First Time Reloading - First Time Grouping - First Time Everything

^^^ Like he said.

If the bullets are not going through the target sideways, they are stable. Stability is either yes or no. At the velocity you shot, the bullets are stable.

You should start at 39 or 40 and work up. If the bullets at lower velocity are sideways, you will know you need more RPM (velocity).

2" is not bad. It is a mediocre accuracy for a hunting rifle. A good start.

Make sure the action screws are snug. back each one off and re-tighten. Don't over do it.

Use a piece of paper to make sure the forened is clear of the barrel. if not, take the action out and wrap a long socket in sandpaper and open the channel till it clears. Seal wood with urethane, varnish, etc.

4831 is a good choice for the Hornady 100 gr bullet. 3031 is not good. Save it for 65 gr bullets.

The Hornady 100 gr is plenty accurate. Capable of 1/2 min in a perfect rifle.

You should tinker to get 11/2" at 100 yards. Anything better than that will be bonus.

Do not shoot quickly.

Report back and tell us how it is going.

We are house bound and live vicariously.
 
Also,you should try a few different powder weights.
Start at the bottom load and work up.

You started at 1/2 grain above max load and that's it.
Hornady will give you 4 or 5 loads to work with.
I usually find a good load somewhere in the middle.View attachment 462664

Here's some data.
 
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Thank you thank you thank you.

I did the paper check for free floating barrel, the paper passes through with a little difficulty, it could probably use a pass with fine sandpaper.

I measured all my brass, deprimed, cleaned, lubed, resized, reprimed, and am now weighing loads,
(update) I have done 42gr, 41.5gr, 41gr, 39.5gr in IMR 4831

I haven't removed the bipod yet because I am not sure when I will get the chance to shoot from sandbags, I have taken this advice to heart but don't own sandbags and all of the sand here is frozen under about a foot of snow.

I checked with the wife to make sure I can get away from the kids this weekend for long enough to try again
This time I will be pushing out to 100yds and I will be waiting 3mins between each shot.

I couldn't sleep thinking about these groups
 
Sandbags.

Go to your sock drawer and pick out a pair of those heavy wool socks you wear with your hunting boots.

Go to the Bulk barn and buy a couple pounds of white dried beans,

3/4 fill each sock with beans. Tie it off with a couple of good zip ties.

This bag is much lighter than a sand bag and easier to use and transport.

I have also use macaroni to fill a bag. Even lighter.
 
Also,before you put to much effort into this combo, a easy way to find the COL,is to just barely seat a bullet in a sized, unprimed case, then very gently chamber it.
After you very gently extract it,this should give you the Col for this particular bullet.
I usually do 3, just to be sure.
Once you find that ,you can load them closer to the lands .
And make sure they fit in your mag first.

As I said earlier, my group closed up over 1 1/2 MOA , when I moved the bullet closer to the lands.
 
I have a 243 savage with a removable magazine, with accutrigger.
Last summer because of covid, i did my most target shooting ever.
Most of the time i had the sandpit to myself.
I shot a lot of 243's.
I shoot 100 grains for bear hunting. This flattens them out in a hurry.
I use a lead sled when i try for tight groups.
It works for me as i'm getting on in age 74.
I've loaded quite bit this winter. Getting the itch to go out and get a wolf.
I just got cataract eye surgery a week ago and i'm coming along really good.
I will load some z-max and v-max soon.
Take care and be safe wear a mask
 
Rice makes a ok bag as well
Do you know any shotgun reloaders? Ask for their empty shot bags.
Or cut the legs off your worst pair of jeans. Fill with something. Can your wife sew them shut?
Lots ways to make “rifle bags”
 
45C said:
Also,before you put to much effort into this combo, a easy way to find the COL,is to just barely seat a bullet in a sized, unprimed case, then very gently chamber it.
After you very gently extract it,this should give you the Col for this particular bullet.
I usually do 3, just to be sure.
Once you find that ,you can load them closer to the lands .
And make sure they fit in your mag first.

As I said earlier, my group closed up over 1 1/2 MOA , when I moved the bullet closer to the lands.
Click to expand...

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?
 
Bigbubba said:
Rice makes a ok bag as well
Do you know any shotgun reloaders? Ask for their empty shot bags.
Or cut the legs off your worst pair of jeans. Fill with something. Can your wife sew them shut?
Lots ways to make “rifle bags”
Click to expand...

For some reason I assumed when people are talking about bags they literally meant only sandbags
 
Here is an example of trying out loads

UUdgOfQ.jpg


You can see the target is labelled from the start, point of aim for each square is marked
3 shot groups at a bunch of different weights.
One of them will always be "the best", although the "best" in some cases is nothing to write home about.
In this case 44.1 grains was in my opinion anyway, great.

So that is the load I went with
ZBRwbPZ.jpg


I only did 1 at 41 and 2 at 42 to get the barrel warmed up and to check for pressure.
Pressure was good all the way to the hottest loads, but the middle of the road load shot best.

So home I go and load 10 more at 44.1

Couple shots to get the barrel heated up...
Here is the target - obviously some people would want better, but for me I am happy.

ZLuoiL3.jpg
 
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The Hornady book suggests 2.630 for your bullet,so if your saying you have 2.700 ,for that bullet,then you should try them at 2.680.
Make sure they chamber easily and make sure they fit your magView attachment 462696
 
45C said:
The Hornady book suggests 2.630 for your bullet,so if your saying you have 2.700 ,for that bullet,then you should try them at 2.680.
Make sure they chamber easily and make sure they fit your magView attachment 462696
Click to expand...

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"
 
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!!
 
DGY - Is a good thing that you took the time to establish that the rifle, scope and you can get good groups with factory ammo - takes away a lot of wondering. Gives you a clear "benchmark" to work towards with your hand loads. About worst was a "buddy" with new-to-him rifle, new-to-him scope installed by who knows who, two boxes of random (different boxes) of factory ammo fired and did not yet have it "sighted in", nor did he have a clue what size groups it was shooting - he was just repeatedly cranking on the scope adjustments after every shot that he took, and getting angrier and more frustrated as he went. About everything in that set-up, including him, became "suspect" - hard to know where to even start!!!
 
DougPeach said:
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?
Click to expand...

Yes, it is "safe". For most applications it is best to have the bullet off the rifling, so there is no danger of having a bullet stick there when you open the bolt - dumping powder in the action. Powder and oil makes a messy combination to get out. Until it is cleaned out the rifle is probably out of commission. A big problem when hunting or in a match.

I usually set the bullet about 20 thou off the rifling.
 
Ganderite said:
Who cares what Hornady used? he is not shooting their rifle.

Each rifles needs its own OAL.
Click to expand...
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
 
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45C said:
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
Click to expand...

ahahahah, ya, he could do that >.<
 
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