1 small hole

[jraney]

Hey folks I recently worked up a load for my stevens 200 sa in .223 using 50gr hornady vmax and 24 grns of h335. This group I shot measured .647 from middle of hole to middle of the farthest hole I can't remember what my seating depth was but how can if possible I tighten this group of 5 up.

 

[LHSmith]

To tighten groups....use wind flags. Don't put much faith in one 5-shot group. The wind can blow them into a group just as easy as it can push them out. If the Sav. 200 is a sporter weight bbl. I would set my goals using 3- shot groups.

 

[jraney]

Well actually the barrel is a 20 " bull as for the wind I agree but I have taken the best precautions I can. I have a cement block table with a rest that allows me to controll elevation with a turn buckle. I also shot 3 groups the 1 in question was the 2nd and the best. Not to sound rude but I believe I got most everything covered, I understand your response and appreciate it, thanks.

 

[LHSmith]

Not sure what you mean by taken precautions for the wind? but since you got most everything covered, then my next advice would be to shoot and shoot a lot while taking notes.

 

[broncman]

Different primers, different seating depth, trigger work, anneal the brass, sort and trimbrass, and maybe a different powder. Without any details of your process, hard to say. Good brass prep, minimum headspace and loaded round runout tightened my 223 vmax loads considerably.

 

[jraney]

Sorry what I meant by precautions is I won't shoot if I feel the wind is blowing to hard. I take my time and wait for calmness.

 

[jonbearman]

I think your group is outstanding for a stock savage.Keep up the good work.

 

[LHSmith]

If you are genuinely serious about shooting groups as small as your rifle is capable of...you must KNOW what the wind is doing in real time. You will actually learn to be a better shooter and you will not be wasting precious components guessing what the conditions actually are. It takes just a 5 mph crosswind, a light breeze where the leaves just begin to move, to push your 50 grain bullet over 1/2" @ 100 yds.. On many days, the wind is going in multiple directions between you and the target. The BR crowd doesn't put out a sea of neon colored flags and spinning propellers for matches because they want to distract the other shooters.

 

[jb27]

Very sound advice about wind flags. You can make some very cheaply to get started by using dial rods and surveyor flagging. For about $15 at your local big box home improvement store you'll be set. Make 3 or 4 for shooting at 100 yds.

Please do this and then report back about what you see and if you still feel the judging wind where you sit is a true indicator of what's happening down range. At the advice of Boyd, I made some flags a few months ago and it has made a big improvement to my groups. After seeing how important this is, I ordered some real wind flags from Rick Graham which are set to be delivered this week. Can't wait to use them.

 

[searcher]

Sticking with that powder and bullet, I'd experiment with seating depths. Do .010" in (starting at a slightly reduced charge and work up), do .005 off, .025" off. Then I'd make sure there is little to no excess cartridge base to shoulder space ("headspace"), then swap out primers. Maybe even consider uniforming flash holes with a good flash hole reamer such as Sinclairs'.

If those don't work, changing to another powder might easily find you something better. I have not yet tested a .223 that would not shoot your bullet using one or more of these powders:
Reloader 7
IMR8208XBR
Accurate LT32
TAC

Unlike many powders listed in reloading manuals as something that works "satisfactory", these newer powders flat out-shoot our old standbys in .223's most of the time, H335 included.

 

[Syncrowave]

how can if possible I tighten this group of 5 up.

Practice?

J/K...have you tried seating bullets so that they touch the throat of the barrel when you close the bolt? I've found this helps. (Also raises pressures, so work up and be careful.)

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

Not just practice, but practice right..with wind flags.

 

[jraney]

Wow, thanks for all the advice, first I would like to say sorry if I came across as rude in the earlier post about the wind I was not meaning to sound that way, after I read it I thought it kinda sounded rude. Anyhow I will try the flags not sure exactly what to look for but I like to shoot and this gives me more reason to do so. Also I have the bullet seated out farther than the book, the book says 2.200", I seated at2.308.5 , not sure about knock tension and some of the other things. I have just the basic reloading equipment. But anyhow thanks for the info I will try some of these things a little at a time and for sure let y'all know.

 

[LHSmith]

FWIW....I have always found .224 cal.'s are most accurate with ~ 0.020" jump. This includes a full race .222 HV bench gun.

 

[P1ZombieKiller]

Anyhow I will try the flags not sure exactly what to look for but I like to shoot and this gives me more reason to do so.

Here is some info on wind flags, and how they can help.

http://p1zk.com/wind-flags/

 

[jraney]

FWIW....I have always found .224 cal.'s are most accurate with ~ 0.020" jump. This includes a full race .222 HV bench gun.

not to sound like a dummy but could you explain a little more about the throat. Thanks.