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Ingredients for copying "custom" loads?

instrumentofwarinstrumentofwar Member Posts: 1,545 ✭✭✭✭✭
edited March 2002 in General Discussion
Alright....back to the experts. Ya'll have helped me out before in my pursuit into the handloading pastime, so I'm back to pick your brains, yet again.My question is, how hard is it to copy a load that a custom ammo manufacturer puts together? I don't suppose that I could just e-mail the guy asking for his recipe, that would be a bit counterproductive to business.I know what brass they use, what type and grain bullets (almost, they pour their own, I know the company that makes their metals, but not who makes their mold). Is it possible to buy a box of cartridges and pull the bullet out to figure out what powder is used? Also, how can I find out the meplat meas. from a catalog, most don't say and when I call most are confused.If it would help here is the link to the loads http://www.garrettcartridges.com/products.asp some VERY impressive stuff. I'm specifacly(sp) interested in their 540gr hammerhead.Once again, thanks for all your help guys
When in doubt...."FRAG OUT!"
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Comments

  • instrumentofwarinstrumentofwar Member Posts: 1,545 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    One more think, what is "gas checking"? And how is the test performed? Inquiring minds want to know.
    When in doubt...."FRAG OUT!"
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  • songdogsongdog Member Posts: 355 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Finding out the powders would be extremely difficult as IMR and Hogedons looks identical. I do not know about other powders though. It would be possible to weigh the bullets and find bullets with the same weight, at least close to, and bal. coe. The 2 powders listed above are, as I said identical, but there powder measure ments are ussually close to the same for producing similar results. This may work better as this is whatI do. I find, by research from others, what fgrain bullet is best for the twist and caliber that i have. I then procede to load up several test loads. I use .2 grain powder incraments, some use more someuse less, does not matter. Just more rounds through your barrel. As you shoot you will notice a change in the pattern of the bullets as far as grouping goes. Keep working with it until you find the right concoction that works for the results you desire. This process can talk a long while and many trips to the range. For instance, In one particular rifle of mine I found the tightest possible group, without human error, In just three test groups. Another rifle has taken 4 months and nearly 12 trips to the range, and i still do not have it all worked out yet. Also you may want to try several different powders. Hope that this may help you some.songdog
    Be bold in what you stand for, careful in what you fall for.
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  • IconoclastIconoclast Member Posts: 10,515 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    IoW, trying to duplicate another's load in the absence of the exact recipe is not much more difficult than playing w/ ingredients to re-create a particularly memorable dish. Of course, there's the added spice of mis-guessing and having 'fun' things happen. I'm sure from your posts you are far too astute to do something that would put you in that position, BTW, but for the benefit of others who might have this inclination . . . . My own practice is to research as much as I can on a particular caliber and attempt to determine a pattern to, if not a consensus on, the suggested loads and develop my own load for my own firearm. I would not recommend anything else to anyone under any circumstances if they were to depart from published loads from reputable sources.As far as an ID of a powder, it might be possible to determine it from a visual inspection, but not always and not with absolute certainty. If working on my own bench, I can sometimes because I limit myself to certain manufacturers (e.g., I use IMR, not Hodgdon), but to try to distinguish between ball powder A and B, ferget it!"Gas checking?" All that comes to mind is the use of the brass / guilding metal cap on the base of a cast bullet; this component is known as a 'gas check' and the bullets seen on the Garrett site show those seated on the base. If you've not worked w/ cast bullets, usually they come in two flavors - plain base and gas checked. The gc versions are used for higher velocity loads. I've never seen them on cast bullets offered to the general public for sale as components, but many handloaders use them, particularly in rifle calibers. I do.[This message has been edited by Iconoclast (edited 03-24-2002).]
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  • Tailgunner1954Tailgunner1954 Member Posts: 7,734 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    I can't answer most of your questions but the "gas check" is that copper colored ring at the bottom of the bullet. It's a seperate piece thats pressed on after casting (the cast bullet has a small step at the bottom to accomadate the check).It's purpose is to prevent the powder gasses from eroding the base of the lead bullet. When you look at moulds the designation 'GC' in the discription means that it is designed to accept gas checks.
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  • instrumentofwarinstrumentofwar Member Posts: 1,545 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    BTT
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  • YankeeClipperYankeeClipper Member Posts: 669 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    What's with the prices on Garrets Cartrages?Am I missing somthing? The prices seem outragus. a
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  • BoltactionManBoltactionMan Member Posts: 2,048 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    IoW Saxon's post is correct. Some high performance factory loads are also using blends of different powders. I would be very careful if I was you.KC
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