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Post by blacktailslayer on Mar 30, 2016 14:04:49 GMT -5
I am a one load per caliber kind of guy, I fully embrace the KISS method. I shoot a 165gr bullet in my 30-06 for antelope to elk and a 300gr bullet for my 45 Colts and a 300 gr bullet for my .44 mags.
After many heads of big game under my belt with the '06 I am 100% confident in it and my abilities with it. The handguns are carried afield and may be called upon from everything from filling the pot to bagging a big game animal and the loads I carry for them can do either and everything in-between. If I need to specialize on smaller critters I go to a smaller caliber where they have all one load too.
This all makes the reloading component shopping and storage a whole lot easier too.
Don D.
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Post by sheriff on Mar 30, 2016 14:17:08 GMT -5
I usually run two.....
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Post by Cholla on Mar 30, 2016 22:34:37 GMT -5
Rifles, absolutely one load. I've used the same load in (for example) my 220 Swift, 6mm Remington, 280 Remington, 308 Winchester and 35 Whelen for a couple of decades. Each rifle has its own task, so why have more than one load? My revolvers are a little different, however, because I shoot them incessantly. My .44 Special I practice with a 260-ish gr. Keith SWC running 850 fps and hunt with the same bullet running a hair over 1000. However, I discovered recently that a 258 gr. RN from a Lee mould over 6.0 grs. of Unique or AL 20/28 runs about 775, is extremely accurate out to 50 yds., and shoots close enough POI to the other two to be highly useable. So...in the field I carry the a dozen or so of the heavier load for hunting in the loops on my belt, a two of the lighter RN's for small game. Over the last few weeks I've been rewarded twice using this MO. A few weeks ago near the end of quail season I got the opportunity to try a shot at a blue quail in South Texas at somewhere around 25 yds. the light load and RN bullet worked perfectly and hardly ruffle a feather: Just last Sunday I went on one of my 5 mile treks across the ranch next door and slipped up on a couple of sows. The heavier load was used to easily dispatch one:
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Post by Alaskan454 on Mar 31, 2016 20:58:43 GMT -5
I've settled on one load for my plinking calibers like 9mm and 38. For the 44 and up I'll have up to three for each caliber. I like a soft plinker, something in the heavy but economical category, and then some heavy bullet max loads for those fun days.
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Paden
.375 Atomic
Lower Goldstream Creek
Posts: 1,132
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Post by Paden on Apr 3, 2016 21:59:46 GMT -5
Put me down as a one load per gun guy. While I don't dislike load experimentation it doesn't really thrill me either. Once I find a load the gun likes I'd rather spend my time learning to shoot that one load really well, rather than continuing to tinker with additional loads.
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lange1
.30 Stingray
Posts: 238
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Post by lange1 on Apr 4, 2016 11:26:49 GMT -5
Depends on the gun. Like others said, I have a hunting rifle in 338 Win Mag that only gets one load, the 225 Barnes, I used to use the 250 Partition, but like the Barnes now since hunting in much of CA you have to use lead free to spare those last 13 condors from certain doom, and I may as well use it in Utah too. With 45-70, I hunt with either BTB 425s at 1600 or Barnes 300s at about 1800. I don't think it needs full throttle for deer or pigs, and last time I took it elk hunting I used the Barnes load, but decided not to shoot on the spike tag since it was 1 minute from sundown and we were 5 miles from the truck straight up and straight down times two.
In 454 I use about 3 loads, I like the CPBC 335 WLNGC at 1500, but am liking it recently at 1350 better, second load being the Hornady 250 XTP at about 1400. The third load is the Freedom 260 pretty much at full throttle but since they're unfortunately now all gone it will be supplanted by the Barnes 250 XPB loaded to about 1750. Really loved that Freedom 260. I'm relaxing on running 454s wide open since they're so much easier to shoot.
With 44 mag, I like the versatility of it so I use whatever is cheap or on hand, loaded with whatever powder I can find a recipe for. Last Saturday I loaded up a box of Hornady 240 Lead SWCs under HP38 for about 850 fps since I had the components on hand and they had been sitting there for a while. I'll have to follow those up with some JHPs to get the lead out if it builds up. Downside is that sometimes you get a half-used box of 44s with a surprise inside. I.E., "Hey, it looks like a Keith 240, but did I load that with 2400 or 231?"
For 45C, I like 2 loads, light 225s and Ruger only loads for the 335 WLNGC. I think that 335 is about my favorite bullet in any caliber.
For 500L, I used 3, I liked Cast Performance 435 LFNGCs with 231/HP-38 for about 950 and also a H110/W296 load at close to full throttle, as well as the 525 with the same powder at 1050-1100. Stupidly, I sold both Bowen 500Ls thinking I'd sell one, and whatever one sold first I'd take the other down, but they sold at the same time before I could get to the computer at 6 in the morning.
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lange1
.30 Stingray
Posts: 238
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Post by lange1 on Apr 4, 2016 11:29:42 GMT -5
Meant to say 435 WFNGCs
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Post by 2 Dogs on Apr 5, 2016 21:10:38 GMT -5
I have long since changed from just loading generally for my sixguns to loading specifically for each one. They are all so different in their preferences. Almost contrary. It amazes me what small changes to a load will make on a target.....
No, I search for what I think the sixgun likes the most and load that one load for that sixgun.
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Post by Thunderjet on Apr 6, 2016 15:40:31 GMT -5
The number of loads I use varies by the caliber. Generally anything up to and including the power of the 10MM has one load for it. My 44 mags, 45 Colt, etc and up will sometimes have a reduced load and a full power load.
I detest resighting in any handgun
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Post by Markbo on Apr 6, 2016 19:13:55 GMT -5
While I enjoy the trials very much, those are typcially done only once per gun. Twice if it has any potentially accuracy changing work done after finding favorites. I keep detailed reloading records for every gun I reload for and similar records.for the few I dont that use only factory ammo. For rifles I keep one main load because I am a hunter, not a competitive shooter. If I need "more" I simply move up in caliber. Handguns I like 2 or 3 favorites. Generally a plinking/practice load and a stronger (though rarely maxed) hunting load. Sometimes a midlevel load or even 2 heavier loads for different bullets, but again if I need more I move up in caliber. There is not much that I hunt that a 255-270gr .45 wont put down with authority. But I do have larger and have found some like the .41 & .44 mags prefer (as in are more accurate) with stouter loads. But like the Dogs said, each gun must tell me. While I often set out trying to make a specific load shoot well, it doesnt usually end that way. Such as countless 100's of 200gr .45 bullets in 3 SAA clones that never matched what I could do with the 255-270gr boolits. I finally gave up on that though I have found a use for all the left over boollits....resized to .452" & shot with great accuracy out of 1911s. Which are another great example. I have 2 pet 200gr loads (one lead, one plated/jacketed) that shoot well out of all of them, but the heavier load is different in every one! Again, all based on accuracy. I dont care how stout a load is if it isnt the most accurate I can make. One caveat to all of this: I am going to eventually try most of what I have done over because I have become sold on coated bullets. Consistent velocity, good accuracy, less cleaning and no leading. So there's a plus I guess.
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Post by Alaskan454 on Apr 7, 2016 10:05:25 GMT -5
One of my key reasons for a convertible cylinder gun is the ability to keep one load per caliber, yet move up considerably in power with a cylinder change.
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lange1
.30 Stingray
Posts: 238
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Post by lange1 on Apr 7, 2016 17:11:31 GMT -5
I have long since changed from just loading generally for my sixguns to loading specifically for each one. They are all so different in their preferences. Almost contrary. It amazes me what small changes to a load will make on a target..... No, I search for what I think the sixgun likes the most and load that one load for that sixgun. Smarter than my approach, I plink a lot. But I do like to find a load in a particular revolver that works really well then fool about with other loads.
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Post by whiterabbit on Apr 7, 2016 23:52:24 GMT -5
One load, one gun. If possible. I am not always able to accomplish this. Particularly when I like to cast and shoot lead, but my ever-so-wise state forbids hunting with lead. I do keep some light trailboss loads for some guns around, but they rarely get shot past 15 yards anyways, even if it is a scoped gun. They are there for exactly why everyone else mentioned light loads. I do not shoot them. Bottom line: when possible, one load one gun. If I want a new load.... well....it's a good excuse to buy another gun.....
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