VeeTee
04-04-2015, 12:36 AM
Howdy folks.
I am trying to sock away enough reloading components to cover our hunting and self defense needs until hell freezes over or the free market is restored, whichever happens first.
Specifically, to the maximum extent possible, I'm trying to consolidate, economize, standardize, and SIMPLIFY our reloading needs.
To that end, I'm hoping to clearly state our needs and receive your collective wisdom on how to best meet these.
We have a small country place that is only about 2 miles away from a major Texas river. Between us and the river there are only ranches. Hence we have an abundance of game and nuisance animals. In other words, I can hunt deer and hogs in my back yard. In fact, I could probably hunt deer and hogs from my bed if I chose to. That is what we see out our back door.
However, our FRONT door looks out on a busy highway. Tens of thousands of cars pass within 75 feet of us every single day. If only ONE PERCENT of those cars are carrying bad guys, we are talking a very large number of bad guys.
Indeed, over the years, I've lost count of the creepy people who have "visited us". Some come in the light of day. Others come in the dead of night.
Should we shoot out the back door, it's perhaps 200 - 250 yards to the back of the property. The longest shot I might ever make - corner to corner of the property - might be approximately 500 yards - or within the limits of a .30-06.
What I'm seeking is your collective advice on what powder or powders will give me the "biggest bang for my buck" in either .38/.357, .44 special/.44 magnum, .45ACP and/or (rifle calibers) of .243, .30-30 or .30-06.
The most dangerous thing we will encounter through the front door (although I cannot rule out the BACK DOOR OR A WINDOW) is a man. The most dangerous 4 legged critter is definitely a wild boar.
I think I've correctly figured out that Alliant Unique and Alliant 2400 powders will all but get us where we need to be as they will apparently cover all our needs - although perhaps they are not the best powder for every ballistic need.
And of course we intend to shoot cast boolits - whether store bought or roll our own - for all these needs - including .30-06.
I just bought 100 Oregon Trail 310 grain .44 bullets. I am having difficulty finding any recent reloading recipes for Unique - or even 2400 - that covers these boolits. I've found plenty of people discussing how they load 300+ grain bullets over Unique and have had no problems. However, I think they must be consulting load data that is not currently being published. If it's out there I have been unable to find it.
I've been hunting since I was a little boy and I've always been a natural marksman - although I've never been a shooter just for fun. I've never felt the need to "practice practice practice". Now that I'm old and infirm I'm not nearly as good as I used to be. But as recently as last deer season I've always put the bullet hole where it needed to be.
Anyway, our "go-to" rounds are now .38/.357 for personal defense and .44 magnum for hunting & dangerous critter defense. I usually have a shotgun near to hand. Unique seems to be the perfect powder for all of those - including the .44 - provided that the boolit is 240 - 250 grains. As I said above, I've all but struck out on finding published recipes for .44 magnum loads with 300+ grain hard cast boolits.
So, should I be looking for a third powder? If one and two are Unique and 2400, then I'm wondering about AA#9? I do not envision needing or wanting to push a 300 grain .44 caliber bullet past 1000 fps.
All suggestions as to powders, store-bought boolits, primers, brass, moulds, lead and lead alloys, and/or alternative powders will be eagerly read and greatly appreciated.
Happy Easter to All.
VT
I am trying to sock away enough reloading components to cover our hunting and self defense needs until hell freezes over or the free market is restored, whichever happens first.
Specifically, to the maximum extent possible, I'm trying to consolidate, economize, standardize, and SIMPLIFY our reloading needs.
To that end, I'm hoping to clearly state our needs and receive your collective wisdom on how to best meet these.
We have a small country place that is only about 2 miles away from a major Texas river. Between us and the river there are only ranches. Hence we have an abundance of game and nuisance animals. In other words, I can hunt deer and hogs in my back yard. In fact, I could probably hunt deer and hogs from my bed if I chose to. That is what we see out our back door.
However, our FRONT door looks out on a busy highway. Tens of thousands of cars pass within 75 feet of us every single day. If only ONE PERCENT of those cars are carrying bad guys, we are talking a very large number of bad guys.
Indeed, over the years, I've lost count of the creepy people who have "visited us". Some come in the light of day. Others come in the dead of night.
Should we shoot out the back door, it's perhaps 200 - 250 yards to the back of the property. The longest shot I might ever make - corner to corner of the property - might be approximately 500 yards - or within the limits of a .30-06.
What I'm seeking is your collective advice on what powder or powders will give me the "biggest bang for my buck" in either .38/.357, .44 special/.44 magnum, .45ACP and/or (rifle calibers) of .243, .30-30 or .30-06.
The most dangerous thing we will encounter through the front door (although I cannot rule out the BACK DOOR OR A WINDOW) is a man. The most dangerous 4 legged critter is definitely a wild boar.
I think I've correctly figured out that Alliant Unique and Alliant 2400 powders will all but get us where we need to be as they will apparently cover all our needs - although perhaps they are not the best powder for every ballistic need.
And of course we intend to shoot cast boolits - whether store bought or roll our own - for all these needs - including .30-06.
I just bought 100 Oregon Trail 310 grain .44 bullets. I am having difficulty finding any recent reloading recipes for Unique - or even 2400 - that covers these boolits. I've found plenty of people discussing how they load 300+ grain bullets over Unique and have had no problems. However, I think they must be consulting load data that is not currently being published. If it's out there I have been unable to find it.
I've been hunting since I was a little boy and I've always been a natural marksman - although I've never been a shooter just for fun. I've never felt the need to "practice practice practice". Now that I'm old and infirm I'm not nearly as good as I used to be. But as recently as last deer season I've always put the bullet hole where it needed to be.
Anyway, our "go-to" rounds are now .38/.357 for personal defense and .44 magnum for hunting & dangerous critter defense. I usually have a shotgun near to hand. Unique seems to be the perfect powder for all of those - including the .44 - provided that the boolit is 240 - 250 grains. As I said above, I've all but struck out on finding published recipes for .44 magnum loads with 300+ grain hard cast boolits.
So, should I be looking for a third powder? If one and two are Unique and 2400, then I'm wondering about AA#9? I do not envision needing or wanting to push a 300 grain .44 caliber bullet past 1000 fps.
All suggestions as to powders, store-bought boolits, primers, brass, moulds, lead and lead alloys, and/or alternative powders will be eagerly read and greatly appreciated.
Happy Easter to All.
VT