RiverRider
Handloader
- Dec 9, 2008
- 1,436
- 69
This afternoon I shot five groups with my [cheap] custom built on a VZ-24 action. I will not disclose the powder or the charge because it will lead to an altogether different discussion. I'll disclose that I am getting about 2870 fps fifteen feet from the muzzle, and that I am using a quite-slow burning powder.
What I learned today is that the seating depths I have always worked with don't work with the AccuBond---in my rifle. I decided to try something a little different and it has paid off. I had always tried to stay within about .010" to .045" or so off the lands, but today I shot 3-shot groups, bullets seated at depths of .050" to .090" in in that order and in increments of .010". Resultant group sizes were 2.50", 1.64", 0.18", 0.91", and 1.04". I though I was seeing things (or rather not seeing things) through my 2.5-8x Leupold, but when I was able to get close to the target I could see that the third group was for real. It looks like two bullet holes overlapping, but there are three shots in there!
I had tried 140-grain Accubonds when I first acquired this rifle and they did not shoot well. I am wondering how they would do if I was to seat them a little deeper. I really don't see the point, though. I have a 150-grain Partition load that shoots five shots into well under an inch (but this is with bullets seated at .025" off the lands).
Do you guys find that Accubonds generally shoot better when seated more deeply, or is this just a peculiarity of my rifle?
What I learned today is that the seating depths I have always worked with don't work with the AccuBond---in my rifle. I decided to try something a little different and it has paid off. I had always tried to stay within about .010" to .045" or so off the lands, but today I shot 3-shot groups, bullets seated at depths of .050" to .090" in in that order and in increments of .010". Resultant group sizes were 2.50", 1.64", 0.18", 0.91", and 1.04". I though I was seeing things (or rather not seeing things) through my 2.5-8x Leupold, but when I was able to get close to the target I could see that the third group was for real. It looks like two bullet holes overlapping, but there are three shots in there!
I had tried 140-grain Accubonds when I first acquired this rifle and they did not shoot well. I am wondering how they would do if I was to seat them a little deeper. I really don't see the point, though. I have a 150-grain Partition load that shoots five shots into well under an inch (but this is with bullets seated at .025" off the lands).
Do you guys find that Accubonds generally shoot better when seated more deeply, or is this just a peculiarity of my rifle?