groups of different size ?
- Thread starter rebs
- Start date
Ah’
I see we are both up early.
One thing I was taught by my range mates (among other things)is to sort by BBTO only loading those within.001 +or - at each loading session culling out the odd balls that for some reason spoil a group.
You’ll be surprised at the results especially when loading Sierra’s
My 2 cents
J
Some ideas:
Get a mounted level and level the rifle before every shot.
Always shoot 2-3 warm up shots before trying for groups. Try to maintain a constant temperature in the chamber/barrel. Pay attention to the outdoors temperature, in hotter weather some powders will produce more pressure which can change velocity and harmonics. If possible shoot through a chronograph and keep notes on the velocity.
For reloading, use a VLD chamfer too inside the necks. This will reduce the risk of a burr inside.
Use something like Imperial Dry Lube in the necks and possibly on the bullets too. This will help equalize the release tension. Any liquid lubes are a bad idea. I tried some in a neck and heated it, no ways near red hot. It locked the bullet in the neck like it was welded.
Measure your bullets especially if they are not all of the same lot number. For example, the 2 pictured below are of the same lot. .014" longer overall.
Probably the best way to seat them is measuring from the front which should keep the differences in jump to a minimum. The Hornady comparator in a dial caliper is a good way. I try to keep this measurement to within .001" The tool is .010" smaller than the diameter of the bullet.
Your cases should all be of the same lot number. When resizing them, keep the shoulder setback to about .001" under the as fired measurement.
Case capacities and bullet seating depth will effect the velocity too. I tested some .223 loads at different bullet depths. The first COL was 2.260" (for an AR15) and 24.4g of CFE223 produced an average of 3,045 fps. I like to load mine long with modified magazines at 2.300". 24.4g with the longer COL only averaged 3,014 fps. It took 24.8g to equal the average velocity (3,050).
There is always more you can do. You may work with different jump distances after measuring the same bullets you are using in your rifle. Neck turning could help as could checking the runout on each round. I use a Sinclair tool and try to keep the runout to .001" or less measured midway from the neck to the tip.
You're doing pretty well if a quarter will cover a group at 200 yards.
Get a mounted level and level the rifle before every shot.
Always shoot 2-3 warm up shots before trying for groups. Try to maintain a constant temperature in the chamber/barrel. Pay attention to the outdoors temperature, in hotter weather some powders will produce more pressure which can change velocity and harmonics. If possible shoot through a chronograph and keep notes on the velocity.
For reloading, use a VLD chamfer too inside the necks. This will reduce the risk of a burr inside.
Use something like Imperial Dry Lube in the necks and possibly on the bullets too. This will help equalize the release tension. Any liquid lubes are a bad idea. I tried some in a neck and heated it, no ways near red hot. It locked the bullet in the neck like it was welded.
Measure your bullets especially if they are not all of the same lot number. For example, the 2 pictured below are of the same lot. .014" longer overall.
Probably the best way to seat them is measuring from the front which should keep the differences in jump to a minimum. The Hornady comparator in a dial caliper is a good way. I try to keep this measurement to within .001" The tool is .010" smaller than the diameter of the bullet.
Your cases should all be of the same lot number. When resizing them, keep the shoulder setback to about .001" under the as fired measurement.
Case capacities and bullet seating depth will effect the velocity too. I tested some .223 loads at different bullet depths. The first COL was 2.260" (for an AR15) and 24.4g of CFE223 produced an average of 3,045 fps. I like to load mine long with modified magazines at 2.300". 24.4g with the longer COL only averaged 3,014 fps. It took 24.8g to equal the average velocity (3,050).
There is always more you can do. You may work with different jump distances after measuring the same bullets you are using in your rifle. Neck turning could help as could checking the runout on each round. I use a Sinclair tool and try to keep the runout to .001" or less measured midway from the neck to the tip.
You're doing pretty well if a quarter will cover a group at 200 yards.
Could be a donut has formed on some of your brass at the NSJ, also thin neck walls help with uniform felt seating pressure & B/O measurement consistency. Lube the inside of the neck and the bullet before seating in a beveled case mouth, complete cleaning removes the carbon lube inside the neck.....The Tikka .223 is a very high performance shooter and responds well with TLC as to cleaning and load makeup.
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