Precision Reloading For Long Range Hunting by Jerry Teo

[Mysticplayer]

The biggest area to pay attention to is runout or bullet wobble. Try and keep to 4 thou or less measured on the bullet just back from where it bends to form its tip. Sending the bullet cock eyed down the pipe is not condusive to great accuracy.

Neck turning makes it easier to measure runout as you are not worried that your measurements are screwed up by a bumpy neck.

Measure runout after firing, sizing and seating. If any runout is created, you can narrow down the problem and resolve.

Test bullets of quality. Many hunting bullets were never designed or manf to be tack drivers. Poly tipped hunting bullets from Hornady and Nosler are excellent as well as the many match bullets from Berger, Sierra and possibly Lapua (some types don't expand reliably).

Good luck with your load work up.

Jerry

[Mysticplayer]

Been working with a new Pac Nor prethreaded/chambered SS Super match heavy barrel and got this awesome test group at 200yds. My best 3 shot group ever at this distance.

The math is off. Should be 0.056" and 0.028min.

Nothing fancy in the components - 80gr Bergers, Win brass, CCI 450 primers, Varget. Lee collet die and RCBS standard seating die for a 221 Fireball.

Other groups show the pipe can shoot in the 1's so am very pleased for a long range varminting rig.

Jerry

[overbore]

Those of us who have been perfecting our techniques for long years will find solid accurate information from you for great loading-reloading. We Old Farts, can add "O" rings under our dies, use K&M expanders and neck turners and tweak at the edges of your excellent procedures but I wish to thank you for cogent and concise facts in a readable format. Mega Kudos!!! Overbore

[parothead]

Do the CCI BR 2 Primers work well for mag rounds as well? Thanks for a great article.

PH

[Mysticplayer]

The only real way to know is to test it. There are so many variables in the likes/dislikes of a rifle, that you really have to shoot to see what works.

In general, I lean on the Fed 215M in magnum cases but there are some who get by with a reg type primer.

Jerry

[ODAVID]

Mysticplayer: Please explain this comment more fully "The biggest area to pay attention to is runout or bullet wobble. Try and keep to 4 thou or less measured on the bullet just back from where it bends to form its tip. " Are you referring to the ogave of the loaded bullet or back by the neck-shoulder junction of the loaded bullet.


Also I would like someone to explain if adding orings under the dies actually help. Do I have to reset the die length all over again . I think So??????


And further. I would like experience suggestions on eliminating runout cause by the tension created inside the neck from the "inside plunger" of the FL die. Can the "inside plunger" of the FL die be just removed after neck turning????? and elinating the creation of runout??????????????????????????

So many questions I appreciate helpful actual experiences
THANK YOU
ODAVID

[Mysticplayer]

Reducing runout means that the bullet is better aligned with the bore axis.

Imagine a football being thrown. The ones that go the most accurate and furthest have the least amount of wobble. The tip rotates inline front and rear.

If you ammo has alot of runout, the bullet engraves off center and exits with the tip wobbling around the axis of flight. Just like a poorly thrown football. Doesn't go as far and may not go where desired.

The only way to know what works it measure your brass with a runout guage. Your fired brass should show no runout at the shoulder or web. The necks should be true as well.

After sizing, measure the neck and see if any runout was induced. If FL sizing, also check the shoulder and web. The dies with the expander ball can pull the necks off center if the rod is not true.

I use Lee collet neck sizers and many use bushing sizers to get rid of this potential problem. I have several FL sizers that work just fine so you really have to check to see what your die is doing.

I don't bother putting anything under the lock ring. There is more then enough slop in the shell holder to allow the case to center in the die.

the biggest area to cause runout is in the seating. Here the seating plug may not be aligned with the incoming bullet and case pushing the bullet in off center.

OR, the cavity in the plug is not the right shape to make the length and ogive of the bullet. The most common thing I have found is that the cavity is too short allowing the VLD bullets to bottom out before the ogive is supported by the plug. You are now trying to balance the bullet on its tip before seating.

Lots of room for moving around.

The Seaters from Forster and Redding improve on this because the sliding sleeve can support the case better and their plugs seem to be reamed for pointy bullets - but that is not always the case.

The reg. seater can work just fine but you need to measure runout to be sure.

In dies that use an expander ball, removing that stem may lead to very high neck tensions. However, with neck turned brass, might be just perfect. Only way to know is to size and test in your rifle.

Jerry