Topic: Headstamp ?

[agunforeachhand]

I know when reloading for rifle shooting to get consistent groups and much better accuracy you should use the same headstamp when reloading. Does this apply to pistol shooing also? Not so much for competitive but more for defensive.

[Nealio]

I know when reloading for rifle shooting to get consistent groups and much better accuracy you should use the same headstamp when reloading. Does this apply to pistol shooing also? Not so much for competitive but more for defensive.

I shoot mixed headstamp with my competition pistol and have never noticed any of them being less accurate...

[birddog1989]

+1 

[luvmy45]

I shoot mixed everything in my pistol for competition, mixed brass, mixed primers, mixed bullets brands... they always hit MODZ or MOA (minute of down zero, or minute of Alpha) or in 3 gun, minute of paper. 

In a defensive situation, having to control your adrenaline is going to be the bigger variable, not the ammo.

But since you did bring it up, why are you hand loading defensive ammo... that's wrought with all sorts of legal issues that are best avoided by simply using factory ammo.

[Jaggy13]

I've always been instructed to use factory loads for defensive ammo.

[luvmy45]

http://www.boiseshooters.com/index.php/topic,1883.0.html

Previous thread from earlier this century. 

[popsgunner]

do not use hanloads for self defense. period. roger, over and out.

[agunforeachhand]

But since you did bring it up, why are you hand loading defensive ammo... that's wrought with all sorts of legal issues that are best avoided by simply using factory ammo.

I never said I AM loading defensive ammo, it was a question and by god with all the "Do Not reload Defensive ammo" I learned what I wanted to. I will not reload defensive ammo. I also just wrote that down 100 times on a piece of paper.

Thanks for the info guys. I am new to the reloading world and just asking ?'s as the pop in the so called brain of mine.

[luvmy45]

Hey, it's our job to crawl all over your dumbass when you ask stupid questions like that 

Naw, your good... sometimes you can find killer deals on hollowpoint bullets for reloading, so you buy them and shoot them.. but purposefully loading up self defense ammo for EDC, not a good idea... now if it's a SHTF scenario... hell, anything goes.

[agunforeachhand]

Bk I also should have mentioned that by defensive ,I meant as if a bear was coming defensive not some dumbass 2 legged zombie

[luvmy45]

Well that changes everything... what in the in world you doing loading hollowpoints for bear... you need PENATRATION baby... FMJ all the way!!! 

HP just give them a bruise on the head. 

[agunforeachhand]

Well that changes everything... what in the in world you doing loading hollowpoints for bear... you need PENATRATION baby... FMJ all the way!!! 

HP just give them a bruise on the head. 

lmao I never said anything about HP you guys all jumped on that. All I asked about was the headstamp. Are you trying to read my mind again? Hell I probably can't afford HP's quite yet anyways.  But my ? was answered and I thank you all for that?  Reload for animals OK reload for 2 legged creatures NO. Headstamp mix OK for accuracy out of pistol. How about rifle? Will the accuracy be really inconsistent from mixed HS or not?

[luvmy45]

How about rifle? Will the accuracy be really inconsistent from mixed HS or not?

Rifle is about range and accuracy... and yes, this will make a difference for precision work... ie, I define precision as 1 MOA groups and smaller.

For my .223 3 gun rifle, I use mixed brass and I don't care if I have a flyer or two in a mag, usually I'm shootin under 100yds and I don't care... for longer range .223 in my AR, I can hit out to 400yds and I'm not going ape over the QC in the reloading process... I'm not saying I don't do any QC, just don't apply the extra anal examination on it.

For my .308, it's an entirely differnt ball game... I only shoot same brand brass, and I weigh the brass to group brass into like batches for reloading. I hand touch every single piece of brass, primer, bullet, measure and double check all loaded rounds, and I can get 1/2 MOA out of my long range loads... I've shot 1/4 MOA groups before as well, but that's usually better than I can hold.

So the answer is, it depends on what you want to do with your ammo... for plinking and fun, mix and match and blast away, for those "I really care" moments... match, match, match and do it the same way every time, including standing in the same spot and hold your hands the same way when you wiegh your loads.

[agunforeachhand]

Thanks for that answer BK that was what I was wanting to know. I figured for the .223 plinking it wouldn't matter that much but really wanted to know more about the .30-06 for long range, and you gave the answer I was looking for.

[RGinIdaho]

Be careful with mixed headstamps on rifle. Case capacities can vary greatly.

Work up your loads in each brand of case prior to settling on something that you are going to load into "mixed" rifle brass. Particularly if you plan to load in the upper half of the cartridge's potential.

.308 loads can vary as much as 3grs between headstamps...

[J Mack]

Be careful with mixed headstamps on rifle. Case capacities can vary greatly.

Work up your loads in each brand of case prior to settling on something that you are going to load into "mixed" rifle brass. Particularly if you plan to load in the upper half of the cartridge's potential.

.308 loads can vary as much as 3grs between headstamps...

Great advice.................
My .308 go to load with Lapua brass is unsafe in FC brass and will pop primers even at a grain lower charge wt.

[Nomad]

 Have to go with Jmack on head stamps on rifle 308 and so on.....
 With the 223 load to NATO and you will be safe with all the head stamps for your 223.
 Mostly for three gun and blasting ammo....
 For the pistol threegun load mixed with low pressures and keep it slow for quicker
recovery. When hunting and packing a hand gun at high pressure use all the same brass
as not to have a pressure spike and problems......

[agunforeachhand]

Good info guys, I really appreciate it.