Finally started reloading!!

After years of mooching by making Joe Fobes sell me ammo that he made, I finally set up my reloader and made ammo!

I'm making stuff for the long line right now. 4.2BE under Zero 185 JHP's with a .471 crimp. I made the OAL the same as my favorite Federal factory JHP ammo. I home they shoot good!

I bought the wrong bullets for short line. I like 185 LSWCHP's but bought Zero 185 LSWC's by mistake. Does anyone else shoot the 185 LSWC's? I will put 3.8BE under them...same crimp.

Am I supposed to take the primer following rod out when I am not reloading? If something fell on there, I wouldn't want my primer tube to blow up.

Here is my setup. I mounted it to a Harbor Freight Tools Woodworking Bench. It's very heavy and well designed. The drawers are nice and it was cheap. It doesn't move at all when I pull and push the handle.

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Let me know what you think!

I think you will find that the Zero 185 SWC will shoot just as good as the hollow point version. That's what Jim Collins told me and he did a lot of machine rest tests.

Nice reloading setup. You really can't go wrong with Dillon. The 550 is a nice machine. If possible, you may want to secure your bench to the wall or floor. It really makes it solid. It was critical for my Dillon 650.

Rob, I have 2 550s, the oldest being over 20 years.

My .45 likes 4.1g BE under 185g LSWC. Use a tighter crimp with the lead bullets ~ .468 or less.

The only issue I've had with a primer follower rod is when I stored it separately from the press it was damaged. (Chewed by the cat)

My experience with crimp is different. I use .470" with Starline or W-W brass. I machine rest tested tighter crimps and found that the tighter crimp that I applied with Nosler JHP's, as well as, Star (similar to Zero) swaged LSWCHP bullets, my groups got larger.

Rob has cats! Better store that primer rod securely!

I sold you ammo components that just happen to be put together. For legal reasons I am not a remanufacture of ammunition

Glad you got set up, sorry I had to cut you off to make it happen. But now a whole new level of enjoyment will be had knowing you made your own loads!

Rob,

Have fun loading....I have loaded my own ammo for many yr's....it can be a pain but when loading your own has benifits it is worth the time spent....I have loaded my own for long range rifle ,varmint hunting , fox and coyete hunting and IDPA shooting....the most time consuming is rifle loading but very satisfying to get sub 1.00'' groups @ 200yds.....

I shot my first batch at 50 yards today. It all went boom and it went pretty close to the 10ish area! WOOOO!

I think you will find the zero 185 fmjs shoot better at 4.3 and a .468 crimp, set the oal at 1.200 same as match grade nosler loads. many tests were done and this was found to be the best for use at long and short line, this info came from terry at magnus bullets who works closely with zero.

I was thinking that the 4.2 was a little light and/or my crimp was too loose cuz I had a couple that didn't go to call, and some inconsistant recoil (crimp related?) Lockback was iffy at the end of the magazine. I will make the changes.

Any advice for the Zero 185 LSWC's?

David R,

I adjusted my machine to the 4.3gr, .468 crimp, and 1.20 overall length. It worked great. All shots went to call. WHo could ask for anything more.

Did anybody have good load test results for the Zero 185 Lead SWC?

Rob Kovach wrote:Any advice for the Zero 185 LSWC's?

Rob, it was good to meet you yesterday!

I've had really good results shooting 3.8 gr. Clays or 3.9 gr. N310 under the Zero LSWCHP with an OAK of 1.220". Mr. Chambers gave me those loads and they've done well out of 2 guns so far.

Steve Barbour

Steve,

What crimp are you using? (please say .468...it took me forever to get that die right at .468)

Measuring around the mouth gives .467-.468". The gun I'm shooting now pushed the bullets deeper in the case at .469" so I tightened the crimp a little to prevent the problem.