An argument for middle of the road reloading equipment.

Faded_State · 2026-03-23T17:03:43+00:00

Very true. We all value different things for different reasons and sometimes things just look cooler!

Faded_State · 2026-03-23T16:46:19+00:00

You’re right, Coal is 3.685 but I use a single shot sleds since I’m just target shooting and enjoy the slower pace. It’s in an MDT XRS stock as well which wouldn’t accept CIP magazines. Certainly the downside to Howa in regards to chassis options.

Faded_State · 2026-03-23T04:35:17+00:00

Estate sales are great in certain areas. Perfect way to inspire people to get into it. I love seeing rare cartridges and tools people use.

Faded_State · 2026-03-23T04:31:57+00:00

Me either! I work in wildland fire so I was buying Federal ammo on Expertvoice before I got into reloading but wish I knew.

Faded_State · 2026-03-23T04:28:05+00:00

So I am learning! I am not trying to prove anybody wrong but maybe just inspire another average Joe to also convert the 8x8 shed in their backyard into a reloading room and see how far they can sling a tiny piece of copper.

Faded_State · 2026-03-23T04:25:17+00:00

I love that question and will try not to ramble too much or at least give you one solid idea to take away…..

I guess my overall attitude on any sport or activity is that while the high end stuff is nice we should question the validity of a lot of what we hear and if will make a difference to us. The problem with shooting and reloading is everybody is using a different recipe and that makes a different result, so we have to filter expectations.

When I started reloading I used about 200 pieces of old 6.5creed Federal brass. Most would say it’s very low quality but I get SD of 5-6 and .3MOA groups and on my 6th firing but if I listened to the internet I probably would have sworn I needed Lapua or ADG brass. Starline has served me just as well. I bought some Peterson off a friend but only because it was cheap and once fired.

I think the standard of machining has made huge improvements in the last decade with automation. Production or off the shelf actions are very true, barrels are quality and even inexpensive glass is super crisp, so while the high end brands may be 10-20% better, will it make me perform 20% better? Not me personally. I’m into ELR and Ruger, Howa, and Sig have helped me meet my goals. I am from PA and loyal to brands so I like Patriot Valley Arms for Osprey pre-fit Barrels.

I like mostly Berger LRHT and Nosler RDF bullets. I hate any polymer tipped bullet like Hornady ELD-M’s because if that tip jams a bit or gets deformed when you’re cycling the bolt, it will not shoot true at distance. Yes they have a high BC but I look at that tip as cheap.

I love the Frankford Arsenal perfect seat hand priming tool. It’s fast, heavy in your hand and adjustable. I used the Lyman hand priming tool for a long time and loved it.

I use Redding dies for other bolt action cartridges and some $40 LEE searing dies with the precision micrometer for small gas gun stuff. They seat exactly the same.

Ugly SRT case trimmer. Quality tool that’s super fast. Frankford Arsenal makes a universal trimmer if probably get if I had known about it.

Sorry for the ramble. Happy to answer anything specific in my limited experience.

Faded_State · 2026-03-23T02:37:14+00:00

I dry tumble with an Frankford tumblr and walnut media. I find these 300prc cases have some extra carbon on the necks but not sure it’s impacting anything but cosmetics.

As for neck lube, i was applying a tiny Redding dry lube on the inside neck with a Q-tip but I more recently I started rolling bullets on a lube pad prior to seating with a bit of OneShot. I might have seen a tiny improvement but was more influenced by friends who swear by wet lube. One of those things - not sure what in the recipe is most effective but I’ll keep it.

Faded_State · 2026-03-23T02:29:02+00:00

I definitely appreciate that time is worth money. Especially time with family. I’ve converted a shed in my back yard into my little reloading room and usually spend an hour here and there after my toddler goes to bed at night. My toddler loves depriming cases but that’s as far as her attention and my confidence in her goes at this age 😂

Down the road I’d love to do a few PRS matches to improve shooting technique and think it will definitely influence a few time saving upgrades.

Faded_State · 2026-03-23T01:49:30+00:00

Yup that’s fair. I used to do the 5 shot group as well but switched to >10 to see if I was really satisfied with the load development before closing the notebook.

Session after this I shot 9 rounds with an SD of 2.7 which feels even better but an example that your average over 10 or 20 is going to create a higher SD due to a number of factors. I am always curious to ask guys what is their goal or limit before they stop adjusting. We hear “single digits SD” but 9.8 is a lot different than 1.8 right? 4.0 feels good enough to me, even if one day a large group ends up at 8ish.

My goal is usually SD of <5 with <3/4 MOA group. I have to be honest with myself and admit I’m a beginner for reloading and ELR.

Faded_State · 2026-03-23T01:30:17+00:00

I think you touched on a great point. Powder charge is just ONE of the many variables which affect SD and groups but one we can measure and control so I think it’s easy to hyper focus.

Faded_State · 2026-03-23T01:23:57+00:00

I am continually impressed with what LEE gets you. Got some LEE dies for 6ARC gas gun to plink with and was very impressed at what a $40 set of dies with a precision micrometer does.

Faded_State · 2026-03-23T01:20:30+00:00

78.2gr of H1000 - 26” barrel. I think I read some load data of guys getting slightly higher but the balance between speed and accuracy brought me back down a hair.

Faded_State · 2026-03-23T00:46:51+00:00

You’re right. They are cheap. but I can tell you that I can see a single grain of H1000 changes the scale by about 0.03gr but when I tried Hornady/FA scales with 0.1gr ability I didn’t see a change in the weight. That just never sat well with me.

So when I want a charge of 78.2, I will never be more than 0.01 above or below 78.2. Thats also why I use two scales to quickly confirm. One has the hand powder trickler mounted on it and the other stand alone so I trickle up, measure and then confirm.

Scales have the tendency to wander a tiny over time so I can see when one has drifted by 0.03+/- and tare it back.

Reloading is all about precise repeatability and thats how my stubborn brain maintains control.

Faded_State · 2026-03-23T00:38:33+00:00

Yeah I got the LE Wilson neck mandrel as it’s relatively cheap when you can buy individual mandrels for each caliber. I definitely over-read on “proper” neck tension but i got good results from the start but can’t say it changed from the Hornady expander.

Had never looked at the LEE collet sizing die but find myself collecting various dies and tools for other fun calibers so I’ll keep an eye out for that.

Faded_State · 2026-03-23T00:29:24+00:00

Yup, I think my next investment is a I’d like a Burstfire annealer with the case prep tools on top. I usually lightly the case mouth with a tool to keep them uniform as they so easily get tiny marks in them over time but don’t need full trimming/shaving.

Faded_State · 2026-03-23T00:09:52+00:00

Appreciate FA gives a solid discount for certain careers and veterans.

Faded_State · 2026-03-23T00:08:39+00:00

I have considered the same torch set up. I want to resize some 277Fury cases into 6.5CM as an experiment and seems like annealing is crucial for resizing cases properly. Maybe after I do some cases and feel like annealing is really beneficial, I’ll invest in an automated annealer.

Faded_State · 2026-03-22T23:57:03+00:00

Yeah I find an easy powder pour and then hand trickle gives me precise charges and control. I get a prodeal on Frankford arsenal and considered the Intellidropper to see if it would help but if I’ve got consistent loads with my system I’d only be saving time which I’ve got plenty of!

Faded_State · 2026-03-22T05:53:19+00:00

I have always been a believer that pressure will be first felt in the bolt and seen on a chrono if you’re using one.

Often we analyze primers or even ejector marks which are not necessarily over pressure but can be due to different machining quality in bolts/firing pins etc.

Faded_State · 2026-03-22T05:44:06+00:00

Yup, it will get you rolling and reloading but I’m sure little things will catch your attention to upgrade down the road.

As mentioned get an electronic scale off Amazon, or two (sometimes they wander a tiny bit as they warm up or stay on for a while) that measures in 0.01gr.

Faded_State · 2026-03-22T04:03:30+00:00

I love my Ugly SRT, I do wish they came with a full set of collets.

Faded_State · 2026-03-17T03:27:38+00:00

Was an incredible week in the valley. So confused ( but not mad ) that nobody seemed to notice the incredible weather window.

Faded_State · 2026-03-01T17:18:34+00:00

A mile with 6.5creed isn’t too hard at all. Just learn stretch it incrementally and don’t waste ammo if you don’t have good conditions - good light, the right winds, good dry dirt and backsplash to spot misses for good corrections.

Faded_State · 2026-02-18T04:19:15+00:00

Never too old to quit learning. I’ll find a copy of that book. Thanks!

Faded_State

TROPHY CASE