How Much Does Handloading Really Help Accuracy?

[Jammer Six]

I don't use factory ammo.

That said, to establish which side of the handloading fence I live on, I get better accuracy from handloads, but I've never measured the improvement.

Assume a decent factory rifle. (A .223 Ruger Hawkeye is my current handloading project) How far can you push accuracy if you're willing to do workups, and how do you know when you're there?

 

[Sniper338]

 

[Archis]

Really depends on how far the rabbit hole you want to go. Nearly any rifle will benefit from handloaded ammo. How much really is dependent on each individual gun.

For my uses (F-class, Highpower, etc.) if I can get a rifle shooting into at least .5moa (preferably .3moa) then I feel pretty good to call it a day and just enjoy shooting. Benchrest is a whole 'nuther world I haven't ventured into but I doubt load development ever really stops for those guys. That said, they are trying to put a bullet through the same hole...and they do.

 

[joshb]

Tons! I'll explain, later. Late for dinner.

 

[22BRGUY]

Once you start to notice the difference your in trouble...in a good way. The fun never stops and it can be as much as you want to venture into. As said some guys settle for 1/2 moa...but to others it's always "can I make it do better?" The satisfaction and sense of accomplishment is a nice reward.

 

[dickn52]

When my 5 round group starts looking like my 1 round group. Then I stop experimenting.

 

[gambleone]

It's addicting, for sure

 

[daniel brothers]

getting the reload right... makes the barrel's harmonics better... less vibration... less bullet wobble as it leaves the barrel.... better one hole accuracy.

That's like saying... will my vehicle drive smoother if I balance the tires.

 

[perry42]

Depends on how through you are in the reloading process.

perry42

 

[SheepDog]

I think all reloaders go through a period of searching for that magical "one hole group" and some of them never stop. I went through it and it lasted for three years. I kept what I learned and use those things that made the biggest positive changes. I am a hunter but I load for accuracy. I only own one rifle that won't shoot sub MOA five shot groups. That SKS was never meant to be more than a plinking gun because when I got it it was less expensive to shoot than my 22LR. That is no longer true and it sits in the back of the safe and doesn't come out to play much. I find it hard to tolerate 3" groups at 100 yards.
I guess the biggest lesson I learned trying to find that one hole group was that case prep and load consistency were where you can make the most difference. One old bench rester at the SPAA range put a new barrel on his action. he couldn't get it to shoot those tiny groups he was used to getting. He lapped the bore and guaged it, then cut it and re installed with a new chamber twice and no matter what he did it wasn't giving him the accuracy that he expected. After all that work he bought another barrel and installed it and got back to shooting those tiny little groups. He thought that a 10 shot 3/8" group was terrible and looking at his targets he was right but for me that one ragged hole that was about 3/8" would have been wonderful. He helped me in my chase and told me that my rifle was the problem and I needed to spend some money to make it right. I had a wife and two kids and I figured keeping a roof over their heads and food on the table was more important. I don't remember that old man's name but I will always remember his generosity with advice. I always try to "pay it forward" when I get the chance.

 

[ttfreestyle]

getting the reload right... makes the barrel's harmonics better... less vibration... less bullet wobble as it leaves the barrel.... better one hole accuracy.

That's like saying... will my vehicle drive smoother if I balance the tires.

And then when ya think its all figured out the temperature and conditions change and your nice tune goes away!

 

[SheepDog]

That is why we buy big bottles of powder, large batches of primers and volumes of bullets. The longer you can shoot the same components from the same lot number the less load workup you have to do.

That favorite load will always be a good starting point until you change barrels - then it may or may not work.
Working up a load that shoots tiny groups in your gun is a satisfaction that is on par with a son growing up and being the best at what he does.

 

[Rust]

There are a variety of reasons to handload.

Availability of factory ammo. Not a lot of 6.5 X 284 match ammunition out there. Or .308 with heavy match bullets, or .223 with 80 or 90 grain match bullets.

Cost. Priced Federal Gold match in .308 lately? I can sure load for less. Used to shoot a lot of Open class in IPSC. My Dillon progressive press paid for itself in about two years because thousands of rounds of factory .38 Super gets real expensive fast. Once the up front costs of the press are amortized brass is the next most expensive thing. Being able to reuse brass five or six times really helps with the savings. Did a spreadsheet once and long term savings were substantial.

Accuracy. Most factory ammunition (with the exception of something like rather pricey Applied Ballistics ammo) does not have SD/ES numbers good enough to be competitive in long range matches. What is accurate at a couple of hundred yards starts to fall apart after 800 or so. Tuning the load to the rifle is critical. In long range it's pretty much roll your own or stay home.

For other than competition I still load most my own. Yeah, .223 is relatively inexpensive off the shelf but I still load better, off the shelf 22-250 is more expensive and not so good in my rifle so I roll my own. Pretty much the only time I use store bought is if somehow I'm in a pinch.

 

[Tommie]

Picking a random recipe and handloading it has basically zero predictable effect on accuracy for any individual weapon. Handloading in and of itself isn't the source of improved accuracy. The key is in learning how to tune loads for your particular weapon (along with case prep and a zillion other things).

 

[Jammer Six]

I'm not sure it needs to be predictable, I like to handload, and I like to wander through workups and measure the results.

 

[284winner]

Forget the harmonics and bullet selection. Recently I had a friend that purchased a box of precision hunter ammo with 162 eldx bullets loaded. I ran a some thru my chrono and there was 50-60 fps spread in the rounds I tested. Only tested 9 shots. That alone is why reloading is necessary for accuracy. I've seen this many, many times in factory ammo. May not affect 100 yard accuracy a ton but the further your shot, the more accuracy will deteriorate.

 

[daniel brothers]

Tommie said it all in his above post.... those are Golden Words.

How many people blame the barrel... the stock... the trigger... the scope...etc etc... when in all reality... it's their reloads... they have not finished out their reloading process for that particular rifle.

How many shooters can honestly work up a reload to prove their weapon's accuracy or inaccuracy. As said in another thread... who can out shoot their rifle.... well... who can out reload their rifle's ability.

How often does the equipment get the blame, when it's really the reloader that hasn't finalized his job.... and how many really UNDERSTAND what they're doing... or how to do it properly... to the end.

 

[NorCalMikie]

Every thing I shoot requires hand loading. No factory ammo available. All are wildcats accept my Gas guns. (I reload for them also) If I can cover a five shot group, from the bench, at 100 yards, with a dime, I'am happy. And I can do that pretty much every time, to the point that it gets boring. Time to try another caliber.

 

[ryanjay11]

This is just trolling in a different style than what he was doing last week. If you don't already see it, give it a little time and it will be obvious.

 

[22BRGUY]

I'm not sure it needs to be predictable, I like to handload, and I like to wander through workups and measure the results.

That's the fun of it.....it sounds like you might be "on the edge" of getting "hooked"...BE CAREFUL! Once you start finding loads that are cheaper and more accurate and "predictable" than what you can buy in the store.... the answer to your first question will be obvious. The people on this site have made this thing so much more fun and enjoyable than it ever was for the 15 or 20 years before I got here and the willingness to help and offer helpful suggestions here is like nowhere else I have ever seen. Truly GOOD people.
Good luck whatever you decide.