Zediker Article Discusses Merits of Reloading at the Range
The February 2013 edition of Shooting Sports USA magazine has an interesting feature by Glen Zediker. In this Transporting Success, Part I article, Zediker explains the advantages of loading at the range when your are developing new loads or tuning existing loads. Glen, the author of the popular Handloading for Competition book, discusses the gear you’ll need to bring and he explains his load development procedure. In discussing reloading at the range, Glen focuses on throwing powder and seating bullets, because he normally brings enough sized-and-primed brass to the range with him, so he doesn’t need to de-prime, re-size, and then re-prime his cases.
Zediker writes: “Testing at the range provides the opportunity to be thorough and flexible. You also have the opportunity to do more testing under more similar conditions and, therefore, get results that are more telling. Once you are there, you can stay there until you get the results you want. No more waiting until next time.”
Zediker starts with three-shot groups: “I usually load and fire three samples [with] a new combination. I’ll then increase propellant charge… based on the results of those three rounds, and try three more. I know that three rounds is hardly a test, but if it looks bad on that few, it’s not going to get any better.”
Glen reminds readers to record their data: “Probably the most important piece of equipment is your notebook! No kidding. Write it down. Write it all down.”
There’s More to the Story…
Editor’s Note: In Zediker’s discussion of loading at the range, he only talks about throwing powder and seating bullets. In fact, Glen opines that: “there is little or no need for sizing.” Well, maybe. Presumably, for each subsequent load series, Zediker uses fresh brass that he has previously sized and primed. Thus he doesn’t need to de-prime or resize anything.
That’s one way to develop loads, but it may be more efficient to de-prime, re-size, and load the same cases. That way you don’t need to bring 50, 80, or even 100 primed-and-sized cases to the range. If you plan to reload your fired cases, you’ll need a system for de-priming (and re-priming) the brass, and either neck-sizing or full-length sizing (as you prefer). An arbor press can handle neck-sizing. But if you plan to do full-length sizing, you’ll need to bring a press that can handle case-sizing chores. Such a press need not be large or heavy. Many benchresters use the small but sturdy RCBS Partner Press, an “O-Design” that costs about $79.00. You may even get by with the more basic Lee Precision Compact Reloading Press, shown in Zediker’s article. This little Lee press, Lee product #90045, retails for under $30.00.
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Tags: Arbor Press, Glen Zediker, Partner Press, Powder Measure, RCBS, Reloading
Good if your range is very… very far from home, but I think of so much things that could not be accurate,temperature, humidity control, metal in the dies expasion from the heat,temperature of powder, and much more.+ if you want to realy do that you need to take the time to bring everything even with a perfect set up i am not sure you realy save some time.I remember a video of Charles Ballard loading 284 win at is range, not like the picture whe see here.
Great practice IF your range has some kind of shelter from the elements. If you’re used to weighing charges & have to cope with wind… well, be prepared to deal with frustration. I’ve seen folks build elaborate kits – sometimes built into the back of their vehicle – to make this a practical possibility, but so far I’ve been able to get my needs met with a first trip to a local range then fine-tuning at full-distance later on.
Editor: SP — I know what you’re saying. With my 6BRDX I did a “function” test with a load borrowed form Sam Hall. Seating depth, .010″ into lands, was based on previous experience with Lapua 105 Scenars. First group was a .040 (3 shots), second group was a 0.170 (five shots with four in one hole). So tell me why I need to spend a weekend “developing a load”, LOL. Of course, it doesn’t always work out so nice. And, a load that works in winter may not work in summer. I do like the idea of seating long and then finish-seating at the range to fine-tune seating depth. That’s real easy and only requires a hand die and Arbor press.
If you want to most from your rifle you are going to have to load at the range. No question about it. Distancce you live from the range has no affect on this. Having a shelter has no affect on this. You can build a windbox, to shield your scales from the elements. All I can say is if you dont believe this go to a 100-300 yard benchrest Match, all competitive competitors, will be loading there regardless how far they live away from the range.
One of the best shooters I know of Jack Neary has a little awening he sets up, and that is just to keep the sun off of him, or he will enclose it with tarps depending on weather. He actulay makes something so cossy it would vival your living room. We shot togeather in a match when Hurican Sandy was comming in, we had it all cold, rain, extream wind, you name it, and we all loaded out in this. And the eliments affected us more than it affected our reloading equipement.
All I can say is open up your mind, read the magazine artilce, and try it before you knock it.
I am always faintly amused when I read comments by those who choose not to load at the range about the difficulties involved in doing so..like they have so much experience. It is almost as much fun as reading comments from fellows who contend that they don’t need wind flags, when evaluating loads, because they only test when there is no wind.
If you want to know about loading at the range, I suggest that you ask someone who does, like almost every short range benchrest shooter in the world.
Distance disciplines are NOT loading at the range.
So when you want to know about preparing BEFORE a match, ask someone in who does.