07-07-2022, 06:07 PM
(07-07-2022, 03:12 PM)grayfox Wrote: 4. Prime, load and seat - I use a hand priming tool, and one of the shell holders mentioned above. The 6 Arc uses small rifle primers, the go-to (and currently available) is the cci 450. I avoid cci 400 or any primer where it is not thick/hard enough to withstand potential slamfires of an AR. For a bolt not really an issue but still use 450's. An alternate is the cci #41. I had some "no name" #41's (maybe Winchester) that failed to fire, several in a batch made up for one range-time shooting, so I've canned those and back to the real cci's 450 or 41. I like to be able to feel the seating and like I said, I do one batch/step at a time, so any of those "auot feed" setups, not for me. In the 6 Arc I haven't found or seen any crimped primers, in fact I try to avoid using those in any caliber as far as reloading, I haven't had consistent success in removing that crimp; so I just toss those cases after firing (factory loads). Powder, for this you need some kind of weighing scale, you can use the manual one - it's kinds slow however. Or add in a powder-thrower (check measure every 5 loads or so)... that's where I started. But now I have an rcbs digital scale that measures out the powedr. There's also a few other mfr's so you can look them over too. I go for an accuracy of 0.0 grains ie, if it doesn't say the grs I set it at, I just throw it back and re-measure. That means for an rcbs I'm within +/- 0.1 grs of my desired load in reality. Some guys want to be within +/- 0.01 or 0.02, again kind of OCD. By the way it's good anyway to have that manual scale and thrower so you can load if Biden's energy plan cuts your electricity, lol!Thank you
Bullet seating - this comes as one of your die set so you put it into the press. As far as adjusting, you want to find out where the bullet hits lands in your chamber, b/c you dont' want to jam these bullets and some of them will need to go at an OAL less than "Saami" ie less than 2.260. Mag length for an AR usually limits how far out you can seat. For pills like the 105 hornady's you'll be looking at 2.200 give or take, for a 103 eldx you can go usually out farther, for my chamber I can load the 103's to 2.300 but my mag limits me to 2.290, but now you see the difference you can run into.
Like I said, reloading is a game of 0.001's.
I like to confirm I got the OAL I'm looking for in the first few loads I run, b/c it's all about adjusting this and tweaking that... if, in most cases, you get +/- 0.003 OAL for a poly-tip or OTM you're doing fine, for lead tip it can be more like +/- 0.005, but I don't shoot any lead tips in my 6 Arc AR's.
Some guys like to crimp after loading but I haven't found that needed, then again I'm getting the accuracy I'm looking for without it. In an AR if you average the good with bad, a consistent load will be usually 1.25 moa or so, sometimes 0.75 but sometimes 1.5. AR's aren't the bug-hole shooters that the interweb guys claim.
Anyway it's a rewarding and enjoyable hobby as well as more economical. IMO anyway.
When you say you'll shoot only "some" hunting loads, I bet if you reload you'll do more than you think b/c 1, you're looking for that accuracy load, and 2, you can b/c it's cheaper. But time will tell on that.
O yes, powders. If you want to do only 1 for the 6 Arc, my recommendation is leverevolution. Best MV's, mostly available, easy to measure. It is somewhat temp sensitive, so there are others on the hornady load data and they all can do what you want. Powder likes/dislikes - there are lots, and they are topic of lots of posts. Pick and use the ones you like and the ones you can find. When you settle on a powder, buy 3-4 lbs of it in the same lot#, even powders can change from lot to lot. this last thing, no one told me back when I first started (in the 70's) but you learn as time goes on.
One final point, don't try to hot-rod these small-case cartridges, keep the MV and powder loads sane and within spec. You can go over pressure or get real hot loads but it will trash your brass and maybe blow up your rifle. Many rifles, but only 1 face. lol.
I now have 5 boxes of new Hornady Hunter in the 103 ELDX , checked it in my Mag and checked OAL so with the 90gr CX and a step below max load if my rifle shoots it . The Leverevolution shows 3000fps which would make a safe round for me
Again if my rifle likes it.
So I think I will look at acquiring parts and pieces to attempt reloading . I won't have my new barrel and action back until Nov-Dec sometime so no hurry and I can shoot up what I have and start after hunting this year to nail down my load for next year.
I see Hornady has a reloading starter kit I assume to other companies have one too. Is that a simple way to start or is it better to go with buying each part separate ?
Thanks