Biggest difference in group size

A rifle will do best with a specific load. Handloading involves finding that load.

Some factory load, from a given maker with a particular bullet and powder of a certain lot# may do as well... if you happen to find it. And there are some factory loads that are the opposite of what your rifle likes.

I have see 2 minute groups from factory ammo and half minute handloads ion the same rifle.
 
Ganderite said:
A rifle will do best with a specific load. Handloading involves finding that load.

Some factory load, from a given maker with a particular bullet and powder of a certain lot# may do as well... if you happen to find it. And there are some factory loads that are the opposite of what your rifle likes.

I have see 2 minute groups from factory ammo and half minute handloads ion the same rifle.
Click to expand...

That is about what I was going to say exactly.
 
That Winchester white box 55 grain 223 shoots 1.5-2" groups in my gun that shoots 0.5" groups with hand load or factory target ammo (Hornady Match). So if that's all you had tested it with, you would think its a pretty ####ty rifle.
 
I've seen it drastically in both directions.

But like Ganderite says you'll find that tailored load just for rifle.

Sometimes you just can't turn a rifle into anything other than average either.
 
I GOT A GREAT DEAL ON 9 BOXES OF factory 7mm-08 ammo, and tested all of it in my rifle. Only the Nosler 140gr accubond and the Federal fusion shot acceptable groups7 other boxes were 2 inches and bigger at 100 yards. My hand load of 44.3gr of Win 748 is less than an inch every time at 100 yards, with the 139gr Hornady bullet....FS
 
Some factory loads will do better than some handloads, in some rifles. If your rifle likes a load, it doesn't matter if it is factory, or a handload. If you are going to take time to try various combinations of components and powder charges, COLs, etc, you can usually get the best accuracy from a handload,l but if you are simply going to choose a handload out of a manual, it may not e any more accurate than a random factory load.
 
Thanks. I do a lot of hand loading already but was just curious. Have a rifle that was donning 3” groups with factory rounds. I know I can make it do better but got a bit worried as I have never had a factory rifle shoot a group quite that bad with factory ammo.
 
.264 Win Mag said:
Thanks. I do a lot of hand loading already but was just curious. Have a rifle that was donning 3” groups with factory rounds. I know I can make it do better but got a bit worried as I have never had a factory rifle shoot a group quite that bad with factory ammo.
Click to expand...

I have seen 1.5" to 5/8" three shot groups from my 270 win. Just from seating depth changes. I have also seen a bout a 2.5" to 1" group change just from powder change in the same rifle, using the same bullet.
 
I have an AR that will shoot sub-moa almost 1/2 moa with handloads and I have seen 3 mos with winchester 55gr / AE223 and up to 6 moa with remington UMC.
 
I use cheap store got ammo for first couple of rounds to confirm operation of a gun, then a few more to sight in if an optic is used to get on paper then tailor a load for each of my guns. Reloading has been more rewarding than paying more for a gun! Even the high priced guns need reloading to be accurate. I consider accurate 1/2"or less.
 
I had some Smith & Wesson headstamped 30-30 170 gr Factory ammo that would shoot about 4-5" at 100 yards.
Handloaded 170 Speers, chased by 31 gr of IMR3031 easily shot 1½" all day. Dave.
 
My dads savage 243 shoots awful with factory 80 grain Federal ammo but the 100 grainers are fine.
Federal Fusion 243 95 grain shoots sub MOA in my T3 but so do my handloads - but with 5 rounds.
 
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