powders that don’t make enough money for them. Luckily there are some Hodgdon powders that can come close to most of these. Charges will have to be tested but something will work.
November 7, 2015
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Chuck-
I’ve been watching that situation for awhile. I’m fortunate than my powder magazine has more width than I probably need and in most places more depth as well. I wish I had a useable amount of IMR4895 but I’m optimistic about that and 5744. I haven’t used 4895 recently but it is listed as a good powder for a project I’m working on. Maybe I need a new Hodgdon Annual for guidance. We had a report on this forum recently that there would be a production run of 5744 soon and I think 4895 was on the shelves or available last I heard. It has occurred to me that many reloaders like me stocked up several years ago so basing production plans on recent sales is going to be difficult. It’s possible the only folks who are buying powder these days are high volume or trendy shooters. This week I’ve used powders purchased 10-15 years ago.
Mike
March 31, 2009
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TXGunNut said
Chuck-
I’ve been watching that situation for awhile. I’m fortunate than my powder magazine has more width than I probably need and in most places more depth as well. I wish I had a useable amount of IMR4895 but I’m optimistic about that and 5744. I haven’t used 4895 recently but it is listed as a good powder for a project I’m working on. Maybe I need a new Hodgdon Annual for guidance. We had a report on this forum recently that there would be a production run of 5744 soon and I think 4895 was on the shelves or available last I heard. It has occurred to me that many reloaders like me stocked up several years ago so basing production plans on recent sales is going to be difficult. It’s possible the only folks who are buying powder these days are high volume or trendy shooters. This week I’ve used powders purchased 10-15 years ago.
Mike
Like you I thought I was stocked up but I could not foresee what is happening now. I too could use some more 4895 and 5744. Luckily the H 4895 is close enough to replace the IMR 4895 as well as the 4064. If I find either I will buy at least 8 lbs of each. All the rest I have enough. At least I think so? Primers are not that hard to find right now but I buy them at least 1000 at a time. Target stuff is a little harder so I buy enough to last at lease a year. I have powders and primers at least that old. Some primers do get bad and it is not unusual to have one not go off. When I remember I use the oldest ones first.
May 22, 2024
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Im down to aprox 8oz bottle full maybe of IMR4895. ive fell in love with it for mild-reduced loads in 30-30 & 270Win. I stumbled upon A4064 about 2020, because it was available. Now its my favorite powder in 30-06 for 150gr bullets. It’s so accurate and consistent, and great in 30-30 with several bullet weights, provided your not being a speed demon. I had about 3lbs, but im down to less than 2lbs now. Hope to replace these? I think H4895 will about equal imr, but I dont know the situation for A4064.
April 15, 2005
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M64lvr said
Im down to aprox 8oz bottle full maybe of IMR4895. ive fell in love with it for mild-reduced loads in 30-30 & 270Win. I stumbled upon A4064 about 2020, because it was available. Now its my favorite powder in 30-06 for 150gr bullets. It’s so accurate and consistent, and great in 30-30 with several bullet weights, provided your not being a speed demon. I had about 3lbs, but im down to less than 2lbs now. Hope to replace these? I think H4895 will about equal imr, but I dont know the situation for A4064.
I discovered almost 40-years ago that 52.0 grains of IMR 4064 under a Sierra 150-gr SP is “the” load the 30-06, and it is the cat’s meow in my 7×57 mm rifle and 30-40 Krag rifles. I buy it in 8 lb containers.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
March 31, 2009
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M64lvr said
Im down to aprox 8oz bottle full maybe of IMR4895. ive fell in love with it for mild-reduced loads in 30-30 & 270Win. I stumbled upon A4064 about 2020, because it was available. Now its my favorite powder in 30-06 for 150gr bullets. It’s so accurate and consistent, and great in 30-30 with several bullet weights, provided your not being a speed demon. I had about 3lbs, but im down to less than 2lbs now. Hope to replace these? I think H4895 will about equal imr, but I dont know the situation for A4064.
IF the A stands for Accurate, Hodgdon ones that one too. It is on their list. 4895, 4064, Reliant RL-15, Varget and VV N-150 are similar but a little different. When powder was tough to get I used the RL-15, Varget and the VV N-150 for my 308’s.
May 22, 2024
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52.5g of A4064 is as near perfect as it gets in my Tikka LSA65 & Rem 700 both in 30-06 with both Speer HC & Hornady IL 150’s. Ive shot several 5/8″ groups in the Tikka, the Rem not far away! When I shot 165gr for a while I used H4350. I never got around to trying IMR4064, no need.
And yes I use Accurate 4064. From what ive heard, it and IMR4064, are very close to identical other than +- a Grain.5 to equal, but i haven’t tried the IMR to prove it. I think about the same is true as to similarities between the 4895’s, but i haven’t ever used H4895 yet. I could live without any 4895, but I dont want to do without my 4064! It’s amazing how many testimonies ive seen in the 30-06 faithful, praising 52grs of IMR4064 & 150gr bullet! But ive yet that I remember to see anyone claiming the same or near equal, with A4064 & 150’s, other than me. Thats why I posted it, in case anyone is considering it!
April 15, 2005
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M64lvr said
52.5g of A4064 is as near perfect as it gets in my Tikka LSA65 & Rem 700 both in 30-06 with both Speer HC & Hornady IL 150’s. Ive shot several 5/8″ groups in the Tikka, the Rem not far away! When I shot 165gr for a while I used H4350. I never got around to trying IMR4064, no need.
And yes I use Accurate 4064. From what ive heard, it and IMR4064, are very close to identical other than +- a Grain.5 to equal, but i haven’t tried the IMR to prove it. I think about the same is true as to similarities between the 4895’s, but i haven’t ever used H4895 yet. I could live without any 4895, but I dont want to do without my 4064! It’s amazing how many testimonies ive seen in the 30-06 faithful, praising 52grs of IMR4064 & 150gr bullet! But ive yet that I remember to see anyone claiming the same or near equal, with A4064 & 150’s, other than me. Thats why I posted it, in case anyone is considering it!
I was fully aware that A4064 and IMR 4064 are essentially identical. It just so happens that when I bought my last 8 lb can several years ago, the IMR variant was very easy to find, and I still had several pounds left over from the previous 8 lb can. I also use it to load my 222 Rem Mag (27.0 grains under a 50-gr Sierra Blitz).
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
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