Author Topic: i did it! (Read 624 times)

mjbgalt · « **on:** February 24, 2006, 08:23:35 AM »

i used some 95 grain silvertips on top of 33.5 grains of varget and got a group wayyyy under an inch. i haven't gotten the calipers out yet but its definitely under a half MOA.

I am very happy with this of course. of course there is another problem. the local gunshop ran out of CCI primers. that's what i used for this group. i used remingtons and 34 grains of varget and it printed a load really really close to the same size.

i know there are differing opinions here but do you guys think using the large stockpile i have of remington primers is going to make my great group expand?

-Matt

stimpylu32 · « **Reply #1 on:** February 24, 2006, 09:27:14 AM »

Matt

Way to go , i knew that you could do it :agree:

By all means use the Remington primers if they are getting close .

You know that one load will get it done so try for two , you may have to tweek the powder just a little with the Rem. primers but you know that the rifle will do what you want .

victorcharlie · « **Reply #2 on:** February 24, 2006, 09:42:01 AM »

In my experience, the primer probably has the least to do with overall accuracy of a hand load. That's not to say that a primer isn't an important part of the finished product but bullet and powder load will be where the biggest gains are made.

That is to say, I've never based my reloading around the primer. I don't expect a primer to make a bad load good, but rather make a good load better........
Am I to assume your talking about the .243?

What I really want from a primer is consistant burns from primer to primer.......Some cartridge calibers are more sensitive to primer changes than others, but with the .243 I'd be suprised if it made much difference.

I'm sure others are likely do disagree.......as each cartridge combination and gun is different........my statement is from observations working with my own rifles........so it is general, not specific in nature.

Testing is really the only way to tell........

mjbgalt · « **Reply #3 on:** February 24, 2006, 01:31:03 PM »

yeah i was talking about the .243, victorcharlie.

I took it back to the range a little bit ago since i couldn't duplicate the loads i used before.

it shot right where it did this morning. in fact i put 4 bullets in 3 holes. that's a first for me. i know i couldn't do it again if i tried but hey, if it's that consistent i will take it. :grin:

thanks to everyone for all your input and help.

-Matt

Don Fischer · « **Reply #4 on:** February 24, 2006, 03:34:49 PM »

Nobody does it every time. Many times when someone say's their rifle will shoot even 1" group's, it means that was their smallest group and they did it once.

I had a guy in another place tell me he shoot's 5" group's at 400 yds.........off hand. Well maybe he did once but not as a regular diet I'd think. Often I think the best shooting is done with a screen name and a computer keyboard.

Good load's and good shot's with good rifle's can get down to the 2's and 3's, from a good bench at 100 yds and not every time. 1/2" is reproduceable with regularity but probally not every time. Had a guy show up at the range in Montata one time that was going to show everybody how to shoot. He had a 40X in 6mm Rem. He also had a bad day. Wish my 243 would just shoot 1" group's consistently, think I need a new stock!

mjbgalt · « **Reply #5 on:** February 24, 2006, 05:14:15 PM »

honestly i have only had one rifle (maybe two, i did not handload for one) that wouldnt shoot under an inch.

the last 4 varmint-type rifles i have had (Encore in .204, BDL in .223, A-Bolt in .243, Stevens 200 in .243) all shot under 3/4" at 100 yards.

When i read magazine articles i am amazed at how bad the writers shoot. when a gun is reviewed and shoots 2.3" groups and then i buy one off the shelf and go shoot 3/4" with it like i did the stevens....it makes me wonder how much of the accuracy complaints out there are completely attributable to the shooter and not the gun.

but this one really was a challenge and i am happy that my handloading (amateur as it is right now) met that challenge.

-Matt

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #6 on:** February 25, 2006, 12:40:43 AM »

Way to go mjbgalt.

Don Fischer · « **Reply #7 on:** February 25, 2006, 01:25:07 PM »

mjbgalt,

Not a lot better than a good shooting rifle! Unless it's several good shooting rifle's!

Steve P · « **Reply #8 on:** February 27, 2006, 06:13:55 AM »

Quote from: victorcharlie

In my experience, the primer probably has the least to do with overall accuracy of a hand load. That's not to say that a primer isn't an important part of the finished product but bullet and powder load will be where the biggest gains are made.

I'm sure others are likely do disagree.......as each cartridge combination and gun is different........my statement is from observations working with my own rifles........so it is general, not specific in nature.

Testing is really the only way to tell........

I have found primer and weight of powder to be extremely correlated. Several cases in point:

A buddy and I have DW 357 Supermags. I purchased them direct from DW and they have consecutive serial numbers. I found a sweet load for mine using Remington 7 1/2 primers. My buddy, using same cast bullets (he casts them), same powder (I bought two 8lb jugs same lot) but Winchester primers, had to boost his powder 2.0 grains to get same velocity as my load. When the velocity came, so did the accuracy.

I have a Remington XP-100 with Hart 7TCU barrel on it. I knew a specific bullet and powder would be accurate. I had some Federal Match primers that I thought would give me minimum deviations in velocity. I tried my load in four weight variations in the area I knew it should give excellent accuracy. My best group was about 2" at 100 yards. Good std deviations, but rotten accuracy. I took that best load and changed only the primer. Remington 7 1/2s shrunk the group to about 1". Winchester primers gave me just under 1/2". This is two 5 shots groups at 100 under 1/2".

I try working up my loads around a specific primer that has given me good std deviations with specific powders. If you get a group that looks promising, don't just give up. Try switching primers and see if you get what you are looking for. $1.50 for a different primer is cheaper than $20 for a different powder.

Steve

mjbgalt · « **Reply #9 on:** February 27, 2006, 03:45:22 PM »

the remington primers are a tiny bit larger group than the CCI's but i only shot that one group with the CCI's so it's pretty much equal.

-Matt

Don Fischer · « **Reply #10 on:** February 27, 2006, 04:14:23 PM »

I doubt you can find them but I've got about 10,000 Herter 120 primers and they generally give me my best loads. Don't know who made then.

mjbgalt · « **Reply #11 on:** March 04, 2006, 11:10:36 AM »

did it again, this time with my .223 model 700.

i am under a half inch with 26.0 grains of varget and a 50 grain V-MAX bullet.

i have to say, i am rather enjoying reloading.

or am i just lucky as heck? this is the third gun i have worked on and had shooting like this in less than 3 different loadings. i have changed bullets once or twice to get the desired result though.

is it this quick to work up a load or do i just have high-quality guns or maybe i just got lucky? or maybe i accept lower standards of group sizes...i don't know.

i do know i love reloading and its going well.

-Matt

mjbgalt · « **Reply #12 on:** March 04, 2006, 01:16:29 PM »

thanks to all who gave me advice on reloading. it really has helped.

-Matt