Thread: 284 with RE16 and a few reloading lessons

I had about 30 cases from my BSA 284 so I thought I might load up some 140 Ballistic Tips to try out in the Tikka 284. I would have tried RE16 with the 162 ELDX I know the Tikka likes but they are hard to get right now. The cases I had were only neck sized last time so I knew I would need to Full Length size them. I hadn’t used the Lee FL die before (as I have a Redding FL die also) so I wound it into the press, sprayed the cases with “one shot” and got stuck into loading.

Lesson 1 - should have chambered some empties at this stage

After priming and setting up the electronic scales I loaded up some at 55, 55.5, 56 and 56.5 of RE16. I had a break in between and had to reset the Hornady electronic scales. It kept losing zero and when I put the last loads on the tray and looked through levels using the torch they looked very full. I started from scratch with the scales and recalibrated and poured out a case - 58 grns instead of 56.5.......getting dangerous. I re-checked a few done before the break and they were spot on. I double checked one with beam scales also. Then I re-charged the last rounds again

Lesson 2 - check your cases visually to see if powder levels are consistent.

Then I set up the seating die to 79mm which is a bit off the max OAL of 79.5mm in the Tikka. The calipers show this die is +\- .05mm at best. Finally I thought I’d chamber a few rounds and more problems. About 1 in 3 were too tight to close the bolt........
I tried them in the BSA to check and no problem so I assumed the Tikka had a tighter chamber. After some head scratching I pulled the bullets, put in the Redding FL die and screwed down an extra 1/2 turn then shimmed the shell holder to remove any slack. I used the Lee case lube and ran them through. Problem solved and shoulders pushed back enough to fit the Tikka easily but time wasted not checking.

I loaded up 6 also with Belmont 760 then time to shoot the next day.