Reloading 300WM

Thanks, walks with loud stick.

No offence taken.

From what I have been reading, I need to start using my chronograph more, to find a consistent load, and pay closer attention to my brass prep.
 
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Are you married to the 210 VLD? Not all barrels like all bullets. While the 210 is the best in my .308 target rifle, i discovered that by trying left-over 210s that werent so hot in a couple 300s.

Ive found that a load that is destined for greatness usually shows some Wow factor right out of the gate.
 
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Ive found that a load that is destined for greatness usually shows some Wow factor right out of the gate.

This seems to be quite appropriate to this thread.

OP if you don’t find something glaringly wrong as in loose scope/ring screw, maybe pressure point on barrel or something I’d look at using a different bullet/powder combo etc.
 
Dogleg, leveractionjunkie thank you for the feedback.
Not married to the 210s, I will look at different projectiles.
Thanks again.
 
Reading through , I may have missed it.. I'm getting old , but may I ask what twist your barrels is ? 1-10 ?
And have you tried the 215gr Berger Hybrids with H-1000 ? I have had very good longrange results with them over the years. The 210gr pills although a great bullet can be a little finicky at times to tune,. But if you have eliminated the factors , action screws , proper headspace , scope , rings & mounts , shooting technique...Then maybe try some Hybrids ....Just a thought...
 
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If you still have lots of the VLDs you might want to try jamming a couple into the lands say 0.010" or so , before dropping any more coin on more pills.
See if that helps, how much are you bumping your shoulders when resizing I like mine .001"....just a couple of things to consider also.
You will of course have to reduce powder charge & work up again...

RL
 
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Thanks Longrange300wm.
I have a good number of the VLDs. I plan on doing some testing of bullet jump. I did some with my last barrel, and 10 thou was what worked best (and is in the range that Berger suggests for these "finicky" projectiles). I haven't done any with the new barrel yet. Was going to find a charge that shoots okay first.
I'm using a lee collet die which, to the best of my understanding, only resizes the neck. I should measure some.
Neck tension seems about right. Bullet drops freely into a fired case.
 
Been waiting on my powder arriving, and have not done any additional testing. I did learn that I could be doing more brass prep, I had not been deburring the flash holes correctly (or maybe saying it was not the most repeatable method would be better). Will change up how I do that, and that should create more consistent flash holes.

I also have a new 1 piece base on the way (replacing the 2 piece based I currently have), and will install that before anymore load development work. Should help support the action, which should effect how the barrel whips about.

Thanks again for everyone's input.
 
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You have to start measuring velocities if you are going to get serious about accuracy.
You have a few more options for powders, like IMR7828, Reloader series, and perhaps different bullets,
I would also start at 100yds first before going to 200, just so you can minimize your error effects on target.
BB
 
Thanks BB.

I agree that velocities are important, I think finding a load that groups in small little circles without much vertical stringing, is more important.

Yes, there are other powders that are available to use, and different bullets. Which as mentioned above, I will look at picking up and trying at some point. For now, I have lots of bergers, and h1000 on hand, and based on what I am seeing, I think I can tune a load to shoot well.
 
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Notes:

All of the H1000 loads were difficult to close the bolt, at first I thought it was the bullet being jammed into the lands (I assumed I didn't get the jump correct), after trying a few rounds, looks like perhaps headspace was too tight for this older brass and was headspacing off of the shoulder, and not the belt.
H4831SC loads chambered fine, except for a couple of rounds (it was cold, and I chalked it up to as weather related).
No sticky bolt on ejection, only on chambering.

Trevor, you have to know where your ES is for your loads, If the ES is not low you are wasting your time, it is a very rare event when high ES returns good accuracy and especially so for long range. Also pretty cold for load development. Just Saying.
1. Use your chronograph
2. start with a new batch of brass, prep, fireform and reload, headspace off shoulder only
3. strive to headspace brass off the shoulder for best accuracy if you are using previously fired brass
4. some rounds not chambering as others was a sign of things to come
5. consitency, repeatability and concentricity is the name of the game for accuracy
bb
 
Thanks Bigbull.

I think I mentioned that I do plan on using my chronograph on further testing? Maybe I didn’t post that.

New brass was used with all the h1000 testing. The older brass was with some of the 4831sc, was really only looking to find out what the max load would be. Next round of loading will be one with once fired.

The brass that wouldn’t chamber was al the multiple fire stuff and has been tossed, some remains for the old barrel if I ever want to spin it back on.
 
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Jethunter, Thank you for taking the time to share your wealth of knowledge and insight.
Your data is telling you one of 2 things: that combo doesn't work, or you're overlooking something. I meant no insult but obviously your feelings are hurt.

You probably already understand that your data shows no obvious trends. Using more accurate data by measuring to the nearest 0.1" is no harder than what you're already doing, can be done on the targets you have already in a few minutes, and might give you some more insight. But if you choose to be insulted then go for it, I understand completely.
 
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