Hey guys I thank you for all the help getting me thru some dumb questions. But I got one more. I managed to shoot 3x 5round groups today and all were about 1" groups at 100 yards 3-4 touching and one off a lil bit. I did this with the starting load which lists 46gr h varget under a 75gr .257vmax. Now should I stay with this load or try to get a smaller group with more velocity? I'm not a precision shooter by any means but is it worth brass life for an extra 150fps? Btw the gun is a stock stevens 200 in 2506 with a harris bipod
first reloads fired down range
- Thread starter brybenn
- Start date
Sounds to me like you already have a pretty accurate load. If you aren't going for match precision but just want a good, relatively accurate load, I'd say you've already got it. Save your money, be easier on your brass and your gun and stick with a load that works.
There's no stopping you from experimenting with your recipe, who knows, if you knock your charge down a few decimals of a grain it could get more accurate thus saving your brass and money. But if you aren't into that, I'd say: if it ain't broke... don't fix it!
Oh yeah,
congratulations on your first reloads! and welcome to the addicting hobby!
There's no stopping you from experimenting with your recipe, who knows, if you knock your charge down a few decimals of a grain it could get more accurate thus saving your brass and money. But if you aren't into that, I'd say: if it ain't broke... don't fix it!
Oh yeah,
congratulations on your first reloads! and welcome to the addicting hobby!
1 in 5 "flier" may be caused by other things than your load recipy.
If it wants to touch 4, it wants to shoot that load.
Bedding.
Scale/charge wt. variations.
Runout.
Scope. internal tolerances, or failure to center your eye in the ocular lens.
Un-annealed brass.
Etc., Etc..
Welcome to the handloaders head scratching club.
If it wants to touch 4, it wants to shoot that load.
Bedding.
Scale/charge wt. variations.
Runout.
Scope. internal tolerances, or failure to center your eye in the ocular lens.
Un-annealed brass.
Etc., Etc..
Welcome to the handloaders head scratching club.
NShunter1254
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Nova Scotia Canada
What's the point of reloading if you quit trying for one hole groups.A real reloader isn't happy unless he has thirty pounds of powder and hundreds of different bullets kicking around.
What's the point of reloading if you quit trying for one hole groups.A real reloader isn't happy unless he has thirty pounds of powder and hundreds of different bullets kicking around.
I somewhat agree with your second statement, but not everyone gets into reloading to get 'one hole groups'. Some simply get into it to be able to practice the sport more affordably.
- Location
- Fort St John BC
If your happy with your results then load and shoot. Personally I enjoy the experiments for best possible accuracy/ velocity combo. so if your into that then try a view different bullets. I recommend Berger vld's for every situation only thing is they like to be seated close to the lands in my experienceso I usually measure my max coal for the gun then make sure that will fit in mag then bump it back from the lands 0.015 as a starting point. Always ha pretty good results with that.
If that group is small enough for your needs, then consider yourself lucky and laminate it!
There is nothign stopping you from adjusting that load +/- a bit and seeing what the difference will be. You know this is a "good" load for your gun ... now see hwat a 1/2 grain is each direction does for it ... then maybe a full grain if you aren't seeing pressure signs. Only then will you really start seeing the differences and what to look for next time you start making a new recipe.
There is nothign stopping you from adjusting that load +/- a bit and seeing what the difference will be. You know this is a "good" load for your gun ... now see hwat a 1/2 grain is each direction does for it ... then maybe a full grain if you aren't seeing pressure signs. Only then will you really start seeing the differences and what to look for next time you start making a new recipe.
deadeyes40
CGN Regular
- Location
- nova scotia
the OP said these gr.oups were the starting load so he/she cannot/should not go lower but can up it.i have a few loads for my 222 that shoot almost exactly the same with different bullets and powders.same point of impact almost same speed but one load used 3 grains more powder than the other to acheive the same results.switching bullets/powder might give the OP similar results
Deadeye40: Thanks for that ... I missed the "starting load" when I first responded ... I read it as the OP's starting point, not the starting point as per his chosen reloading manual. You are correct - he shouldn't go lower.
Really, until you start getting close to max, or a little over max, the life cycle of your brass won't be changed much at all. In my experience, brass life will only change once the loads start getting fairly hot ... you could probably work up from Minimum to 90% of Max (if the Min to Max loads are a 5 grain spread, then I would call 0.5 gr below max as 90%) without altering your brass life in a measurable way.
Really, until you start getting close to max, or a little over max, the life cycle of your brass won't be changed much at all. In my experience, brass life will only change once the loads start getting fairly hot ... you could probably work up from Minimum to 90% of Max (if the Min to Max loads are a 5 grain spread, then I would call 0.5 gr below max as 90%) without altering your brass life in a measurable way.
I was in the same boat pretty much. Starting load was 34gr and max load was 36.5 (IMR 4895, 55gr hornady v-max in a 22-250). I initially started with 5 bullets at 34.5gr and 5 at 35gr. The 34.5 were tighter and does me just fine for coyote. I`d love to test more, but our one and only range sucks and the weather hasn`t been that great. Once summer comes, it will be more fun experimenting. Sure wish there was such a thing as an indoor range for rifles....I`d be there all the time!!!
- Location
- Calgary, Alberta
Your groups are fine. Remember your rifle is the Stevens 200. Anything smaller than 1.5 inches is great on a factory hunting rifle at 100 yds.
