welshwarrior Posted January 26, 2015 Report Share Posted January 26, 2015 As some will know I took the leap and start reloading my own 243 rounds. I batch test a few at Fruityloops great shoot yesterday and found the middle of the road load grouped best not perfect but 1/2" at 100m is good enough. So what do I do now make up another small batch of say 10 of this load and confirm it's good or just run a full batch through the press and get on with it? Or as it PW option C do something else? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blunderbuss Posted January 26, 2015 Report Share Posted January 26, 2015 Unless you're going to enter bench rest competitions, be very happy with your half inch groups and stick with that recipe would be my view That is provided everything else is OK, no signs of excess pressure etc. Some people really get into reloading as a hobby and get a kick out of the diminishing returns of chasing the last few hundredths of an inch reduction in group size. Nothing wrong with that, but if you just want better than factory accuracy from a round you've put together yourself, I'd say you were already there. Well done! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seeker Posted January 26, 2015 Report Share Posted January 26, 2015 If youre happy with it ...enjoy it. Just keep notes of all the load data on the target to enjoy on a rainy day. When you get the urge to tinker just study the group until the urge goes away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshwarrior Posted January 26, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 26, 2015 Thanks guys slightly annoyingly I had a batch of Federals that shot 1/4" but 1/2" is fine. Can't keep the target one of the target shooter types zeroed his rifle all over it so it would just annoy me!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fruitloop Posted January 26, 2015 Report Share Posted January 26, 2015 (edited) right if you want to tighten the group up try going a 1/2 grain below your existing load and work up in say .5 gr intervals to a grain above unless it is at max load and that will be bad and only load to max. then find the best out of that lot then do a repeat of that at .2 or if you are happy load up and go waste some ammo or try seating depth but remember that to long may stop you loading from the mag Edited January 26, 2015 by fruitloop Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshwarrior Posted January 26, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 26, 2015 Bad man I may run up another batch then .5 below and .5 above the best 2 groups see what happens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshwarrior Posted January 26, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 26, 2015 If the load still shoots happily within a full grain variation I'd be very happy as it will be a reliable recipe for sporting use and unlikely to be affected by powder batch variations etc. etc. etc. Sorry this is PW ect ect ect Makes sense to me thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harnser Posted January 28, 2015 Report Share Posted January 28, 2015 (edited) What will you do with the extra quarter inch of accuracy ? A 2inch group at 100 yards is more than enough to shoot deer out to 200 yards . Unless you plan to shoot them between the eyes .I think you have cracked it . Stick with that load . We did have a member on here who used to head shoot deer at 500 yards ,I kid you not . Harnser Edited January 28, 2015 by Harnser Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshwarrior Posted January 28, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 28, 2015 I know what you mean it's just me I like accurate things. But I'm going to run up another 3 batches the 2 best from last time and 1 in the middle each of 10 rounds see which groups the best. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seeker Posted January 28, 2015 Report Share Posted January 28, 2015 Wasnt it head shot rabbits at 500.. ?? Sounds like you're doing the OCW thing? If you're doing batch comparison put the (3) aim points in a line across the target and shoot the batches as a round robin .. With OCW you're not looking just for the best groups but those that achieve similar POIs in relation to the point of aim and are tolerant of powder load variation. I found a pattern clearly developed with only 3 shots at each load, but I ran 5 loads at 0.5 grain intervals. If that doesn't make sense have a goog for "optimum charge weight" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshwarrior Posted January 28, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 28, 2015 If I can get a tolerant load that I can produce cheaply I'll be very happy. Going for 10 to remove any human error also I was going to do 3 separate 3 round groups at 100 then have a spare. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seeker Posted January 28, 2015 Report Share Posted January 28, 2015 Aah ... Human error,isnt that what fisherpeoples have when describing the one that got away? Cheaply and shooting ... is that a new concept? Good luck with the reloading bug. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted January 28, 2015 Report Share Posted January 28, 2015 Are you shooting these tests from a bench or just hand held? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshwarrior Posted January 28, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 28, 2015 I'll be shooting them off my quad sticks, I put 4 Federals into sub 1/2" from them so a proven position for me. The Federals cost me £24 for 20 I'm under £8 for my home loads so that's a good saving. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snow white Posted January 28, 2015 Report Share Posted January 28, 2015 Have you tried seating the heads in at different lengths it make all the difference you might be OK with powder weight but try seating heads. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
activeviii Posted January 28, 2015 Report Share Posted January 28, 2015 As fruitloop says. Go back .5 of a grain and load a batch with .2 of a grain differance. So if you happy load is 44gn of powder then step back and load 43.5gn, 43.7gn 43.9gn 44.1gn 44.3gn 44.5gn and 44.7gn Start at bottom load and work up. Allow time for everything to cool down between groups. If bltl starts getting tight or the primer is showing a crowning around the pin dink then ,stop, do not go up any more unless you have someone qwith you who know what their looking for on over pressure. Once you find the best group you then move on to OAL. This is when you adjust the bullet press depth by a small amount in and out till you Ind the sweet spot. I use to start at max chamber length and bump bullet seat back .2mm this was my start point. Then .2mm back until I got to sammi spec. Then once you have the sweet spot you go back to powder and adjust .5gn back from you powder load and work .5gn past in .1gn increment's Once you have done all that you need to go back to shop and by another 500 bullets. New tub of powder and primers and do it all again because you have differant batch numbers and things might have changed. One you do all that you then realise you have in fact spent more on the reloading gear and consumables than what 500 factory load would have cost. Then you realise that in fact a 1/2" group is more than good enough and in fact bullet seated back to sammi spec and the .5gn load you first fund was more than good enough and you was just having an off day from excitement of shooting your first home load. I think most of the above has been done by many many a home loader and the ones that could be bothered to rear it all are laughing as they did just the same Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshwarrior Posted January 28, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 28, 2015 I don't need target accuracy and won't be going to those lengths I've not got time, specially as I've just started buliding myself a 30-06 so spare time is limited right now. I have a good round and I'll test the last 3 loads decide which is best then chrono it to make sure then make and shoot them. Reloading kit owes me £30 this is aimed being able to shoot more for the same price. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted January 28, 2015 Report Share Posted January 28, 2015 Sounds like a good plan of action! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wymberley Posted January 28, 2015 Report Share Posted January 28, 2015 As fruitloop says. Go back .5 of a grain and load a batch with .2 of a grain differance. So if you happy load is 44gn of powder then step back and load 43.5gn, 43.7gn 43.9gn 44.1gn 44.3gn 44.5gn and 44.7gn Start at bottom load and work up. Allow time for everything to cool down between groups. If bltl starts getting tight or the primer is showing a crowning around the pin dink then ,stop, do not go up any more unless you have someone qwith you who know what their looking for on over pressure. Once you find the best group you then move on to OAL. This is when you adjust the bullet press depth by a small amount in and out till you Ind the sweet spot. I use to start at max chamber length and bump bullet seat back .2mm this was my start point. Then .2mm back until I got to sammi spec. Then once you have the sweet spot you go back to powder and adjust .5gn back from you powder load and work .5gn past in .1gn increment's Once you have done all that you need to go back to shop and by another 500 bullets. New tub of powder and primers and do it all again because you have differant batch numbers and things might have changed. One you do all that you then realise you have in fact spent more on the reloading gear and consumables than what 500 factory load would have cost. Then you realise that in fact a 1/2" group is more than good enough and in fact bullet seated back to sammi spec and the .5gn load you first fund was more than good enough and you was just having an off day from excitement of shooting your first home load. I think most of the above has been done by many many a home loader and the ones that could be bothered to rear it all are laughing as they did just the same :lol: That was, as near as damn it, me! Eventually, as I am now only shooting fox at 200 yards max and I was getting to the point where the law of diminishing returns kicked in, I called it quits and settled for something that Fister sensibly indicated at Post #7. I can manage somewhere between 0.5 (on a very good day) and MoA (more realistically) at the 100 yards. Does the job. We've got a new guy joining us to help out and he was unsure about the choice of which 22 centrefire to go for. Try mine said I. He did - and promptly shot a clover leaf at 100. Sick as a parrot at first but then realised that I'd done the job well. As ever the quality of the performance is ultimately decided by the skill of the operator. How do you determine the load capability when it's already exceeding your own? (Beaten by a guy more than 40 years younger than me and a Service sniper to boot - no shame there then!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snow white Posted January 28, 2015 Report Share Posted January 28, 2015 Activeviii.You are dead wright I load 20 bore and 223 if i counted up how much it cost I would crying my eyes out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
activeviii Posted January 28, 2015 Report Share Posted January 28, 2015 In all fairness I did start loading to save money and that I did. 222 with a Lee reloader, hammer and block of wood. Start load shot very well and amax were cheap. Cost £18 for the reloader thing and that was all I had. 28p a round it cost me and I was cloverleaf at 100. Then more guns started to appear in the cabinet and the reloading started to build. I enjoy chasing the perfect load and most of the loadings are on the money now. But it has cost. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshwarrior Posted January 28, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 28, 2015 Well I'm assuming my press scales etc will all last me many years and I'll just have to get more dies as I try different chamberings. 308 or 30-06 next? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dougy Posted January 28, 2015 Report Share Posted January 28, 2015 Well I'm assuming my press scales etc will all last me many years and I'll just have to get more dies as I try different chamberings. 308 or 30-06 next? I thought you had decided on the 06 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshwarrior Posted January 28, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 28, 2015 I have but still have the 308! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dougy Posted January 28, 2015 Report Share Posted January 28, 2015 If your groups on Sunday are the normal you should stay with that recipe. You could spend more time faffing about reloading than actually shooting ( I know i do, but it floats my boat, and I enjoy my time in the shed) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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