Can’t get 105 RDF’s to shoot out of 6br
- Thread starter 6mmxc
- Start date
Jump them alot. 30, 40, 50, 60 thousands
Dusty Stevens
Shiner
if they wont shoot dont be afraid to drop them. life is too short to mess around with bullets that dont shoot. put em on the shelf and revisit on the next rifle.
Jimmy James
Silver $$ Contributor
Ugh, I was about to pull the trigger on 500. May still. Every bullet I have tried in my 6BR has shot pretty well. Still haven't topped the accuracy obtained with Berger 105 Hunting VLD's. Maybe they will be made again someday.
Jimmy James
Silver $$ Contributor
fine print....on back order
A friend of mine gave me a box of the 105RDFs for free. I examined the bullet carefully. It is very sleek, nearing the shape of a VLD. The meplats are very uniform and nigh on to looking perfect. The base to ogive is 1-2 thousandths longer than a 107SMK. It has been my experience that with a super sleek bullet, try seating them INTO the lands about 7 thousandths, at least to start testing. Next week with my 6-47 I am going to try them out. I will start at 7-8 thousandths INTO the lands for initial testing. My rifle likes the 107SMKs seated that way and since the base to ogive is so close, the RDFs may like it there too. But only testing will find this out.
An interesting quote but I do wonder, does this show that the bullets themselves liked to be jumped 40 thou or that load in that barrel liked them jumped 40 thou?
105's are good bullets but why didn't the 107's shoot well ? I like the smk's as there just a little cheaper.
To some degree, the answer to both questions may very well be 'yes'. The precise amount of jump for best results is no doubt variable from barrel to barrel, but my experience matches the experience of many others. These bullets seem to shoot well with substantial jump.
That said, it is not out of the question that good results can be had seating them into the lands. I started testing these very much like ShootDots described above and they shot acceptably (pretty well, actually) .005" or so into the lands. I got better and more consistent results jumping them between .030" and .040".
I'll say that if you can get the RDFs to shoot, they are awesome! However, the 105s were no bueno for me. They would produce two separate groups repeatedly. Both groups would be small, but I just could not get them to consistently group together. The 140 RDF and the 70 RDF I've had great luck with however.
Obviously every barrel is different to a degree. The barrel on my Dasher is a Lilja 1:8 twist, it shoots 108 Berger's fantastically out to 1K, kinda of my go to bullet that just works, jump that one 20 off. I've shot them competitively in both F Class and Sling with the same rifle.
The reason that I'm excited about the Nosler RDF's is two fold, higher BC, less wind and price, buying blems and over runs made the price per bullet really cheap. If I can get them to shoot and they buy me more wind, I win. (Figure of speech
) IMO they are a hybrid clone, so in keeping with what they say about the Berger Hybrid's, that they like jumping, it seemed like a good place to start.
My testing never showed an absolute failure at a certain setting, they all shot pretty well, but when I hit 40 off, (in my barrel) the group shrunk. One test does not make a decision. The first was at 600 yards, 40 off held the X ring on a MR-1 with irons. My last test was benched at 200 yards, 40 off shot less then 1/2 MOA (3/8?). Now I'll be looking for consistency, I'll be shooting prone irons over the next few weeks, looking for repeatable results. If so, then off to the matches with it. If it fails, I'll be buying Berger 108's.
I think that some generalities can be drawn to certain bullet types. IMO Sierra SMK's shot best being jumped a moderate amount, in some barrels 10 off, others 25 off.
I.E. The 107 SMK's shot very well from the Dasher, but, their LTO was all over the place, making a consistent loaded round more work, each had to be measured and adjusted, a real PITA. The only Sierra's I shoot now are 69 SMK's in my 223 AI, load'em and shoot'em, 20 off, or what the come out to be, they work regardless! For competition, it's Berger's or maybe the RDF's in the future.
The conventional wisdom surrounded VLD's was that they needed to be jammed or just touching, now people are jumping them significantly, 60 -80 off, and getting great results. The new Hybrids are supposed to tune easily, we'll see how it goes. Reports seem to say they RDF's shoot, whether it's touching, 10, 20 , 30 or more off, only testing can tell. Shooter's wishing to try the RDF's or any bullet, this type of information gives you a sense of what the bullet MAY like. As they say YMMV.
The reason that I'm excited about the Nosler RDF's is two fold, higher BC, less wind and price, buying blems and over runs made the price per bullet really cheap. If I can get them to shoot and they buy me more wind, I win. (Figure of speech
) IMO they are a hybrid clone, so in keeping with what they say about the Berger Hybrid's, that they like jumping, it seemed like a good place to start.My testing never showed an absolute failure at a certain setting, they all shot pretty well, but when I hit 40 off, (in my barrel) the group shrunk. One test does not make a decision. The first was at 600 yards, 40 off held the X ring on a MR-1 with irons. My last test was benched at 200 yards, 40 off shot less then 1/2 MOA (3/8?). Now I'll be looking for consistency, I'll be shooting prone irons over the next few weeks, looking for repeatable results. If so, then off to the matches with it. If it fails, I'll be buying Berger 108's.
I think that some generalities can be drawn to certain bullet types. IMO Sierra SMK's shot best being jumped a moderate amount, in some barrels 10 off, others 25 off.
I.E. The 107 SMK's shot very well from the Dasher, but, their LTO was all over the place, making a consistent loaded round more work, each had to be measured and adjusted, a real PITA. The only Sierra's I shoot now are 69 SMK's in my 223 AI, load'em and shoot'em, 20 off, or what the come out to be, they work regardless! For competition, it's Berger's or maybe the RDF's in the future.
The conventional wisdom surrounded VLD's was that they needed to be jammed or just touching, now people are jumping them significantly, 60 -80 off, and getting great results. The new Hybrids are supposed to tune easily, we'll see how it goes. Reports seem to say they RDF's shoot, whether it's touching, 10, 20 , 30 or more off, only testing can tell. Shooter's wishing to try the RDF's or any bullet, this type of information gives you a sense of what the bullet MAY like. As they say YMMV.
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Deleted old_dood
7.5t Pacnor on a Savage 12BR. 30.2g Varget, CCI BR4, .040" jump. pretty consistent .5MOA or better at 200 yds.
Link
Silver $$ Contributor
dmoran
Donovan Moran
Interesting.... what/where/who is your source to that information?
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