I don't use a scope.
For the past 12 years for service rifle I've basically dropped 24.5 gr RE15 into a LC case with a Rem 7 1/2 primer and either a 75\77 @ mag length, or an Amax or an 80 smk set to jump about .040". The past couple years, I've been really lazy and shot 75\77 mag length for everything....
When I shot the JLK 90's at 1k out of a service rifle I loaded them between 24.5 and 25.5 gr RE15 depending on the lot... I basically loaded them to get a velocity of 2700fps... Those ARE HOT loads and the brass was good for maybe 3 firings before the primer pockets got too loose for my taste.
When I shot the JLK 90's at 1k out of a service rifle I loaded them between 24.5 and 25.5 gr RE15 depending on the lot... I basically loaded them to get a velocity of 2700fps... Those ARE HOT loads and the brass was good for maybe 3 firings before the primer pockets got too loose for my taste.
FroggyOne2 said:
How right you are.....I've loaded with a Denver to maintain + or - .02gr. for F-Class and now for my Prone Rifle and Service Rifle. My Dillon 550 is only seeing action for 55gr. plinking ammo and pistol loads these days, no more Match ammo goes through it.
Bradley Walker
Someone should do a test comparing SD and ES between weighed and powder dropped rounds...
I would think very short grained powder and ball powders should do very well.
I would think very short grained powder and ball powders should do very well.
Bradley Walker
Remington 7 1/2 primers do not pierce at high pressure loads like the 24.5 R-15/ 77 SMK where the CCI 400's do...
My reloading skill and methods have evolved over time, so I wouldn't necessarily put the label of "scientific rigor" on it, but that hypothesis hasn't held up.Bradley Walker said:
It looks to me like uniform neck tension has more to do with uniformity than powder type. Using single lots of cases helps and annealing them seems to be one of the best things you can do to lower SD/ES. Of course, you aren't going to get away with powder bridges, but other than that, stick vs ball doesn't seem to matter.
My worst 2 loads were weighed charges of ball powder.
Bradley Walker
Beau said:
Well i was interested in comparing the ES of thrown charges verses weighed, actually.
All things being equal, weighed charges are going to be more uniform.
As to the question of how much better, throw in variables like primer lot#, powder measure type & technique, degrees of brass variation, and, just for kicks, the suitability of the powder and powder amount, and all bets are off!
You could end up with really terrible uniformity with poor weighing techniques too. Imagine you trickle the last tenth, but your scale doesn't respond to anything less than 2 tenths. If you don't upset the pan and let it resettle on a regular basis, your numbers could be far worse than with thrown charges. This is a lot more common than most people will admit. From my sample of 2 scales, I'd bet it's the rule rather than the exception.
As to the question of how much better, throw in variables like primer lot#, powder measure type & technique, degrees of brass variation, and, just for kicks, the suitability of the powder and powder amount, and all bets are off!
You could end up with really terrible uniformity with poor weighing techniques too. Imagine you trickle the last tenth, but your scale doesn't respond to anything less than 2 tenths. If you don't upset the pan and let it resettle on a regular basis, your numbers could be far worse than with thrown charges. This is a lot more common than most people will admit. From my sample of 2 scales, I'd bet it's the rule rather than the exception.
fr3db3ar
There's no rest for the wicked......I'm tired
I don't even trust the electronic scales for any kind of accuracy. Every one of the few that I've tried simply would not display every weight. No matter what I did it would always skip over certain weights. If I can't read within .1 of the weight I want, what good are they?
I just ordered up 500 52gr BTHP Hornady's.....
gonna do some load development with WC844 (h335) and a few with Benchmark, RL15, and (sigh) CFE223
i've got 500 loaded rounds of all KINDS of load development to shoot already.... I really hope I can nail down something after these 2 batches...i've already shot over 1500 and haven't nailed down a load yet! It's my fault though...i'm doing charge weight and then seating depth for a bunch of different bullets and powders...and I get to do it all over once my form 4 clears!
gonna do some load development with WC844 (h335) and a few with Benchmark, RL15, and (sigh) CFE223
i've got 500 loaded rounds of all KINDS of load development to shoot already.... I really hope I can nail down something after these 2 batches...i've already shot over 1500 and haven't nailed down a load yet! It's my fault though...i'm doing charge weight and then seating depth for a bunch of different bullets and powders...and I get to do it all over once my form 4 clears!
Bradley Walker
GSRswapandslow said:
The word is that Benchmark is lights out with 50-52 grain bullets. It appears that Benchmark is Hogdon's version of V133... I suspect that you will find bugholes right around 25 grains. Start jumping the 52 match about .020".
i believe my last batch was run at 25.6gr....and showed favorable results. I was using Sierra 1400's in that batch, though....I'm curious as to how the Hornady bullets will group compared to them....as theyre $6-8 cheaper per 100!
I'm going to work up loads from 24.5 to 26.0 in 0.3gr increments...find that sweet spot, then do possibly break it down even farther. After I find my charge weight, then i'm going to do seating depth from 0.010" jammed to 0.030" jump....more if it looks to want it.
I'm hoping, even though i'm 1:9, this can be my go-to bullet for 0-300yds. I hope WC-844 will do well, as I have 8lbs of it...and only 1lb of benchmark to test with..and that's about half gone!
I'm going to work up loads from 24.5 to 26.0 in 0.3gr increments...find that sweet spot, then do possibly break it down even farther. After I find my charge weight, then i'm going to do seating depth from 0.010" jammed to 0.030" jump....more if it looks to want it.
I'm hoping, even though i'm 1:9, this can be my go-to bullet for 0-300yds. I hope WC-844 will do well, as I have 8lbs of it...and only 1lb of benchmark to test with..and that's about half gone!
Bradley Walker
GSRswapandslow said:
I have yet to find a Hornady bullet that will outshoot the Sierras... Noslers outshoot the Hornady's for me even, but I know people who love Hornady!
well...being that this is just a remington factory action....in a cheap Hart LRT stock...i don't expect to shoot in the .1's...all the time. It's shot some tiny groups with 50gr z-max bullets over WC844....but almost everything stays under 1/2" at 100, and that's all I want. The cost savings over the sierras, bergers, or "boutique" bullets just allow me to shoot that much more...
now, when I build a 6br later this year, it'll get the good stuff...but only because I won't be dumping 300-500 rounds a day down the barrel
now, when I build a 6br later this year, it'll get the good stuff...but only because I won't be dumping 300-500 rounds a day down the barrel
Bradley Walker
paul223 said:
Both...
With the oppressive summer heat I've been doing more shooting at 100 yards, and recently worked up the following load that I have had good luck with in a couple of outings. This is in my bolt gun with a 1:8 20" Krieger barrel:
52gr SMK
23.7gr H322
Rem 7-/12 primer
2.230" OAL (about .010" off the lands)
Lapua brass, FL sized with about .0015" neck tension
edit: I went up to 24.7gr of H322 in testing with no pressure signs, but had better luck in the 23.4-23.7 range. Also tried using Wolf SRM primers in the above load, but results were dramatically worse.
52gr SMK
23.7gr H322
Rem 7-/12 primer
2.230" OAL (about .010" off the lands)
Lapua brass, FL sized with about .0015" neck tension
edit: I went up to 24.7gr of H322 in testing with no pressure signs, but had better luck in the 23.4-23.7 range. Also tried using Wolf SRM primers in the above load, but results were dramatically worse.
Bradley Walker
dboyles said:
How did it shoot?
I would guess at 24.7 you were still not quite high enough to hit the top node.
It shoots about as well as I can expect from a from a bipod (and rear bag) and no wind flags. Not to mention the guy pulling the trigger...
Kind of a small sample size, but those were the only two groups of that load that I shot (two others were testing the Wolf SRM load). Measurements are center-to-center, aka edge-to-edge minus bullet caliber.
Kind of a small sample size, but those were the only two groups of that load that I shot (two others were testing the Wolf SRM load). Measurements are center-to-center, aka edge-to-edge minus bullet caliber.
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