Did .10 increase in OAL bring me under 1/2 MOA?

[ericnord]

Hey everyone,

I was hoping to get some expert eyes on my latest round of reloading to see if I missed anything or could tweak anything. I had my Rem 700 bedded in a Manners stock and it through off my old load recipe so I had to do some rework. I've ended up w/ the following:

1. Win Brass
2. 210M primers
3. 175 SMK
4. 44grn Re-15,#3 in image) or 44.2 since that error has to be me!
5. Neck Sized w/ RCBS Neck Sizer,$25 version w/ out changeable bushings) to .330 w/ 1/2 turn and second press
6. Case Length 2.013-2.015
7. Cases sorted by weight
8. Bullets sorted by ogive
9. 2.95 OAL,.020 off lands)measured from my new Hornady OAL gauge

Is 2.95 too long for a stock Rem 700? 1 out of 20 got stuck and wouldn't chamber. I'm thinking it was a neck size issue because it was sticking out about 1/2 inch or more.

Here is the results of the load testing at the new 2.95 length:

Here are the results using the old load at the 2.85 length:

Let me know what you guys think. At 2.85 OAL I seem to average over .9" w/ 5 shot groups. With 2.95 OAL I seem to average .5". Is the OAL change the difference or was it just luck? I'm still a newb so there are a lot of wind issues here as well.

Thanks!

 

[tx_shooter]

It is very possible. The .10 adjustment your talking about changed the length of jump for the bullet. Some bullets like a little jump - some like a great big leap, but it is up to the handloader to find out. Keep playing with your seating depth and see what kind of results you can really crank out with your paper puncher.

 

[savet06]

ericnord,
I have had a very similar experience with my bench gun when I went from .01 to .03,in .005 increments) in jam. I watched the groups go from straight 1" of vertical to 1/2 bullet of vertical and nice tight groups. Looking at your groups the same seems to have occurred. You may find that even less jump..say .005 will give you even tighter groups...or not.
It's a beautiful thing when you find what your gun likes. Go with the combo that gives you the least amount of vertical and stick with it. And have fun!
Mike

 

[Preacher]

I did about the same with a XP-100 22 br I just finished. I had been shooting until I got to where it was shooting really good and then started to check OAL in .005 increments.
Going longer by .010 closed the groups better than any other setting...
I always start checking with the base of the bullet at the base of the neck, and then go from there....

 

[BigJim]

2.95 looks right to me. Now move your powder up or down depending on where you are to Max by .2,2 tens) of a grain.

44 grains looks the best, stick with it.

Just for the heck of it, cut the power on your scope by 1/2 and see if you get the same results or better.


Jim

 

[TiGuy]

I finally found my recipe for my 308 TC Encore Shilen 1 in 10,My silhouette rig). 180gr Noslers at 2.966 COAL. If the barrel likes 2.95, then have at it.