Getting ready for the next phase of load development, which is powder charge testing with upgraded/updated case prep equipment and fire formed brass. Holding on the annealer to really dive into that, so sort of in a holding pattern for at least 1-2 weeks.
While that process gets geared up, will likely start preparations for the next batch of reloading preparations, which is after I get the next set of brass in. They will be new, unprimed brass. Plan is to loadup and get them fire formed. Now, I'm trying to decide what to do to get that next set of brass there. Many folks (or at least a couple of key folks I have been taking advice from) load up the new brass with something close to their proven loads. I don't have a proven load at this point. So what I was doing was in that process of fire forming brass, I was testing different powders at different powder charges to see if I noticed anything. Process was getting my feet wet with the entire reloading process, but ultimate goal was a set of fire formed brass ahead of the procurement of reloading equipment. Now that the reloading equipment is almost all here, starting plans for the next "prep phase".
In the initial rounds, I chose to load different powders in 0.5 gr increments. Again, the idea was primarily to fire form the brass to my chamber. The 0.5 gr increments was based on trying to cover most of the min to close to max charge ranges of most of the powders that I have. If I saw some patterns or a charge that showed promise, great. That allowed me to load up some ammo to what at least showed decent results for some range days in the interim, where I was shooting in the 200+ yard distances. The "real" load development is testing in 0.2 gr increments, but want to start that with fire formed brass.
In order to get to the fire formed brass for the next set of brass that will enter the pipeline, I am debating what to do with that set. I have a good amount of primers. However, I sort of want to save the powders that I have had good results for the next load development phase. So I am thinking about loading up some ammo with the powders that haven't shown as great results and boolits in other weights that I have on hand, but decided not to go with. I have a range of 168 gr, but I decided to go with 175 gr SMK for the load development. One thing I noticed though was in some of my fire formed brass, in some cases they weren't expanded to the full chamber. I found some that were fully fire formed, where the bolt wouldn't close on them easily with firing pin and ejector removed. Then others where the bolt would close easy and shorter. The size where the bolt closes easy is where I am targeting for the sizing die. But I have some cases that didn't get expanded to the full. I don't see that as a problem per se, but just something I noticed.
It will be a while before I get the brass for the next phase, so have some time to decide. Will also need to stock up on powder and boolits. . .