Anxious to get started reloading again. I've been laid-up a bit the last two years. Started collecting components for my Grendel; bullets & powder mostly. I already have beaucoup primers of different brands (CCI, Federal & WSR) & some once fired brass from 123 SST Hornady ammo. Might get some unfired brass also. I want to stay within the 120 to 130 grain range of bullets suitable for hunting big hogs so no BTHP, ELD Match, LDF or SMK bullets. I wish Hornady made a ELD-X in 123 or 129 grains.
In an earlier post, in a video attachment, the fellow in the video was trying to load a bulky extruded powder (IMR4166). He was tapping the cases on his bench top trying to get the powder settled before seating his bullet. What might have helped him get a more compressed powder drop was to use a longer drop tube (8" to 12" I'm thinking). I used to shoot (a lot) in black powder cartridge matches. I used a 24" tube for the 1F powder loads in my 40-70 Sharps & 45-70 brass. It made a big difference when it came to seating bullets. There's not as much crunching with those compressed loads. A drop tube might be handy if you're using 4895, Varget or any other extruded powder. I think most reloaders here are using ball or flattened-ball powders which meter quite well so a drop tube probably won't be needed.
Has anyone here used David Tubb's Final Finish bullet kits to lap their barrels before load work-ups? I've used them for .223 & .308 barrels & they do smooth out a bore quite well. His 6.5mm kit uses 140 grain bullets. I talked to some one at his business & he said they should work just fine for the Grendel if starting loads are used.
One more thing... I haven't seen a lot in these threads about bullet crimping when posters give loading data. What's the consensus on crimping? None, light, heavy, taper, Lee Factory crimp... ?
In an earlier post, in a video attachment, the fellow in the video was trying to load a bulky extruded powder (IMR4166). He was tapping the cases on his bench top trying to get the powder settled before seating his bullet. What might have helped him get a more compressed powder drop was to use a longer drop tube (8" to 12" I'm thinking). I used to shoot (a lot) in black powder cartridge matches. I used a 24" tube for the 1F powder loads in my 40-70 Sharps & 45-70 brass. It made a big difference when it came to seating bullets. There's not as much crunching with those compressed loads. A drop tube might be handy if you're using 4895, Varget or any other extruded powder. I think most reloaders here are using ball or flattened-ball powders which meter quite well so a drop tube probably won't be needed.
Has anyone here used David Tubb's Final Finish bullet kits to lap their barrels before load work-ups? I've used them for .223 & .308 barrels & they do smooth out a bore quite well. His 6.5mm kit uses 140 grain bullets. I talked to some one at his business & he said they should work just fine for the Grendel if starting loads are used.
One more thing... I haven't seen a lot in these threads about bullet crimping when posters give loading data. What's the consensus on crimping? None, light, heavy, taper, Lee Factory crimp... ?

