bullet accuracy

[josebd]

just got started reloading for first time,made a couple mistakes.my gun is remington 700bdl,.223 varmint barrel. what is the twist of this barrell? i loaded 2 shells,shot the and not accurate at all. went back home,adjusted the powder scale it was off a little,loaded one more, accuracy better,but i realized i was setting the c.o.l. at 2.280 for hornady v-max 55 grain,when it was supposed to be 2.250,did that little difference affect the accuracy, and did it hurt my barrell?     lee reloader,collet neck resizer, i measured the inside of the neck and it measured .218 is this ok?

[jh45gun]

Should not have hurt your barrel and you will just have to reset your dies for the  right lengh. I do not load for 223 though I used to have a couple. I would guess the twist is in  the one in 12 inch twist but do not qwote me on that. If I remember right the on in 12 stabilizes the 55 and ligher slugs any thing heavier you need a faster twist. I would email Remington if no one answers you here and ask them or they should have a customer service # you can call. Do not say anything to them about reloading as some companies get into a snit about reloads even if they sell the components? Go figure?? You should start out at the min powder charge listed and work on up that way you can tell what is the most accurate load by working up a grain at a time then when you get a load that shows promise you can work it up buy tenths ect. Jim

[Iowegan]

Your twist rate should be 1:12 unless it was special ordered with a faster twist.

When you check accuracy, you need to shoot more than one or two shots. I usually shoot three groups of three shots each, at three seperate targets. That will give you a much better reference point. Next time load 9 rounds and try the above. Don't adjust your scope inbetween shots or you will never get a handle on accuracy. When you find a decent load, then zero your rifle for that load.

[josebd]

the first shot was about 1 inch low, 1 inch left. second shot 2 inches low,1 inch left. went adjusted powder scale next shot little over 1 inch high, 1/2 inch left. had it sighted in about 1 1/4 high.have not reset c.o.l. yet ,going to this morning and see what happens. thanks for the replies.

[boneguru]

I agree with Iowegan, you need a greater base for comarison, more loaded at the same grain and depth of seat then tune out. I can easily go thru an entire box of component getting the load and length and powder and primer I like for a particular bullet with that firearm. that I think is the fun of reloading, don't be in such a hurry to find that perfect combination that punches the same hole till it's ragged, that may never come. but isn't the thrill in the chase?   R

[dakotashooter2]

You will not get anywhere loading 1 or 2 at a time , shooting them, then coming back to the loading bench and repeating the process. ..Iowegan is correct. You need at least 3 and preferably 5 shots to make any initial accuracy determination. Then it works best to load at least another 10 and shoot them to verify the preliminary results.  Don't wory about location of the groups until you find the load you want, then dial it in. Just the human error factor can give you a false inpression of accuracy potential with a couple of shots.  Accepted proceedure is to work up a series begining at recommended starting loads, loading 3-5 rounds in 1- .10 grain increments. I usually start work up 1 grain at a time (3-5 of each) then going to 1/2 grain about halfway through and 1 or 2 tenths as I near the maximum listed in the loading manual (I hope you have one and if you don't, get one). Watching for high pressure signs along the way. Since you are new to this I encourage you to do a little more research via loading manuals (you can never have too many)as most walk you through step by step.  Rifle chambers vary slightly and list COL is really only relevant to the pressure list for the load in the reference material and generally that particular bullet (brand, design, shape). Your gun may be able to handle a longer COL.  An easy way to see what your gun can chamber is to make a dummy round (no powder or primer and barely seat a bullet in it (don't crimp it). Try to chamber the round but don't force it. If the bolt doesn't close seat the bullet slightly deeper and try again. Repeat until the round will chamber with some slight pressure then seat the bullet .001 deeper. It should close with no resistance and you are there. Measure and that will give you the COL for that particular bullet in your gun. You should double check it to make sure it will cycle through the magazine of your gun. If not keep going till it does, flawlessly. Take note that if you get another gun in the same caliber this round may or may not chamber in it. Depth of bullet does effect chamber pressure. Seat deeper than listed and pressure may rise, shallower and pressure should drop and a bullet jammed into the rifling will also increase pressure. That is why you don't want to force a round as mentioned above. Just do your homework and it will work out for you. If you don't have a manual many of the powder and bullet manufatures have downloadable manuals/information on line.

[bigdaddytacp]

just got started reloading for first time,made a couple mistakes.my gun is remington 700bdl,.223 varmint barrel. what is the twist of this barrell? i loaded 2 shells,shot the and not accurate at all. went back home,adjusted the powder scale it was off a little,loaded one more, accuracy better,but i realized i was setting the c.o.l. at 2.280 for hornady v-max 55 grain,when it was supposed to be 2.250,did that little difference affect the accuracy, and did it hurt my barrell?     lee reloader,collet neck resizer, i measured the inside of the neck and it measured .218 is this ok?

..............The other post have given you good advice..... and the twist in normal Rem 700's is 1 in 12 except for some "police" models for the heavy bullet loads.......I love to load and have done so for many years and calibers ....BUT for a new loader -and I don't know how much you have shot your gun.....I would suggest to get a couple of boxs of factory ammo and sight the gun in with the same weight bullet as you are going to load....and as the others say use 3 shots for a min. group and for a heavy barrel I shoot 5 shot groups......this will give you a "standard" to gauge your handloads by and let you get used to the feel of the gun and trigger and check to make sure the scope/mounts and all is working...it also lets you see how the gun wants to be held...tight,loose,pulled into the shoulder......and bag location if you use bags or a rest........this will also give you "fireformed" brass to use for your handloads and give you a "normal pressure" case to keep and measure and compare to your handloads........double check your scales for settings/level, and accuracy and small amounts of change in powder amounts won't make that big a difference in a "near correct" load.......just try to make everything for every load and shot the closest to exactly the same as humanly possible.....grip on the gun,your loads and the wind and light.....then when you start to get close shots in a row you can fine tune the load with powder charge-safe ones-seating depth.....or bullet choice........and ENJOY the hunt for "the load" ......a "fellow traveler"