Velocity vs accuracy

220Swifty

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Well boys, been plugging away at the loading bench, and finally got out to test some loads today. Put some 65 gr vmax loads together with varget for the 243. Now at the bottom end of the test loads, i got 3/4 inch groups, then it stayed at a consisitant 1 1/4" to 2 " all the way up to max. The manual claims 300 FPS in velocity difference between the accurate load, and the fast load. This wont be for paper punching, it will be for whacking coyotes and other vermin, what do you figure i should go with here?
 
Top end loads always seem to give me the best accuracy.

vary you r seating depth. You may find that you top end loads give you the best of both worlds.

Or, bed your rifle. If you are getting good accuracy with low ends, it is probably that your rifles harmonics appreciate then ...bed rifle and you will probably see top end loads perform better...
 
Accuracy

Swifty are we talking about the difference between 3300 fps and 3600 fps?
You have a 3/4 inch load at a 100 yards, at 200 yards you still have a nice load, at 300 your still killing them. your other faster loads are going to be all over the place at longer ranges. I'd stick with the one that you have, maybe go up 1/2 a grain and see if it becomes tighter. Dead is dead, they don't die any faster at 3600 fps. FS
 
I have found that in most calibres, my most accurate loads are at or near max. The full case thing seems to be a good thing.

I just confirm them with a chronograph to make sure my velocity isn't too high.
 
I try and pick a powder that obtains 95% case capacity, and adjust over all cartridge length till I get the most out of the load. Also try different bullets and weights. I have found over the multitude of cartridges I`ve loaded for that, near max loads to 150 fps works best. I also weigh ever case to keep them all within 1/2 grain of each other before loading. Case prep is also a very big factor, as well as careful seating of the bullet to make sure everything is true.Also try different primers. All that being said, You may have reached to potential of your gun.

Garnet
 
Grasshopper...you must keep trying diff loads, bullets, seating depth, primers, etc. etc. until you get both the vel. and the accuracy which you require, this goes for cast bullets or j-word bullets. Thats the fun of reloading/experimenting, it's also the reason reloading is much more expensive then buying factory ammo.
 
I have always been of the opinion that a slow hit is better than a fast miss.

my $0.02

Brian


True,
but on these forums lots of guys beat anyone up who tries to get top velocity from a cartridge. I got flamed big time for commenting on a load a guy posted for a 300 win mag that sent a 180 gr bullet out at 2800 fps. My suggestion was buy a 30-06, use and load the cartridge to what it was designed for.
 
As a general rule I do not like compressed loads, and when I've tried them I've found that accuracy suffers. I agree that powders with a burning rate consistent with 4350 works well in the .243, so you might also find that Win 760 will allow you to increase your load without compressing the powder when you seat the bullet. I work up my .243 loads with the bullets set firmly into the lands and single load, as my rounds tend to be too long for the M-7's magazine.
 
Well I played seriously with a barrel that was being replaced new gum build!

I have 2 7mm RUMs one thats going for a new barrel dont matter anyway i pushed the hell out it this year to see what it would really do.
Factory ammo is 3460 i think and i sthe top velocity noted in thhe manuals for 140 gr bullet.
I pushed and pushe took a few months.
I pushed it to 3760 over 2 chroys on ove cast days.
as noted accuract was great 1 1/2 moa all day from 95% to 100% max loads.
After 3550 accuracy fell off to 2 " and 3" at 3700 and 3760 it was 4"
so there is a limit !!!
 
I've had compressed loads that went slower.:confused:

In a hunting load,a couple of hundred f/s may stretch the effective range of the bullet.I'ld rather have a load in a 30-06 doing 2750 and 1MOA then one doing 2600 and 1/2MOA.
 
I start low and work up, most guns have a swet spot, so many variables, pressure curve, case vol/bore ratio ect....

Try a slower powder in your 243. :)
 
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