First Time Reloading - First Time Grouping - First Time Everything

[DougPeach]

View attachment 485686

 

[9.3mauser]

I skimmed through the thread and didn't see this mentioned: have you checked your cases/loads for runout? Bullet wobble is what it used to be called.

 

[Meroh]

I followed your instructions and did this yesterday and was really surprised what I found.

My COAL appears to be at exactly the caliber's max according to Wikipedia when I measured my dummy case after chambering... 2.70" is this safe?

Back it off .005-.010" so 2.600 - 2.65" COL

 

[Meroh]

Roger that! They chamber at that length, I have all the ones I loaded currently at 2.65" OAL but I made 4 at the 2.70" to test if it helps in 41gr to compare. I can bring them down to 2.68"

Fit too the rifle chamber, not the book.

 

[Meroh]

I just started reloading and after deciding on bullets, powder and primers, I went and loaded 5 rounds with one grain increments, when the weather warms up(-40c for the last week or so) I will go shoot those five rounds of “sand” bags like I always do! And look at that five shot “group” look likes if let say shot #3 and 4 are really close together while the others are more separated from those two I will start with these 2 loads to fine tuned, start with load #3 as my start load and work my way up to load four by maybe .2 grain increments.... go shoot again and see what that does!! If it doesn’t work then look for sitting dept then maybe powder etc!
I know the rifle can shoot 1moa with the cheapest factory ammo I could get, S&B and is consistent too! So reloading is mainly to bring the cost down per rounds and having better bullet choice for that round, if I can go sub moa than that is bonus but I’m happy with anything under 1.5” group at 100m, that means 3” at 200 and that is as far as I would shoot anyway and the game I’m after has 2’ vital zone so plenty good for me!! I also want to shoot more to be more confident and more proficient in hunting situations where conditions are not always ideal!!

I go a bit further and will load 20 at each powder charge, again in 1 gr. incriments. One group of 3 or 5 tells you nothing, but 4 groups of 5 give you a very accurate picture of what each charge is doing for you. Once you find the sweet spot load, then start fine tuning by .1 gr. above and below the best load. Again, 20 of each load. This is a very fun and rewarding excercise.

 

[Meroh]

Have a Snickers and reread my post
I only told him what the book suggests.
And he said his COL was 2.700 ,so I suggested 2.680,
Which is 20 thous off the lands.

I know the book is for reference but I'm assuming the data is there for a reason.
And as this is a new reloaded,he should take his time and proceed slowly.
Or do you think its OK for a new reloaded to start at 1/2 g above manufacturers max load?

I guess he could work down? Lol

Book COAL is only a reference. If you want to shoot book values; then don't hand-load.

 

[Meroh]

I bought a Zastava M70 in 6.5X55. Long story short; bedding was the sh!ts. After I lamp-blacked the action & barrel, I was able to trim excess wood & groups tightened up enormously. Check your bedding.

Mine shot great from the start, but I did take care of a high spot under the barrel before I went to the range the first time.

 

[DougPeach]

I skimmed through the thread and didn't see this mentioned: have you checked your cases/loads for runout? Bullet wobble is what it used to be called.

How do I do that? I physically feel them and they are stable. I also used pliers one time to pull the bullet out for curiosity's sake.. It was tight

 

[DougPeach]

Hey ya, absolutely!

I have put 400 rounds through the rifle now since my first post along with 60 federal blue box. The blue box performed like the 2" groups I am getting now.

That 36gr IMR with an 85gr Sierra HPBT tho...

 

[9.3mauser]

How do I do that? I physically feel them and they are stable. I also used pliers one time to pull the bullet out for curiosity's sake.. It was tight

I have a gauge to measure it, but a quick and dirty method is to roll the cartridges across the surface of a mirror. You'll be able to see the wobble of the bullet tip.

 

[DougPeach]

Problem solved.

I shaved a little bit of the stock where it was ever so slightly pinching the barrel so that a folded paper wold slide freely through.. Like butter, no resistance at all.

I upgraded my scope and rings, I now have the Vortex Crossfire II and vortex pro rings.

I reattached the bipod with the barrel floated.

I loaded Hornady Interlock 100gr BTSP over 32.8gr of IMR 3031 with a COAL of 2.65.

Turns out the rifle shoots, I wasn't the problem.


This is the 100yd target from bipod in prone.
I left the range today zerod

 

[jimbo14]

Glad to see things are working out!

 

[DougPeach]

UPDATE

32.8gr IMR 3031 and a 100gr Hornady Interlock have produced a 3 round same hole group in my Zastava .243

 

[DougPeach]

The biggest part was taking off the bipod and shooting off my backpack.


For some reason the bipod was putting too much variable tension on the stock. Thats what you get from an amazon bipod

 

[kmoney159]

Oops deleting reply, old post

 

[marshall]

I would forget about reloading if this is your first time shooting .
AS mentioned, get a box or two of factory ammo and a good bench and shot some slow groups.
Them play with loads after you find out the gun will shoot OK.

 

[Ganderite]

Is this normal?
I put my rifle in a woodworking vice and set the reticle on the center of a target across the room from me (about 25 ft)
I then slowly rotated the magnification up as I looked through the rifle scope...

as I increase in mag my reticle moves down and to the left, as I zoom back out of mag it returns to where it was originally aimed.

this is not replicated on my 4570 with a vortex.

No, that is not acceptable. The good new is that the solution is well known.

First, you tie 2 feet of string to the scope.

Then you find some deep water or very tall grass.

Then you spin the scope around your head as fast as you can.

Then .......

 

[sharp shooter]

100 grain bullets are heavy for some 1:10 twist rifles. Try something smaller

 

[fade2black]

The biggest part was taking off the bipod and shooting off my backpack.


For some reason the bipod was putting too much variable tension on the stock. Thats what you get from an amazon bipod

Glad to see you got it sorted. Great rifles, I had a 6.5x55 that would shoot clover leaf groups from a cold barrel. Is yours the stock with the Monte Carlo or the hogs back?

 

[Ganderite]

Problem solved.

I shaved a little bit of the stock where it was ever so slightly pinching the barrel so that a folded paper wold slide freely through.. Like butter, no resistance at all.

I upgraded my scope and rings, I now have the Vortex Crossfire II and vortex pro rings.

I reattached the bipod with the barrel floated.

I loaded Hornady Interlock 100gr BTSP over 32.8gr of IMR 3031 with a COAL of 2.65.

Turns out the rifle shoots, I wasn't the problem.
View attachment 487398

This is the 100yd target from bipod in prone.
I left the range today zerod

Well done. Welcome to the world of a thousand "what would happen if I ....?"

There are several elements that come to mind, looking at your group.

First - cheek pressure. This can be a huge variable when shooting off a sandbag, especially if you are using a rear bag, too. I like to just barely let my whiskers touch the stock. No variable.

Second - Action screws. Tighten the two of them lightly, then tighten the front one down, then the rear, with the rear not as tight as the front one. Don't over do it - you can crush wood.

Third - Bullet jump. 20 thou off is the safe and accurate place to be. This may be too long to fit the mag. Choose which matters.

Fourth - Barrel cleaning. Are you using a good copper solvent? If not, you have copper deposits. If you do use a good copper solvent, leave it in over night, muzzle down on a pad of paper towels. If you get a blue stain, barrel is not yet clean.

Fifth - Try that load again, and 0.2 and 0.4 more and less powder. Your group is vertical, suggesting a barrel harmonic issue. The bullet may be exiting the muzzle as the muzzle is vibrating down.

Sixth - make sure you dial out the parallax. Don't rely on the number on the scope ring. With the rifle supported, and looking through the scope without touching it, move your head around and see if the cross hair moves on the target. If it does, adjust the parallax until it does not move. If it is not dialed out, your group can be as big as the parallax error before you fire a shot.

Seventh - Don't start the test with the test ammo. Use some old mediocre ammo to warm the barrel with 5 shots and to verify that the group will be on paper.

Eighth - Use a better aiming mark. I prefer black squares. I aim at one of the corners. Very precise.