how to shrink groups ?
- Thread starter rebs
- Start date
Since Varget seems to be a good powder for the .223 you might try both. Remember to move one thing at the time and move in small increments in small capacity cases. Move the seating depth @ .003 at the time as well so as not to jump a node. Ultimately, a tuner could serve you well once the load development is good to go.
Ned Ludd
Silver $$ Contributor
With that setup, 0.5 MOA at 300 yd is quite respectable. Frankly, I'm not sure how much room there is for improvement. That's slightly under half MOA at 300 yd with a production rifle. Tikkas have a well-deserved reputation for excellent precision, but if you're looking for quarter minute precision at 300 yd, that would be a stretch even for many custom .223 Rem rifles.
You did not mention barrel length/powder charge weight/velocity, so it's really not possible to comment on those aspects of your load. Assuming your powder selection and charge weight have been optimized, I'd suggest re-visiting seating depth. Perhaps .005" off the lands is not the optimal seating depth for the 80 SMKs in your setup. Only testing across a much wider range can answer that question. I'd suggest testing out to around .027" or .030" off the lands in .003" increments.
You did not mention barrel length/powder charge weight/velocity, so it's really not possible to comment on those aspects of your load. Assuming your powder selection and charge weight have been optimized, I'd suggest re-visiting seating depth. Perhaps .005" off the lands is not the optimal seating depth for the 80 SMKs in your setup. Only testing across a much wider range can answer that question. I'd suggest testing out to around .027" or .030" off the lands in .003" increments.
That's ok, there's bound to be one. This time it's you. (Only because you beat me to it.)
1 in 8 twist 24" barrel, 24.4of Varget with CCI BR4 primer. I do not have a chronograph. The brass is virgin lake city from Graf's
Wash target in extremely hot water!
Yeah, and my groups shrink a lot when I get much closer to the target.
I saw a group shrinker on Amazon for $29.99
Before changing seating depth, aim for a low ES. If you're lucky, you can find a low ES by just adjusting the charge in 0.2 grain increments down from the max load. If not, you may have to try a couple of different powders and primers [ maybe even change brass ] to get it. You will have to do what is necessary to achieve uniform neck tension.
When your ES is under 10, load at 2 thou increments shorter than where you are now. Five loads will be sufficient. If you do your part, at least one of those five will be a very small group.
The requirement for a precision load is being able to shoot a precision group. You won't know you have a precision load if you can't shoot it.
When your ES is under 10, load at 2 thou increments shorter than where you are now. Five loads will be sufficient. If you do your part, at least one of those five will be a very small group.
The requirement for a precision load is being able to shoot a precision group. You won't know you have a precision load if you can't shoot it.
Bronsin
Silver $$ Contributor
I would drop to 24.0 and do a primer test with whatever brands you can get, then work up .1gr at a time until you're at a full case. Then seat .001 off, and move back in .002 increments, shooting 2 shot groups. If everything between say .003 to .009 all put them in a hole, then seat at .004 off. After that, maybe try the Nosler or Berger 80gr bullets, or lightly neck turn some lapua brass. Put up a couple simple wind flags out to 100 yards and just shoot when they are the same. There's even lighter trigger springs for sale in the classifieds here that can lighten the pull substantially. It's already shooting well. Just some small refinements and it may get under an inch.
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Bench.
I arrived at this load by doing load development at 100 yds first then out to 300 yds. Horizontal and vertical spread is very close to the same. Just a shade more horizontal
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