New Guy & Questions

[danwyatt]

Hi,
To start here's some info on me and my equipment.
Savage Mod 10FP before Acu Trigger. I bought 1000 once fired brass and have processed the brass by ensuring they are all cleaned including primer pockets, all trimmed to 1.750 and sorted by weight. For the first reloads I've selected Sierra Match 52gr HPBT, Vitavuori N133 powder and federal primers.
I'd like to start target shooting out to 300 yds.
Questions I have about the rifle are about some of the terminology used that i'm not sure I understand are,free space),head space)and how this information is used to determine the OAL of the round and over all accuracy of the rounds?

Dan

 

[Preacher]

I'm not sure of the -free space-, but I think it's where they sell stuff on here...

The head space is simply the distance from the center of the shoulder of any non belted case to the base of the case.
OAL is the distance from the ogive of the bullet to the bottom of the case, and has nothing to do with headspace.
Free space could be the space between the base of the bullet and the powder, but I've always called it load density..... 100% load density would be when there is no free space then............

 

[danwyatt]

Preacher,

So again I'm new at this and just trying to find out where to start the OAL for the round based on the components mentioned.
If I understand you, based on the drawing on the 223 info page the measurement on the left 1.8551 is the baisic OAL for the round?

 

[Preacher]

Yes, thats the OAL of that .223 case in that chamber, but if your chamber is longer, or shorter you'll need to find out what your chamber wants, to be 100% sure......

 

[fdshuster]

danwyatt: Exact same rifle I bought new in August 2000, pre-accutrigger. Shot -out the original barrel and just recently replaced with a Hart 1-8, same contour. An excellent bullet, especially for you at 300 yards, is the Savage recommended 69 gr. Sierra #1380, loaded with a "good" charge of Varget, although your N133, or N135) may be a better choice for your rifle. Over the years tried a variety of other bullets and always returned to the Sierra #1380. Hornady 68 HPBT also are a very good choice.

 

[RJinTexas]

Dan, the inexpensive Hornady Lock-N-Load OAL gauge would be a big help cost about 30.00, and you just buy a modified case for each cartridge you wish to load for, they run around 7.00 each. Can be purchased through Sinclair or Midway, good directions are on the package.
Good luck
RJ

 

[danwyatt]

Thanks Preacher! I knew you guy's could help me see the light.
I'll order the Hornady lock and load and see what the chamber want's.

 

[danwyatt]

One more questions for the Preacher or RJinTexas... Or anyone else who could help me get on the right path.


I bought the OAL guage and a bullet comparator. Followed the instructions and determined the OAL for the cartridge as measured to the ogive. If I incorporate .040' of jump
My question and observation is this, if I follow this, I'm only inserting about .140' of the base of the bullet into the case neck to crimp to. is this sufficient? and if I lower the jump I also lower the amount of the bullet I get to crimp to.

 

[js223]

Don't worry about not running them in the rifling. I've seen decent groups with the 52s at magazine length,2.26 COL which is base of case to bullet tip length).

I'd also suggest NOT crimping them. They were designed to be run without a crimp, which is why they have no cannelure. Accuracy may be better without the crimp, and brass life will be longer too.

 

[danwyatt]

Thanks for the comments js223

Dan