shortcut to finding a tight group

[TackDriv3r]

It may sound like a silly question. As you know seating depths does help tweak a load after finding a node or a nice group. Does taking a shortcut such as loading one round in .4 to .5 increments to find your maximum velocity where you may feel little heavy bolt lift, pressure signs, etc, THEN just stop there and adjust seating depths to tweak that charge to tighten it up or do you need to be in the node to tighten it up? I have seen groups so good and its outside the node, have you?

I have always done load development loading 3 round charges in increments and done well with it, sometimes its frustrating because you may use the wrong powder or bullet and does not shoot worth a darn and wasting bullets /powder and burning barrels.

 

[Intheshop]

Tack,this may be a little left field but,going to say it anyway.....

Like hunting,where setting yourself up to stop whatever it is you're doing,and hunt the conditions see's getting it done...

The same can be said for chasing accuracy.Stack the deck.What's holding you back?For most folks its time.Whether the loading bench or visiting a suitable range.

The thing that opened doors for me was cold bore,first shot groups,shot over several days/weeks.I had to figure out what it took to make cold bore,first shot hits...rain or shine.Once that cleared,think predictable bedding /load/optics...it was a short step to running groups.Just understand how,professional BR differs from a hunting rig.And then,hopefully you'll see where they are similar.It's about the confidence to "call the shot"....before,you cut it loose.Not really a short cut?Quality time,and practice.Best of luck.

 

[butchlambert]

Tack,this may be a little left field but,going to say it anyway.....

Like hunting,where setting yourself up to stop whatever it is you're doing,and hunt the conditions see's getting it done...

The same can be said for chasing accuracy.Stack the deck.What's holding you back?For most folks its time.Whether the loading bench or visiting a suitable range.

The thing that opened doors for me was cold bore,first shot groups,shot over several days/weeks.I had to figure out what it took to make cold bore,first shot hits...rain or shine.Once that cleared,think predictable bedding /load/optics...it was a short step to running groups.Just understand how,professional BR differs from a hunting rig.And then,hopefully you'll see where they are similar.It's about the confidence to "call the shot"....before,you cut it loose.Not really a short cut?Quality time,and practice.Best of luck.

????

 

[GrimmRuper]

I have starting loading into .3 grain loads. I figure that should cut my shooting for a good node by 15-25%.
Did this process with the last "new" bullet I tired and it helped me run right into it. Took more rounds in the first shooting, but I found my node in the first run. Then I loaded .1 increments above and below going two steps, i.e. 42.3 node, (lucky), then confirmed with 42.1, 42.2, 42.4, 42.5.
Maybe I was just lucky, and I may have read this somewhere but that's what I do.
Then I try different seating depths to find the most consistent MV. and hopefully I measured right and get low SD's. I usually do 3 round groups to start and find the nodes, then once I have the node, I do 5 rounds, shoot 3 and if they group well, I send the last two the the chrono.
Then once I find a consistent MV from a group and seating depth, I'll sling 10 downrange thru the chrono, to get an average number to run ballistics.

 

[fguffey]

I purchased a rifle for $120.00 for parts, it was listed as the ugliest gun ever sproterised, reloading forums had a field day. After winning the auction I took the rifle to the range with 12 different loads of 10 rounds each loaded into as many different cases I could match from new, once fired, formed, surplus and factory cases etc. I took the rifle to the range; it took most of the day to go through the 120 rounds because of the configuration of the rifle. I did not have a flyer and each 10 round group was not larger in diameter than a quarter at 100 yards. When I finished I applied the 'leaver policy'; I left-er the way I found=er. Conclusion, the man that built the ugly rifle knew more about building rifles than all of the critics on 4 different forums.

And the auction said: If you are curious about what this builder was thinking when he build this rifle he included his driver license number on the rifle. It is the only rifle I have that does not have a killer firing pin.

F. Guffey

 

[Intheshop]

Sorry that wasn't clear Butch...but the warning was prefaced.

I can step out the shop door and shoot.How about you?I make my own bullets,how about you?Just sayin,whether anyone agrees or not....we make time for things that are important.

 

[butchlambert]

Sorry that wasn't clear Butch...but the warning was prefaced.

I can step out the shop door and shoot.How about you?I make my own bullets,how about you?Just sayin,whether anyone agrees or not....we make time for things that are important.

I do not see any info in your first post, kinda confusing.
I have a place in the country, so yes I can shoot out of my house or shop door. Yes I've made bullets, reload, and build rifles. I even shoot and hunt some.
Just Sayin!

 

[Toby Bradshaw]

It may sound like a silly question. As you know seating depths does help tweak a load after finding a node or a nice group. Does taking a shortcut such as loading one round in .4 to .5 increments to find your maximum velocity where you may feel little heavy bolt lift, pressure signs, etc, THEN just stop there and adjust seating depths to tweak that charge to tighten it up or do you need to be in the node to tighten it up? I have seen groups so good and its outside the node, have you?

I have always done load development loading 3 round charges in increments and done well with it, sometimes its frustrating because you may use the wrong powder or bullet and does not shoot worth a darn and wasting bullets /powder and burning barrels.

Try the method that Tony Boyer describes in his "Book of Rifle Accuracy." If you're working with a cartridge commonly used in the benchrest games, load development is fast and (relatively) painless. The results of a powder charge/seating depth test look like the one below for my 30BR. [3-shot groups, 100yd, no holding for wind.]

 

[Intheshop]

What's not clear Butch?I was trying to be polite and saying there really isn't any shortcuts other than....

We put certain priorities in place to "create your own luck"...

It,to me...was a subjective OP,sorry it was confusing.

 

[msinc]

Tack,this may be a little left field but,going to say it anyway.....

Like hunting,where setting yourself up to stop whatever it is you're doing,and hunt the conditions see's getting it done....Best of luck.

????

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot.....I have read this post about 75 times....each time I read it, it gets more mysterious!!!!! Would love to see an English translation just to understand what it is he's really trying to say here. Then go back and read the post again to extrapolate.....but something tells me that neither is likely!!!!!

"A little left field"????? Ya think?????

 

[Shynloco]

....... sometimes its frustrating because you may use the wrong powder or bullet and does not shoot worth a darn and wasting bullets /powder and burning barrels.

TackDriv3r,
Don't get frustrated as that's part of the "challenge" in reloading your own brew. And once I find that a particular combinations that works nicely in my rifle, I will then play first with lighting the powder by .1 and increasing it by .1. Sometimes I even go to .05 (half grain change) which sometimes makes a difference. Won't know until you try. And I shoot (3) five round groups for verification AND THEN start playing with seating depth. Remember to only change ONE aspect or attribute of your load at a time. AIN'T NO SHORTCUTS because you could actually run by your best potential load when you are in a hurry or frustrated. Good luck and have fun.

Alex

 

[KenOath]

Try the method that Tony Boyer describes in his "Book of Rifle Accuracy." If you're working with a cartridge commonly used in the benchrest games, load development is fast and (relatively) painless. The results of a powder charge/seating depth test look like the one below for my 30BR. [3-shot groups, 100yd, no holding for wind.]

View attachment 1007681

Toby, which load did you go for in that pic?? They all look pretty good!

Cheers Rushty

 

[Toby Bradshaw]

Toby, which load did you go for in that pic?? They all look pretty good!

Cheers Rushty

34.7gr H4198, 1.749 on the Wilson stem, to put the seating depth in a wide node. If you shoot short-range BR, those groups look a lot different, even though there's no paper between any of the shots in any of the groups.

 

[m1rifleman]

Try the method that Tony Boyer describes in his "Book of Rifle Accuracy." If you're working with a cartridge commonly used in the benchrest games, load development is fast and (relatively) painless. The results of a powder charge/seating depth test look like the one below for my 30BR. [3-shot groups, 100yd, no holding for wind.]

View attachment 1007681

What about all those flyers on the left hand side?

 

[jamesdmock]

Try the method that Tony Boyer describes in his "Book of Rifle Accuracy." If you're working with a cartridge commonly used in the benchrest games, load development is fast and (relatively) painless. The results of a powder charge/seating depth test look like the one below for my 30BR. [3-shot groups, 100yd, no holding for wind.]

View attachment 1007681

+1

 

[ballistic64]

I don't shoot formal competition, but the biggest shortcut I have found to tight groups is when I started shooting the 6BR.

 

[billlarson]

1) ladder test
2) tweak seating depth

 

[Alex Wheeler]

For me the shortest way was always a systematic approach to full load work. Any short cut causes you to have to go back and re test. Load development is actually a pretty quick and easy affair, but most guys dont do things in a systematic approach and end up with a lot of useless data. Everything you do needs to provide solid data. You show up to the range with a test and the wind is ripping and mirage boiling, most guys will shoot the test anyhow and get confusing and misleading data from it. If you dont have 100% confidence in the test data whats the point? Depending on the type of rifle, and distance you want to shoot, you can be 90% there in one trip if you load at the range.

 

[Mulligan]

For me the shortest way was always a systematic approach to full load work. Any short cut causes you to have to go back and re test. Load development is actually a pretty quick and easy affair, but most guys dont do things in a systematic approach and end up with a lot of useless data. Everything you do needs to provide solid data. You show up to the range with a test and the wind is ripping and mirage boiling, most guys will shoot the test anyhow and get confusing and misleading data from it. If you dont have 100% confidence in the test data whats the point? Depending on the type of rifle, and distance you want to shoot, you can be 90% there in one trip if you load at the range.

^^^^^^^what he said^^^^^^^^^
CW

 

[Mikemci]

For me the shortest way was always a systematic approach to full load work. Any short cut causes you to have to go back and re test. Load development is actually a pretty quick and easy affair, but most guys dont do things in a systematic approach and end up with a lot of useless data. Everything you do needs to provide solid data. You show up to the range with a test and the wind is ripping and mirage boiling, most guys will shoot the test anyhow and get confusing and misleading data from it. If you dont have 100% confidence in the test data whats the point? Depending on the type of rifle, and distance you want to shoot, you can be 90% there in one trip if you load at the range.

Especially the reloading at the range part....makes a huge time savings!