The best group I ever shot

No, don't mix the brass.

Keep them in separate lots. Even if they are the same brand and similar wight, they can easily differ in neck tension . Mixing will just make groups bigger.


My point was that if you buy Lapua brass and it weighs similar to your Hornady, you can test with a similar powder charge.
 
Ganderite said:
No, don't mix the brass.

Keep them in separate lots. Even if they are the same brand and similar wight, they can easily differ in neck tension . Mixing will just make groups bigger.


My point was that if you buy Lapua brass and it weighs similar to your Hornady, you can test with a similar powder charge.
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Okay sounds good.

My new Lee collet die showed up so I'm gonna try that out on these 1F while I wait for canada post to quit striking.
 
im using new hornady brass in my 308, with the 130gr TTSX. 50.0gr of Varget, Winchester Large Rifle Magnum primers, bullet seated 0.050" off the lands. It shoots about the same groups (0.75ish moa) out to 300M at 3130 fps.
 
DiabeticKripple said:
im using new hornady brass in my 308, with the 130gr TTSX. 50.0gr of Varget, Winchester Large Rifle Magnum primers, bullet seated 0.050" off the lands. It shoots about the same groups (0.75ish moa) out to 300M at 3130 fps.
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Man that must be one compressed load. I only loaded up to 49gr and got the sticky bolt but I also ruined my brass before i even shot them so maybe i could have gone to 50gr.
 
Brianma65 said:
I’ve had case head separation in .308 and 7mm.
You can usually see a ring around the case , where they’re going to separate, before it happens.
I think , in my case, it was from overworking the brass.
Now , I just FL every few firings.
Also , I think Hornady brass sucks:)
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hahaha I remember that saga couple years back......

I was able to get 10+ firings from federal gold metal match still sub moa, 15+ on lapua and still 1/2 moa @ 300y. The pockets were getting a little loose, but no leakage and no head separation... I would neck size 4 firings, then anneal and FL size.
I only used lee dies (still got amazing results), but I would go the collet neck sizer +a redding body die and you don't have to FL size brass ever again (unless changing to a new rifle)
 
Ganderite said:
I don't know if I am "that clown", but I will say that that little group at 100 means absolutely nothing about how that rifle can perform at 800 yards.

In fact, a single 5 shot group at 100 does not mean that that load will perform at 100 yards. It could be a fluke. 2 fliers could have gone into the group instead of out of it. I am sure the OP has or will re-shoot that load to see if it works.

A 10 shot group means something.

A 20 shot group under an inch means you have a load and a good rifle.

But even that load may not work at 800 yards.

The absolute minimum distance I would shoot in trying to evaluate a load is 300 yards, and I prefer 500 or 600.

A good 500 yards load in 308 should work to 900.

The only way I have found to check 1000 yard performance is at 1000 yards.
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So if a sub MOA group at 100 yards may not be good at 300-500 yards, do it work the same way as a sub MOA group at 300-500 yards , may not be good at 100 yards?
 
play.soccer said:
Same haha
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wait til the precision bug bites you..... I went HARD into that rabbit hole.... Probably why my results were pretty damn good for a newb with a newb press....

if I'm not getting consistent 1/2-3/4 MOA it sucks and is a bad day. but then again, usually the case when your rifle is way more accurate than you.
 
play.soccer said:
Man that must be one compressed load. I only loaded up to 49gr and got the sticky bolt but I also ruined my brass before i even shot them so maybe i could have gone to 50gr.
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It’s like compressing Rice Krispie’s haha.

I have to use a drop tube and pour very slowly, fills about halfway up the neck.

No pressure signs though which is surprising. Primer pockets are staying tight too
 
bsand said:
wait til the precision bug bites you..... I went HARD into that rabbit hole.... Probably why my results were pretty damn good for a newb with a newb press....

if I'm not getting consistent 1/2-3/4 MOA it sucks and is a bad day. but then again, usually the case when your rifle is way more accurate than you.
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I’m shooting mostly semi now, if it’s not at least.8 , it’s gone:)
 
play.soccer said:
308win and 100 yards.

Do you have any idea what could have caused the case head separation? New to reloading.
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Well, there is a couple of things. First, Hornady brass is not as great as some might think, I have a lot of Hdy brass that lasted me 1/3 of firings Federal lasted, split cases just like yours, enlarged primer pockets, little good about the whole thing. Then there is the issue of your brass fired from different rifle, having to full length resize, which depending on die brand may work your brass hard but most of all, you may have excessively set head space on your die, meaning, your shoulders have been bumped too far back creating too much play of your case on your chamber lengthwise. Loosen up your resizing die slightly and while resizing you might want to check the fit of each case in your chamber with firing pin removed for better play feel. Ideally, your bolt closes very easily but when you run your cleaning rod in from muzzle side ( careful not to damage your crown) in and feeling very little to no play of the case in the chamber. That is an indication of good chamber fit.
 
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