how to determine bullet weights for precision shooting
Quote from Reloader on June 14, 2014, 8:00 pmI am very new to reloading and will be purchasing my 550B press here in about a month and a half. I am starting with pistol loads first to get familiar with everything first but I am starting research on reloading .308 for precision shooting. How do I test different match bullets and powders without spending a ton of money and have leftovers once I found the right load that shoots well. Right now Federal Gold Medal Match is shooting a one hole clover leaf with a 3 shot group. (168 grain) I want to test out A-max, nosler and other match bullets to see what my gun shoots the best. Is there no way around it and I will have to shell out a couple hundred dollars testing bullets and different powders?
I have shot other match loads out of my rifle but FGM 168 shoots the best. Its a Remington 700 5R with 11 1/4 rifling. Thanks, Nick.
I am very new to reloading and will be purchasing my 550B press here in about a month and a half. I am starting with pistol loads first to get familiar with everything first but I am starting research on reloading .308 for precision shooting. How do I test different match bullets and powders without spending a ton of money and have leftovers once I found the right load that shoots well. Right now Federal Gold Medal Match is shooting a one hole clover leaf with a 3 shot group. (168 grain) I want to test out A-max, nosler and other match bullets to see what my gun shoots the best. Is there no way around it and I will have to shell out a couple hundred dollars testing bullets and different powders?
I have shot other match loads out of my rifle but FGM 168 shoots the best. Its a Remington 700 5R with 11 1/4 rifling. Thanks, Nick.
Quote from Reloader on June 16, 2014, 3:15 pmThere is no substitute for testing components in your specific rifle. I suggest start with either a Sierra or Nosler match bullet. Spend more time testing different powder types and weights than projectile brands. Sorry, no magic way to pre-sort what your firearm shoots best.
There is no substitute for testing components in your specific rifle. I suggest start with either a Sierra or Nosler match bullet. Spend more time testing different powder types and weights than projectile brands. Sorry, no magic way to pre-sort what your firearm shoots best.
Quote from Reloader on October 7, 2014, 1:31 amIt looks like you gun likes the weight range around 168 grain; any of the top manufactures make good target style bullets in this weight range; try several of them and see what works good; then start fine tuning the loads; first try several different powders; being that you will not be weighing each charge; my own experience is that ball powder weighs more consistent in a drop powder measure; start several grains below listed max. for each powder; load three of each... Test you gun with these loads. When you find the best of these; work in half grain increases; and work your way up the powder charge; watch for signs of high pressure loads. when you have found the load that is the most accurate and no high pressure; now you can start playing with how far you have the bullets seated; start out with the loads seated to just so that you can get the round into the magazine and load three of them; reduce by 2-3 thousandths ; continue to reduce the length and see if things get better or worse; what you are trying to do is tune your load to you gun... good luck! with all of this you still have to clean you gun every 40 rounds and then shoot fowling shots; so always load a few extra that you will not count as shooter for paper results.
It looks like you gun likes the weight range around 168 grain; any of the top manufactures make good target style bullets in this weight range; try several of them and see what works good; then start fine tuning the loads; first try several different powders; being that you will not be weighing each charge; my own experience is that ball powder weighs more consistent in a drop powder measure; start several grains below listed max. for each powder; load three of each... Test you gun with these loads. When you find the best of these; work in half grain increases; and work your way up the powder charge; watch for signs of high pressure loads. when you have found the load that is the most accurate and no high pressure; now you can start playing with how far you have the bullets seated; start out with the loads seated to just so that you can get the round into the magazine and load three of them; reduce by 2-3 thousandths ; continue to reduce the length and see if things get better or worse; what you are trying to do is tune your load to you gun... good luck! with all of this you still have to clean you gun every 40 rounds and then shoot fowling shots; so always load a few extra that you will not count as shooter for paper results.
Quote from Reloader on December 1, 2014, 10:01 pmI have found that reloading is as much an art as it is a science. There are so many variables once you get into it that it is mind boggling. I shoot .308 out of a Savage model 11 VT, heavy barrel, accutrigger. I have tried Nosler, Sierra and Hornaday bullets and tried numerous powders from Reloader 15, to CFE223, Varget, IMR 4895/4064 and on and on and on. I also use Lapua and Nosler custom brass. So far my best loads have been with Hornaday 168gr Match bullets and Reloader 15 powder, however, that might not be the recipe your gun will like to shoot.
Barrel harmonics, seating depth, powder charge, primers, case prep, and bullet cases all play a role. I suggest you spend some time searching the web to get an idea of how you want to load and the best way to find harmony with your rifle and loads. You Tube has some really good channels and some not so good. Beware some of the information is so far fetched and just personal opinion, let alone just plain unsafe. One channel that I have found to have good information and a play list full of videos on precision reloading, ladder tests for barrel harmonics, safety info, etc., is 8541 Tactical. The host is a former military sniper and current Law Enforcement marksman. He is just one of many good channels to check out.
Good luck. You are going to find that the more you get into it, the more complicated it becomes, as well as rewarding.
I have found that reloading is as much an art as it is a science. There are so many variables once you get into it that it is mind boggling. I shoot .308 out of a Savage model 11 VT, heavy barrel, accutrigger. I have tried Nosler, Sierra and Hornaday bullets and tried numerous powders from Reloader 15, to CFE223, Varget, IMR 4895/4064 and on and on and on. I also use Lapua and Nosler custom brass. So far my best loads have been with Hornaday 168gr Match bullets and Reloader 15 powder, however, that might not be the recipe your gun will like to shoot.
Barrel harmonics, seating depth, powder charge, primers, case prep, and bullet cases all play a role. I suggest you spend some time searching the web to get an idea of how you want to load and the best way to find harmony with your rifle and loads. You Tube has some really good channels and some not so good. Beware some of the information is so far fetched and just personal opinion, let alone just plain unsafe. One channel that I have found to have good information and a play list full of videos on precision reloading, ladder tests for barrel harmonics, safety info, etc., is 8541 Tactical. The host is a former military sniper and current Law Enforcement marksman. He is just one of many good channels to check out.
Good luck. You are going to find that the more you get into it, the more complicated it becomes, as well as rewarding.
Quote from Reloader on August 6, 2015, 4:25 amGreetings: At the risk of sounding like a smart alleck, I sense you're not looking forward to "the process" of experimenting. An acquaintance of mine in Idaho, has a similar outlook, which is also vey much time related as well.
Buy a fine rifle from a target shooter retiring from the 'sport'. Use his/her hardware & component recipes, then just enjoy your time at the range. Good luck.
Greetings: At the risk of sounding like a smart alleck, I sense you're not looking forward to "the process" of experimenting. An acquaintance of mine in Idaho, has a similar outlook, which is also vey much time related as well.
Buy a fine rifle from a target shooter retiring from the 'sport'. Use his/her hardware & component recipes, then just enjoy your time at the range. Good luck.