88gr berger seating depth
- Thread starter jmh240
- Start date
Jim,
I was waiting for someone who has used them to reply so that you could get some specific numbers. Since that hasn't happened I'll share our recommended "best practices" when loading these bullets.
The 88 gr is a flat base so it does not qualify as a true VLD however it has a VLD nose so the same seating depth sensitivity will affect your loading.
The best way to dial in any VLD,LD included) is to produce three groups of ammo. In each group you want everything to be the same except for the seating depth.
Seating depth for group A is .010 into the rifling.
Seating depth for group B is .001,just touching) into the rifling.
Seating depth for group C is .010 off the rifling,jump).
We recommend that you shoot at least 5 three shot groups,that 5 groups with 3 shots in each group). Frankly, more groups is better but 5 groups should start telling you something. All things being relatively equal,wind) you should see one of the groups of ammo,A,B or C) outperform the other two. It is a strong likelihood that the better shooting seating depth is close to where your seating depth should be. It will definitely tell you if your rifle likes to jump, touch or jam the bullet into the rifling which is an important thing to know.
Once you determine which group shoots best then you start to tweak that group setting up and down. For example if group A shot the best then tweaking your powder and/or your neck tension might tighten things up even more. Also your could adjust your seating depth .002 in either direction to see if that makes a difference.
The key to developing loads is to change one thing at a time and try that one change at several settings. You may have to go back to something you already adjusted however using this method you can reliably tweak your load for best performance using the VLD,or frankly any shape bullet).
On a side note, it is important to remember that when you are testing different loads that you do not go over the maximum recommended load.
Regards,
Eric Stecker
I was waiting for someone who has used them to reply so that you could get some specific numbers. Since that hasn't happened I'll share our recommended "best practices" when loading these bullets.
The 88 gr is a flat base so it does not qualify as a true VLD however it has a VLD nose so the same seating depth sensitivity will affect your loading.
The best way to dial in any VLD,LD included) is to produce three groups of ammo. In each group you want everything to be the same except for the seating depth.
Seating depth for group A is .010 into the rifling.
Seating depth for group B is .001,just touching) into the rifling.
Seating depth for group C is .010 off the rifling,jump).
We recommend that you shoot at least 5 three shot groups,that 5 groups with 3 shots in each group). Frankly, more groups is better but 5 groups should start telling you something. All things being relatively equal,wind) you should see one of the groups of ammo,A,B or C) outperform the other two. It is a strong likelihood that the better shooting seating depth is close to where your seating depth should be. It will definitely tell you if your rifle likes to jump, touch or jam the bullet into the rifling which is an important thing to know.
Once you determine which group shoots best then you start to tweak that group setting up and down. For example if group A shot the best then tweaking your powder and/or your neck tension might tighten things up even more. Also your could adjust your seating depth .002 in either direction to see if that makes a difference.
The key to developing loads is to change one thing at a time and try that one change at several settings. You may have to go back to something you already adjusted however using this method you can reliably tweak your load for best performance using the VLD,or frankly any shape bullet).
On a side note, it is important to remember that when you are testing different loads that you do not go over the maximum recommended load.
Regards,
Eric Stecker
When I start working up a load should I...
a) Begin by picking a seating depth,like .005 jam) and vary the amount of powder first? Then when I find what shoots the best try to tighten up the group by varying the seating depth.
or
b) Should I stay with one amount of powder and vary the seating depth first. Then when I find what shoots best start varying the amount of powder.
Thanks,
Jim
a) Begin by picking a seating depth,like .005 jam) and vary the amount of powder first? Then when I find what shoots the best try to tighten up the group by varying the seating depth.
or
b) Should I stay with one amount of powder and vary the seating depth first. Then when I find what shoots best start varying the amount of powder.
Thanks,
Jim
you can do it either way but i prefer to seat my bullets just touching the lands and try differant powders till i find what the gun likes then you can go up and down with your powder charge and try differant seating depths till you find the perfect load . May not be the best way it is just the way that i always do it . :wave:
Jim,
The key to tweaking a load is to change on thing at a time. I will not argue that either changing the seating depth first or changing the powder first is better.
If I were shooting a bullet design like the 88 gr LD for the first time I would start with the seating depth only because I know that the LD style bullets are so sensitive to seating depth. I would expect to see the greatest difference in accuracy based on the seating depth differences. Once I sorted that out I could tweak the powder then neck tension until I was happy.
If I were dialing in a bullet shape that I have used before then it is likely that I have already been successful at a particular seating depth so it would make sense to start adjusting powder first.
I look at the load developing process from the point of view of what one thing can I change that will likely make the greatest accuracy difference in this situation. Once that is dialed in,as best as it can be) then I look at what is the next thing I can change that will make the most difference. Eventually you reach the point where you are happy and ready to go to the match.
Keep something else in mind, very few shooters take the time needed to go through the load tweaking process thoroughly. Usually they settle for something that looks good for a few groups and call it a day. Commit to putting in the extra effort to truly tweak your load and you will be ahead of the game.
Regards,
Eric
The key to tweaking a load is to change on thing at a time. I will not argue that either changing the seating depth first or changing the powder first is better.
If I were shooting a bullet design like the 88 gr LD for the first time I would start with the seating depth only because I know that the LD style bullets are so sensitive to seating depth. I would expect to see the greatest difference in accuracy based on the seating depth differences. Once I sorted that out I could tweak the powder then neck tension until I was happy.
If I were dialing in a bullet shape that I have used before then it is likely that I have already been successful at a particular seating depth so it would make sense to start adjusting powder first.
I look at the load developing process from the point of view of what one thing can I change that will likely make the greatest accuracy difference in this situation. Once that is dialed in,as best as it can be) then I look at what is the next thing I can change that will make the most difference. Eventually you reach the point where you are happy and ready to go to the match.
Keep something else in mind, very few shooters take the time needed to go through the load tweaking process thoroughly. Usually they settle for something that looks good for a few groups and call it a day. Commit to putting in the extra effort to truly tweak your load and you will be ahead of the game.
Regards,
Eric
How about the 80 gr Bergers in the 6BR? Right now I am .010 off the lands,shooting pretty good .4 with both Varget & N135, H4895 not much of a difference between the powders, I have already loaded another batch with a primer change. The next load test will be touching the lands or into the lands any suggestions?
Short range benchrest shooters found out a long time ago that bullets typically,not always) shoot best when they touch the rifling. You said that you are .010 off the lands right now. If you have never tried the bullets up in the rifling then this would be a worthy next step. I would wait until after you test the new primers you mention since changing one thing at a time is very important.
When you seat the bullets into the rifling you might find that there is no change in accuracy. The 80 gr has a tangent ogive shape which is not nearly as sensitive to seating depth as the 88gr LD or any VLD. So the 80 gr can shoot well at various different OAL.
Regards,
Eric
When you seat the bullets into the rifling you might find that there is no change in accuracy. The 80 gr has a tangent ogive shape which is not nearly as sensitive to seating depth as the 88gr LD or any VLD. So the 80 gr can shoot well at various different OAL.
Regards,
Eric
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Administrator
12man,
The 80gr Berger is a laser in my 8-twist 6BR seated .015" into the lands,meaning .015" past the point of first contact, measured with a Stoney Pt. Gauge). I've had multiple 5-shot groups under 0.200", with around 31.5gr N135. Start at 31 and work up.
The 80gr Berger is a laser in my 8-twist 6BR seated .015" into the lands,meaning .015" past the point of first contact, measured with a Stoney Pt. Gauge). I've had multiple 5-shot groups under 0.200", with around 31.5gr N135. Start at 31 and work up.
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