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Opinions on my Groups and loads

What is a good tool for checking bump in the .223? I have always just run the die down to the shell holder and let it rip. It turns in groups less than an inch with an economy stainless barrel. Chambers easy.

RCBS case micrometer...
http://www.sinclairintl.com/reloadi...n-mic-cartridge-headspace-tool-prod33476.aspx

Whidden case gauge (same idea as the RCBS)
http://www.whiddengunworks.com/product/case-gauge-3/

Or the Hornady Headspace comparator (comes with different inserts for different cartridges)
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/4...headspace-gauge-5-bushing-set-with-comparator

Do a few minutes research into each one to find out what floats your boat.
 
I went through 100 cases that I have prepped and all but 2 were between the min and max on my gauge so I think I'm good, right? :rolleyes:

Did you try magazine length COAL to see how it groups?
I assume you're single feeding the 2.500"+ coal.
Plenty of times I've had good results jumping the bullet a mile from the lands.
 
There is no reason a load developed at 100 yd will not perform well at 600 yd. I've done load development at 100 yd for years and the resultant loads shoot just fine at 300, 600, and 1000 yd. Further, shooting 5 x 5-shot groups during load development will likely ensure you burn out your barrel long before it should have been necessary. If you're confident in your ability to shoot solid groups, a single 5-shot group will tell you all you need to know. Certainly you have to pay attention while shooing your groups; if you noticeably pull a shot or let one go when the wind condition changes markedly, write it down for later use in evaluating the group.

There are several potential issues with the data you presented above. First and foremost, it is more challenging to shoot with good precision using an AR-type rifle due to the movement of the BCG (as compared to a typical bolt gun). If you can turn off your gas system and single feed during load workup, it might help. Second, was 23.0 gr N140 the only charge weight you tested? I'm curious as to why the velocity decreased as COAL decreased, yet the ES increased during the same seating depth intervals. My gut feeling is that you have not tested a wide enough window during charge weight testing to find the optimal charge weight window. Changing the seating depth of a jumped bullet by .010" shouldn't alter velocity by that amount, although it might for a jammed bullet, or one seated very close to "touching" the lands. If you find the "sweet spot" during charge weight testing, i.e. a window of at least two or three consecutive 0.1 gr charge weight increments that give you minimal velocity increase as the charge weight increases AND give you low ES/SD, that is where you really want to be. At that point, testing seating depth from around .005" off the lands to at least .025" off the lands in .003 increments is what I would suggest. Look for at least two or three successive seating depth increments [window] that produce the best 5-shot groupings. Then you load to the longest COAL of that seating depth window, which will give you the most headroom to account for land erosion before you need to do another seating depth test.

Some of the keys to precision reloading are to test a single variable at a time, covering a sufficiently wide range to find and define the "edges" of the optimal window (so you can lad to the middle of the window), and to use sufficiently small increments so as not to potentially miss something. For a cartridge as small as the .223, I would carry out the final charge weight testing in 0.1 gr increments, and I use 0.003" increments for seating depth testing. I think if you carry out your charge weight and seating depth testing in a rigorous and systematic manner, you will find a stable load with good precision. Good luck.
 
No apology necessary, I just though you might have gotten a lemon. It has been known to happen. So how did the groups look with a better trigger?

I didn't make up any more to test other than just 7 rounds with 24gr of N140 with a COAL of 2.500". Here's a pic of the group or maybe I should say design I got. Don't know what would cause that kind of a group. The line of 5 equals 1" exactly.2_0-Ogive_24gr.JPG
 
Second, was 23.0 gr N140 the only charge weight you tested? I'm curious as to why the velocity decreased as COAL decreased, yet the ES increased during the same seating depth intervals. My gut feeling is that you have not tested a wide enough window during charge weight testing to find the optimal charge weight window....

Thanks for all the tips, I'll keep them in mind. As for different charge weights, I must have tested about 10 different ones, then took the best 4 and started with COAL changes and what I posted in the beginning is the best of all those variables to date. I don't know if I did it in the correct order but I started with a COAL that had the bullet(ogive?) just touching the lands, then backed off until I got my best groups.

Not really worried about burning the barrel out, Once I get the load I need, I'll probably only shoot the rifle every so often unless of course, the Zombies attack! :eek:
 
Some people optimize seating depth first, then determine optimal charge weight. Others do it in the reverse order. Either approach can work. Sounds like you have carefully tested a wider range of charge weight and seating depth than was initially apparent, which is good. Whatever you can do to minimize any effect of the rifle itself (BCG mass-movement) at this point is likely to be helpful in shrinking your groups. At some point, you are likely to reach some minimum effective group size and continued load development efforts may not shrink it much further. I would also suggest stretching it out to 200/300/400 yd just to see how well the grouping holds up at longer distances. The only other suggestion I can think of is if you have access to a different primer, it may be worth trying. Sometimes simply switching primers can make a world of difference. Good luck!
 
That was my next and maybe final step to switch primers which I have about 4 different brands then go to the 600yd range after testing them out.
 
BTW, When I was at the range testing my last rounds I almost had a mishap. Looking through my scope I take my next shot and immediately my scope goes black just for a second, I look up and here is this doe running across the range. I don't know how I missed her but I bet she's got a scratch on her nose it was that close.
 

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