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Reducing pressure at an accuracy node?

Tuners do allow you to load down a bit and maintain tune, rather than with powder/seating depth. Depending on you cartridge, tuners usually can make up for about 1.2-1.5 grains of powder within a given node...for lack of a better way of putting it. IOW, if there is 1.2gr between completely in tune to completely out of tune, that distance can be correlated to tuner marks. With MY tuner, the typical short range bbl is about 4 marks and the typical longer, long range bbl is about 5 marks from completely in and out of tune. You just break the powder charge down the same way, dividing by 4 or 5. The group shapes even repeat, respectively.
 
How do you get 3775 fps. The fastest load in my Berger manual is 3491 fps 125 gr bullet. You have definite signs of pressure and you are talking about trying to reach 3850 fps. Some people shouldn't be reloading ammo. Go for an accuracy load no matter what the speed is it will kill any deer.
And some people shouldn't be posting on the internet because they have no reading comprehension.
 
I believe jamming the bullet creates pressure. ????
So I'd try the lower powder loads with more jam. Maybe meeting in the middle would get good results.

I don't have to shoot at the highest node. I don't find any satisfaction in it.
 
What are you hunting? The first cold bore shot is what matters for me in developing a load for deer. I want it to go in the same place each time. I would set my shoulders back more, at least .004- .006 for a hunting load. I would also run quickload to see what pressure I was at. I have seen ejector marks and had stiff bolt lift on loads not close to max pressure. These things can be caused by a number of things.

On the other hand, 3850 with a 125gr bullet sounds really fast to me. I run my 257 STW pretty fast with 92 and 100gr bullets and have had excellent results with Hammer bullets. You may want to give them a try if you want to keep the velocity and get less pressure.
 
Why is velocity so important? I always viewed shooting as a precision sport, not a track meet on who gets there first. Certainly there is another load in a lower velocity range that will work as well, give better barrel life, case life and shoulder life.
 
. . . On the other hand, 3850 with a 125gr bullet sounds really fast to me. I run my 257 STW pretty fast with 92 and 100gr bullets and have had excellent results with Hammer bullets. You may want to give them a try if you want to keep the velocity and get less pressure.

I am shooting 124gn Hammer Hunters. They are indeed fast and accurate, and show excellent terminal performance on game.
 
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"Why is velocity so important"? I guess this question arises due to the difference between target shooting and hunting.

For hunting, velocity helps in three ways: 1) a more humane kill due to more energy on target; 2) ranging errors are not as critical due to the flatter trajectory; and, 3) less wind drift due to a shorter time of flight. Target shooters aren't affected by #1 and #2.
 
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