Could a mod please move this to Black and Green Precision rifles 
Hello,
I'm new to precision shooting and am hoping to develop the skills and ultimately try my hand at some PRS. I'm relatively new to precision shooting so looking to double-check my approach as I move into this hobby.
The rifle:
Bergara B14 HMR LH 6.5 CM - 22" barrel
Vortex Crossfire II scope (came with the rifle, I plan to purchase a Midas Tac or Delta Javelin when funds allow)
MDT 20MOA rail (Rem 700)
MDT Elite Muzzle-brake
Regarding the rifle itself there are two main items I've looked at so far:
1. I notice that the recoil lug is significantly smaller than the lug recess in the stock. The lug measures in at 0.226" x 1.163" and the recess measures in at 0.354" x 1.273". This means there is a significant slop in the fit of the lug. Both in terms of displacement front to back but also rotational. On the plus side - it seems that when the action is fully tightened down in the stock the recoil lug is resting very close to or right on the rearward surface of the lug recess. So functionally perhaps this is fine.
The rifle has an aluminum bedding block so I don't know that re-bedding the rifle is a great first approach but has anyone with this rifle tried bedding the recoil lug?
I was also inclined to get in there and remove the paint from the bedding area. The paint has a speckle effect and therefore is not totally smooth in texture.
2. OAL for Cartridges. From experimenting with 130gr ELD-M bullet seating loosely in a piece of brass with relief slots I was able to find a consistent seating depth. Three measurements came in at 2.875", 2.874" and 2.874". Quite consistent, and honestly I may have ever so slightly flattened the ELDM tip on that first measurement. I saw light signs of rifling on the ogive of the bullet when I did this test.
I understand this OAL will not apply to other bullets and I hope to get a comparator for more universal results.
Other relevant measurements:
Bergara 5-rd magazine maximum length allowed: 2.876"
MDT 10-rd magazine maximum length allowed: 2.882"
I didn't get a good measurement of the rifle's feed path but I can say that if I load the max OAL (2.874") dummy round into a magazine and into the rifle it barely clears the Bergara's feed ramp. It's so close that magazine tilt or length variation could possibly bump it off I'd think.
Most of the comments I saw in other places suggested it was very hard to get very close to the lands on this rifle without feed problems. I'm surprised to find that this particular bullet could almost shoot right on the lands and achieving -.020 should not be difficult.
Does anyone else have experience with determining OAL for this bullet in this rifle?
Loads
I am hoping to work up a load using 130 gr ELMs and IMR4350 powder. I have these on-hand and I think they should be a reasonable combo. I understand the 140 ELDms are likely superior out beyond 500m and that H4350 is likely more temperature stable but it's what I've got available right now.
I also have some SMK130grs that I just ordered on-sale from Rangeview.
Reloading is a brand-new endeavor for me so I'm trying to learn and develop at the same time. I've got loading data from Hornady to start. The plan is to do an expanded ten-shot load development to start (5 shots at each charge level). From there I intend to find the velocity nodes and then play with seating depth.
My question is: does playing with the seating tend to lose the benefits of finding the nodes in the first place? It seems to me that the pressure curve would be affect by seating depth and therefore the results may not hold anymore.
Ultimately my goal is to have a consistent 0.5-0.75 MOA level of performance in a load I can use consistently. I've had so-so results with factory ammo in this rifle. Federal Gold Match and ELD match both shoot just a smidge worse than 1MOA, I can't rule out my own skills here of course, I've had a couple groups down around 0.75" at 100m. I may also develop a hunting load as well at some point.
Hello,
I'm new to precision shooting and am hoping to develop the skills and ultimately try my hand at some PRS. I'm relatively new to precision shooting so looking to double-check my approach as I move into this hobby.
The rifle:
Bergara B14 HMR LH 6.5 CM - 22" barrel
Vortex Crossfire II scope (came with the rifle, I plan to purchase a Midas Tac or Delta Javelin when funds allow)
MDT 20MOA rail (Rem 700)
MDT Elite Muzzle-brake
Regarding the rifle itself there are two main items I've looked at so far:
1. I notice that the recoil lug is significantly smaller than the lug recess in the stock. The lug measures in at 0.226" x 1.163" and the recess measures in at 0.354" x 1.273". This means there is a significant slop in the fit of the lug. Both in terms of displacement front to back but also rotational. On the plus side - it seems that when the action is fully tightened down in the stock the recoil lug is resting very close to or right on the rearward surface of the lug recess. So functionally perhaps this is fine.
The rifle has an aluminum bedding block so I don't know that re-bedding the rifle is a great first approach but has anyone with this rifle tried bedding the recoil lug?
I was also inclined to get in there and remove the paint from the bedding area. The paint has a speckle effect and therefore is not totally smooth in texture.
2. OAL for Cartridges. From experimenting with 130gr ELD-M bullet seating loosely in a piece of brass with relief slots I was able to find a consistent seating depth. Three measurements came in at 2.875", 2.874" and 2.874". Quite consistent, and honestly I may have ever so slightly flattened the ELDM tip on that first measurement. I saw light signs of rifling on the ogive of the bullet when I did this test.
I understand this OAL will not apply to other bullets and I hope to get a comparator for more universal results.
Other relevant measurements:
Bergara 5-rd magazine maximum length allowed: 2.876"
MDT 10-rd magazine maximum length allowed: 2.882"
I didn't get a good measurement of the rifle's feed path but I can say that if I load the max OAL (2.874") dummy round into a magazine and into the rifle it barely clears the Bergara's feed ramp. It's so close that magazine tilt or length variation could possibly bump it off I'd think.
Most of the comments I saw in other places suggested it was very hard to get very close to the lands on this rifle without feed problems. I'm surprised to find that this particular bullet could almost shoot right on the lands and achieving -.020 should not be difficult.
Does anyone else have experience with determining OAL for this bullet in this rifle?
Loads
I am hoping to work up a load using 130 gr ELMs and IMR4350 powder. I have these on-hand and I think they should be a reasonable combo. I understand the 140 ELDms are likely superior out beyond 500m and that H4350 is likely more temperature stable but it's what I've got available right now.
I also have some SMK130grs that I just ordered on-sale from Rangeview.
Reloading is a brand-new endeavor for me so I'm trying to learn and develop at the same time. I've got loading data from Hornady to start. The plan is to do an expanded ten-shot load development to start (5 shots at each charge level). From there I intend to find the velocity nodes and then play with seating depth.
My question is: does playing with the seating tend to lose the benefits of finding the nodes in the first place? It seems to me that the pressure curve would be affect by seating depth and therefore the results may not hold anymore.
Ultimately my goal is to have a consistent 0.5-0.75 MOA level of performance in a load I can use consistently. I've had so-so results with factory ammo in this rifle. Federal Gold Match and ELD match both shoot just a smidge worse than 1MOA, I can't rule out my own skills here of course, I've had a couple groups down around 0.75" at 100m. I may also develop a hunting load as well at some point.
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