What REALLY Matters For Factory Gun Load Development @ 100/200 Yards?

[Phil3]

My rifles (so far) are an AR-15 w/Krieger barrel in min SAAMI 223, and a Howa bolt action in 223. I was wondering what really matters in load development out of factory guns or ones with SAAMI spec chambers, especially if shooting at 100 & 200 yards only. Neck turning, weighing cases, bullet seating depth, neck runout, primer selection, etc. are known to be important for accuracy, but are most oft mentioned in conjunction with custom BR guns (at any range), and/or long ranges. I do intend to have at least a precision chambered 6mmBR in a custom barrel that I perhaps can shoot at 300 yards, but until then, what matters in load development for the rifles I have? I just want to focus on what is most important.

Phil

 

[Forum Boss]

Accuracy is like a chain -- every link counts. You need very high quality brass, the best and most consistent bullets you can buy, a very accurate powder charge, and suitable primers for your powder load. Then assembly is critical -- you need very consistent neck tension (perhaps better described as neck "grip" on the bullet), and you need to find the seating depth that your load and barrel prefers, which could be anywhere from .020+ in the lands to .070 away from the lands. As you work up a good load, you will find that very consistent neck tension is vital to the nth degree of accuracy.

Of course, all the work you do at the loading bench will never be optimized if you don't have a very good barrel.

A gun with a SAAMI chamber is capable of excellent accuracy with fire-formed brass and dies that are a good match to your chamber.

 

[ShootDots]

When Remington first came out with the VSSF, I bought one in .223. I put a Leupold 4-12 A.O. on it, took it to my 'smith for a bedding job and trigger work, then began load development. I bought this rifle for prairie dogs and Fall Turkey whilst out deer hunting in my deer stand. I remember I used to shoot the Berger FB - M.E.F. >>> Maximum Expansion Factor. Basically, it was their bullet for people shooting a 22PPC and simply opened up the meplat so it had a more explosive effect on varmints. The only "particulars" I remember was using 29grs. of WW 748 and that Berger bullet. I remember one very humid, overcast, cold day in January>>with ZERO wind. I was shooting at 100 yards and shot a 1 very small hole group with 5 shots. There was this guy there who shot Benchrest. He saw the group thru his spotting scope and told me to go get it at the next break. I did so and he measured it with whatever magnifiers / calipers and told me I just shot a .096" group! I knew it was good, however, he raved about it! My point for telling all this is that, with proper loads and an excellent "factory barrel" you can get some amazing accuracy! Just keep trying>>>it will come around..

 

[Pres100]

Keep in mind that loading for an AR 15 and your bolt gun will require different practices. You should full length size for the semi auto and you can do either full length or neck size only with the bolt action. Not really a need to turn necks for factory spec'd chambers, but some people clean them up slightly; I have found that it makes little difference with a factory chamber.
I agree with forum boss, that all of the "links in the chain" are important. Once you find a decent load, you can fine tune it by tweaking certain things. My advice is to change one thing at a time. Changing multiple things at once is extremely difficult to know the affect of individual changes.