Shot my first reloads today

[infoman jr.]

I loaded up some match ammo for my .308 bolt gun recently and got to try them out today. I worked up in half-grain increments to book max (I need to go higher). The sighter target at the bottom was shot with the facory equivalent of what I'm loading - Barnes Precision Match 175gr which had noticeably higher recoil. The cold-bore shot was to the right, and the second and third shots were touching. It's been a great load for this gun.

I'm loading 175gr Barnes Match Burners over Varget in ADG cases with CCI BR2 primers. The shots were made as follows:
12345, 54321, 12345

cool

678910, 109876, 678910.

Group 2 is obviously very good, but I suspect there is a node somewhere around group 8. The first two shots of that group were touching, and I suspect the barrel was getting a little warm which may have skewed the third shot. I'll load around target 2 and target 8 for my text go round.

 

[Jcalder]

2 and 8 look very promising. Any idea on velocity. You could also load a bit above max but do so cautiously. How many references are you using?


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[infoman jr.]

2 and 8 look very promising. Any idea on velocity. You could also load a bit above max but do so cautiously. How many references are you using?


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No concrete data on velocity on my loads, but I know this gun shoots the factory Barnes load at 2519. A chrono is next on my list of purchases. I could use my QuickLoad software to get pretty close. The Barnes manual is my primary source for this load. I have a lot of experience in high pressure loads due to work, so I'll know what to watch for.

 

[Jcalder]

How do you like the quickload software. Biggest reason I asked about references is some are very conservative. Others are borderline dangerous lol. I try to use 2-3 and split the difference and work slowly when I'm getting close to max


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[infoman jr.]

How do you like the quickload software. Biggest reason I asked about references is some are very conservative. Others are borderline dangerous lol. I try to use 2-3 and split the difference and work slowly when I'm getting close to max


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Quickload is great. The user interface is terrible, but it spits out a ton of data. It would be a more useful tool if I got to shoot more on my own time. The published load data seems to be conservative as I didn't see any pressure signs at all at book max.

 

[jlanecr500]

I use the OCW method of load development. With a 308, .3 gr increments will better show the node. With Varget, there will likely be a node right at max. With 168gr bullets that is near 46 gr. 2 and 8 look promising. Start with .020 inch off the lands.

 

[infoman jr.]

I use the OCW method of load development. With a 308, .3 gr increments will better show the node. With Varget, there will likely be a node right at max. With 168gr bullets that is near 46 gr. 2 and 8 look promising. Start with .020 inch off the lands.

I used .5gr increments to save ammo and "cast a wide net" so I can go back and fine tune around powder charges that look promising. I'm loaded as long as I can fit in a mag already.

 

[DaveB]

I think you are not necessarily on the right trail.

Group 4 is displaying vertical stringing-your barrel MAY have been too hot, that is the most common cause. Next would be things like powder charge errors, scope failure, flinch. I'm voting for hot barrel.

I would re-shoot that recipe with 3 cold barrels. That exact straight vertical line grabbed my attention.

 

[MUP]

Good catch Dave.

 

[AllOutdoors]

2 and 8 do look good. I would have to try number 4 again as well.

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[infoman jr.]

I think you are not necessarily on the right trail.

Group 4 is displaying vertical stringing-your barrel MAY have been too hot, that is the most common cause. Next would be things like powder charge errors, scope failure, flinch. I'm voting for hot barrel.

I would re-shoot that recipe with 3 cold barrels. That exact straight vertical line grabbed my attention.

I appreciate your input. There were no shot execution issues and the Bushnell XRS has been a proven performer. At 30x, I could see the most minor of movements. Each charge was trickled to exact weight. I still expect I may find another node above book max, so I'm going to creep to pressure signs. I'll revisit #4, but I hope to be able to squeeze more velocity out of it.

 

[mr.big]

I would shoot that same test with 4064, and RL15 ,,Varget is not the end all to everything 308,,

all the vertical in nearly all charges would make me look into bedding ,,if it has an aluminum bedding block I would skim bed the action and recoil lug,,

 

[infoman jr.]

I would shoot that same test with 4064, and RL15 ,,Varget is not the end all to everything 308,,

all the vertical in nearly all charges would make me look into bedding ,,if it has an aluminum bedding block I would skim bed the action and recoil lug,,

I appreciate it, but I'm not going to go into much effort on the rifle itself as it'll be replaced by a 6.5 or .260 by the fall. I'm just trying to get a match or two under my belt with it and practice load development. If it holds MOA groups, that'll be enough to get me by.

 

[infoman jr.]

Previous target shot by this gun with Fed GMM with no cooling.

 

[mr.big]

I think the FGMM is a 168 Sierra MK bullet and IMR4895 ,,the M118 LR is the 175 SMK and RL15

 

[Deer Assassin]

good shooting

 

[Jowens]

FGMM is 168 or 175 SMK over 4064. I have the load for both.

 

[FARMTOFIELD]

How did you determine seating depth? Or are you going by book depth?

 

[infoman jr.]

How did you determine seating depth? Or are you going by book depth?

Max length to fit a magazine.

 

[MUP]

How far off the lands did that put the bullet?

 

[FARMTOFIELD]

How did you determine seating depth? Or are you going by book depth?

Max length to fit a magazine.

for match rounds you may have to seat them longer, and single feed them and not worry about the magazine

 

[infoman jr.]

How far off the lands did that put the bullet?

I'd have to check my data, but it's not even close so I didn't worry about it.

How did you determine seating depth? Or are you going by book depth?

Max length to fit a magazine.

for match rounds you may have to seat them longer, and single feed them and not worry about the magazine

I don't have any desire to shoot any matches that allow for single feeding. Small groups from a bench isn't my end goal. Shooting PRS-style matches is, and that requires stuffing a magazine.

 

[MUP]

How far off the lands did that put the bullet?

I'd have to check my data, but it's not even close so I didn't worry about it.

Sounds like my rounds in my Mod 710 in 30-06. If I tried to reach the lands, the bullet would be completely out of the case nearly. As it stands, the distance to the lands is .150", but I'm getting under .750 MOA with it, so like you said, I don't worry about it. ;)

 

[FARMTOFIELD]

How did you determine seating depth? Or are you going by book depth?

Max length to fit a magazine.

for match rounds you may have to seat them longer, and single feed them and not worry about the magazine

I don't have any desire to shoot any matches that allow for single feeding. Small groups from a bench isn't my end goal. Shooting PRS-style matches is, and that requires stuffing a magazine.[/quote]

I'm not familiar with match rules so I didn't know there was a difference

 

[infoman jr.]

I'm not familiar with match rules so I didn't know there was a difference

Less this:

More this:

 

[mr.big]

when loading to mag length you still need to do seat depth tests,,start as long as you can for 100% function and load .005 shorter shooting 3 shot groups at your best charge weight,,sometimes your most accurate load can be as much as .100 shorter than just loading as long as you can to fit your mags,,Sierra Match Kings and Lapua Scenars shoot really well jumped,,and I shot the 250 Hornady BTHP in the 338LM I had from a magazine that was jumped almost .200 and shot well enough to hit 18inch plates at 1,500 yards,

I really like shooting PRS stuff just never shot in a match,,I shoot a Stiller Tac 30 action with 243 Win and 6.5x47L bbls in an AICS 1.5 with the spigot mounted Atlas bipod and 8-32 Sightron or 4.5-14 Leupold depending on how far the majority of shots will be,,

I am pretty good at makin 2nd round hits,,LOL

 

[infoman jr.]

when loading to mag length you still need to do seat depth tests,,start as long as you can for 100% function and load .005 shorter shooting 3 shot groups at your best charge weight,,sometimes your most accurate load can be as much as .100 shorter than just loading as long as you can to fit your mags,,Sierra Match Kings and Lapua Scenars shoot really well jumped,,and I shot the 250 Hornady BTHP in the 338LM I had from a magazine that was jumped almost .200 and shot well enough to hit 18inch plates at 1,500 yards,

I really like shooting PRS stuff just never shot in a match,,I shoot a Stiller Tac 30 action with 243 Win and 6.5x47L bbls in an AICS 1.5 with the spigot mounted Atlas bipod and 8-32 Sightron or 4.5-14 Leupold depending on how far the majority of shots will be,,

I am pretty good at makin 2nd round hits,,LOL

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v411/ericleonard/33980867-9183-44d6-8379-26c4cf50db5c.jpg[img][/url][/quote]
That's the plan which is why I started at my max possible length.

 

[infoman jr.]

Small update. I shot around one of the promising loads from last session and explored above book max of 43.3 a bit. I was glad to see the groups come together around 44. I'll do some 5-shot groups in tenth grain increments in that area next time out. My bench was very unsteady, so hopefully things will come together soon.

I also shot my first blackout loads of 208 ELD Match over 11.6 grains of CFE BLK. Accuracy was acceptable at 100 with my 3x ACOG. I'll go ahead and call that one good for now.


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[infoman jr.]

I went out and shot the loads around 43.8, and 43.8 turned out to be the most accurate. I went from there and varied the bullet seating depth. I had .055 between where I was loaded (M118LR length) and the max length that would fit in an AI mag. I divided that into 5, and loaded 5 rounds each at those depths. I think I found a winner. I stacked 4 nearly into the same hole then got excited...

I've also been working on some .223 loads using CFE 223 and Barnes Match Burners, both 69 and 85 grain bullets. Several of my 69 gr loads were good, but I think I stumbled across a winner.

 

[infoman jr.]

I also recently swapped my B&C stock for a Magpul stock so I could use my AI mags. I'll eventually pick up something more substantial, but this seems to be working.