New to site and new to reloading for accuracy

[ksubuck]

Been lurking on this site for a while and have appreciated the good discussions and every ones willingness to help each other. I hope to be able to add to the site in any way I can.

Have reloaded handgun and rifle plinking loads and rifle hunting loads in the past, mostly under the supervision of my dad and grandfather. After a decade or so of not shooting much other than hunting, I have restarted this old hobby. Most of my questions are in regards to picking the best load for further workup.

First, my 243 Win. Looking for a ýote load using the 70gr Ballistic tip over IMR4350. Seated at Nosler specs for COAL of 2.685 which is about 0.030 off of the lands in my rifle. The best groups were at 43.5gr (6) and 47.0gr (4) powder which are about the minimum and maximum loads in the reloading guide. The 43.5gr is the tightest four with a flier and the 47.0 is not as tight but has the speed factor. Which group shows the most promise for workup for seating depth? Work up both? Live with less speed in trade for hair splitting accuracy?

 

[Ridgerunner665]

JD338's signature line says it all...

Speed sells, but accuracy kills!

Its nice when you can have both...but often you can't...I'd experiment with the fast load, seating depth adjustment might tighten it up...never know until you try.

FWIW....my 243 load is similar to yours...and is one of the very few of my loads that doesn't use Nosler bullets...I use 70 grain Blitz King bullets, and Varget powder...4350 is a little slow for bullets that light IMO...but I haven't used IMR, only H.

 

[DrMike]

Been lurking on this site for a while and have appreciated the good discussions and every ones willingness to help each other. I hope to be able to add to the site in any way I can.

Have reloaded handgun and rifle plinking loads and rifle hunting loads in the past, mostly under the supervision of my dad and grandfather. After a decade or so of not shooting much other than hunting, I have restarted this old hobby. Most of my questions are in regards to picking the best load for further workup.

First, my 243 Win. Looking for a ýote load using the 70gr Ballistic tip over IMR4350. Seated at Nosler specs for COAL of 2.685 which is about 0.030 off of the lands in my rifle. The best groups were at 43.5gr (6) and 47.0gr (4) powder which are about the minimum and maximum loads in the reloading guide. The 43.5gr is the tightest four with a flier and the 47.0 is not as tight but has the speed factor. Which group shows the most promise for workup for seating depth? Work up both? Live with less speed in trade for hair splitting accuracy?

Welcome aboard. You have some fine loads developing. Are you certain the shot you called a flier is actually a flier? In other words, does the full complement of shots reveal the true potential for the load? The question that is paramount in my mind is what was your velocities and what sort of standard deviations were you seeing? If the standard deviation of the group with the greatest velocity is tight (less than 1%), I would work with it for accuracy by playing with seating depth. This assumes, however, that the velocity is significantly higher than the velocity measured for the group with the lower charge.

 

[wisconsinteacher]

Welcome to a great forum.

Personally, I would reshoot the faster group again or shoot 3 shot groups with that charge and different lengths. If nothing changes, then I would go back to the lighter charge and do the same.

 

[HOGWILD338-378]

Welcome and enjoy the great members we have as they are all great guys and gals ! :mrgreen: been a pleasure for me and I am sure you will get that load data and target tweaked in in no time!

 

[Guybo]

Welcome!, definitely a good load on the horizon. I like accuracy over velocity but like already mentioned it's great to have both but sometimes it just doesn't play out that way. I too would shoot #4 some more changing charges and seating depth and see what happens. If your not happy with the results then I'd fall back on #6 and work with that. I really think that the faster load may tighten up with some tweeking. Mike

 

[OU812]

Welcome aboard. Lots of great and very helpful guys and gals here. Both groups look very good to me. IMO 4 is worth pursuing ONLY if it's speed your really after. If you can not shake the idea of having less velocity and If max listed is NOT max pressure wise in your rifle I might try going up and down by .2 grains and see what shakes out.

If you can wrap your mind around the less velocity but great accuracy 6 is your huckleberry.

What ranges do you intend to shoot?

 

[Wis65x55]

Welcome aboard!

As you have already seen, you will have many individuals offering a wealth of information. I also need to inform you that their are way too many enablers on this site that will gladly help you spend way too much money. I won't name any names though we all know who they are. :twisted:
Keith

 

[DrMike]

Welcome aboard!

As you have already seen, you will have many individuals offering a wealth of information. I also need to inform you that their are way too many enablers on this site that will gladly help you spend way too much money. I won't name any names though we all know who they are. :twisted:
Keith

I represent that, Keith. No one should speak of our esteemed moderator, Fotis, in that manner; and speaking of manners, it is just bad form to impugn the character of the young Marine, Scotty. :wink:

 

[joelkdouglas]

Welcome!

 

[Vince]

I have to all of the first shot was with a clean oiled bore?
If so I'd shoot it again with a dirty barrel and see how it does. With a clean bore I don't count the first two to five shots, depending on the rifle, and welcome to the best forum on the net.

Sent from my SGH-M919 using Tapatalk

 

[Vince]

Darn smartphone.
I have to ask if the first shot*

Sent from my SGH-M919 using Tapatalk

 

[Polaris]

Definitely shoot some more groups with the fast load. Perhaps try tweaking it a bit if it still gives you too much dispersion. 4 good ones with one flier is not enough data. I wouldn't dump IMR 4350 yet if you still get dispersion. Rather I would tweak the seating depth, ensure consistency in your sizing and case length. If that doesn't tighten it up, drop the load 1.5 gr and work up with a couple different primers. You may find a sweet spot with a different primer at only slightly slower velocity than the max load.

Coyote shooting tends to be a cold barrel sport, so you should test your loads accordingly. That hot load might shoot just as tight as the slower load with a cold barrel. I've seen vertical stringing in my 6.5 Swede hot vs cold with IMR 4350. If all else fails, give IMR 4064 or 4320 a try.

http://www.hodgdonreloading.com/data/rifle

 

[ksubuck]

How to reply to all of the help...

First off, thanks for the warm welcome, I appreciate it.

Here is my program starting out. Load 10 5-shot groups, one for fouling shots, 9 others at differing charges at half grain increments. Fire 2-3 foulers, then in round robin fashion shoot 4 or 5 charge groups. Clean rifle. Re-foul 2-3 shots, then finish remaining charge groups. Shooting at 100 yards.

The one flier on the tight group was a flier. Got startled by my neighbors big wizzbang magnum with an offensive muzzle break. Can't complain too much, I play with those things too. I tell myself that flier would have connected the other four dots so I feel better.

Plan is to use this round at moderate ranges up to 400 yards at the max. Most of the shots should be closer. So I figure chasing the slower group will probably work fine. Have other options for stupid long range coyote hunting.

Brass workup- all neck-sized once fired from piles of spent factory rounds I have run through the gun over the last 10 years. Weight sorted, deburred flash hole, trimmed to uniform length, not in that order.

 

[ksubuck]

And, I suppose my next step will be to try out my new magnetospeed chronograph and see if I can learn some more about those two loads, then make a decision on which load to pursue?

Or should I pick one and play with seating depth and chrono?

 

[Oldtrader3]

Welcome to the forum. I hope that you enjoy it here in this fairly quiet neighborhood.

 

[Guy Miner]

Coyote gun is a light-barreled sporter rifle?

If so, I see no need for more than three-shot groups. Thin barrel starts heating up, and can do strange things to groups. Just my practice though. A lot of guys still like 5-shot groups.

How many times you have to shoot more than once or twice at a coyote? :grin:

I think you've got some great accuracy showing already.

Welcome! Guy

 

[Bruce Mc]

Buying a chronograph was a BAAAAADD mistake. You will now be introduced to the true insanity of custom loaded ammo. But it will tell you what is really going on with your loads and you can make a better choice of how to proceed with your loads. Enjoy the insanity.

 

[Guy Miner]

Bruce is right. After I got my chronograph, I found myself re-evaluating loads I'd been happily using for years...

Grrrrr.... Still, it has been a fascinating tool.

Guy

 

[Guybo]

Bruce is right. After I got my chronograph, I found myself re-evaluating loads I'd been happily using for years...

Grrrrr.... Still, it has been a fascinating tool.

Guy

So true! ...... also what Bruce said. My Jack Russell Terrier knocked my chrony off the table about a year and a half ago and put it out of commission and to date I still haven't replaced it. I keep saying that im going to but just haven't buckled down and purchased another one. It's a great tool to have no doubt but i honestly haven't missed it. Maybe one day! :|