Jager
Gold $$ Contributor
It's curious that your load using virgin brass was notably and consistently better than that same brass once-fired. Usually we expect to see a modest improvement as fired brass fire forms to the chamber.
The once-fired brass that you're now working with - is that the same lot of brass that you saw 1/2 MOA from previously?
Same lot of powder? Same lot of bullets?
You've got a solid body of experience with that load in that rifle - 400 rounds is a compelling statistical sample. Given that long experience, I'd be inclined to re-run your ladder. And I'd load enough rounds to do it twice (cleaning the bore between each 21-shot segment - I'm including three foulers). I would pay attention to velocity - because that gives you a proxy into what kinds of pressures you're running - but would mostly ignore ES until you're dialed back into a load that is starting to look interesting.
Have you confirmed the amount of shoulder bump you're getting when you FL size?
QuickLoad shows a preliminary print (preliminary because it's using all program defaults) of 2914 fps with the 215gr Berger Hybrid out of a 26" barrel, with 78.0/RL-26. So it's in the neighborhood of what you're seeing.
The once-fired brass that you're now working with - is that the same lot of brass that you saw 1/2 MOA from previously?
Same lot of powder? Same lot of bullets?
You've got a solid body of experience with that load in that rifle - 400 rounds is a compelling statistical sample. Given that long experience, I'd be inclined to re-run your ladder. And I'd load enough rounds to do it twice (cleaning the bore between each 21-shot segment - I'm including three foulers). I would pay attention to velocity - because that gives you a proxy into what kinds of pressures you're running - but would mostly ignore ES until you're dialed back into a load that is starting to look interesting.
Have you confirmed the amount of shoulder bump you're getting when you FL size?
QuickLoad shows a preliminary print (preliminary because it's using all program defaults) of 2914 fps with the 215gr Berger Hybrid out of a 26" barrel, with 78.0/RL-26. So it's in the neighborhood of what you're seeing.