commercial reloaders in christchurch

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06-02-2018, 07:38 PM
csmiffy

commercial reloaders in christchurch

Hey guys-been enquiring about 303 factory ammo in another thread and while a hand loaded jobbie would be ideal its hard to accumulate the fundage to put it all together plus the faffing around. I struggle to get the time for a hunt let alone load development.
It would've been Ok back on the coast where there are lots of places to sight your gun in anytime but not in Christchurch.
Anyhoo where this is going, that being so, is there any commercial reloaders in Christchurch anymore?
One guy I utilised years ago is out of business so no good there. I was also put onto another guy by a local gunsmith but he doesn't have the dies and I had to supply everything including the dies. Not counting the load development that's only a press away from doing it myself.
Not quite what I was after-more hoping that someone had been doing it for years and had his own pretty good factory loads so to speak.
And please don't get me wrong the fella was great to talk to and very helpful. He might still be in the game yet.
So thoughts anybody as if this doesn't fly I'll just stick straight with the factory loads and be done with it.
I put this in the firearms forum not the hand loading one as I'm not really the one doing the hand loading if you get my drift but admin please feel free to move as required.
Cheers.
06-02-2018, 07:43 PM
stug

Have you tried Gunworks? What about one of those little Lee Loaders I think they made one for .303.
06-02-2018, 07:53 PM
csmiffy

Actually Gunworks was the one who referred me to the reloader. Haven't seen the lee loader. Maybe in the dark past years ago but I was never really into that so knowledge base very low. There are dies and projectiles etc. around but at a guess it would cost me minimum 200-250 bucks to set up for 40-50 odd rounds. The cost obviously starts dropping after that per shot but that's around 100 factory loads and unless I get out more just don't need it.
That's why I was hoping for someone already set up, ammo a little dearer maybe but better hopefully.
06-02-2018, 08:07 PM
csmiffy

Just looked up the lee reloader-Still some around-just shy of 70 bucks. Only a little banging going on lol but they would work fine.
06-02-2018, 08:11 PM
stug

The Lee Loaders make surprisingly accurate ammo. Cheapest way to reload. Either use the powder scoop or buy a set of scales.
06-02-2018, 08:12 PM
StrikerNZ

Richard Wilhelm may possibly still offer reloading services..
06-02-2018, 08:20 PM
timattalon

While I dont load commercially, I do load for my own 303. I found the guys at the handloaders club ( New Zealand Handloaders Association | Christchurch's BEST rifle and shotgun range. ) very helpful. As a member, you have access to dies, presses and data and you do it yourself. They also have range there for load testing / practice and as a member you have access when you need it, not when they decide to open for an afternoon. It would be well worth popping out there one Tuesday evening and having a chat to some of the guys and find out a bit more.

I could possibly walk you though some of the basics but I am not an expert so will possibly struggle with some questions.
06-02-2018, 08:20 PM
timattalon

While I dont load commercially, I do load for my own 303. I found the guys at the handloaders club ( New Zealand Handloaders Association | Christchurch's BEST rifle and shotgun range. ) very helpful. As a member, you have access to dies, presses and data and you do it yourself. They also have range there for load testing / practice and as a member you have access when you need it, not when they decide to open for an afternoon. It would be well worth popping out there one Tuesday evening and having a chat to some of the guys and find out a bit more.

I could possibly walk you though some of the basics but I am not an expert so will possibly struggle with some questions.
06-02-2018, 08:36 PM
csmiffy

That's not a silly idea timatallon. at least I could try a couple of shots to see how the loads are going. All comes down to the demon time I suppose. If I do go that direction I'll have to get some good suggestions for a load to start with. (projectiles mainly)
I have had a great offer from another fella on this forum to help out but a little organisation needed for that to work. Not ruling anything out yet.
06-02-2018, 08:41 PM
FatLabrador

Lee The Classic Lee Loader - Hunting and Outdoor Supplies
Just bought a 308 one second hand today on the forum for 25 bucks posted just need case prep tools and a scale very excited to get into it
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=KMN2ZtCEgWk this vid tells you what you need
06-02-2018, 08:44 PM
stug

You don't need anything flash for a .303 150gr Sierras would work well.
06-02-2018, 08:48 PM
csmiffy

stug fair call. I had the hornady interlocks in my head (maybe even the barnes coppers) but I will defer to the wise.
Timattalon, do they have a chrony at the range? also looked up the membership and its getting up there. It would be a hard call if I had to pay that to start reloading.
Did I get it wrong?
06-02-2018, 08:49 PM
stug

For projectiles try Sierra 150gr spitter or Hornady 150gr or 174gr roundnose. Gunworks have them for a good price.
06-02-2018, 08:52 PM
csmiffy

Yup-Ive been chatting to gunworks about a few things related to this. very helpful
06-02-2018, 08:54 PM
stug

That was weird, thought I made the first post about 150 sierras then couldn't see it so posted again. The Hornady or Sierra will work just as well as each other. The 174 roundnose would be a great bush projectile following the traditional heavy and slow with heaps of penetration recipe.
06-02-2018, 11:46 PM
timattalon

Quote:

Originally Posted by csmiffy

stug fair call. I had the hornady interlocks in my head (maybe even the barnes coppers) but I will defer to the wise.
Timattalon, do they have a chrony at the range? also looked up the membership and its getting up there. It would be a hard call if I had to pay that to start reloading.
Did I get it wrong?

Membership is around $200 per year, but that includes 24hr swipe access to the range as well as access to the loading equipment (presses, scales , and dies etc) If you want to shoot at the range a couple times a year it is probably too much, but if you want to shoot regularly it is worth it. They have public nights ($20 per Tuesday night for the rifle range for non members) and they so shotgun there as well. There is a great facility there and it is well worth looking into.

Otherwise if you only want to visit occasionally for the range, you can go as a guest of another member for $20 per visit.

($200 per year is $16.67 per month) So if you go once a month or more it is actually good value.

There is no Chrony there, but it depends on what accuracy you are chasing. I dont use one on mine. I generally find a load that is accurate, then go and find out in practise, where it goes at longer distances. Mine is a 215gr Round nose woodleigh projectile that with its trajectory I worked out it was around 2000 to 2200 fps. When I finally had a mate turn up with a chono I found it was 2096 +/- 40fps and it drops animals like a hammer.
07-02-2018, 05:16 PM
csmiffy

I agree cost wise timattalon. 200 bucks isn't unreasonable at all really but out of reach at present. Plus I have to get my head around having to pay for a range-just something I've never had to do. it is a different animal with the reloading gear though.
I've got either a little bill or a big bill coming up. Either a head gasket or worst case a cracked head. Wont know until I rip her off. At least I can do most of it myself.
Big sigh
07-02-2018, 07:25 PM
Cordite

Quote:

Originally Posted by csmiffy

Just looked up the lee reloader-Still some around-just shy of 70 bucks. Only a little banging going on lol but they would work fine.

@csmiffy

The banging, banging, banging, banging does get to you. I sometimes just use my bench vise instead of plastic hammer to do the case sizing and bullet seating with my Lee Loader. Less noise if you use it atop an upright 4x4 beam stood on a concrete floor, rather than atop a resonating table surface.

I know... someone clever out there might suggest earplugs... anyway it still is the cheaper way to get into reloading.
07-02-2018, 07:34 PM
csmiffy

That's a good idea cordite. Maybe jerry rig up a little press like a can crusher? probably wouldn't have the leverage as I don't know how much sqoosh it takes on those little dies. If its square enough to use a hammer on maybe it might work?
At least a 303 has a bit of taper to help.
07-02-2018, 08:33 PM
Tentman

Quote:

Originally Posted by csmiffy

That's a good idea cordite. Maybe jerry rig up a little press like a can crusher? probably wouldn't have the leverage as I don't know how much sqoosh it takes on those little dies. If its square enough to use a hammer on maybe it might work?
At least a 303 has a bit of taper to help.

Ha - you mustn't have read the other thread on the receiver sight - I have a 303 Lee Loadall you can have for $not much. For some reason people feel tapping the cases into a die might be "bad" but its not and works perfectly fine. I loaded hundreds (probably thousands actually) of rounds like it before I got a press.
07-02-2018, 11:55 PM
timattalon

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tentman

Ha - you mustn't have read the other thread on the receiver sight - I have a 303 Lee Loadall you can have for $not much. For some reason people feel tapping the cases into a die might be "bad" but its not and works perfectly fine. I loaded hundreds (probably thousands actually) of rounds like it before I got a press.

If @csmiffy does nt want it, then I could be interested. It could be something worth me looking into for my kit for when I am away....
08-02-2018, 05:09 PM
csmiffy

well tentman-pm me how much you want for it and I'll see if I can afford it.
08-02-2018, 05:32 PM
Marty Henry

They really are a great bit of kit ive got a 45/70, 30/30 and 308 still use them despite having "proper" dies they are so quick for a few rounds.