What did you do in the reloading room today?

[Rucker61]

If you are not seeing a difference in group sizes from one test load to another, something is off. It could be many things. Most common is the OAL is too short and you are jumping the bullet too far to see where the rifle is really wanting the bullet at a certain velocity.

When we first set up the OAL, we backed off 0.05" from the lands, but the cartridge wouldn't feed from the detachable Tikka magazine. Right now I'm at 2.177" to the ogive, using the Hornady Comparator. Don't think I can get too much longer and still feed.

Edit: and thanks very much for the advice. Given that the 150 will just be for goats and whitetails, I think I'll not worry about getting too hot. I'll just stick around 46 and play with .2 gr increments. My best three round group with 46 was 1.25" at 250 yards.

[Danimal]

Today, I loaded my first rounds ever. After spending time in January decapping, sorting, trimming, chamfering, pocket cleaning, degreasing and priming, I finally got to load my first rounds. I'm working to get the best rounds for both antelope and elk this fall, so I loaded up 5 rounds each of Barnes 150gr tipped TSX in Wincester brass and Federal 210 primers with 46, 47 and 48 grains of Varget. I also loaded 168gr Barnes TTSX in Federal brass with 43, 44 and 45 grains of RL15. Once I figure out which of those set ups I like best, I'll finish off the boxes of Barnes and load up the remainder of my powder with 150gr Hornady FMJ and 168gr Hornady AMAX for practice.

168 grain amax with 45 grains of RL-15 shoots like a dream in my .308, but it really is over-pressured just so you know. My barrel is 24" so if you have a shorter one maybe it wont be a problem but I get two maybe three loads out of the brass before the neck splits (from brand new brass). The primers are hammered flat too; any further and I would not even considering using it, but I can hit a clay at 500 yards 9 out of 10 times so it is hard to let it go. Maybe if you anneal your brass you will have better luck near the max pressures.

[Rucker61]

168 grain amax with 45 grains of RL-15 shoots like a dream in my .308, but it really is over-pressured just so you know. My barrel is 24" so if you have a shorter one maybe it wont be a problem but I get two maybe three loads out of the brass before the neck splits (from brand new brass). The primers are hammered flat too; any further and I would not even considering using it, but I can hit a clay at 500 yards 9 out of 10 times so it is hard to let it go. Maybe if you anneal your brass you will have better luck near the max pressures.

Good to know. My rifle has a 22" barrel, and this is the elk load, so it won't get a lot of these rounds through it. I won't have the powder or time to shoot like I did last year. I've added a bow to the arsenal and I need much, much practice and strengthening with it, though. Given SA Friday's comments on my 150 load, I just unloaded the hotter test rounds and loaded everything up at 46 grs. Why mess with what works?

[Zombie Steve]

I guess I'm confused. I thought today was your first loads you've ever done.

48 grains of Varget sounds like a pile. Maybe the barnes data is different, but it's a grain over max on the Hodgdon site, and more than 3 grains over the sierra data for a 150 grain bullet. Maybe I just need some sleep, but that looked like a light '06 charge, and when I think hunting, I think '06. =)


Edited to add - if he's not seeing anything grouping better than anything else, they all might be overpressure too. Again, don't know about Barnes bullets and I'm not researching anything right now. Have a good night.

[Rucker61]

I guess I'm confused. I thought today was your first loads you've ever done.

Sorry. A hunting buddy loaded my rounds for my last season.

48 grains of Varget sounds like a pile. Maybe the barnes data is different, but it's a grain over max on the Hodgdon site, and more than 3 grains over the sierra data for a 150 grain bullet. Maybe I just need some sleep, but that looked like a light '06 charge, and when I think hunting, I think '06. =)

48 is max according to Barnes latest data.

Edited to add - if he's not seeing anything grouping better than anything else, they all might be overpressure too. Again, don't know about Barnes bullets and I'm not researching anything right now. Have a good night.

We did 43 to 47 grains last year, and I only shot one 5 round group at 100 yds with each load. Not the best test, for sure, but all were around 1" with one flier. My rifle really liked the Freedom Munitions 155 gr AMAXs, but that's not a good elk round.

[Zombie Steve]

Well again, have fun, be safe.

Sorry to derail the thread.

This whole work thing is going to really cut into my casting / reloading time today...

[SA Friday]

1.25" groups at 250 yds? You're done, that's about as good as you are ever going to see with a high end hunting bullet from most rifles.

BTW shooting 5 round groups at 100 yds is the best test possible for building reloads. There a whole thread on this in the reloading section I started about a year or so ago.

[Rucker61]

1.25" groups at 250 yds? You're done, that's about as good as you are ever going to see with a high end hunting bullet from most rifles.

It was just the once Usually it's an MOA.

BTW shooting 5 round groups at 100 yds is the best test possible for building reloads. There a whole thread on this in the reloading section I started about a year or so ago.

The 250 yd groups are where I was zeroing for goat hunting. I did follow the suggestions on groups at 100 yds for initial load development.

[rondog]

I'm gettin' there......and lemme tell ya, those shelves are straining! Those cans are as full as I can get them of boxed ammo of all kinds, I need to work on making new labels for 'em now.

[Rucker61]

I'm gettin' there......and lemme tell ya, those shelves are straining! Those cans are as full as I can get them of boxed ammo of all kinds, I need to work on making new labels for 'em now.

You have more ammo than most stores right now.