300wm seating depth test results

[DoubleGobble00]

After finding a good node, my groups were not as good as I'd liked. I tried the Berger seating depth test and had the following results... I'm not real impressed with the results but did have great SD on 80 grains at 0.08 off lands. I think I need to try neck tension next or primer change to help the groups. I'm thinking of sticking with 0.08 off and change/lighten neck tension.

300 WM
H1000
80 grain
Seating 0.01, 0.04, 0.08, 0.12
225 yards

DoubleG

 

[Rhovee]

215 Berger? Try .030 off. Never seen a 215 not shoot .025-.045. Somewhere in there you should find something sweet. And 80 grains is a boat load for 300 WM

 

[ShtrRdy]

I haven't had good luck with the seating depth step size that Berger recommends. I ended up using a step size of 0.010".
Which bullet are you using?

 

[DoubleGobble00]

I forgot to leave out the Bullet.... it's the 215 Bergers like you mentioned...

Yeah the jump they recommend seems extreme. I do think I have too much neck tension. I can tell I difference when seating with arbor press.

What primers do you typically use? I'm using 215M but heard the 210 might be worth a try

 

[L.Sherm]

A CCI 250 would be worth a try. Im In the boat adjusting .010 at a time also and .005 to fine tune.

 

[Rhovee]

CCI 250's for life. Last (6) magnums I have loaded for shot far better with 250's than 215's.

 

[ducky]

I have limited experience with Berger VLD bullets, but I followed their instructions for making them shoot. I found my Steven's 200 1:7 twist .243 liked them .130 off the lands.



Best 300yd group with Berger 115 bullets.



115 grain DTAC showed similar results.



I didn't test a whole lot, realized early on a nearly 12 lbs rifle wasn't something I'd hunt, so I sold it. I only put maybe 200 rounds down it playing with it. However, I learned a lot from it.

 

[Mike 338]

May want to go back and read the "Berger Seating Depth Test". Unless something has changed, they used to recommend .040" increments between strings (.010", .050", .090", 130"). I personally find myself using .030" increments but the idea is the same.

This from the Berger website:
http://bergerbullets.com/getting-the-best-precision-and-accuracy-from-vld-bullets-in-your-rifle/

 

[Mike 338]

215 Berger? Try .030 off. Never seen a 215 not shoot .025-.045. Somewhere in there you should find something sweet. And 80 grains is a boat load for 300 WM

I thought 80 gr. seemed way up there as well. I find the Hogdon online data to be pretty close in terms of max loads and they recommend 78. gr. max for a 220 gr. bullet. I generally find an accuracy node to be below listed max. Personally, on a rough seating depth test, I pretty much always pick an arbitrary load about 2% below listed max (only after I've confirmed through shooting some lesser charges, that charge is safe) and then do a rough seating depth test in 30 to 40 thousandths increments. After finding a preferred "rough" seating depth for the bullet, I go back and do a full powder charge workup.

 

[Pa Grizz]

With my 98 Mauser and Douglas Supreme barrel .030 was the sweet spot with the 215. I tried closer with no luck

 

[Deleted member 107796]

I'm wondering if the ideal seating depth has another variable, say if the throat of the barrel has it's edges broken (beveled) to some extent vs not. I ask that because I've seen that the distance off the lands info for both Bergers and the Hornady VLD, to seem a bit subjective and rifle dependent.

 

[DoubleGobble00]

Thanks for the info. Yes, 80 grains is way up there but doesn't show any pressure signs in my rifle and is near the expected velocity. I wonder if I have a slow powder lot. I'll check primer pockets when working on this brass to see if I'm over working it.

I will have to give the 250s a try and loosen my neck tension to see if I can dial it in better

 

[Jeffrey Van Zandt]

After finding a good node, my groups were not as good as I'd liked. I tried the Berger seating depth test and had the following results... I'm not real impressed with the results but did have great SD on 80 grains at 0.08 off lands. I think I need to try neck tension next or primer change to help the groups. I'm thinking of sticking with 0.08 off and change/lighten neck tension.

300 WM
H1000
80 grain
Seating 0.01, 0.04, 0.08, 0.12
225 yards

DoubleG

that is not like a 215 berger I just set at 2-tho less then my AI OALmag and 77.5 of H-1000, but I have found the CCI-250LR mag primers work best so much so I traded off all my fed primers switch my old barrel out a 1-10 twist for a proof 1-9 and tried my old load and they shot a one hole group only thing that changed was my sd it went from 11 down to 8 sd. I shoot match prep WW brass but changing over to Gunwerks brass now. and all loading is done with wilson dies in line arbor press type

 

[BEEMAN]

I agree on the 30 thou off. Has worked very good in a few 300 Win Mags. 215M, Nosler brass and H1000. Right at 3000 fps out of a 26" Brux. 80 gr does seem high unless a custom reamer was used. I stopped at 79 gr. No pressure signs and shoots great. I'm sure I'm close to max though.