Pygmy

THANKS, Growie !!

I get confused so easily these days... Just the other day my fiance' sent me down to Cox's to buy a seersucker suit, and I went to Sears... I think it's time for my nap....

I have always done it the way Shawn did it, including marking the bullet with a sharpie. However, I was never confident enough in my measurments to kiss the lands..Always afraid I'd be jamming it a little too tight. That's why I back off .010" or so at least at the beginning. Now that I am using Barnes bullets for all of my hunting loads, it's not as much of a big deal, since they seem to shoot fine with a little "jump start".

Check Wade's Farm and Home in Addison for fertilizer and seed. I get my lime at Cornell Bros. in Middlebury Center, PA. 800-326-9822

The 6 MM Rem and similar .243 Win are a significant step UP in power from a .223 both in case capacity and bullet weight. To say they are similar, is like saying the 30-30 and .308 are similar .. YEAH, but the .308 is significantly more powerful. The .223, in the hands of a good marksman who is patient enough to wait for the right shot, can be an efficient killer, but us mere mortals, who often have to take our shots as they come, would be better served by a more powerful cartridge with a heavier bullet.

I was just talking about military stuff.. That commercial stuff does not interest me. Actually, none of the AK stuff interests me much. Anyway, my point was that the AK 47 was chambered in 7.62 x 39, but when the AK 74 evolved, the standard chambering ( for military arms) switched to 5.45 x 39. At least this is the case with relatively modern countries that use the AK platform....I suspect that the AK 47 7.62 x 39 is still much used in many of the third world countries.. Probably the 7.62 x 39 works better for poaching large animals like elephants, rhinos and giraffes..

Nope..Never tried it.. Making it with my buddy this fall was my first experience.. Please tell us about the jar method.

It was .. But not anymore... The 5.45 x 39 is the prevalent cartridge in the AK series today.. Certainly there are still plenty of AK 47s being used, but the AK 74 is the more modern version of it. Do a search on 5.45 x 39 cartridge and see what you learn.

One of my fishing buddies made 100 pounds of sauerkraut this year, and I helped him, so was looking for new ways to eat sauerkraut. Another friend suggested sauerkraut salad, which I had never heard of.. He told it was excellent and tastes MUCH better than it sounds, so I gave it a try. He was right..Since I tried it, I have made up four batches and have been eating it almost every day. It keeps for weeks in the fridge, but I have never had a batch last over a week. Recipe 2 pounds sauerkraut 1 cup celery, chopped fine 1 medium onion, chopped fine 1 green pepper, chopped fine 1 small jar sliced or chopped pimentos, drained 1 1/2 cups sugar 1/2 cup white vinegar 1/4 cup veg oil..I use Extra Virgin Olive Oil 6 slices Jalepeno pepper, chopped fine ( optional) 1/2 teaspoon caraway seeds (optional) Toss until well mixed...Leave overnight in fridge before eating. You eat it cold, like cole slaw. It is kind of sweet/sour and crunchy. I usually eat it as a side dish, but you can also use it as a dressing or accompaniment for hot dogs, pork, sandwiches, or whatever.

I just did a search and answered my own questions ..LOL.. The cartridge approximates .223 ballistics, and I did find some soft point bullets listed for it ( loaded ammo). I'm not sure if components ( bullets) are available for reloading. I have certainly never encountered any. SO is it capable of killing deer ? ABSOLUTELY, provided you have the opportunity for ideal shot placement. However, in the real world , deer often do not PRESENT perfect broadside shots.. A larger cartridge with a heavier bullet would be a much better choice for deer...I'd recommend using the 5.45x39 for coyotes and woodchucks and using a cartridge that gives you more margin of error for deer hunting.

Isn't that the AK-74 round ? Do they even make controlled expansion bullets for it ?

I hide behind a tree and make a sound like a Pic-A-Nic basket....

The Mermaid and I just had the stew for supper .... EXCELLENT !!

Tighten with increase, then open up, then tighten again ? I can't recall ever having that happen, although most anything is possible. Several rifles that I have worked up loads for grouped the best with loads just as hot as I dared load them. My .280 is a good example. It groups the best loaded right up to the gills. Anything below max in that rifle gives mediocre groups at best.

I see your point Culver..The end result at the target should tell you what you need to know. Generally accurate loads are consistent loads, without a big variation of velocity from shot to shot. The chrono is just another tool in developing consistent loads. It also CAN warn of increasing pressures. If velocities are significantly ABOVE what is listed in the manual, it CAN indicate high pressures, even if it is not evident by reading primers, sticky bolt, etc.

As far as I know, Hornady, as well as Speer, Sierra and Nosler only give data on thier own bullets. At least that's the way it used to be . It is not uncommon for max loads of powder to vary as much as several grains between various loading manuals.. I have never experimented much with different primers. Mostly I have used WLR. I have read from some "experts" in the gun rags that the primer generally is the LEAST likely component to make a significant difference in loads, at least less so than powder choice or bullet choice. Keep in mind that my loading has been for practical hunting accuracy, not bench rest results where fractions of an inch in group size might make a difference. It appears that you are already having FUN with your reloading, and you haven't even busted a cap yet..<<grin>>...

Growie, Honey.... It ain't snowing much here, but it's colder than a well digger's a**... However, anytime you want to practice with your new snow shovel, you're welcome to come on down to my place.. When you get tired of shoveling, The Mermaid will fix you a hot chocolate and a grilled cheese sandwich, and I'll pour you a hooker of Jack Daniels to wash it down with..<<grin>>...

Three rules of cooking... # 1...There is no such thing as too much garlic.... # 2...There is no such thing as too much butter... # 3...Refer to rule # 1...

I'm siding with the coyote crew.

I prefer not to contact the lands...If the bullet is pressed into the lands a little too tightly, pressure spikes may occur. I'd back off the lands .010" or so for starters. You can always adjust seating depth later, if you want. If groups aren't as good as you like, first try increasing and decreasing the powder charge to see if there is a trend toward better groups. Fiddling with seating depths is something I do AFTER I have found a promising load and am trying to fine tune it. Some bullets actually PREFER a jump before they contact the rifling. Barnes X type bullets are noted for that. I have seen as much as .050" recommend ..

My <old> Hornady manual does not list a load for H380 and the 100 grain bullet. This from my <old> Hodgdon Book 36.0 2814 fps 44,000 CUP 38.0 2940 fps 50,500 CUP

Nope, Bubba did NOT complain about the crappy looking cases I swapped him. In fact, as I remember it, we had a couple of chuckles regarding the fact via PM...<<grin>>.. Sorry, Bubba, if you got the impression that I said you complained.

PM sent..

I never have cleaned cases other than wiping resizing lube off them. Never seemed to affect the performance of my loads.. Of course, my casings look like crap, just ask Bubba.. He and I swapped some casings.. The ones he gave me were tumbled and looked beautiful. The ones I sent him were kinda grundgy looking, but I guess they worked OK... I felt a little sheepish...<<blush>>... BTW, Larry...When I was in the Navy we used NEVERDULL to polish the brass work around the lifelines and other fixtures on the deck of my destroyer.. Worked GREAT, even when dealing with salt water corrosion.

I HATE shopping for clothes, vehicles, furniture, ETC. ETC. But I LOVE visiting gunshops and pawnshops and checking out used rifles, shotguns and handguns. ESPECIALLY rifles, and shotguns with 2 barrels..<<big SMILE >>... Lots of good deals on used firearms, but you've got to be willing to sniff them out. Classified adds hold some good stuff too, but you have to be quick. If it's a good deal it will go fast.