Care package....

[Rodentman]

Got my care package from Midway today with:

200 .50 AW Starline brass
100 300g Speer bullets
Lee case length gauge and shell holder
Lee large cutter and lock stud
RCBS die set

I have plenty of primers, and powder: 2400, AA#9, 2400, Blue Dot, and H110 which is my favorite.

I'll probably load up 10 rounds with each of the 5 above powders and see how I like them. H110 is my favorite for .44 mag.

I'm ready to Rock and Roll. That is assuming my .50 AW barrel and mags arrive tomorrow. I bought the DE .44 black.

[Rodentman]

Now I need to chase the MF barrel shipment from FEDEX since no one was home when they attempted delivery. Next time I'll ship it to work.

[Rodentman]

Despite MR's website saying the black 6" .50AW barrel is not available, it is in my hands now, brand new. They must have some since the raised the price from $392 to $400. They charged me only $392. Only!!!

Got 3 .50 mags too. Off to the range today to test 3 loads:

34.0 g H110
25.0 g AA#9
28.0 g 2400

All with 300 Speer bullet. Loads from the latest Speer manual. Don't tell my chiropracter I carry the DE on my hip, but if I don't survive the range trip tell my wife and kids I love them.

[Rodentman]

Loads worked fine. Ordered 1,000 IWI 300g jacketed bullets from Wideners for only $195 including shipping.

I've got 3 lbs of H-110, 2 lbs of 2400, but need to get more AA#9. They shot the softest, not that I can't handle the hot stuff. But I liked the AA#9 loads.

But H-110 smells better.

[seed]

I've got to start reloading! I just can't find the time. But it's the only way to shoot .50...and .44 magnum, when you think about it.

Do you have the equipment to chronograph your loads?

[Rodentman]

I don't chrono the loads. As long as they punch the paper and work in the gun I am happy. There aren't many ranges here and the one is use is indoors nad doesn't allow chronos. There is a new indoor range at the local Gouger Mountain but they don't allow reloads. They don't get much business at $25/hr, 30' length limit.

I got the IMI bullets yesterday. The Rodentwoman said "Your bullets are here but I can't lift the box." It was 43 lbs so I got the cats to help me carry it to the basement where I put the bullets (in bags) in an kitty litter bucket. Stuff seems to multiply and the basement is rapidly filling up with stuff.

[Mark Ducati]

Rodentman,

You said you were trying out some 34 grain loads of H110...

For the 300gr Speer Deep Curl HP's, the minimal load is 33.5 grains...

I just started shooting some 34.5 grains (the max recommended load), I've only loaded 20 rounds and have shot a 7 mag full of them and like it better than 33.5 grains.

Have you bumped up to the 34.5 max yet? Hang on.

I hope the max is safe to shoot... I would think so. I figure with a "max recommended load" surely to God that they're a little under the "absolute max" for obvious safety reasons. I bet a DE 50AE could handle 36gr of H110 (No, I don't recommend it and won't try it, but I bet it could handle it).

[Rodentman]

No I haven't loaded more than 34.0g of H110 with the 300gr bullet. I am fine with the load and for my purposes I'd rather not push it. I like to keep my H110 loads toward the low end rather than the high.