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Dans Club
May 17, 2009
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Well the weather was beautiful today so I decided to stop working early (5:30) and go shoot. I tried the High Standard .22 I got Sunday to "try out" and it was pretty accurate at 50 feet. Seems to shoot high so I compensated a bit. Neat little gun.
One reason I was so anxious to get to the range was to try some new hand loads. I had some .357mag - 125 gr JSP w/ 8g Bullseye Small Mag primers, 158 gr RNFP lead w/ 13.5 g 2400 small mag primers, and 158 gr RNFP lead w/ 4.9 g HP38 fired with my SS 15-2 8VH barrel. They both shot well but seemed to be hitting high except the ones with the HP38 powder. I adjusted the sight down to the limit and were still about 2" high at 25 yards. Maybe that's normal at that range. Then I tried some factory Independence 357 mag 158 gr JSP and they were really hot compared to my hand loads and hit a bit higher than the other two I shot. It would be interesting to know what powder they use in the factory loads. Almost seems like they are +P but I know there is no such thing for .357 mags. (right?) Anyway now I'm out of hand loads so it's off to the reloading room tomorrow and I'm going to make a variety of recipes and record good data for my next test. I wish I had a longer range to see if the POA was where I hit the paper. And let me tell you the HP38 powder really is smokey / dirty compared to the 2400 and Bullseye.
Can't tell you how much fun it is to shoot your own ammo even if I am still trying to find the "perfect" load. Thanks to you guys who gave me the suggestions and encouragement back when I was a newbie on the forum. 
Ed
April 25, 2008
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Nice report Ed! 
Try those handloads with regular small pistol primers if you have any. Those powders don't require magnum primers, and you might find they shoot better.
There's just nothing like cooking up your own recipes and shooting good groups or taking game. The more you reload, the more you are always tinkering to find the perfect load. It is a never-ending quest, and a journey well worth the time.
The Savantist
Range Officer
Range Officers
Dans Club
February 9, 2009
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Ed,
Nice range report, miss not being at the range myself, but you know how my August is. IHMSA is right, nothing like your own recipe that shoots well and maybe takes game. Just getting the load that does it all is an accomplishment, the fun is getting there. Keep loading!
SMF
A man cannot have too many SuperMags
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