TiminTN, what's your loading regimen?

[megalomaniac]

Tim,

You've had quite a bit of success in long range competitions, especially in light of the fact that you haven't been doing it terribly long. We all know shooting technique is critical, but to consistently win long range competitions it requires much more than just technique... it requires meticulous handloading practices as well.

I was just wondering... what all do you go through when loading for competition? How meticulous are you with your ammo...

For example, do you buy lots of 500 brass, then sort by weight? Uniform flash holes? turn necks? weigh and sort individual bullets into lots? Run loaded rounds through concentricity gauges?

Obviously for hunting ammo, all this isn't necessary, but I was just wondering to what lengths you go through for competition ammo.

 

[TiminTN]

I certainly appreciate what you said, as I am truly as shocked by some of the sucess I have realized, but with it has gone some terrible misery with not being able to achieve what the equipment is capable of. I think some would call it a learning curve, but I find it still happens. Obviously still learning.

I am certainly the weakest link, but as a shooter I want it that way. It makes the wins more enjoyable when you know you have done as well with the preparation.

The hands that laid on the barrel during the chambering and the meticulous stockwork done by a master often keep my mind occupied as to wonder how lucky I was to choose so wisely. I am but a small part of the equasion.

I use Lapua brass, and do nothing to the primer pockets, as far as depth but have an .062" drill bit to uniform the flash holes. I do this in a drill press and the cases are individually clamped to insure a straight hole. I weigh the cases and have a tolerance that I keep in each row of 10 pieces.

I dear friend and competitor taught me a vast amount of help on sizing cases that all but eliminated my runout problems. This involves using a FL die and a neck die for each piece of brass.

I also found it wise to play with the amount of sizing on the neck played a role. I sized 1/3 1/2 3/4 of the neck for a test and used a day and drive to my range just to experiment with this.

I use a headspace gauge and bump the shoulder each time I size as it is nice to have no stress closing the bolt. All my chambers are tight neck so turning case necks is necessary. I use a .269 chamber with a .267" loaded round so .012" will be perfect and this is just a light turn. Some use so called no-turn and use a light skim cut. If I am going to use a case neck turner, it will be used the the way it was designed.

Sorting bullets by bearing surface, and weight sorting them is a key. I now use a Whidden bullet pointer on all my bullets, and polish them in the tumbler with Flitz after pointing.

I guess learning how to best spend the time on load testing has helped me.

Never test at 100 yds unless it is in the first test with a new load, all else is 300 minimum.

I don`t want to let all the cats out of the bag, but these steps will usually get me by. Hope they help you.

I guess the most important thing I have learned, is how to properly clean a barrel. That has made more difference than anything.

 

[megalomaniac]

Don't worry, I've got no desire to compete :)

I was just wondering how much work went into your ammo for matches. And just what I thought... WAY more time and effort than I've got the patience for :)

 

[Tiny]

:cool: