Around these parts I would say buy 2, a full size and a compact, used. Maybe new springs wouldn't hurt, or a tunable rod and spring kit. You might need to go with a G21 and conversion barrel and mag, but then you'll also have more options (;
Got the budget? Buy it.
Got the time for a hobby? Roll it.
There's plenty of inexpensive components and the resultant ammo is usually more accurate, comparing apples to apples anyway.
I'd suggest delving into annealing if you start rolling them if yours beats up brass. Gas system fine tuning...
Just poking in an addition as I haven't yet seen it "together" in my skim of previous - the 7-8 range shouldn't be "too fast" in the "heavy for caliber" weight range here. Some of the early design lighter weight bullets would most likely be where you get any coming apart from "over" rotation. In...
WC867 surplus might work for you if you're looking for another powder - I have come across 8lb jugs here and there on the web. Otherwise I suggest the H100 as well.
If for a old item, HS6 is good for low pressure loads AND visually verifying not being accidentally overcharged (the main reason I and many others don't suggest the "frugal" powders). If it's in your means to clearly identify your loads/cases and keep the rounds away from anything old, aka...
Hey all, I am inspecting the bore of one and am wondering if anyone else out there has one in 221 that can comment about the condition/quality of the rifling. Having peered down rifles from the era this one looks lets just say different. Should I be expecting crisp standard rifling like other...
The old Lee manual puts H870 as your likely choice to stay with this weight, at around 2860ish for velocity (not listed directly if anyone else goes to review me). I would also agree going with a lighter projectile would be best, Lee starts at 90gr on this with several powder choices, less...
Any rifle out there is subject to tooling wear and the ensuing tolerance differences (think neck and chamber mainly for this question). You have to work up a load for any rifle, in this light. A method I have used several times - Nosler data shows a load density % and "most accurate" references...
It doesn't sound like you need this right away, but I see it being set up with a rest to make it easier for her too?
https://notawheelchair.com/products/the-rig
(way less $ than many others out there too)
radar.weather.gov is always a good spot to look at the things developing for yourself, it is a bit large format and slower devices may not like it. As to the report for an area, if I had to live by the standards the forecasters live by in the shop I would have been fired many times LOL, find one...
110 Bergers jump on top of each other at short range, since we haven't actually clarified that. 168/175 SMK or NCC & NAB work equally well. Berger 175 VLD too, their 168 and 185 hybrid are intriguing if they work as well as the 140 6.5 hybrid does.
Having just wrung this out with a fellow shooter as well: Mil spec chambers are oft more generous to start with. Some of those implements may have to function after crunching on stuff, not just moving at high rates of speed. Chambers can be very generous in all directions but I can specifically...
Everything above plus: it is/was their experience and that may not be the same as yours.
I look at the habits of the better shooters out there and see what they boiled their bench down to, too.
So the best tool is between your ears and having patience.
Answered another way, as it was asked broadly: Old guy thinking - TEOTWAWKI - big brother always watching and sees a public record generously proffered by yourself.