Results of my first load

[KDX]

Last night was the first time I reloaded some shells and this is the result at 100 yards. It's .223 with 23.5gr of Benchmark and 53gr Hornady Match HP bullets (Savage 10FP with 90 bullets shot through it so far). I realize a better shooter probably could have made the groups smaller, but do I now go up .5 of a grain on my next load to see if they tighten up a bit?

The greyish streak in the lower right is spray from a bullet disintegrating as there was a chain hanging to the left of the target and I shot it a couple of times. It looks kind of neat when you hold it up to the light.

 

[Levi Garrett]

That ain't to bad eh! for first kick I use Reloader 15 , 25.5 grains of it with those match bullets, and that load rocks Your powder I have never used , but without checking I think you can go as high as 25 without worry (don't quote me on that)

 

[mjcurry]

not to shabby

keep up the good work

 

[308BAR]

That's pretty consistant you may enen try .2 incriments up to max to see if you could shrink it down somtimes I find .5 increments are to large for certian types of powder and gives me varied results. my 2cents

 

[Fall Guy]

What are you using for a rest and scope?

 

[Levi Garrett]

What are you using for a rest and scope?

Good point, looking at the groups, got a bit of vert stringing on 3, which may be from not supporting the butt stock. The first group is a nice group , but the others look like they may have even been better if you took away the stringing.

 

[KDX]

I'm using a Nikon Buckmasters 4.5-14X40 and a Hoppes front rest and two home made bags on the rear. In the Lyman 48th edition it states for a 52gr jacketed HPBT 25.7gr of Benchmark as the max and most accurate load. 3251fps and 49,400CUP. These bullets aren't boat tail and are one grain heavier.

 

[KDX]

I loaded up some 24gr and 25gr charges and will see how they perform. I was going to do a 24.5 round, but at 25gr they are still under the max so I thought I could always go backwards if the groups opened up with the 25gr load.

 

[crazy_davey]

Hmmmm... Thats pretty decent. The results of my first load happened when I was quite young and my mom had to clean my sheets the next morning

I would say you are doing better than I did

 

[KDX]

I see there is a reason they call you Crazy Dave.

 

[joe-nwt]

I loaded up some 24gr and 25gr charges and will see how they perform. I was going to do a 24.5 round, but at 25gr they are still under the max so I thought I could always go backwards if the groups opened up with the 25gr load.

The only problem with that is by jumping 1 grain at a time you may be going right past a "sweet spot" accuracy wise, fo that particular powder.

In the long run, smaller increments may prove benificial.

 

[KDX]

True enough Joe. Maybe I will load up a dozen @ 24.5gr.

 

[Fall Guy]

I'm using a Nikon Buckmasters 4.5-14X40 and a Hoppes front rest and two home made bags on the rear.

If you're solidly anchored with a decent scope you should be able to get tighter groups. Hey, thats half the fun - right?

Are you waiting enough time in between shots?

Why the vertical stringing? Great site and a good read.

http://www.6mmbr.com/verticaltips.html

 

[cariboo_kid]

Dang that must feel good.

What OAL are you loading them to?

 

[KDX]

Fall Guy....I read the link and will take some sand out of my front bag, it's rock hard.
caribboo kid....I made a dummy round and it's about 2.300" OAL if I remember correctly. It does feel good also to shoot my first handloads and was quite exciting to see some results. The thing I don't like is packing and unpacking all the stuff to go shooting, but I'm lucky as it's only about a 5 minute drive to get to where I shoot. A home in the country would be nice.